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Room Tour: A Side Return Extension Creates Open-plan Living
An airy extension gave a Victorian terraced home an expansive cooking, eating and relaxing space with great garden views
Extending was on Devika and Jonathan Rimmer’s to-do list when they bought their Victorian terraced home. In common with many a period property, the house had a limited view of the garden from the rear, and the kitchen was tired and unmodernised.
But it wasn’t just a new kitchen-diner the couple were after. “They saw the extension as being the entertaining zone of the house,” says designer James Bernard of Plus Rooms, who created the open-plan space.
A design with presence was called for, too. “They didn’t just want a box,” he says. “They were after something with character.”
But it wasn’t just a new kitchen-diner the couple were after. “They saw the extension as being the entertaining zone of the house,” says designer James Bernard of Plus Rooms, who created the open-plan space.
A design with presence was called for, too. “They didn’t just want a box,” he says. “They were after something with character.”
The extension roof is a gable design, with a fixed glass panel above the bifolding doors to increase the light.
“More, though, it accentuates the height of the room, because the eye is drawn to the full height of the ceiling due to the outside aspect,” Bernard says.
“There’s a great sense of being free and open in that space and it’s quite striking – large panels of glass at angles look very contemporary.”
“More, though, it accentuates the height of the room, because the eye is drawn to the full height of the ceiling due to the outside aspect,” Bernard says.
“There’s a great sense of being free and open in that space and it’s quite striking – large panels of glass at angles look very contemporary.”
Bifold doors were fitted across the back of the new extension. “They allow maximum connection from inside to out, and that was extremely important, as the owners wanted to enjoy entertaining in the garden,” Bernard explains.
Bernard opted for a level threshold between inside and out and laid textured floor tiles in both areas.
Soderhamn three-seat sofa in Grey, Ikea.
Soderhamn three-seat sofa in Grey, Ikea.
“The eye is encouraged past the doors and into the garden,” Bernard says. “It creates the illusion of more space and allows the patio to become an extension of the kitchen when the doors are open. Whether you’re inside or out, it’s all part of the same zone.”
The garden seating area is at the end of the plot on the right, as this is the spot that gets the most natural sunlight.
Zoning the cooking, eating and relaxation areas of the open-plan space effectively was vital.
“The owners liked the idea of keeping the cooking zone in the darker area of the space, because all the artificial lighting that comes with the kitchen brightens it up,” Bernard says.
The living area is in the naturally lit zone at the back.
9 ways to create zones in an open-plan home
“The owners liked the idea of keeping the cooking zone in the darker area of the space, because all the artificial lighting that comes with the kitchen brightens it up,” Bernard says.
The living area is in the naturally lit zone at the back.
9 ways to create zones in an open-plan home
Keeping the back of the extension open by placing the cooking and preparation space further into the space also boosted the garden connection. “You don’t want to close down the back wall with kitchen units,” says Bernard.
Alto brushed copper mixer tap, OLiF. Brooklyn Dome pendant lights in Copper, Industville.
Alto brushed copper mixer tap, OLiF. Brooklyn Dome pendant lights in Copper, Industville.
The dining table is tucked along the side wall, opposite the island, which creates an easy-access corridor to walk through. “Positioning the dining table down the side made sense,” Bernard says.
Caisley Co industrial chevron dining table with brass hairpin legs, Etsy. Eames-style dining chairs, Danetti.
Browse dining tables in the Houzz Shop
Caisley Co industrial chevron dining table with brass hairpin legs, Etsy. Eames-style dining chairs, Danetti.
Browse dining tables in the Houzz Shop
The designer and owners discussed ways to break up the room. “It came back to the brief about not wanting a big, soulless box,” says Bernard. “The way of achieving that in terms of roof design was with one that had angles and height rather than the contour of a flat ceiling.”
A further strategy to create interest in the large room was to break up the long area of wall by incorporating exposed brickwork. “Having all the walls and ceiling in white can be a bit stark,” says Bernard. “This is a rustic contrast.”
The island worksurface is polished Corchia Venato marble, and the remaining surface is Compac quartz in White Zement with a Glace finish.
Skylights bring in more light, but, before fitting them, Bernard discussed whether to have openable or fixed versions with the owners. “The feedback we have from the vast majority of clients is that they don’t open skylights,” he says.
The decision was made that these skylights could be fixed versions. “So we looked at modern, larger options. They’re slicker and very minimal, because you can’t see the framework from inside,” Bernard says. “The design maximises the light coming into the room.”
Extending meant the homeowners needed to think about the traffic path to the new space and through it, as well as the use of other ground floor areas.
The back reception room beyond the kitchen-dining-living space was turned into a TV room that allows easy access to the extension, while the front room became a more formal social area.
The back reception room beyond the kitchen-dining-living space was turned into a TV room that allows easy access to the extension, while the front room became a more formal social area.
The large fridge-freezer makes efficient use of the space beside the door, leaving one wall of the room available for the run of floorstanding kitchen cabinetry and the range cooker.
Open shelving above the cabinetry is supported by industrial-style copper piping, which complements the exposed brick wall, the copper pendant lights above the island, and the copper tap and cabinetry handles.
Proper Copper Design satin finish copper handles, Etsy.
Tell us…
What do you think of this open-plan living, dining and cooking space? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Proper Copper Design satin finish copper handles, Etsy.
Tell us…
What do you think of this open-plan living, dining and cooking space? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here Devika and Jonathan Rimmer and their baby
Location Earlsfield, southwest London
Property A Victorian terraced house
Room dimensions 8 x 5m
Designer James Bernard of Plus Rooms
Photos by Fine House Photography
This before photo shows that – as with many older homes – the house didn’t make anything of its garden outlook. Also, in common with other Victorian terraces, it had an under-utilised side return. Building into this passageway was key to the success of the extension design.
“We wouldn’t have been able to achieve a large family living space just by extending to the rear,” Bernard says. “It would have made a longer dead zone.”