Room Tour: An Open-plan Extension Adds Space and Character
Steel-framed doors, parquet flooring and a large island were key additions to this beautiful kitchen and living space
Amanda Pollard
2 August 2019
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
When you’re looking for more space for your family, it can seem as if moving home is the best option, but there’s often an alternative.
The owners of this detached house had lived here for four years. They were keen to stay in the area, but ideally wanted a little more room. With the help of Sara Ripamonti and Amit Malhotra of Aflux Designs, they managed to extend the property and reconfigure the internal layout, allowing them to gain space while staying put.
The owners of this detached house had lived here for four years. They were keen to stay in the area, but ideally wanted a little more room. With the help of Sara Ripamonti and Amit Malhotra of Aflux Designs, they managed to extend the property and reconfigure the internal layout, allowing them to gain space while staying put.
Room at a Glance
Who lives here? A couple and their two young daughters
Location A suburb in north-west London
Property A detached home with four bedrooms and three bathrooms
Room dimensions Around 68 sq m
Designer Sara Ripamonti and Amit Malhotra of Aflux Designs
Photos by Adam Butler
In order to give his clients more space, Amit Malhotra applied for Planning Permission for a two-storey extension at the rear of the detached house.
“It’s in a conservation area, so planning was tricky, but eventually we managed to get permission to extend around four metres,” he says. “We were then able to create an open-plan kitchen-diner, with a master bedroom and bathroom above.”
Who lives here? A couple and their two young daughters
Location A suburb in north-west London
Property A detached home with four bedrooms and three bathrooms
Room dimensions Around 68 sq m
Designer Sara Ripamonti and Amit Malhotra of Aflux Designs
Photos by Adam Butler
In order to give his clients more space, Amit Malhotra applied for Planning Permission for a two-storey extension at the rear of the detached house.
“It’s in a conservation area, so planning was tricky, but eventually we managed to get permission to extend around four metres,” he says. “We were then able to create an open-plan kitchen-diner, with a master bedroom and bathroom above.”
“We wanted to make the kitchen the focal point of the open-plan space, but we also didn’t want it to block the view through to the garden from the hallway,” Amit says. They decided to locate it to the side of the extension, in an original part of the building. From here, the couple can look out to the garden and the rest of the room while they cook.
“We made sure the island was quite large to create a sociable hub,” Amit says. The warm colours and natural materials add to the inviting feel of the space.
A white composite worktop with a simple upstand contrasts with the deep colours of the cabinetry and allows the units and herringbone floor to take centre stage.
Amit added character by fitting a wood-effect laminate worktop at the end of the island.
Kitchen, Day True. Bar stools, Cult Furniture. Kitchen cabinets painted in Sweet Caper, Colourtrend. Tall cabinets painted in Railings; walls painted in Strong White, both Farrow & Ball.
“We made sure the island was quite large to create a sociable hub,” Amit says. The warm colours and natural materials add to the inviting feel of the space.
A white composite worktop with a simple upstand contrasts with the deep colours of the cabinetry and allows the units and herringbone floor to take centre stage.
Amit added character by fitting a wood-effect laminate worktop at the end of the island.
Kitchen, Day True. Bar stools, Cult Furniture. Kitchen cabinets painted in Sweet Caper, Colourtrend. Tall cabinets painted in Railings; walls painted in Strong White, both Farrow & Ball.
The plans show the layout of the newly extended ground floor.
Looking for a professional to help reconfigure your home? Read reviews of architects and building designers in your area.
Looking for a professional to help reconfigure your home? Read reviews of architects and building designers in your area.
Storage in the kitchen consists mainly of drawers, plus there’s a bespoke larder alongside integrated appliances and cabinets to the side of the space.
The island hob has an extractor within it, which allowed space for a decorative steel shelving unit above, built by Amit’s team. Ample storage in the room meant there was no need for wall units, and in fact the owner preferred an open look.
The wall shelves complement the hanging unit and are ideal for displaying plants and kitchen accessories.
Hob, Bora. Appliances, Gaggenau.
The island hob has an extractor within it, which allowed space for a decorative steel shelving unit above, built by Amit’s team. Ample storage in the room meant there was no need for wall units, and in fact the owner preferred an open look.
The wall shelves complement the hanging unit and are ideal for displaying plants and kitchen accessories.
Hob, Bora. Appliances, Gaggenau.
To make the kitchen feel fitted into its surroundings, Amit’s team built around the cabinets and plastered the details. The whole unit fits snugly behind the nib wall.
Amit made the most of the boxed-in area to the left of the tall cabinets to carve out a niche for the toaster and coffee machine.
Amit made the most of the boxed-in area to the left of the tall cabinets to carve out a niche for the toaster and coffee machine.
Discreet plastered-in ceiling spotlights have been strategically positioned in the most functional places, and are complemented by LED strip lights beneath the shelves.
“To allow a Belfast sink to fit against a protruding section of the back wall, we went for a wall-mounted tap,” Amit explains. “It was hard to find, as we wanted it to swivel.”
Tap, Etsy.
“To allow a Belfast sink to fit against a protruding section of the back wall, we went for a wall-mounted tap,” Amit explains. “It was hard to find, as we wanted it to swivel.”
Tap, Etsy.
To the side of the kitchen, Amit created a pantry with open shelving and Victorian tiles on the floor (not seen).
Next to the kitchen is a comfy seating area where the family can watch TV or relax and chat to whoever is in the kitchen. The dining area is located at the other end of the room.
Steel-framed doors open out to the garden, bringing an industrial feel to the space and chiming with the steel shelves in the kitchen.
The beautiful parquet seamlessly carries through to a smooth porcelain patio. “We wanted something that would wear well, would reflect light back into the house, and wouldn’t be too busy against the herringbone,” Amit says.
Steel-framed doors, IQ Glass. Porcelain patio tiles, Spacers.
The beautiful parquet seamlessly carries through to a smooth porcelain patio. “We wanted something that would wear well, would reflect light back into the house, and wouldn’t be too busy against the herringbone,” Amit says.
Steel-framed doors, IQ Glass. Porcelain patio tiles, Spacers.
Amit designed two sets of internal timber doors – these ones leading through from the snug and another set opening from the hallway.
In the dining space beyond, the couple wanted some flexibility in where they placed their furniture and to allow for a larger dining table at some point, so they decided a pendant light would have been too limiting. Instead, Amit installed downlights and fitted classic brass wall lights around the space.
The new extension has given the family plenty of storage and extra space, and the careful design choices add an inviting warmth to their home.
Wall lights, CTO Lighting.
Tell us…
What do you like most about this sociable, open-plan kitchen and living space? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
In the dining space beyond, the couple wanted some flexibility in where they placed their furniture and to allow for a larger dining table at some point, so they decided a pendant light would have been too limiting. Instead, Amit installed downlights and fitted classic brass wall lights around the space.
The new extension has given the family plenty of storage and extra space, and the careful design choices add an inviting warmth to their home.
Wall lights, CTO Lighting.
Tell us…
What do you like most about this sociable, open-plan kitchen and living space? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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Amazing renovation! Great job!
I love the look of the herringbone parquet floor in the kitchen. Is this engineered wood or another material? Is this type of floor waterproof or water resistant for kitchen use?
Amazing work!