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Smart Ways to Transform a Home Without Extending
Does your home feel cramped, dark or impractical? A clever layout tweak might be all that’s needed
Amanda Pollard
15 June 2022
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
It’s not always essential to extend your home to gain more space, achieve a better sense of flow, or make more use of particular areas. These Houzz professionals have used clever tricks to create a better layout for their clients without the need for additional floor space.
Open up and rearrange
A sloping garden made it difficult to extend this 1920s house, but Chris Jones at Jones Associates Architects found other ways to make the space work for the owners.
“We realised there was enough space in the existing house if we configured it in the right way,” he says.
A sloping garden made it difficult to extend this 1920s house, but Chris Jones at Jones Associates Architects found other ways to make the space work for the owners.
“We realised there was enough space in the existing house if we configured it in the right way,” he says.
The original ground floor was quite boxy, so Chris opened up the rooms to create a broken-plan layout.
The U-shaped kitchen was originally tucked into a recess, so he moved it towards the back to provide a better connection to the garden.
Wondering if there’s unlocked potential in your home? Find an architect or building designer to help you on Houzz.
The U-shaped kitchen was originally tucked into a recess, so he moved it towards the back to provide a better connection to the garden.
Wondering if there’s unlocked potential in your home? Find an architect or building designer to help you on Houzz.
In the vacated recessed area, Chris designed a handy utility space. The room can be accessed through a pocket door at the back of the kitchen.
Discover more ways this family house was rejigged without being extended.
Discover more ways this family house was rejigged without being extended.
Add a corridor
The layout of this Victorian flat was slightly awkward, as the owners had to walk through the central living room to access all other areas of the property. This made it feel like a transitional space, rather than a comfortable living room.
Interior designer Emilie Fournet managed to make that central area more usable and cosy without undertaking any structural work.
The layout of this Victorian flat was slightly awkward, as the owners had to walk through the central living room to access all other areas of the property. This made it feel like a transitional space, rather than a comfortable living room.
Interior designer Emilie Fournet managed to make that central area more usable and cosy without undertaking any structural work.
Emilie fixed a screen between the seating area and the doorway to create a separate passageway from the living room. The mango wood screen lets light through, so although it divides the space, the room doesn’t feel too closed off.
Take a tour of this dingy Victorian flat that gained light and character.
Take a tour of this dingy Victorian flat that gained light and character.
Work with walls and doors
This tiny Dublin flat was given a space boost by architect Eva Byrne of houseology with a few clever layout tweaks. Her plan involved removing and repositioning a few walls and doors.
This tiny Dublin flat was given a space boost by architect Eva Byrne of houseology with a few clever layout tweaks. Her plan involved removing and repositioning a few walls and doors.
Eva removed the wall between the kitchen and living room to create a more spacious area that could also accommodate a dining table and desk zone.
She also rejigged a bathroom and airing cupboard (hot press) to turn the space into a bathroom, en suite and utility cupboard. And to make a little more room in the bedrooms, she moved the doors right to the edges of the wall.
See how this tiny city flat was transformed.
She also rejigged a bathroom and airing cupboard (hot press) to turn the space into a bathroom, en suite and utility cupboard. And to make a little more room in the bedrooms, she moved the doors right to the edges of the wall.
See how this tiny city flat was transformed.
Design a diner
The kitchen in this one-bedroom flat was compact, but designer Omar Bhatti at Space Shack wanted to squeeze in a table for the newly married owners to eat dinner together.
The kitchen in this one-bedroom flat was compact, but designer Omar Bhatti at Space Shack wanted to squeeze in a table for the newly married owners to eat dinner together.
The solution was to remove the door and side wall. This opened up the space and enabled Omar to fit in a simple breakfast bar.
The couple can sit here for a meal and also use it as an extra worksurface.
Visit this small flat given a bright makeover.
The couple can sit here for a meal and also use it as an extra worksurface.
Visit this small flat given a bright makeover.
Peep through
In this Victorian flat, Daniel Rees of REES Architects used a simple trick to make the kitchen feel bigger.
He opened up the solid wall that divided the cookspace from the hallway with an internal window and glass door panels. The glazing brings in lots of light and creates the illusion of more space.
Find out how a tired flat got a light- and space-boosting layout.
In this Victorian flat, Daniel Rees of REES Architects used a simple trick to make the kitchen feel bigger.
He opened up the solid wall that divided the cookspace from the hallway with an internal window and glass door panels. The glazing brings in lots of light and creates the illusion of more space.
Find out how a tired flat got a light- and space-boosting layout.
Move aside
A couple of key moves made the ground floor of this home flow more easily. The first involved the side door, which was originally located where the right-hand kitchen base units are now.
A couple of key moves made the ground floor of this home flow more easily. The first involved the side door, which was originally located where the right-hand kitchen base units are now.
Designer Jessica Preston of Colour + Shape repositioned the opening further along the wall, which allowed her to incorporate more cabinets. This also means people can now enter the dining and living areas directly, rather than walking through the kitchen.
The two studwork nibs near the dining room were also impinging on the space, so Jessica removed them.
The two studwork nibs near the dining room were also impinging on the space, so Jessica removed them.
Without the nibs, the living room and dining room feel open and can be used more effectively.
Take a peek around this open-plan living area in a self-build home.
Tell us…
Would any of these ideas work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Take a peek around this open-plan living area in a self-build home.
Tell us…
Would any of these ideas work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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