This house was a tale of two halves, in a way. There was the main Victorian house which, while filled with character, high ceilings and original features, still suffered from the classic one room per function problem of houses of this era. There was also a separate two-storey annex that was previously used as a separate dwelling. We could see the huge potential of this house and how it could be connected to create a fantastic family home for the future.
The most challenging part of the design was to work out how the unify these two parts of the house to create a whole. We started by creating a full width rear extension that brings together the kitchen, dining and living rooms. This open-plan space has fantastic views and access to the garden and is flooded with light from the sliding doors and generous rooflights. We also rearranged the plan at first floor to create a master bedroom suite, a more efficient family bathroom, a light filled hallway and good-sized bedrooms throughout.
The house looks similar from the front however, when you enter, you are drawn through into the open-plan space by an arched glazed door and the natural light beyond. The space and the garden are revealed to you and the effect is incredible. Shafts of light enter deep into the house from the rooflights and the whole space feels generous and befitting of a house of this size. The house is now ready for family life and works as a whole.
