Rihanna and Neil’s Victorian semi-detached home in Altrincham had several limitations. The kitchen was small, dark, and poorly arranged, making it impractical for family life. The house’s north-facing orientation limited natural light in the kitchen and dining areas. The original layout lacked flow between the kitchen, living, and dining spaces. A chimney breast in the kitchen reduced the usable space, adding to the cramped feeling.

Pride Road Architects worked closely with Rihanna and Neil to address these concerns. To expand the kitchen, Pride Road designed a side-return extension, creating an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space. This maximised the available floor area and created better flow for family living. Large bi-fold doors were incorporated into the rear of the house, opening onto the garden and flooding the new space with light. Additional windows were placed strategically to increase brightness. Pride Road proposed a bold design choice for the removed chimney breast. Instead of hiding the change, the void was filled with contrasting blue engineering bricks, turning it into a striking, intentional design feature that embraced the “scar” left behind. The design also included a downstairs cloakroom and additional storage solutions, making the space not only visually appealing but highly practical.

The renovation delivered on all fronts. The side-return extension created the spacious, open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area the clients desired. The large bi-fold doors brought ample light into the previously dark space, and the connection to the garden improved the overall flow of the home. The decision to embrace the removal of the chimney breast with blue engineering bricks became a focal point in the design, celebrating the home’s transformation while respecting its history. The project in Altrincham was completed within a budget of £75,000 to £80,000, including VAT, and was finished between July and January, with minor delays in the finishing touches. Though the clients encountered some challenges with the quality of the builder’s finishes, they were satisfied with the overall outcome.