A family recently got in touch about their detached 1960s house in Hazel Grove.
They moved in last November and see it as their long-term home. The location works well, the children’s schools are nearby and they do not want to move again. The problem is that the house is already starting to feel too small.
They are a family of four, with children aged three and six. At the moment, their eldest is in a small bedroom and one parent also needs somewhere to work from home.
The house currently has three bedrooms, an integral garage and a small eaves space above it, accessed through one of the bedrooms.
Their first thought was to build over the garage. That could create one large principal bedroom or two reasonably sized bedrooms, depending on how the first floor is reorganised.
They are also considering extending across the back of the house to create a larger kitchen, dining and living space with a much better connection to the garden.
On paper, it sounds fairly straightforward. In reality, there are quite a few things to work through.
It isn’t just about adding space
The main challenge upstairs is access.
To reach any new rooms above the garage, we may need to take some space from an existing bedroom. That room could perhaps become an office or a smaller bedroom, but it still needs to work properly and make sense if the house is sold in the future.
The bathroom also needs replacing, and there is an old airing cupboard and water tank taking up space on the landing. Moving or removing these could open up other options for the layout.
Downstairs, the boiler needs replacing quite urgently. The family also wants to improve the entrance, which currently has a separate glazed porch that becomes cold and damp in winter.
All of these jobs are connected. Replacing the boiler, changing the bathroom or removing cupboards now could affect what is possible later.
That is why it makes sense to look at the whole house before starting any individual piece of work.
Looking at every option
The next step is a Concept Design Workshop.
I will measure and draw the existing house, then we spend the day exploring different ways it could work.
We’ll test building over the garage, a two-storey side extension, different rear extension options and whether the loft could play a part.
Just as importantly, we’ll look at how the rooms connect together. Sometimes the answer isn’t a bigger extension – it’s a better layout.
By the end of the workshop, homeowners usually have several workable options, a much clearer understanding of costs and a realistic plan for moving forward.
A masterplan before you start building
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is tackling projects one at a time.
A new boiler, then a bathroom, then an extension.
Before long, they’re paying twice for work because nobody looked at the house as a whole.
Creating a masterplan doesn’t mean you have to build everything at once. It simply means every decision supports the long-term plan, whether you complete the project in one phase or over several years.
For this family, the goal is a home with enough bedrooms, a proper home office and a kitchen-living space that works for everyday family life.
The workshop will help them decide the best way to get there.
Thinking about extending your home?
If you’re wondering whether to extend, remodel or even move, a Concept Design Workshop is designed to help you explore the possibilities before committing to expensive drawings or building work.
We’ll measure your home, develop several design options together and create a clear roadmap for your project, whether you’re planning a rear extension, extending over a garage, converting a loft or completely reconfiguring your layout.
If you’d like to discuss your project, get in touch to book an initial consultation. It could save you thousands of pounds by helping you make the right decisions before work begins.
