Suzanna’s 1900s Victorian terrace house, located on Beech Road in Chorlton, Manchester, had a traditional layout with two rear rooms: a very small kitchen and a dark dining room. Despite the south-facing aspect, the narrow windows restricted natural light, making both rooms feel confined and underutilized. The goal of the renovation was to create an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space that would be bright, functional, and suitable for family activities.
The project proposed a single-storey rear extension to provide additional living accommodation. The design focused on maximising natural light and creating a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Tall glazing was introduced to allow natural light to penetrate deep into the living space, addressing the issue of darkness.
The new layout integrated the kitchen, dining, and living areas, transforming them into a single, cohesive space that encourages family interaction.
The kitchen, designed by Kemp Kitchen in Sale, was carefully planned to include ample workspace and storage, while also providing space for a dining table, sofa, and a corner for children’s toys.
“It is fantastic. It’s a pleasure to be in, and we all spend most of our time here as a family. It has achieved what we set out to do. The space now works perfectly for us as a family. Previously, we had two small rooms at the back—a very small kitchen and an underutilized dining room. Despite the south-facing aspect, the dining room was really dark due to narrow windows. Magda was local to Chorlton and really keen to work within my budget, providing practical support and ideas on how to configure the space effectively. The new layout is lovely; sometimes I do yoga in the morning with the sun streaming in, and it ticks all the boxes. It’s a great space for our family and for entertaining friends. The process from start to finish was excellent, with clear communication and invaluable practical advice.”
The extension has successfully transformed the previously dark and cramped spaces into a bright, open-plan living area. The thoughtful design and quality construction have created a functional, welcoming environment that the family enjoys daily. This project underscores the importance of maximising natural light and creating flexible living spaces in modern residential design. The collaboration among the client, architect, structural engineer, and contractor ensured that the project met all expectations and was completed to a high standard. The garden is still being finished, and a follow-up session is planned to review the complete transformation.
Property Type: Terrace
Age of Property: 1900s
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Proposal: Single Storey Extension
Location: Beech Road, Manchester, M21
Council: Manchester City Council
Structural Engineer: Nick Forman, BDI
Building Control: Wendy Dowse, Align Building Control
Architect: Magda Haener, Pride Road Manchester South
Contractor: Ian Blacktop, SE
Kitchen: Kemp Kitchen
Date of Workshop: 25 July 2019
Date of Planning Application: 10 February 2020
Date of Planning Approval: 2 April 2020
Date of Building Regulations Plans Approval: 14 April 2020
It is fantastic. It's a pleasure to be in, and we all spend most of our time here as a family. It has achieved what we set out to do. The space now works perfectly for us as a family. Previously, we had two small rooms at the back—a very small kitchen and an underutilized dining room. Despite the south-facing aspect, the dining room was really dark due to narrow windows. Magda was local to Chorlton and really keen to work within my budget, providing practical support and ideas on how to configure the space effectively. The new layout is lovely; sometimes I do yoga in the morning with the sun streaming in, and it ticks all the boxes. It's a great space for our family and for entertaining friends.
Suzanna
The process from start to finish was excellent, with clear communication and invaluable practical advice.