Celia’s characterful semi-detached Monton home is in need of a rear kitchen extension. This is to capitalise on and enhance the existing living quarters, while making it more practical to navigate and family friendly. As well as introducing increased light and space, Celia is keen to make the most of her large garden and add more storage, including a designated area for her children’s toys. This is why she turned to Magda from Pride Road Manchester for expert advice.
Happy to help, we carried out a full day Concept Design Workshop with Celia. During the consultation, we reviewed the existing ground floor layout to see how this could be enhanced by a clever combination of rear and side kitchen extension and reconfiguration ideas.
Celia’s home currently comprises a downstairs front living room, middle dining room and rear kitchen. She would like to build on this by using the space at the rear of the kitchen for the extension and possibly changing the overall footprint, should this prove beneficial to the family. I was also asked to keep in mind how I might incorporate an existing side garage extension into our plans, if and where relevant.
That said, I carefully took the needs of Celia and her family into consideration, devising an array of extension ideas to help their beloved home truly come into its own, while working to scale and keeping within budget. My primary task was to make better use of the long, narrow galley kitchen and connect it to the distinctly separate living room to create a cohesive, light, modern and open plan area.
I drew up four options to extend and reconfigure the ground floor living space
All plans are to scale
First off, I looked at a side extension to the rear of the property that would coax the kitchen into the garden, while taking into consideration an existing pond which Celia was keen to preserve. This extension would offer increased light and access to the darkest part of the home, the middle dining room, with a pocket door taking people from there into the living room. A newly-instated kitchen island would ensure good views of both the garden and ground floor, perfect for keeping an eye on the family while doing the cooking.
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For this proposal I took the same extension and overall footprint as seen in option one but instead allowed the space to accommodate a long and inviting dining kitchen island that the family can congregate around at mealtimes.
Off the kitchen, I planned for a downstairs toilet and utility room that offers direct access into the garden. In the darker centre of the property, essential new storage and cupboard space would be created. Furthermore, a set of sliding doors to the rear of the kitchen would open up the view of the garden and introduce increased fluidity between the home’s interior and exterior.
For further ways to maximise your kitchen space, take a look at our top tips here
My third idea involved a slightly smaller extension that takes up less of the garden and would place the kitchen in the centre of the ground floor, with the dining table moved to the current galley space. Given that the middle portion of the property is the darkest part of Celia’s home, sunlight would be allowed to filter through with the addition of rooflights. This option would also make way for new cupboards, storage space and an attractive kitchen island. The crowning glory would be a cosy living area, complete with soft furnishings.
Meanwhile, the area between the rear kitchen and front living room would be blocked off and transformed into a utility room and downstairs toilet. The garden would also receive special treatment with a newly paved patio complete with overhanging roof to ensure shade for the family during the summer months.
Find out how you can create space with your kitchen type here.
This proposal offered the most drastic change, with a modern, large and squared off extension, built to accommodate the family’s kitchen, dining and living arrangements. The extra space would also ensure the inclusion of extra storage, a kitchen island, a play area and living room additions such as a sofa.
A utility room would be positioned in between the front room and the kitchen, alongside an extra bathroom fitted with a toilet, washbasin and shower. This option would also allow for the installation of a handy cloakroom.
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Celia requested increased space, light, storage and room functionality for a truly family oriented home and her wishes were imaginatively represented in the four options I presented following our Concept Design Workshop.
When it came to the property’s existing side garage extension, I ascertained that if it were to be used in the plans, it would need to undergo a complete redesign. As there is plenty of space to be explored throughout the house and garden, we all agreed that it would be more cost-effective and less inconvenient to build an extension from scratch than to convert the garage.
For my part, I enjoyed providing a full range of options that were all realistic to achieve, showcased exactly what could be done with the property and came within Celia’s scale and budget. I also managed to move the dining table away form the darkest middle part of the home, locating it in lighter areas where it would benefit from natural daylight. This also means that the children can do their homework and enjoy meals while looking out onto the garden.
Celia says: “The house wasn’t practical for a family. We wanted a kitchen extension, space to work in and storage so we could hide all the toys. Magda from Pride Road came up with lots of practical solutions.
“We like options three and four as they include really good ideas for where to put the kitchen, dining and family areas. We’re really pleased we have something to work with now so thank you very much.”
The next steps include obtaining quotes from builders, fitters and engineers, helping to complete the project within budget, while offering a comfortable home that everyone can enjoy. Pride Road’s hand-drawings are to scale so the clients and builders can measure from them to get first cost estimates.
Would you like to change your house to create more space? Book a workshop
The house wasn’t practical for a family. We wanted a kitchen extension, space to work in and storage so we could hide all the toys. Magda from Pride Road came up with lots of practical solutions.
Celia
We’re really pleased we have something to work with now so thank you very much.
I enjoyed providing a full range of options that were all realistic to achieve, showcased exactly what could be done with the property and came within Celia’s scale and budget.
Celia requested increased space, light, storage and room functionality for a truly family oriented home and her wishes were imaginatively represented in the four options I presented following the Concept Design Workshop.
Pride Road
