One of the questions we’re asked most often is:

“What’s the best layout for my house?”

The answer is usually another question.

“How do you live?”

Because two houses can look almost identical from the outside and need completely different solutions on the inside.

These three projects are a good example.

It starts with a conversation – Urmston

Our clients in Urmston knew their Victorian terrace wasn’t working for them.

The kitchen was cut off from the dining room, whoever was cooking missed out on family life, and when friends came over someone always disappeared into another room to make drinks. They also wanted to be able to keep an eye on the children while cooking.

Like many homeowners, they’d already started thinking about solutions before we met.

They had one.

By the end of Magda’s workshop they had five.

Not because we were trying to make things complicated, but because once you start questioning how a house works, there are usually several good answers. Some create a bigger kitchen, some improve storage, some cost less to build, and some make better use of the garden.

Afterwards they told us:

“Before Magda came to see us, we only had one idea. After the workshop, we came away with five different options. It completely changed the way we thought about our home.”

That is exactly what the workshop is for. No pressure to decide on the day. Just time to explore what’s possible before you spend money on drawings or builders.

Then every project takes its own path – Chorlton

The owners of this 1920 semi had different priorities.

They wanted to make the ground floor work better as a whole, rather than simply adding more space. The finished extension gives them a much more connected kitchen and family space, with plenty of daylight and a much stronger relationship with the garden.

One of my favourite details isn’t something most people would notice.

It’s the built-in cat flap tucked neatly beneath the kitchen units.

It might seem like a tiny thing, but that’s what good design is. It’s thinking about how the house is actually used, right down to where the cat comes in.

The workshop drawings looked very different from the finished house, as they should. Ideas evolve. That’s why we sketch, test and refine them before anyone starts building.

Sometimes the biggest difference isn’t the size – Didsbury

Atwood Road is a 1910 semi, and the brief wasn’t to create the biggest extension possible.

The owners were fed up with lots of small rooms, different floor levels and a layout that never seemed to flow naturally.

Opening up the ground floor completely changed the feel of the house.

When we asked what they enjoyed most, they didn’t mention the extra square metres.

They said:

“Everything feels bigger.”

That’s one of my favourite pieces of client feedback because it sums up what we’re trying to achieve.

Good design isn’t just about adding space. It’s about making the space you’ve already got work properly.

This project also reminded us that older houses always have surprises waiting.

When the builders excavated for the foundations they just kept digging. Eventually Building Control came out to site and everyone realised the attached neighbour had a cellar while this house didn’t. Not something anyone had expected when the drawings were produced.

Those are the moments where having the architect, structural engineer and builder working together really matters.