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Design Dilemma
min266

Kitchen extension - north london

min266
7 years ago

We are currently in the process of purchasing an end of
terrace property in North London, it’s an old house and requires quite a lot of
work (total rewire, gas, plumbing etc.). In particular, we’d be interested in
some advice on how to approach the back of the house which is currently a
kitchen, living area, utility and bathroom. We are considering:

  • Removal of the back of the kitchen (currently a
    very old utility and bathroom) and to extend this further out into the garden and
    removal of the existing wall on the side of the kitchen to extend this to the
    side of the house. This work should not require planning permission.
  • Within this space we would like to include a new kitchen with an island, a living area,
    dining table and also a small utility kitchen and bathroom (toilet and basin) - to the extent possible!

We are not sure how best to approach this to get a quote – is our first
call speaking to an architect about the extension and structural works? Or
would we be best to speak to a kitchen designer/ interior designer about how
best to use the space and then discuss this with an architect? Or would it be best to seek out a company that
could do everything for us? We are on a tight budget so would like to make
the process as efficient as possible and keen to get the best out of the space
we have.

Featured Answer
  • PRO
    Burchdaume
    7 years ago

    Min266, from what you say, it sounds like you should discuss your brief with an Architect first and get some ideas for what you can do for your budget for Groundworks and Building Works. Then you might request a proposal from an interior designer as you go out to tender. We prefer to be involved early on...the ideas generated will help create a better cohesive result. There is no right or wrong - there are excellent design and build companies, architects with in-house interior designers and interior designers....all are different skills. Perhaps think about what skills you think most important to you, how complex are the interior finishes? what standard are you hoping to achieve? By all means get in touch with us if you need more help.

    Comments (11)

    • min266
      Original Author
      7 years ago

      Thanks for the advice! I think the most important things to us will be the kitchen (shaker style with clever storage solutions) and the aesthetics of the extension (glass ceiling and style of back wall (bifolding doors etc) - which is why we weren't sure where to start, ideally the architect and kitchen designer would input into the whole design. The utility, bathroom and living area would likely be quite simple.

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    • min266
      Original Author
      7 years ago

      I should add that I'm not sure where we would put the bathroom and utility given we want to bring as much light in as possible from the garden, so placement would also be important.

    • PRO
      Burchdaume
      7 years ago

      min266 yes it sounds like an architect & kitchen design and install might best work for you...when you are using bi-folds etc think about window treatments too, are the tracks to be recessed etc

      min266 thanked Burchdaume
    • PRO
      The Myers Touch
      7 years ago

      Min266, here at the Myers Touch we offer architectural and interior design services that move hand in hand with your architectural programme. We highly recommend that you involve the kitchen specialist early on in the process, for best results. It is essential for a kitchen specialist to have the ability to collaborate with your selected architect and consider the aesthetic and functionality of your project all along. Ideally for us, we would want to meet with our clients right after they have selected their architect and are getting ready to shape the space. This will allow your kitchen specialist to incorporate and design details with the rest of the architecture of the house without sacrificing any of your wants and needs. Involving a kitchen specialist late in the project, usually results to restrictions and eventually complications.

      We hope this helps

      The Myers Touch Team


    • PRO
      Kitchenpod - Temporary Kitchen Hire (Home use)
      7 years ago

      Hello. please put up a floor plan if you have one. To wet the appetite I would suggest searching under 'side return extension' in both Photos and Stories here on Houzz. It is a common project so a one stop shop with both kitchen and architectural skillsets will probably be the best solution. It will be worthwhile trying to keep a toilet on the ground floor. Knowing your budget will be key to what compromises (if any) you will need to make during this process. Best of luck, Ed

    • PRO
      McCann Moore Architects
      7 years ago
      hi min266
      seek out an architect who specialises in residential design, quite often they will have strong views on where the kitchen should go, it's layout and relationship with the rest of the house. Dont treat the kitchen in isolation, it needs to blend seamlessly with the rest of the house. once you have a strong idea/concept then seek out a good kitchen designer. this isn't a snub in any way to kitchen designers as I also own a kitchen business, but sometimes it's important to see the big picture before focusing on the details
    • PRO
      OnePlan
      7 years ago
      If you need a good freelance kitchen designer book early ! ( we are now booking projects for October !)

      Getting the kitchen design drawn up with 'one to one' time with your designer, ( we work remotely, but can design with you in on each stage via email ) so you get the kitchen just how it works best for you - then you can shop around and compare like for like when buying your kitchen.

      We often are brought on board at a very early stage so that the overall design can achieved with any slight changes to window /door placement in the Architects drawings, if needed, for a very cohesive look.
    • min266
      Original Author
      7 years ago

      Thanks everyone this is all super helpful! I will upload a floor plan asap.

    • PRO
      Absolute Project Management
      7 years ago

      Dear Min266. When starting your project the first stage would be to set a budget and consult a professional in regards to how this will affect your design choices, finishes and how the extension is built. We advise speaking either to a local Project Management firm who specialise in house extensions or a local Architect who has lots of experience working on small residential projects and will be able to tell you the likely costs and choices you need to make to fit in your budget. Whilst hiring a professional can be costly; they will invariably save you money through good advice, excellent design and helping you avoid costly delays or problems.

      We also advise you consider- the level of finish you require. This can vastly affect the budget as kitchens can cost anywhere from 5k to 70k; we suggest £20k as a rough budget based on a mid/ high end kitchen with good quality new appliances and fittings.

      Finally you should also think about whether or not you will live at the property through the works. Living through building work can be stressful and very dusty, however if you get a good building firm this can be manageable and you will save lots in not having to rent elsewhere.

      See this blog post we wrote for other helpful tips- Build an extension – getting started…

      If you want further help/ advice please get in touch; we help organise extension and renovation projects from start to finish and can advise on budgeting, suggesting and appointing professionals such as Architects, Structural Engineers and Building Control. See one of our recent extension projects for reference-W3, railway cottage extension

      Hope this helps!

    • ianthy
      7 years ago

      We have just completed a similar project on our home in North London. Personally, I started with our local council - are you in a conservation area? this will impact the permissions that you need etc., You can also carry out searches of past planning applications to see what neighbouring properties had approved or not. A chat with your local planning officer normally costs nothing plus he/she will def know of other properties in the road/area that have had a similar project completed. I would try and do this before you commit fully to the house. You might be surprised, there are some roads/areas that will not allow side returns. You could also book an architect for a short session say 1 hour - more to discuss ideas and approach.

      Your research will tell you about permitted development, so you might not need full planning permission. In our case, due to the fact we are in a conservation area we needed full planning permission for a side return, party wall, structural calcs, building control etc., We viewed a number of projects completed by architects and turnkey co's specialising in side returns and decided that we could achieve the same if not better for a lower price. We used a builder that had done work for us before and we are very happy with the results. We paid for a couple of visits from our structural engineer at key stages of the project, which saved money and helped to manage risk. You could consider this route but it depends on your level of building experience.

      The best advice is not to be in too much of a hurry - take your time and really get the planning stages of your project right - especially the budget and end result you want to achieve before engaging any professionals.

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