6 Times Houzz Professionals Made the Most of a Middle Room
Worried extending your home might create an awkward central space? See how these designers maximised every inch
When you add an extension to the back of your property, you could be left with a middle room that you’re not sure how best to utilise. Take a look at how designers on Houzz have cleverly planned these central spaces to add function, light, and a better connection to the rest of the home.
The central space works as a link between the three rooms and ensures light passes from one end to the other.
See more of this broken-plan space that feels light and connected.
See more of this broken-plan space that feels light and connected.
Work with what you’ve got
When designing a rear extension for this Victorian home, the team at REES Architects could have been tempted to create a large, open-plan kitchen-diner. However, they wanted to take a more careful approach in order to preserve the character of the period building, so the original rear wall was kept in place, creating a separate room behind the division.
The architects located the kitchen in this middle space and removed the window glazing to create an opening. The side return extension helps to connect the two spaces, while a rooflight over the dining table illuminates the whole area.
Take a look around this smart extension that transformed a tired Victorian house.
When designing a rear extension for this Victorian home, the team at REES Architects could have been tempted to create a large, open-plan kitchen-diner. However, they wanted to take a more careful approach in order to preserve the character of the period building, so the original rear wall was kept in place, creating a separate room behind the division.
The architects located the kitchen in this middle space and removed the window glazing to create an opening. The side return extension helps to connect the two spaces, while a rooflight over the dining table illuminates the whole area.
Take a look around this smart extension that transformed a tired Victorian house.
Tuck in a cooking zone
A similar approach was taken in this ground floor flat, as the architects at Resi were careful to keep the original structural wall and chimney breast in the centre of the room.
A kitchen in the extension would have taken up too much space, so the team decided to locate the cooking area in the middle room behind the chimney breast.
A similar approach was taken in this ground floor flat, as the architects at Resi were careful to keep the original structural wall and chimney breast in the centre of the room.
A kitchen in the extension would have taken up too much space, so the team decided to locate the cooking area in the middle room behind the chimney breast.
The kitchen has been designed in a galley layout, with storage along the fireplace wall and work space along the other one.
Once again, the side-return extension helps to connect the two spaces and, in this case, a glazed roof brings light into the windowless kitchen. To add to the feeling of flow, the kitchen can also be accessed from the hallway.
Find out how a side-return extension brightened this Victorian flat.
If you think your home could have a better layout, contact a local architect and start the conversation.
Once again, the side-return extension helps to connect the two spaces and, in this case, a glazed roof brings light into the windowless kitchen. To add to the feeling of flow, the kitchen can also be accessed from the hallway.
Find out how a side-return extension brightened this Victorian flat.
If you think your home could have a better layout, contact a local architect and start the conversation.
Maximise a walk-through area
The kitchen was originally located at the back of this house, but owner and designer Mel Massey decided to move it to the central area. The space would have been used as a thoroughfare, so it made sense to maximise it with a galley cooking zone.
The streamlined design gives it a spacious feel, and the glossy door and drawer fronts reflect light around the room and through to the spaces either side.
The kitchen was originally located at the back of this house, but owner and designer Mel Massey decided to move it to the central area. The space would have been used as a thoroughfare, so it made sense to maximise it with a galley cooking zone.
The streamlined design gives it a spacious feel, and the glossy door and drawer fronts reflect light around the room and through to the spaces either side.
By creating a kitchen in this spot, Mel has connected the original, old part at the front of the house to the new, modern space at the back.
See how a couple brought a family feel to their Victorian home.
See how a couple brought a family feel to their Victorian home.
Make to measure
The middle zone in this home has become the dining room, and connects the rear living area to the kitchen at the front.
The narrow space had to accommodate a large dining table, so architect Trevor Brown created a niche and tucked in a bench seat and the table.
The middle zone in this home has become the dining room, and connects the rear living area to the kitchen at the front.
The narrow space had to accommodate a large dining table, so architect Trevor Brown created a niche and tucked in a bench seat and the table.
In order to do this, the team had to borrow space from the hallway, so they installed a new wall right next to the staircase.
Tour more of this Victorian home with a smart layout and storage.
Tour more of this Victorian home with a smart layout and storage.
Move light around
Before the owners of this Victorian maisonette arrive in their beautiful extension, they need to pass through the central kitchen. Architect Lior Brosh of Brosh Architects decided to locate the cookspace in this middle area on the lower ground floor, as it’s the first room you come to from the entrance hall, which makes it easy to dump shopping bags.
Before the owners of this Victorian maisonette arrive in their beautiful extension, they need to pass through the central kitchen. Architect Lior Brosh of Brosh Architects decided to locate the cookspace in this middle area on the lower ground floor, as it’s the first room you come to from the entrance hall, which makes it easy to dump shopping bags.
At the front is the living room, so the middle kitchen, open on both sides, provides a handy link between the two spaces.
The front of the property has less light than the back, so Lior also used this kitchen space as a light transfer. White, high-gloss units are useful here, as they help to reflect sunlight from the garden through into the living room.
Visit the rest of this Victorian flat that was given a sympathetic makeover.
Tell us…
Would any of these ideas work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Visit the rest of this Victorian flat that was given a sympathetic makeover.
Tell us…
Would any of these ideas work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The pitched-roof side extension at the rear of this Victorian flat was already in place when the architects at BLOCK Design & Build were brought in, but it felt disconnected from the rest of the house. There was a doorway that led to the middle room, but the living room at the front was blocked off by a wall.
The team opened up the three spaces by creating a wide doorway from the living room to the kitchen, enabling the middle area to be connected to both the front and back of the property.