Room of the Week: A Striking, Modern Extension to a Period Home
A beautiful glass extension creates a contemporary family kitchen and living space in this 18th century Oxfordshire home
Period homes are bursting with charm, but they rarely feature the kind of open-plan space we 21st century residents crave. In the days before central heating, rooms were designed small to be warm; large, flowing spaces were not practical. This beautiful Oxfordshire house, built in the 1750s, is no exception, but the owners spied an opportunity to remodel it for a contemporary lifestyle by building an extension.
‘The owners couldn’t touch the old part of the house very much and had to take a light-handed approach there,’ says Rob Gelling of Kitchen Architecture, who designed the interior, ‘but extending allowed them to create a new, modern space ideal for family life.’
Now, a gorgeous glass extension opens up the house, allowing the kitchen to flow beyond its original dimensions and dogleg into the newly built space. ‘The main idea behind the design was to allow the owners to really enjoy the garden,’ says Rob. ‘There are only small windows in the old part of the house, so they couldn’t look out at the garden or see their children playing in it. Now, the whole kitchen and living area is designed so they can appreciate the views.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A couple and their two children
Location An Oxfordshire village
Size The overall kitchen-living space is around 1,000 sq ft
Designer Rob Gelling of Kitchen Architecture
‘The owners couldn’t touch the old part of the house very much and had to take a light-handed approach there,’ says Rob Gelling of Kitchen Architecture, who designed the interior, ‘but extending allowed them to create a new, modern space ideal for family life.’
Now, a gorgeous glass extension opens up the house, allowing the kitchen to flow beyond its original dimensions and dogleg into the newly built space. ‘The main idea behind the design was to allow the owners to really enjoy the garden,’ says Rob. ‘There are only small windows in the old part of the house, so they couldn’t look out at the garden or see their children playing in it. Now, the whole kitchen and living area is designed so they can appreciate the views.’
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A couple and their two children
Location An Oxfordshire village
Size The overall kitchen-living space is around 1,000 sq ft
Designer Rob Gelling of Kitchen Architecture
The living space in the extension is the perfect place to sit with a drink before dinner. ‘It’s one of two living areas in this whole kitchen-living space with soft seating,’ says Rob. ‘It’s used a lot when the family is entertaining.’
A big, open-plan space calls for large-scale furniture, and this handsome table can seat eight comfortably.
Essay table, Fritz Hansen, available at Aram Store. Wishbone chairs by Hans J Wegner, available at The Conran Shop.
Essay table, Fritz Hansen, available at Aram Store. Wishbone chairs by Hans J Wegner, available at The Conran Shop.
The roof of the extension is planted with sedum. ‘It’s overlooked,’ Rob explains, ‘but the planting means the owners don’t have to gaze down on a sea of grey roofing.’
An informal bar sits at right angles to the kitchen’s central island and connects with a smaller island within the extension. ‘The bar bridges the two areas,’ says Rob. ‘Friends can sit here with a drink while the owners cook, and the children use it, too, for breakfast or doing their homework.’
Check out 10 reasons to work an island into your scheme
Check out 10 reasons to work an island into your scheme
The kitchen cabinetry is all from Bulthaup’s b3 range. ‘Both islands are in a warm-toned Clay laminate, which is tough and durable, so it’s ideal for withstanding family life and also easy to keep clean,’ says Rob.
He chose structured oak for the tall wall of cabinets. ‘I wanted some texture to tie in with the rest of the house, but it had to be understated, too, to fit in well,’ says Rob. ‘The oak has a prolific grain, but it’s been treated with a white stain, which neutralises and softens its appearance.’
Bulthaup b3 kitchen, bulthaup by Kitchen Architecture. Ovens, Gaggenau.
He chose structured oak for the tall wall of cabinets. ‘I wanted some texture to tie in with the rest of the house, but it had to be understated, too, to fit in well,’ says Rob. ‘The oak has a prolific grain, but it’s been treated with a white stain, which neutralises and softens its appearance.’
Bulthaup b3 kitchen, bulthaup by Kitchen Architecture. Ovens, Gaggenau.
A second seating area, close to the central island, is a relaxed space for a coffee. ‘The children can also sit here to watch TV while the owners are preparing meals,’ says Rob. ‘It means the family can all be together in the same space while doing their own thing.’ From here, there is access to the living space in the extension through a wide opening, which allows the entire space to flow.
The steep pitched ceiling in what was the original kitchen gives the space a light, airy feel. ‘The owners wanted to get as much equipment into the newly designed kitchen as possible,’ says Rob, ‘so we used this long wall and built tall furniture into it. You always need a certain amount of tall furniture for fridges, freezers and raised ovens, but this also contains a raised dishwasher!’
The island is the main prep area and contains two sinks and the hob. ‘You can work all around it,’ says Rob, ‘but we didn’t want a kettle and toaster sitting on it, so they are stored in an appliance cupboard within the tall wall.’ This is fitted with pocket doors, which neatly fold away at the sides. Shelves above hold cups and glasses, there is a cutlery drawer below and the dishwasher is situated to the left. ‘It’s a very efficient area, with everything, from dishwasher to storage, close by,’ says Rob.
Fusion tap, Quooker. Pendant lights, Michael Anastassiades.
Fusion tap, Quooker. Pendant lights, Michael Anastassiades.
The central island in the kitchen is connected via a bar area to a smaller island. ‘This small island functions as a sideboard,’ says Rob, ‘and contains all the things you need for the dining table next to it, such as napkins and place mats. It’s also a drinks cabinet.’
The steep pitch of the roof allows plenty of light into the kitchen space. ‘The ceiling is very high, so for aesthetics, we fitted a recirculating extractor, which does not require ducting out.’
Wing extractor, bulthaup by Kitchen Architecture.
Wing extractor, bulthaup by Kitchen Architecture.
Rob chose oversized ceramic tiles for the floor in the kitchen. ‘They measure 2.5m x 1.2m and, because they have very few joins, look a lot like polished concrete,’ he says.
Neolith flooring, Thesize.
Neolith flooring, Thesize.
Sliding doors on the extension give seamless access onto the wraparound terrace and create a sense of connection with the beautiful garden. The glass panel in the terrace allows light into a games room below.
TELL US…
Are you inspired by this spacious extension? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Are you inspired by this spacious extension? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Visit another 18th century home with a striking extension