Room Tour: Extending Helps Turn a Bachelor Pad into a Family Home
The owners of this period house were planning to sell after their extension was finished – until they saw the results
A one bedroom flat that had never been modernised was just fine when the owner was a bachelor. Time passed, though, bringing marriage and a child, and it felt like the right moment to update the property and sell it on. But the total transformation took the family by surprise. “They were so amazed by the results, they decided to stay there,” architect Laura Petruso says.
The flat’s location on the lower-ground floor of a four-storey Victorian terrace gave owners Jonny and Sandie the opportunity to extend into the side return, as well as use some of the rear garden to expand their home. The upshot? A one-bedroom flat became a two-bed, with a spacious and light-filled open-plan living, dining and kitchen area.
The flat’s location on the lower-ground floor of a four-storey Victorian terrace gave owners Jonny and Sandie the opportunity to extend into the side return, as well as use some of the rear garden to expand their home. The upshot? A one-bedroom flat became a two-bed, with a spacious and light-filled open-plan living, dining and kitchen area.
Laura located the living area towards the centre of the flat, leaving the kitchen and dining table positioned nearer to the garden.
The family frequently have friends round and the new layout enables everyone to share the space comfortably.
Bar stools, Calligaris.
The family frequently have friends round and the new layout enables everyone to share the space comfortably.
Bar stools, Calligaris.
It was essential the extension didn’t leave the flat dark, so Laura created a lightwell at the end of the side return. Floor-to-ceiling glazing onto the little outdoor space brings extra daylight into the back of the room.
To maximise the light, the open-plan space is painted white, except for the rear wall in the living area, where a dark finish creates a cosy feel and makes the area distinct.
Dark wall painted in Anthracite Grey (RAL7016), Dulux. Robin Day Club sofas, Loft.
To maximise the light, the open-plan space is painted white, except for the rear wall in the living area, where a dark finish creates a cosy feel and makes the area distinct.
Dark wall painted in Anthracite Grey (RAL7016), Dulux. Robin Day Club sofas, Loft.
There isn’t a door between the new room and the hallway. “The flat is very long and the hall is narrow. Because it’s a lower-ground floor, if there was a door, the corridor would be dark and feel closed,” Laura explains. This way, the flow of light isn’t blocked.
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Underfloor heating wasn’t in the budget, so stylish vertical radiators were chosen for the room. “If they’re tall, you can furnish more,” Laura says.
The architect positioned a skylight in the side return extension, along with two above the kitchen and dining area in the rear addition. “It would have been too dark without them,” she says.
The architect positioned a skylight in the side return extension, along with two above the kitchen and dining area in the rear addition. “It would have been too dark without them,” she says.
Laura placed the TV on the wall opposite the sofa with a wall-hung unit underneath. This cupboard, like the one in the dining area (see below), was commissioned from a joiner. “The couple wanted to have simple and consistent furnishings in plywood and white,” Laura says.
Floating the furniture was also key. “It makes the room feel bigger and keeps the floor consistently clear,” she says. “You don’t end up with legs collecting dust.”
To the right of the TV screen, storage with a push-click door was built discreetly into the room.
Floating the furniture was also key. “It makes the room feel bigger and keeps the floor consistently clear,” she says. “You don’t end up with legs collecting dust.”
To the right of the TV screen, storage with a push-click door was built discreetly into the room.
The kitchen overlooks the garden, and an island separates it from the dining area. The white finish of the cabinetry links it to the room’s other storage furniture, and helps keep the room bright. The worksurface is made from practical quartz, also in a reflective finish.
Maximising light was crucial, even at the garden end of the room. “Although the back of the flat is at garden level, behind the back wall is a railway that’s higher, so there’s even less light [than there might have been],” Laura says. “The ceiling isn’t very high, and there was no margin to raise it.”
Maximising light was crucial, even at the garden end of the room. “Although the back of the flat is at garden level, behind the back wall is a railway that’s higher, so there’s even less light [than there might have been],” Laura says. “The ceiling isn’t very high, and there was no margin to raise it.”
The kitchen units are streamlined and handle-free. “The owners were after something simple,” Laura says. “They both like cooking, but they didn’t want the kitchen to occupy too much of the space.”
Kitchen, Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery.
Kitchen, Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery.
The island was fitted with a wooden panel. “Otherwise there would have been too much white,” Laura says. “And it blends with the wooden floor.”
The dining area is located beside the sliding doors that lead out to the garden. As in the living room, simple plywood and white storage is wall-hung. “The owners were very careful to choose furniture that was minimal in terms of volume, and beautiful,” Laura says.
Dining table and chairs, Calligaris.
Dining table and chairs, Calligaris.
Laura fitted sliding doors, which open without intruding into the interior or exterior and provide generous garden views. Full-height fixed glazing brings light from the rear into the kitchen area.
Underfoot, oak flooring with the boards laid vertically down the room visually lengthens the space to make the extended room feel as large as possible.
Sliding doors and fixed glazing, Velfac. Oak flooring, The Natural Wood Floor Company.
Underfoot, oak flooring with the boards laid vertically down the room visually lengthens the space to make the extended room feel as large as possible.
Sliding doors and fixed glazing, Velfac. Oak flooring, The Natural Wood Floor Company.
The outside decking was laid in the same direction as the flooring inside to make the space appear longer. Meanwhile, the extension was given a white rendered finish that boosts light in the enclosed area.
The garden is bounded by natural pine lattice wood fencing that maintains the linear feel and chimes with the decking outside and wood flooring inside.
A minimal canopy above the deck shades the garden when the sun’s out.
Tell us…
What do you like best about this open-plan room? Let us know in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What do you like best about this open-plan room? Let us know in the Comments section.
Who lives here? Jonny and Sandie Campbell and their son, Lucas
Location Battersea, London
Property A lower-ground floor flat in a Victorian terraced house
Room dimensions 35 sq m
Designer Laura Petruso at Alpex Architecture
Builders IDP Construction
Photos by French+Tye
Laura completely reconfigured the layout of the flat, as well as enlarging it. The master bedroom was moved to the front, the middle room became a second bedroom, and the extended rear of the flat is a combined living, dining and cooking space.