In brief Location, location, location When looking for your perfect home where you can put down your grass roots and start a family there are many ‘must haves’ that we all have on our wish lists. The obvious contenders are price and location with many other niceties, like the number of bedrooms, layout and decor taking a back seat. As we all know, location can sell a home to those who strive to be in the right area, for transport links, local amenities and the all-important school catchment areas. Like many other families throughout the UK our clients chose their house for its excellent location. Just ten minutes from the centre of Stafford by car, our client’s house is in a popular and sought-after suburb of the town for couples and families alike. They have always loved the location of their house for its easy access to work, schools, leisure facilities and social connections, but they were becoming increasingly frustrated with the layout of the ground floor of their home. It’s inevitable that families will evolve and our needs from our properties will change too. Since the young family of four moved to their large four-bedroom detached house a few years ago, their property has been unable to meet their lifestyle needs and living patterns. Although their property has adequate bedroom space for them and their two children, the layout of the downstairs living area was not functional and it obstructed their everyday life, making entertaining and family gatherings difficult. Our First Meeting Upon our initial consultation with our clients it was clear from the outset why they sought to make changes to the layout of their house. The property had been extended to create extra space by the previous owners, but unfortunately the design and build hadn’t been executed well at all. The rooms and layout were awkward in size and shape and it didn’t allow the family to come together and enjoy their home. They had the floor space, but it was sectioned off into separate rooms, some without a purpose. The garden surrounds the house on all three sides and is of a good size in its entirety with different areas on each aspect. We could clearly see that the house itself didn’t address any particular aspect of the garden in any way. Moving to a new house wasn’t an option, the family were happy with the location and size of the property. What they wanted was a modern, functional, stylish space for everyday family life, with the flexibility to accommodate their large extended family when needed and to ultimately add value to their property. We were appointed by our clients to create a design solution to redesign the ground floor living area with a modern, light filled, open plan space that connects with the garden. It was clear from outset that our design intention was to break down the room barriers and to respond to the needs of the family, supporting their lifestyle now and for the future, bringing them together and creating a house they could call a home. Delivering a project on time and within our client’s budget are always a top priority for our team. The family decided to stay in their house during construction, therefore it was even more essential to minimise the level of disruption to their daily lifestyle with a young family living on site. The family needed help from our team at Croft Architecture to swiftly and successfully acquire Building Control Approval for their project to progress rapidly, ensuring project completion on time and to their determined budget. Our Approach Surveying the site The client’s home is located on the entrance to a quiet cul-de-sac on a mature, leafy, suburban housing estate. Their home nestles into its well-established site, with ample space between the neighbouring properties and has considerable garden space to the rear and both sides. During our initial visit we spent a long time with the family observing the existing layout, talking about how they currently live in the property, their annoyances with the house in its current form, how they would like to be able to live in their family home and how they aspired it to feel, look and live. We walked through the house and it was clear that the existing layout didn’t work downstairs. The house had been extended onto before they had bought the property and the space hadn’t been well thought through in terms of how it would be used effectively. The rooms directly to the left off the hallway, didn’t really have a proper function. The previously extended space had resulted in the house with too many rooms and subsequently this had led to a series of impractical spaces. The long and narrow extension was home to a small U-shaped kitchen at the front of the house, which led onto the dining area and then onto a small room at the back of the extension. For the size of the house the kitchen and dining room in a much smaller and narrower area, leaving larger living areas to the rear of property with copious amounts of dead space. The small kitchen was tucked away at the front of the property which made life difficult for our clients to observe their children playing safely in the garden whilst preparing food and carrying out work in the kitchen. On the opposite side of the property there was another old extension which had a step down into it. This living area had a tiled floor and large glazed windows on all sides which made it feel almost like a conservatory.This area was rarely used by the family as it had no real function, plus it was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It had become an under utilised space. We walked around the property and it was clear that the house itself didn’t address their private garden space to any particular aspect in any way, meaning that the garden space was under used because of the poor connections. The family wanted a combined kitchen, dining, lounge space for daily life and also for entertaining their family. Design Approach The size of the property presented the opportunity to substantially reconfigure the family home to create a series of dynamic living spaces oriented towards the large, south-facing garden. Our team suggested removing the little kitchen from the front of the property and re positioning it within the unused glazed space at the back of the house. The glazed room had internal French doors with a step down into the space separating it from the lounge. We proposed to remove the French doors, level the floor and make it into one room with the existing lounge. To connect the new open plan kitchen and living space to the rear and side garden sliding and folding doors were the solution, extending the family’s usable living space by creating a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. There was already a patio area there and it made sense for the kitchen to move to the rear of the house to be close to the patio for easy outside dining. It was therefore logical to retain the existing living space in it's current location next to the new kitchen, maintaining the natural flow of the house for the family after eating and entertaining in the kitchen. When making decisions regarding the kitchen design, we worked closely with the family. They thoroughly enjoy spending time cooking and entertaining with their large extended family. To assist with their culinary preparations our clients had aspired to have an induction hob within their new kitchen. As they were working through the design with us, they weren’t sure about an induction hob because of different cooking methods required for certain meals that they like to produce. They particularly like making chapatis which require a round pan and a gas hob. We didn’t see this as a problem and suggested having a single gas burner for purely this purpose whilst still installing an induction hob. They decided to go ahead with our idea, choosing a single gas burner and an induction hob, and it looks great! The existing lounge space had a corner aspect at the rear property that protruded into the garden. Positioned next to the kitchen and dining space it seemed logical to us for the living area to also open out onto the patio, thus connecting the garden to the house on a wider aspect. To enhance the connection between the garden and the living room we thought that a corner door would work extremely well to really open up this space. The clients really liked the design concept to create a feature of the corner with glazed sliding doors that would completely open the house up to the garden. They were excited about the prospect of the allowing huge amounts of natural light into their home and the flexible access it would provide to the garden. Once the new kitchen, dining and living space had been concluded, we then had to consider what the previous kitchen and dining area was going to be used for within the small, long side extension. We talked with our clients about a few possible uses. We noticed that the family have a piano and few other musical instruments. It made sense for this space to become a quiet part of the house for them to escape to, play music, read and generally relax in a snug area. To shorten the length of the new music room and make an additional feature in the newly created open plan kitchen, dining and living area, we reclaimed some of the space from the back of the side extension and opened it up to the main open-plan space, thus creating another new snug. We added an additional design feature within the snug by creating a timber window seat. Not only does it provide extra seating, but it’s also created a snug within a snug, a haven for reading, napping and gazing out into the garden. As part of their brief our clients also wanted a to incorporate a log burner into their newly remodelled home. To connect the new music room and snug to the living space we proposed to position a two-way log burner where the existing gas fire was located. By retaining a fire in the original location it would minimise the disruption and work required to install the wood burner. However, the theory didn’t turn into reality and the new fire resulted in being quite a task to get it to work. When the contractor began to strip back the existing fireplace, they discovered that fitting the pipe within the building was going to be more challenging than they anticipated because of the poorly constructed extension. It was difficult to execute but it was ultimately achieved. What lies beneath? It’s not until you uncover the fabric of the building that you fully understand what’s going on underneath. When the contractor exposed the structure of the house, we found out that the property had been poorly constructed, and they uncovered a lot of poor workmanship from the original builders. As the build progressed the inner skin of the extended structure was exposed, we found that it wasn’t actually strong enough and we needed to make it safe in order to proceed. Going forwards we ensured that the structure was safe, and all issues were identified and immediately rectified. The previous extensions to the house also presented further challenges as the build progressed. We found that the floors between rooms were not level. We wanted to create the appearance of one space rather than lots of chopped up areas. To do so we needed to alter the floor and ceilings to ensure that they were flush right through the new open plan living space. Also, after removing the internal French doors, the down-stand beam where the doors had previously been were subsequently left prominent down from the ceiling. The design required careful planning and attention to detail to achieve the best looking finished results for the client. For us, in principle our clients’ scheme at the outset was quite a simple project but when the strip out commenced there was actually a more going on underneath that needed attention before the project could start to take shape. A lot of things needed to be considered to make it work structurally and properly for the family. When the carpet was initially lifted, we found a parquet floor underneath. The family and our team were extremely excited at the prospect of having a traditional parquet floor that could be sanded down and made good. However, when ‘all’ of the carpet was removed only half of the living room had been covered in parquet flooring and the other half was actually a solid concrete floor. Unfortunately, we couldn’t proceed with the flooring and our clients chose another floor finish. Making connections Our team at Croft Architecture have created a new, sleek, spacious family ‘hub’ that’s light with clean lines. The open plan space unites the family of four whilst providing the ability to gather the wider family and seamlessly connecting their home with the garden through the new full length sliding doors. Although they now have plenty of space to gather with the family, they also have areas of seclusion to spread out and escape to when needed. A strong working relationship between our team, the client and Building Control enabled us to gain the necessary permissions promptly. We enjoyed working with the project team and we’re extremely pleased to successfully deliver the completed project. Although it wasn't in accordance with our client’s timescales with the discovery of hidden structural challenges, we spent the time carefully resolving the issues to unsure that our clients home was not only safe, but also looks great and functions perfectly.

The existing kitchen had ceiling mounted spotlights and the client was keen for the new kitchen to be well lit. We used LED striplights which were discreet but ceiling mounted across some of the beams and under the cabinets to create a good wash of light over the whole space.

This beautiful contemporary kitchen was created in collaboration with Sophie Robinson for the Ideal Home Show in London. Created in our 80/20 Kitchens range, this kitchen has an oak effect carcass, and is finished in the beautiful Marine Blue by Little Greene. Interior Design by Sophie Robinson. Photographer-Tim Young

In brief Location, location, location When looking for your perfect home where you can put down your grass roots and start a family there are many ‘must haves’ that we all have on our wish lists. The obvious contenders are price and location with many other niceties, like the number of bedrooms, layout and decor taking a back seat. As we all know, location can sell a home to those who strive to be in the right area, for transport links, local amenities and the all-important school catchment areas. Like many other families throughout the UK our clients chose their house for its excellent location. Just ten minutes from the centre of Stafford by car, our client’s house is in a popular and sought-after suburb of the town for couples and families alike. They have always loved the location of their house for its easy access to work, schools, leisure facilities and social connections, but they were becoming increasingly frustrated with the layout of the ground floor of their home. It’s inevitable that families will evolve and our needs from our properties will change too. Since the young family of four moved to their large four-bedroom detached house a few years ago, their property has been unable to meet their lifestyle needs and living patterns. Although their property has adequate bedroom space for them and their two children, the layout of the downstairs living area was not functional and it obstructed their everyday life, making entertaining and family gatherings difficult. Our First Meeting Upon our initial consultation with our clients it was clear from the outset why they sought to make changes to the layout of their house. The property had been extended to create extra space by the previous owners, but unfortunately the design and build hadn’t been executed well at all. The rooms and layout were awkward in size and shape and it didn’t allow the family to come together and enjoy their home. They had the floor space, but it was sectioned off into separate rooms, some without a purpose. The garden surrounds the house on all three sides and is of a good size in its entirety with different areas on each aspect. We could clearly see that the house itself didn’t address any particular aspect of the garden in any way. Moving to a new house wasn’t an option, the family were happy with the location and size of the property. What they wanted was a modern, functional, stylish space for everyday family life, with the flexibility to accommodate their large extended family when needed and to ultimately add value to their property. We were appointed by our clients to create a design solution to redesign the ground floor living area with a modern, light filled, open plan space that connects with the garden. It was clear from outset that our design intention was to break down the room barriers and to respond to the needs of the family, supporting their lifestyle now and for the future, bringing them together and creating a house they could call a home. Delivering a project on time and within our client’s budget are always a top priority for our team. The family decided to stay in their house during construction, therefore it was even more essential to minimise the level of disruption to their daily lifestyle with a young family living on site. The family needed help from our team at Croft Architecture to swiftly and successfully acquire Building Control Approval for their project to progress rapidly, ensuring project completion on time and to their determined budget. Our Approach Surveying the site The client’s home is located on the entrance to a quiet cul-de-sac on a mature, leafy, suburban housing estate. Their home nestles into its well-established site, with ample space between the neighbouring properties and has considerable garden space to the rear and both sides. During our initial visit we spent a long time with the family observing the existing layout, talking about how they currently live in the property, their annoyances with the house in its current form, how they would like to be able to live in their family home and how they aspired it to feel, look and live. We walked through the house and it was clear that the existing layout didn’t work downstairs. The house had been extended onto before they had bought the property and the space hadn’t been well thought through in terms of how it would be used effectively. The rooms directly to the left off the hallway, didn’t really have a proper function. The previously extended space had resulted in the house with too many rooms and subsequently this had led to a series of impractical spaces. The long and narrow extension was home to a small U-shaped kitchen at the front of the house, which led onto the dining area and then onto a small room at the back of the extension. For the size of the house the kitchen and dining room in a much smaller and narrower area, leaving larger living areas to the rear of property with copious amounts of dead space. The small kitchen was tucked away at the front of the property which made life difficult for our clients to observe their children playing safely in the garden whilst preparing food and carrying out work in the kitchen. On the opposite side of the property there was another old extension which had a step down into it. This living area had a tiled floor and large glazed windows on all sides which made it feel almost like a conservatory.This area was rarely used by the family as it had no real function, plus it was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It had become an under utilised space. We walked around the property and it was clear that the house itself didn’t address their private garden space to any particular aspect in any way, meaning that the garden space was under used because of the poor connections. The family wanted a combined kitchen, dining, lounge space for daily life and also for entertaining their family. Design Approach The size of the property presented the opportunity to substantially reconfigure the family home to create a series of dynamic living spaces oriented towards the large, south-facing garden. Our team suggested removing the little kitchen from the front of the property and re positioning it within the unused glazed space at the back of the house. The glazed room had internal French doors with a step down into the space separating it from the lounge. We proposed to remove the French doors, level the floor and make it into one room with the existing lounge. To connect the new open plan kitchen and living space to the rear and side garden sliding and folding doors were the solution, extending the family’s usable living space by creating a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. There was already a patio area there and it made sense for the kitchen to move to the rear of the house to be close to the patio for easy outside dining. It was therefore logical to retain the existing living space in it's current location next to the new kitchen, maintaining the natural flow of the house for the family after eating and entertaining in the kitchen. When making decisions regarding the kitchen design, we worked closely with the family. They thoroughly enjoy spending time cooking and entertaining with their large extended family. To assist with their culinary preparations our clients had aspired to have an induction hob within their new kitchen. As they were working through the design with us, they weren’t sure about an induction hob because of different cooking methods required for certain meals that they like to produce. They particularly like making chapatis which require a round pan and a gas hob. We didn’t see this as a problem and suggested having a single gas burner for purely this purpose whilst still installing an induction hob. They decided to go ahead with our idea, choosing a single gas burner and an induction hob, and it looks great! The existing lounge space had a corner aspect at the rear property that protruded into the garden. Positioned next to the kitchen and dining space it seemed logical to us for the living area to also open out onto the patio, thus connecting the garden to the house on a wider aspect. To enhance the connection between the garden and the living room we thought that a corner door would work extremely well to really open up this space. The clients really liked the design concept to create a feature of the corner with glazed sliding doors that would completely open the house up to the garden. They were excited about the prospect of the allowing huge amounts of natural light into their home and the flexible access it would provide to the garden. Once the new kitchen, dining and living space had been concluded, we then had to consider what the previous kitchen and dining area was going to be used for within the small, long side extension. We talked with our clients about a few possible uses. We noticed that the family have a piano and few other musical instruments. It made sense for this space to become a quiet part of the house for them to escape to, play music, read and generally relax in a snug area. To shorten the length of the new music room and make an additional feature in the newly created open plan kitchen, dining and living area, we reclaimed some of the space from the back of the side extension and opened it up to the main open-plan space, thus creating another new snug. We added an additional design feature within the snug by creating a timber window seat. Not only does it provide extra seating, but it’s also created a snug within a snug, a haven for reading, napping and gazing out into the garden. As part of their brief our clients also wanted a to incorporate a log burner into their newly remodelled home. To connect the new music room and snug to the living space we proposed to position a two-way log burner where the existing gas fire was located. By retaining a fire in the original location it would minimise the disruption and work required to install the wood burner. However, the theory didn’t turn into reality and the new fire resulted in being quite a task to get it to work. When the contractor began to strip back the existing fireplace, they discovered that fitting the pipe within the building was going to be more challenging than they anticipated because of the poorly constructed extension. It was difficult to execute but it was ultimately achieved. What lies beneath? It’s not until you uncover the fabric of the building that you fully understand what’s going on underneath. When the contractor exposed the structure of the house, we found out that the property had been poorly constructed, and they uncovered a lot of poor workmanship from the original builders. As the build progressed the inner skin of the extended structure was exposed, we found that it wasn’t actually strong enough and we needed to make it safe in order to proceed. Going forwards we ensured that the structure was safe, and all issues were identified and immediately rectified. The previous extensions to the house also presented further challenges as the build progressed. We found that the floors between rooms were not level. We wanted to create the appearance of one space rather than lots of chopped up areas. To do so we needed to alter the floor and ceilings to ensure that they were flush right through the new open plan living space. Also, after removing the internal French doors, the down-stand beam where the doors had previously been were subsequently left prominent down from the ceiling. The design required careful planning and attention to detail to achieve the best looking finished results for the client. For us, in principle our clients’ scheme at the outset was quite a simple project but when the strip out commenced there was actually a more going on underneath that needed attention before the project could start to take shape. A lot of things needed to be considered to make it work structurally and properly for the family. When the carpet was initially lifted, we found a parquet floor underneath. The family and our team were extremely excited at the prospect of having a traditional parquet floor that could be sanded down and made good. However, when ‘all’ of the carpet was removed only half of the living room had been covered in parquet flooring and the other half was actually a solid concrete floor. Unfortunately, we couldn’t proceed with the flooring and our clients chose another floor finish. Making connections Our team at Croft Architecture have created a new, sleek, spacious family ‘hub’ that’s light with clean lines. The open plan space unites the family of four whilst providing the ability to gather the wider family and seamlessly connecting their home with the garden through the new full length sliding doors. Although they now have plenty of space to gather with the family, they also have areas of seclusion to spread out and escape to when needed. A strong working relationship between our team, the client and Building Control enabled us to gain the necessary permissions promptly. We enjoyed working with the project team and we’re extremely pleased to successfully deliver the completed project. Although it wasn't in accordance with our client’s timescales with the discovery of hidden structural challenges, we spent the time carefully resolving the issues to unsure that our clients home was not only safe, but also looks great and functions perfectly.

This is an example of a medium sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Kent with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets and medium hardwood flooring.

Photography: YAYOI
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in London with a built-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz worktops, white splashback, marble splashback, light hardwood flooring, white floors, integrated appliances, an island and white worktops.

A birch plywood kitchen renovation in a tranquil cottage extension transforming a dysfunctional space that needed the room completely turning around. Using a mix of in-frame painted plywood cabinets on the upper run, with over-lay plywood frames along the bottom. Complete with everhot range for a more sustainable approach to always-on range, with a central island and bar seating.

Inspiration for a medium sized classic l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sussex with flat-panel cabinets, quartz worktops, an island and white worktops.

Medium sized contemporary u-shaped kitchen/diner in Florence with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, wood worktops, beige splashback, no island and beige cabinets.

This former garment factory in Bethnal Green had previously been used as a commercial office before being converted into a large open plan live/work unit nearly ten years ago. The challenge: how to retain an open plan arrangement whilst creating defined spaces and adding a second bedroom. By opening up the enclosed stairwell and incorporating the vertical circulation into the central atrium, we were able to add space, light and volume to the main living areas. Glazing is used throughout to bring natural light deeper into the floor plan, with obscured glass panels creating privacy for the fully refurbished bathrooms and bedrooms. The glazed atrium visually connects both floors whilst separating public and private spaces. The industrial aesthetic of the original building has been preserved with a bespoke stainless steel kitchen, open metal staircase and exposed steel columns, complemented by the new metal-framed atrium glazing, and poured concrete resin floor. Photographer: Rory Gardiner

In brief Location, location, location When looking for your perfect home where you can put down your grass roots and start a family there are many ‘must haves’ that we all have on our wish lists. The obvious contenders are price and location with many other niceties, like the number of bedrooms, layout and decor taking a back seat. As we all know, location can sell a home to those who strive to be in the right area, for transport links, local amenities and the all-important school catchment areas. Like many other families throughout the UK our clients chose their house for its excellent location. Just ten minutes from the centre of Stafford by car, our client’s house is in a popular and sought-after suburb of the town for couples and families alike. They have always loved the location of their house for its easy access to work, schools, leisure facilities and social connections, but they were becoming increasingly frustrated with the layout of the ground floor of their home. It’s inevitable that families will evolve and our needs from our properties will change too. Since the young family of four moved to their large four-bedroom detached house a few years ago, their property has been unable to meet their lifestyle needs and living patterns. Although their property has adequate bedroom space for them and their two children, the layout of the downstairs living area was not functional and it obstructed their everyday life, making entertaining and family gatherings difficult. Our First Meeting Upon our initial consultation with our clients it was clear from the outset why they sought to make changes to the layout of their house. The property had been extended to create extra space by the previous owners, but unfortunately the design and build hadn’t been executed well at all. The rooms and layout were awkward in size and shape and it didn’t allow the family to come together and enjoy their home. They had the floor space, but it was sectioned off into separate rooms, some without a purpose. The garden surrounds the house on all three sides and is of a good size in its entirety with different areas on each aspect. We could clearly see that the house itself didn’t address any particular aspect of the garden in any way. Moving to a new house wasn’t an option, the family were happy with the location and size of the property. What they wanted was a modern, functional, stylish space for everyday family life, with the flexibility to accommodate their large extended family when needed and to ultimately add value to their property. We were appointed by our clients to create a design solution to redesign the ground floor living area with a modern, light filled, open plan space that connects with the garden. It was clear from outset that our design intention was to break down the room barriers and to respond to the needs of the family, supporting their lifestyle now and for the future, bringing them together and creating a house they could call a home. Delivering a project on time and within our client’s budget are always a top priority for our team. The family decided to stay in their house during construction, therefore it was even more essential to minimise the level of disruption to their daily lifestyle with a young family living on site. The family needed help from our team at Croft Architecture to swiftly and successfully acquire Building Control Approval for their project to progress rapidly, ensuring project completion on time and to their determined budget. Our Approach Surveying the site The client’s home is located on the entrance to a quiet cul-de-sac on a mature, leafy, suburban housing estate. Their home nestles into its well-established site, with ample space between the neighbouring properties and has considerable garden space to the rear and both sides. During our initial visit we spent a long time with the family observing the existing layout, talking about how they currently live in the property, their annoyances with the house in its current form, how they would like to be able to live in their family home and how they aspired it to feel, look and live. We walked through the house and it was clear that the existing layout didn’t work downstairs. The house had been extended onto before they had bought the property and the space hadn’t been well thought through in terms of how it would be used effectively. The rooms directly to the left off the hallway, didn’t really have a proper function. The previously extended space had resulted in the house with too many rooms and subsequently this had led to a series of impractical spaces. The long and narrow extension was home to a small U-shaped kitchen at the front of the house, which led onto the dining area and then onto a small room at the back of the extension. For the size of the house the kitchen and dining room in a much smaller and narrower area, leaving larger living areas to the rear of property with copious amounts of dead space. The small kitchen was tucked away at the front of the property which made life difficult for our clients to observe their children playing safely in the garden whilst preparing food and carrying out work in the kitchen. On the opposite side of the property there was another old extension which had a step down into it. This living area had a tiled floor and large glazed windows on all sides which made it feel almost like a conservatory.This area was rarely used by the family as it had no real function, plus it was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It had become an under utilised space. We walked around the property and it was clear that the house itself didn’t address their private garden space to any particular aspect in any way, meaning that the garden space was under used because of the poor connections. The family wanted a combined kitchen, dining, lounge space for daily life and also for entertaining their family. Design Approach The size of the property presented the opportunity to substantially reconfigure the family home to create a series of dynamic living spaces oriented towards the large, south-facing garden. Our team suggested removing the little kitchen from the front of the property and re positioning it within the unused glazed space at the back of the house. The glazed room had internal French doors with a step down into the space separating it from the lounge. We proposed to remove the French doors, level the floor and make it into one room with the existing lounge. To connect the new open plan kitchen and living space to the rear and side garden sliding and folding doors were the solution, extending the family’s usable living space by creating a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. There was already a patio area there and it made sense for the kitchen to move to the rear of the house to be close to the patio for easy outside dining. It was therefore logical to retain the existing living space in it's current location next to the new kitchen, maintaining the natural flow of the house for the family after eating and entertaining in the kitchen. When making decisions regarding the kitchen design, we worked closely with the family. They thoroughly enjoy spending time cooking and entertaining with their large extended family. To assist with their culinary preparations our clients had aspired to have an induction hob within their new kitchen. As they were working through the design with us, they weren’t sure about an induction hob because of different cooking methods required for certain meals that they like to produce. They particularly like making chapatis which require a round pan and a gas hob. We didn’t see this as a problem and suggested having a single gas burner for purely this purpose whilst still installing an induction hob. They decided to go ahead with our idea, choosing a single gas burner and an induction hob, and it looks great! The existing lounge space had a corner aspect at the rear property that protruded into the garden. Positioned next to the kitchen and dining space it seemed logical to us for the living area to also open out onto the patio, thus connecting the garden to the house on a wider aspect. To enhance the connection between the garden and the living room we thought that a corner door would work extremely well to really open up this space. The clients really liked the design concept to create a feature of the corner with glazed sliding doors that would completely open the house up to the garden. They were excited about the prospect of the allowing huge amounts of natural light into their home and the flexible access it would provide to the garden. Once the new kitchen, dining and living space had been concluded, we then had to consider what the previous kitchen and dining area was going to be used for within the small, long side extension. We talked with our clients about a few possible uses. We noticed that the family have a piano and few other musical instruments. It made sense for this space to become a quiet part of the house for them to escape to, play music, read and generally relax in a snug area. To shorten the length of the new music room and make an additional feature in the newly created open plan kitchen, dining and living area, we reclaimed some of the space from the back of the side extension and opened it up to the main open-plan space, thus creating another new snug. We added an additional design feature within the snug by creating a timber window seat. Not only does it provide extra seating, but it’s also created a snug within a snug, a haven for reading, napping and gazing out into the garden. As part of their brief our clients also wanted a to incorporate a log burner into their newly remodelled home. To connect the new music room and snug to the living space we proposed to position a two-way log burner where the existing gas fire was located. By retaining a fire in the original location it would minimise the disruption and work required to install the wood burner. However, the theory didn’t turn into reality and the new fire resulted in being quite a task to get it to work. When the contractor began to strip back the existing fireplace, they discovered that fitting the pipe within the building was going to be more challenging than they anticipated because of the poorly constructed extension. It was difficult to execute but it was ultimately achieved. What lies beneath? It’s not until you uncover the fabric of the building that you fully understand what’s going on underneath. When the contractor exposed the structure of the house, we found out that the property had been poorly constructed, and they uncovered a lot of poor workmanship from the original builders. As the build progressed the inner skin of the extended structure was exposed, we found that it wasn’t actually strong enough and we needed to make it safe in order to proceed. Going forwards we ensured that the structure was safe, and all issues were identified and immediately rectified. The previous extensions to the house also presented further challenges as the build progressed. We found that the floors between rooms were not level. We wanted to create the appearance of one space rather than lots of chopped up areas. To do so we needed to alter the floor and ceilings to ensure that they were flush right through the new open plan living space. Also, after removing the internal French doors, the down-stand beam where the doors had previously been were subsequently left prominent down from the ceiling. The design required careful planning and attention to detail to achieve the best looking finished results for the client. For us, in principle our clients’ scheme at the outset was quite a simple project but when the strip out commenced there was actually a more going on underneath that needed attention before the project could start to take shape. A lot of things needed to be considered to make it work structurally and properly for the family. When the carpet was initially lifted, we found a parquet floor underneath. The family and our team were extremely excited at the prospect of having a traditional parquet floor that could be sanded down and made good. However, when ‘all’ of the carpet was removed only half of the living room had been covered in parquet flooring and the other half was actually a solid concrete floor. Unfortunately, we couldn’t proceed with the flooring and our clients chose another floor finish. Making connections Our team at Croft Architecture have created a new, sleek, spacious family ‘hub’ that’s light with clean lines. The open plan space unites the family of four whilst providing the ability to gather the wider family and seamlessly connecting their home with the garden through the new full length sliding doors. Although they now have plenty of space to gather with the family, they also have areas of seclusion to spread out and escape to when needed. A strong working relationship between our team, the client and Building Control enabled us to gain the necessary permissions promptly. We enjoyed working with the project team and we’re extremely pleased to successfully deliver the completed project. Although it wasn't in accordance with our client’s timescales with the discovery of hidden structural challenges, we spent the time carefully resolving the issues to unsure that our clients home was not only safe, but also looks great and functions perfectly.

Medium sized classic u-shaped enclosed kitchen in Other with blue cabinets, granite worktops, a submerged sink, glass-front cabinets, integrated appliances, terracotta flooring, no island, red floors and multicoloured worktops.

Inspiration for a medium sized classic u-shaped enclosed kitchen in Other with a submerged sink, glass-front cabinets, blue cabinets, granite worktops, integrated appliances, terracotta flooring, no island, red floors and multicoloured worktops.

Photo of a medium sized classic u-shaped enclosed kitchen in Other with a submerged sink, glass-front cabinets, blue cabinets, granite worktops, integrated appliances, terracotta flooring, no island, red floors and multicoloured worktops.

Inspiration for a medium sized classic u-shaped enclosed kitchen in Other with a submerged sink, glass-front cabinets, blue cabinets, granite worktops, integrated appliances, terracotta flooring, no island, red floors and multicoloured worktops.

This is an example of a medium sized traditional u-shaped enclosed kitchen in Other with a submerged sink, glass-front cabinets, blue cabinets, granite worktops, integrated appliances, terracotta flooring, no island, red floors and multicoloured worktops.

Ultramodern German Kitchen in Mannings Heath, West Sussex Designer Alistair was tasked with creating a new layout to enhance storage and make the most of a family dining area for this client. The Brief This client approached our design team seeking to transform a kitchen that didn’t really suit their family’s needs. They required a lot more storage in the overall kitchen area and also sought to improve a bright dining area with a cohesive design to help them use this space better. With a young family breakfast bar was a key request, so the parents could keep an eye out at for the children eating breakfast or doing homework. Open shelving, new appliances, a new radiator, dining room storage amongst others were just some of the additional requests for this renovation. As part of the project flooring, lighting and adjustments to electrical points were required, all to be undertaken by our in-house team. Design Elements From early consultations this client was keen on an ultramodern theme, opting for a subtle Satin Grey finish from our German kitchen maker Nobilia. They toyed with the idea of a two-tone design, and in the end opted to use a Concrete Terra Grey for lower base units which adds a nice contrast to the design. These finishes have been chosen in handleless form to add to the modern style. The design utilises a u-shape layout like their previous kitchen but includes extra cabinetry around the entrance to the dining room for storage and of course the important breakfast bar area. This wrap-around island design is an inventive addition to the space and nicely connects the kitchen area to the dining area. Opposite the breakfast bar a small run of units including a broom cupboard creates further storage space. Into the family design is one of the highlights of this project, the dining room and sideboard storage. This area combines matching sideboard style storage with glass fronted units, ideal for storing glassware and decorative items. Acupanel has been installed between the units and adds a nice natural element to this space. Special Inclusions A key element of the brief was the use of decorative units, which have been deployed to soften the design and for the client to add their own personal touches. Open shelving has been installed in the kitchen area and aforementioned glass units in the dining room. To add greater function to the kitchen the client also sought to improve their array of appliances opting for new Neff models. Built into tall units a Slide & Hide single oven, combination oven and warming drawer have been installed, and adjacent an induction hob and overhead extractor have also been fitted. To help with cleaning a Neff dishwasher has been integrated behind furniture close to the sink area, which itself has a Quooker boiling water tap installed above. The sink is a hard-wearing granite composed option from supplier Blanco which ties in well with the white quartz worktops chosen from supplier Caesarstone named Snow. Flooring throughout the kitchen and dining room is from British brand Karndean and is a medium-oak finish named Pale Lined Oak. A fair share of ancillary work has also been completed with this project; the ceiling and lighting required attention in the kitchen area with associated plastering, a new full-height radiator installed, as well as adjustment of electrical points for convenience. Project Highlight The undoubtable highlight of this project is the dining room storage, which combines several furniture options fantastically. This area adds much needed storage to the overall design as well as natural texture which ties in nicely with other design choices. The End Result This project achieves all the elements of this project brief, with an extremely inventive design. A clever design wraps into the dining area as required in a space itself that has been enhanced to suit the future requirements of this client. As part of this project a lot of ancillary work in particular special inclusions like the installation of radiators and flooring throughout, all undertaken by our in-house installation team. If you are seeking a kitchen transformation at your property, get the help of our expert designers by booking a free design appointment. Arrange a free appointment in showroom or by using a contact form.

Ultramodern German Kitchen in Mannings Heath, West Sussex Designer Alistair was tasked with creating a new layout to enhance storage and make the most of a family dining area for this client. The Brief This client approached our design team seeking to transform a kitchen that didn’t really suit their family’s needs. They required a lot more storage in the overall kitchen area and also sought to improve a bright dining area with a cohesive design to help them use this space better. With a young family breakfast bar was a key request, so the parents could keep an eye out at for the children eating breakfast or doing homework. Open shelving, new appliances, a new radiator, dining room storage amongst others were just some of the additional requests for this renovation. As part of the project flooring, lighting and adjustments to electrical points were required, all to be undertaken by our in-house team. Design Elements From early consultations this client was keen on an ultramodern theme, opting for a subtle Satin Grey finish from our German kitchen maker Nobilia. They toyed with the idea of a two-tone design, and in the end opted to use a Concrete Terra Grey for lower base units which adds a nice contrast to the design. These finishes have been chosen in handleless form to add to the modern style. The design utilises a u-shape layout like their previous kitchen but includes extra cabinetry around the entrance to the dining room for storage and of course the important breakfast bar area. This wrap-around island design is an inventive addition to the space and nicely connects the kitchen area to the dining area. Opposite the breakfast bar a small run of units including a broom cupboard creates further storage space. Into the family design is one of the highlights of this project, the dining room and sideboard storage. This area combines matching sideboard style storage with glass fronted units, ideal for storing glassware and decorative items. Acupanel has been installed between the units and adds a nice natural element to this space. Special Inclusions A key element of the brief was the use of decorative units, which have been deployed to soften the design and for the client to add their own personal touches. Open shelving has been installed in the kitchen area and aforementioned glass units in the dining room. To add greater function to the kitchen the client also sought to improve their array of appliances opting for new Neff models. Built into tall units a Slide & Hide single oven, combination oven and warming drawer have been installed, and adjacent an induction hob and overhead extractor have also been fitted. To help with cleaning a Neff dishwasher has been integrated behind furniture close to the sink area, which itself has a Quooker boiling water tap installed above. The sink is a hard-wearing granite composed option from supplier Blanco which ties in well with the white quartz worktops chosen from supplier Caesarstone named Snow. Flooring throughout the kitchen and dining room is from British brand Karndean and is a medium-oak finish named Pale Lined Oak. A fair share of ancillary work has also been completed with this project; the ceiling and lighting required attention in the kitchen area with associated plastering, a new full-height radiator installed, as well as adjustment of electrical points for convenience. Project Highlight The undoubtable highlight of this project is the dining room storage, which combines several furniture options fantastically. This area adds much needed storage to the overall design as well as natural texture which ties in nicely with other design choices. The End Result This project achieves all the elements of this project brief, with an extremely inventive design. A clever design wraps into the dining area as required in a space itself that has been enhanced to suit the future requirements of this client. As part of this project a lot of ancillary work in particular special inclusions like the installation of radiators and flooring throughout, all undertaken by our in-house installation team. If you are seeking a kitchen transformation at your property, get the help of our expert designers by booking a free design appointment. Arrange a free appointment in showroom or by using a contact form.

Ultramodern German Kitchen in Mannings Heath, West Sussex Designer Alistair was tasked with creating a new layout to enhance storage and make the most of a family dining area for this client. The Brief This client approached our design team seeking to transform a kitchen that didn’t really suit their family’s needs. They required a lot more storage in the overall kitchen area and also sought to improve a bright dining area with a cohesive design to help them use this space better. With a young family breakfast bar was a key request, so the parents could keep an eye out at for the children eating breakfast or doing homework. Open shelving, new appliances, a new radiator, dining room storage amongst others were just some of the additional requests for this renovation. As part of the project flooring, lighting and adjustments to electrical points were required, all to be undertaken by our in-house team. Design Elements From early consultations this client was keen on an ultramodern theme, opting for a subtle Satin Grey finish from our German kitchen maker Nobilia. They toyed with the idea of a two-tone design, and in the end opted to use a Concrete Terra Grey for lower base units which adds a nice contrast to the design. These finishes have been chosen in handleless form to add to the modern style. The design utilises a u-shape layout like their previous kitchen but includes extra cabinetry around the entrance to the dining room for storage and of course the important breakfast bar area. This wrap-around island design is an inventive addition to the space and nicely connects the kitchen area to the dining area. Opposite the breakfast bar a small run of units including a broom cupboard creates further storage space. Into the family design is one of the highlights of this project, the dining room and sideboard storage. This area combines matching sideboard style storage with glass fronted units, ideal for storing glassware and decorative items. Acupanel has been installed between the units and adds a nice natural element to this space. Special Inclusions A key element of the brief was the use of decorative units, which have been deployed to soften the design and for the client to add their own personal touches. Open shelving has been installed in the kitchen area and aforementioned glass units in the dining room. To add greater function to the kitchen the client also sought to improve their array of appliances opting for new Neff models. Built into tall units a Slide & Hide single oven, combination oven and warming drawer have been installed, and adjacent an induction hob and overhead extractor have also been fitted. To help with cleaning a Neff dishwasher has been integrated behind furniture close to the sink area, which itself has a Quooker boiling water tap installed above. The sink is a hard-wearing granite composed option from supplier Blanco which ties in well with the white quartz worktops chosen from supplier Caesarstone named Snow. Flooring throughout the kitchen and dining room is from British brand Karndean and is a medium-oak finish named Pale Lined Oak. A fair share of ancillary work has also been completed with this project; the ceiling and lighting required attention in the kitchen area with associated plastering, a new full-height radiator installed, as well as adjustment of electrical points for convenience. Project Highlight The undoubtable highlight of this project is the dining room storage, which combines several furniture options fantastically. This area adds much needed storage to the overall design as well as natural texture which ties in nicely with other design choices. The End Result This project achieves all the elements of this project brief, with an extremely inventive design. A clever design wraps into the dining area as required in a space itself that has been enhanced to suit the future requirements of this client. As part of this project a lot of ancillary work in particular special inclusions like the installation of radiators and flooring throughout, all undertaken by our in-house installation team. If you are seeking a kitchen transformation at your property, get the help of our expert designers by booking a free design appointment. Arrange a free appointment in showroom or by using a contact form.