To dwell and establish connections with a place is a basic human necessity often combined, amongst other things, with light and is performed in association with the elements that generate it, be they natural or artificial. And in the renovation of this purpose-built first floor flat in a quiet residential street in Kennington, the use of light in its varied forms is adopted to modulate the space and create a brand new dwelling, adapted to modern living standards. From the intentionally darkened entrance lobby at the lower ground floor – as seen in Mackintosh’s Hill House – one is led to a brighter upper level where the insertion of wide pivot doors creates a flexible open plan centred around an unfinished plaster box-like pod. Kitchen and living room are connected and use a stair balustrade that doubles as a bench seat; this allows the landing to become an extension of the kitchen/dining area - rather than being merely circulation space – with a new external view towards the landscaped terrace at the rear. The attic space is converted: a modernist black box, clad in natural slate tiles and with a wide sliding window, is inserted in the rear roof slope to accommodate a bedroom and a bathroom. A new relationship can eventually be established with all new and existing exterior openings, now visible from the former landing space: traditional timber sash windows are re-introduced to replace unsightly UPVC frames, and skylights are put in to direct one’s view outwards and upwards. photo: Gianluca Maver

La terraza abierta al patio de manzana.
Small mediterranean apartment balcony in Barcelona with a roof extension.

Small scandinavian home office in Nantes with white walls, a built-in desk and grey floors.

COM'1 DECLIC
Photo of a medium sized contemporary bathroom in Reims with medium wood cabinets, a corner shower, beige tiles, ceramic tiles, beige walls, ceramic flooring, a console sink, wooden worktops, an open shower and flat-panel cabinets.

Remodelled en-suite in Griffith, Canberra
Inspiration for a small contemporary ensuite bathroom in Canberra - Queanbeyan with white cabinets, a double shower, a one-piece toilet, white tiles, metro tiles, white walls, porcelain flooring, a vessel sink, marble worktops, grey floors, a hinged door and flat-panel cabinets.

Small contemporary balcony in Surrey with a roof extension and feature lighting.

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.

Extension and renovation undertaken by Smith & Sons Renovations & Extensions Beaconsfield
Medium sized modern balcony in Melbourne with a roof extension.

The clients of this fantastic project contracted New Spaces and Baxter Design to work together to collaboratively design and price the extension to their existing cottage home in Narrabundah. Together with Baxter Design, we worked closely with the owners through the design process, ensuring that the project was aligned with their desires for their home, and their budget. Following the successful design process, New Spaces were contracted to build the extension. The facade design features reclaimed brick, paired with a dark timber cladding for the ultimate contemporary look, joining with the contrasting cottage through a linkway. Internally, a large and bright lounge room features solid blackbutt timber flooring, and is accompanied by a delightfully pink powder room. Views to the gum trees are taken in at both ends of the staircase leading up to a generous master bedroom. The uniquely green ensuite has been planned for and finished to the highest degree, and features a custom vanity and quality fixtures. The smooth build of this extension was achieved according to the client's expectations and budget. It is a testament to the success of the design and build process, which involves thorough planning, cost analysis, and reduces the instances of variations and unknowns.

Extension undertaken by Smith & Sons Renovations & Extensions Beaconsfield
This is an example of a medium sized modern balcony in Melbourne with a roof extension.

This expansive open-plan lounge from a Haus360 Orpington extension project showcases a continuous flow of light grey wood-effect flooring. The long perspective leads your eye past a modern white media unit and vertical radiator into a bright new dining and living zone, where large black bi-fold doors frame views out to the garden.

Photo Credit: Tommy Williams
Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary back terrace with a roof extension.

Cottage style granny flat/ artist’s studio
Photo of a small traditional detached guesthouse in Sydney.

Granny Flat with skillion roof and red door pop
Small contemporary detached guesthouse in Sydney.

Peter Landers
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary home in Cambridgeshire.

Custom Granny Flat on steep seaside block
This is an example of a medium sized eclectic detached guesthouse in Sydney.

This project involved the refurbishment and extension of an existing terraced house in Dublin 6. The clients growing family and wanted a comfortable and contemporary home that they could grow into as a family, at the heart of this project was an open plan kitchen and dining extension to the rear of the house. Practicalities were also really important in this city location so the front garden was opened up and lowered for a much needed parking space.

This is an example of a medium sized traditional staircase in London.

Inspiration for a small traditional side patio in Perth with decking and no cover.