Inspiration for a classic brick house exterior in London with three floors and a mansard roof.

Ground floor extension and loft conversion of a detached house in Barnet, North London. A rear courtyard within the extension emphasizes the central axis of the house, aligned with the staircase, creating a strong visual connection from front to back. Three new zinc-clad dormers — the central one visually linked to the lower floors through continuous zinc detailing around the windows — bring a contemporary, light touch to the 100-year-old home.

Design ideas for a large farmhouse two floor front extension in Sussex with wood cladding, a pitched roof, a tiled roof, a red roof and board and batten cladding.

House Exterior
Design ideas for a large and brown contemporary rear house exterior in London with three floors, a tiled roof and a grey roof.

Like many 1920s houses, this double-fronted home in Muswell Hill had been extended haphazardly over the years, preventing any natural flow and blocking light from a large part of the footprint. Our clients wanted more space – and better space – for their family. Our first move was to unlock the ground floor by clearing two sight lines. One leads straight through the house from the front door to the bottom of the garden, and the second looks up – with the help of a new galleried staircase – though the upper storeys to the sky. Inspired by Horace Gifford’s airy east-coast beach houses, we allowed the extended open-plan living areas to link and overlap, giving room to circulate without compromising on space. We’d already set out these core moves when our clients asked us to push the project further. Could we add a basement too? Our response was to challenge them back: what exactly would they use the space for, and how would the extra area justify the considerable expense? Having tested a few different scenarios we all agreed that this was a great opportunity to embed social sustainability into the design. We could future-proof the house so Nicola and Stanford, and their extended family, can continue to live in it indefinitely no matter how their lifestyle might change. The new basement, although it’s currently used as a gym, screening room and bar, can potentially become a self-contained apartment in the future, allowing multiple generations to live under the same roof. It has its own bathroom and, via a sunken courtyard garden sandwiched between the original house and timber-framed extension, outside space and plenty of natural light. And, as the couple’s sons gain more independence, a pair of self-contained bedrooms inserted into the second-floor loft space offer a similar degree of privacy.

Extension and refurbishment of a semi-detached house in Hern Hill. Extensions are modern using modern materials whilst being respectful to the original house and surrounding fabric. Views to the treetops beyond draw occupants from the entrance, through the house and down to the double height kitchen at garden level. From the playroom window seat on the upper level, children (and adults) can climb onto a play-net suspended over the dining table. The mezzanine library structure hangs from the roof apex with steel structure exposed, a place to relax or work with garden views and light. More on this - the built-in library joinery becomes part of the architecture as a storage wall and transforms into a gorgeous place to work looking out to the trees. There is also a sofa under large skylights to chill and read. The kitchen and dining space has a Z-shaped double height space running through it with a full height pantry storage wall, large window seat and exposed brickwork running from inside to outside. The windows have slim frames and also stack fully for a fully indoor outdoor feel. A holistic retrofit of the house provides a full thermal upgrade and passive stack ventilation throughout. The floor area of the house was doubled from 115m2 to 230m2 as part of the full house refurbishment and extension project. A huge master bathroom is achieved with a freestanding bath, double sink, double shower and fantastic views without being overlooked. The master bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe room with its own window. The children's bathroom is fun with under the sea wallpaper as well as a separate shower and eaves bath tub under the skylight making great use of the eaves space. The loft extension makes maximum use of the eaves to create two double bedrooms, an additional single eaves guest room / study and the eaves family bathroom. 5 bedrooms upstairs.

A modern rear extension to a Surrey family home. A contemporary glass extension with a floating canopy and slim frame sliding door system.
Inspiration for a medium sized modern brick and rear house exterior in Surrey with three floors, a flat roof, a mixed material roof and a black roof.

This is an example of a multi-coloured modern split-level side house exterior in Perth with a lean-to roof, a metal roof and a black roof.

The new extension sits as an elegant glass pavilion in the garden. Photo: Paul Raftery
Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary rear extension in London.

IQ Glass
This is an example of a contemporary rear extension in Buckinghamshire.

Contemporary bungalow extension in Hampshire with metal cladding.

A tasteful side extension to a 1930s period property. The extension was designed to add symmetry to the massing of the existing house.
This is an example of a medium sized and red classic two floor brick and front house exterior in Other with a hip roof, a tiled roof and a red roof.

Leah Giorno
This is an example of a medium sized and beige classic two floor extension in Other with wood cladding and a pitched roof.

Photography by Nick Smith
Inspiration for a contemporary rear extension in London.

Preparing the exteriors can help maintain a long-lasting finish that can last for years. No matter how small or big your home is, you can be assured that we will offer exterior painting services to your specifications. Mi Decor offers exterior painting services on not only residential properties but also commercial ones. Since we have a wealth of experience in external decorating, we can renovate even old properties and transform their appearance... . https://midecor.co.uk/exterior-painting-services/

The front of this home, designed by Studio212 Ltd, draws on New England and Cape Cod references with a crisp and timeless palette. Red brick at ground level provides solidity and warmth, while horizontal white weatherboarding above lightens the composition and reflects natural light. Generous dark-framed windows create rhythm across the façade, while a simple front door and integrated garage maintain a clean, understated look. The gravel driveway reinforces the sense of arrival and gives the house a natural, rural edge, softened by hydrangea planting and clipped shrubs along the base of the building. The overall design balances tradition with contemporary detailing, ensuring the home feels both established in its setting and fresh in character.

The project's single-storey rear extension unveils a new dimension of communal living with the creation of an expansive kitchen dining area. Envisioned as the heart of the home, this open-plan space is tailored for both everyday living and memorable family gatherings. Modern appliances and smart storage solutions ensure a seamless culinary experience, while the thoughtful integration of seating and dining arrangements invites warmth and conversation.

Contemporary Rear Extension, Photo by David Butler
Design ideas for a medium sized and red contemporary two floor rear house exterior in Surrey with mixed cladding, a pitched roof and a shingle roof.

Medium sized and white contemporary rear house exterior in Other with wood cladding.