This three-bedroom North London property started out with a pretty un-intuitive layout. The master bedroom sat on the ground floor, on street level, while the living room and dining space were upstairs - miles away from the kitchen. Using a rear extension, this homeowner wanted to change all this and bring the living spaces back together, while also adding some stylish design touches. Here’s how our designers tackled the brief!

Home extension

Because this property had a classic L-shaped rear - common with period properties - we went with a large side in-fill to create heaps of new space. This not only helps to square away the property, it also means the homeowner can get bags of new space without losing too many premium areas of the garden. To really get the most out of this build, we added in slick black framed windows, including glazed sliding doors and a glass ceiling running the length of the kitchen.

A practical entertainment space

With the ground floor extended, there was now plenty of room to get both the fun and practical details ticked off the wishlist. First, we included a charming breakfast nook into the corner of the kitchen, where residents can sit with a cup of coffee to gaze out into the garden. Then, for large social gatherings, we included a large kitchen island with plenty of seating, allowing both chef and guest to enjoy the preparation of that night’s culinary delight.

Outside of the kitchen, we put the hallway to good use by adding in a subtle office space. Tucked into a recessed wall is a neat desk and storage space, where plenty of hard work can take place during those work from home days. And when the workday is over, the homeowner can then move into the new reception room, which we have relocated from the floor above.

Relaxation time

When the day is finally done, the homeowners can move upstairs, to their more relaxing second floor. With the living spaces moved down to street level, their sleeping arrangements are much calmer. We retained all three bedrooms and included a family bathroom for everyone to enjoy. While the master bedroom still retains a gorgeous set of large, period property windows. To keep this area private, we also added a downstairs WC, next to the living room, so guests are discouraged from wandering around.