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UK Room Tour: A Rear Extension Gives a 1930s House Flair
Arches, natural colours and clever skylights gave this new UK kitchen a playful yet elegant mood
The couple who bought this 1930s semi-detached house in Essex, UK, were drawn to the large garden, but weren’t so keen on the badly positioned outbuilding that was blocking the view of it. There were also a couple of steps leading down to the garden from the back of the house, which further created a barrier between indoors and out.
The duo decided to lose the outbuilding and extend the house instead. They both have hectic jobs, so they wanted the new addition to be a fun space where they could relax, while also being functional for family life. Seeing the work of Studio Jayga Architects on Houzz, they got in touch with founder, Abul Mahdi. His clever design gave them the best of both worlds.
The duo decided to lose the outbuilding and extend the house instead. They both have hectic jobs, so they wanted the new addition to be a fun space where they could relax, while also being functional for family life. Seeing the work of Studio Jayga Architects on Houzz, they got in touch with founder, Abul Mahdi. His clever design gave them the best of both worlds.
Key to Mahdi’s design are these internal stairs. Instead of stepping down into the garden from the back of the house, these newly positioned stairs mean the kitchen/dining area can flow outside on one level. They also help to zone the spaces.
“It was important to me to design a space where the kids can easily run out into the garden,” says Mahdi. “Now there’s a visual and physical connection to the outdoors.”
The couple initially wanted the kitchen to be totally hidden behind cupboard doors, but Mahdi steered them away from this because of the practicalities – namely, how much of the limited space it would take to accommodate pocket doors on each cupboard. “In a hidden kitchen, each cupboard needs a pocket either side to slide the door into, so that takes up a lot more space,” he says. “This is a family of four, so the kitchen needed to be practical, not just look good. We assessed how many cupboards they’d actually need.”
There’s a freezer and fridge to the left, pull-out bins and a dishwasher in the base cabinets, and pantry-style units to the right. Mahdi has even made use of the space above the steps with a modified cupboard. “As we had a small space for the cabinets, we wanted to maximise it, so it’s just a slightly shorter cupboard,” he says.
Renovating or building? Take a look at the work of architects in your area and read reviews from previous clients
“It was important to me to design a space where the kids can easily run out into the garden,” says Mahdi. “Now there’s a visual and physical connection to the outdoors.”
The couple initially wanted the kitchen to be totally hidden behind cupboard doors, but Mahdi steered them away from this because of the practicalities – namely, how much of the limited space it would take to accommodate pocket doors on each cupboard. “In a hidden kitchen, each cupboard needs a pocket either side to slide the door into, so that takes up a lot more space,” he says. “This is a family of four, so the kitchen needed to be practical, not just look good. We assessed how many cupboards they’d actually need.”
There’s a freezer and fridge to the left, pull-out bins and a dishwasher in the base cabinets, and pantry-style units to the right. Mahdi has even made use of the space above the steps with a modified cupboard. “As we had a small space for the cabinets, we wanted to maximise it, so it’s just a slightly shorter cupboard,” he says.
Renovating or building? Take a look at the work of architects in your area and read reviews from previous clients
The cabinet interiors are oak. This pull-out shelf with a double socket above is set up to contain a kettle and toaster to keep the benchtop clear. So the look is as unobtrusive as possible, the doors are handleless, with recessed brass strips so fingers can access the sides.
There’s a laundry off the hallway that accommodates the washing machine, tumble dryer and hot-water heater.
There’s a laundry off the hallway that accommodates the washing machine, tumble dryer and hot-water heater.
Taking the hidden kitchen idea even further, Mahdi designed an integrated plate rack into the units immediately above the sink, with an open bottom to allow the dishes to drain.
Mahdi and the owners spent time looking at different colour options for the units and settled on green and cream to complement the garden. The couple were keen on having terrazzo benchtops, and this design adds a little pattern and nicely ties the cream and green together.
Mahdi and the owners spent time looking at different colour options for the units and settled on green and cream to complement the garden. The couple were keen on having terrazzo benchtops, and this design adds a little pattern and nicely ties the cream and green together.
The handmade island, with its curves and elegant fluting, pleasingly mirrors the arched doorways. “The curves are really softening and playful; they make the sharp box more gentle,” says Mahdi.
As with the rest of the kitchen, however, the island is designed to not dominate. It is fitted with a neat induction stove, plus a downdraft extractor and a power-point unit that can both pop up when necessary and sit flush with the benchtop the rest of the time.
As with the rest of the kitchen, however, the island is designed to not dominate. It is fitted with a neat induction stove, plus a downdraft extractor and a power-point unit that can both pop up when necessary and sit flush with the benchtop the rest of the time.
Despite the elegant lines of the island, Mahdi has still managed to pack in plenty of storage. There are hidden cupboards all around the island, with push-to-open catches allowing access to oak shelving within. “We didn’t want it to look like an island with cupboards,” he says. The flutes are timber strips that have been glued on.
Browse more contemporary kitchens on Houzz
Browse more contemporary kitchens on Houzz
Making the most of every inch, there are even drawers under the ovens on the kitchen side of the island.
The tiles in this area are limestone, warmed by underfloor heating. The chevron parquet flooring, which covers the living area and nods to the heritage of the house, isn’t under-heated, but the team fitted additional insulation beneath the floor to make it more energy-efficient.
The tiles in this area are limestone, warmed by underfloor heating. The chevron parquet flooring, which covers the living area and nods to the heritage of the house, isn’t under-heated, but the team fitted additional insulation beneath the floor to make it more energy-efficient.
The glass box in the dining area continues the curvy shapes and also acts as a window seat. “It protrudes [into the garden] like an oriel window, so it’s like you’re floating,” says Mahdi. “[The owners] can look up to the sky or into the garden. That was a special element that we thought made the whole project.”
The wall panelling is a nod to the 1930s heritage and adds interest to the plain wall. “The owners wanted a modern-traditional blend and the moulding was about trying to tie the kitchen to the existing house,” Mahdi says.
The couple already owned the dining table, but they added these white Kartell chairs, which chime with the light and airy feel of the room.
The wall panelling is a nod to the 1930s heritage and adds interest to the plain wall. “The owners wanted a modern-traditional blend and the moulding was about trying to tie the kitchen to the existing house,” Mahdi says.
The couple already owned the dining table, but they added these white Kartell chairs, which chime with the light and airy feel of the room.
As well as the glazing on the back wall, Mahdi fitted a skylight along the length of the room that’s angled between the old and new areas, so it directs light into the living space. He also added two slim windows on either side of the TV to further brighten this potentially dark spot. “These give the opportunity for ventilation, too,” he says.
A run of cupboards beneath the TV is perfect for hiding the children’s toys.
A run of cupboards beneath the TV is perfect for hiding the children’s toys.
While the couple wanted an open-plan space, they were also keen to have distinct areas, so Mahdi added timber slats that screen the living area without blocking light. “It also means the adults can be watching TV while the kids are playing outside and they can still see them,” he says.
The cladding on the exterior is charred timber – or shou sugi ban. “Charring timber is an ancient Japanese technique,” says Mahdi. “It makes it more robust, because it stops insects from damaging the wood and makes it waterproof and fire-retardant – plus it looks amazing.”
The family are planning to do the garden when they have more funds. In the meantime, they love their new extension and, because of the window formation, have affectionately nicknamed the house ‘nnu’.
The family are planning to do the garden when they have more funds. In the meantime, they love their new extension and, because of the window formation, have affectionately nicknamed the house ‘nnu’.
The ‘before’ floor plan shows the large, view-blocking outbuilding.
The ‘after’ floor plan shows the new extension, which hasn’t taken much of the garden, but makes such a difference. Mahdi also slotted in a laundry next to the staircase.
Your turn
What do you like about this imaginative extension? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Check out another colourful and creative design with this Room of the Week: From Dull Verandah to a Delightful Living Area
Your turn
What do you like about this imaginative extension? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Check out another colourful and creative design with this Room of the Week: From Dull Verandah to a Delightful Living Area
Extension at a Glance
Who lives here: A young family with two children
Location: Essex, UK
Property: A four-bedroom 1930s semi-detached house
Dimensions: The extension containing the kitchen and dining area is 34 square metres; the living area is 30 square metres
Architect: Abul Mahdi, Studio Jayga Architects
In common with many of us, the owners of this 1930s semi wanted “an open-plan space for modern-day living”, but they also asked for “something special”.
Mahdi’s design has given them just that – an elegant, open-plan kitchen, dining space and living room with glazing looking onto the garden beyond. “As you walk in, you have a direct view into the garden,” says Mahdi. “The kitchen is there, but it’s not imposing; it sits there gently.”
The island isn’t a big block impeding the view, either, and Mahdi deliberately positioned it so it sits between the two doors to make the most of the glazing. Even the pendant light is minimal from this angle.