A simple single storey rear extension transforms the kitchen of this 1930’s semi-detached home.  Internally to space allows for a sitting area, kitchen and dining area to all interact with each other and the garden.  Large windows and sliding glass doors provide a connection to the patio and garden beyond.  The kitchen is also brightened by the roof light above the beamed ceiling.

YEAR / 2024
BUDGET / unknown
CONTRACTOR / D2B Construction
KITCHEN / Client
PHOTOGRAPHER / Matt Clayton Photography

Nestled in the Kent countryside this 3 bedroom home is spacious and full of light. On the first floor is the main bedroom with ensuite and terrace, whilst on the ground floor are 2 further bedrooms, a shower room, utility and the living space. The open plan living /kitchen/dining room is flooded with light from the unique glass box and has access to the garden via two pivot doors.

Year / 2021
Budget / £450k
Contractor / D2B Construction Ltd
Kitchen / Piqu Designs
Photographer / Matt Clayton Photography

In the centre of the Kent seaside village of St. Margaret’s at Cliffe sits this 3 bedroom modern home. The ground floor contains the living spaces with amazing connections to both the front and rear gardens. The bedrooms are all en-suite with one on the ground floor and 2 on the first floor. Road access on the busy corner is made easier by the car turn-table in the front driveway.

Year / 2022
Contractor / Self-Build
Photographer / Matt Clayton Photography

A beautiful project influenced by the work of architect Mies van der Rohe. The original property was a ground floor flat on a split level, but by extending into the basement we created a bright spacious 4 bedroom flat with a beautiful connection to the garden. The focus of the project is the kitchen extension which sits on a plinth creating a patio with cantilevering roof providing shade and shelter. Surrounded by glass the kitchen has an amazing connection to the garden and is the centre of the home.

Year / 2016
Construction Cost / £270k
Lead Architect / Paul Archer Design
Structural Engineer / Hardman Structural Engineers
Contractor / Ecore Construction
Glazing / Fineline Aluminium
Photographer / Nick Guttridge
Awards / Don’t Move Improve! Awards Shortlisted 2018

This single storey rear extension to a basement flat provides a bright open plan space. The living area has a large roof light bringing in plenty of light to the back of the room. The dining and kitchen areas overlook the garden, with double doors lead from the dining space to the patio and kitchen windows open to create a bar area. This creates a great connection between the kitchen and both internal and external dining areas. A second roof light above the kitchen provides yet more light and has a mirror to one reveal to provide views of the trees from the kitchen.

Year / 2022
Construction Cost / £90k
Structural Engineer / Hardman Structural Engineering
Contractor / Refectio
Glazing / Open Square Glazing
Photographer / Matt Clayton Photography

The clients came to us to improve the kitchen/dining area of their terrace house. It was dark and uninviting and created a barrier to the garden. With a small glass side extension we have created a bright kitchen and dining room with the family now love spending time in. New patio doors to the original building and relocating the kitchen create a better connection to the garden allowing the parents to watch the kids play from the kitchen.

Year / 2020
Construction Cost / £190k
Structural Engineer / Constant Structural Engineers
Contractor / Whiti Projects Ltd
Glazing / Cantifix
Photographer / Matt Clayton Photography

This entire house needed renovating and the rear of the property was opened up on the ground floor to provide an open plan kitchen-dining area with better access to the garden. The formal front living room was opened up the room behind to create a playroom for the younger members of the family. The zinc clad side extension contains the new kitchen and has rooflights to bring light into the centre of the plan. Patio doors at the rear of the property allow garden access from both the kitchen and the dining room. We also extended into the loft to create a new master suite.

Year / 2017
Construction Cost / £170k
Contractor / Billingford Ltd
Structural Engineer / Constant Structural Engineers
Photographer / Chris Snook Photography

The clients came to us to replace their kitchen in their Victorian terrace house. The kitchen is a tight galley layout which we didn’t alter too much as the plan was working for them. The clients didn’t want a large extract above the hob so we designed a concealed extract behind the mirror. The bespoke kitchen with a beautiful handle detail that flows between the doors and worktop. The doors are veneered oak that is spray painted to keep the kitchen bright but give a textured surface to the doors. The mirror above the hob makes the space feel wider which is essential in tight spaces.

Year / 2018
Construction Cost / £60k
Contractor / Neighbour Construction
Photographer / Matt Clayton Photography

This project is a perfect example that alterations to a property don’t need to add square footage but rather need to improve the layout. The property had been extended to the rear in the 1970’s to provide a larger kitchen but the layout wasn’t fully thought through. The reconfiguration built a new small extension to the side of the outrigger and remodelled the wasted lobby area as the kitchen, leaving a large courtyard garden accessed from the new extension. In order to maximise the light into the rooms, the new extension has a glass roof and glass and the kitchen also overlooks the garden making it a much nicer space to use.

Year / 2017
Construction Cost / £60k
Contractor / Neighbour Construction
Structural Engineer / Constant Structural Engineers
Glazing / Fineline Aluminium
Photographer / Chris Snook Photography

The client came to us as he had realised that within the demise of his flat there was an unused void which could be utilised to improve his apartment. The new layout created a new very large en-suite and also a new mezzanine above the new kitchen for a study. Care was taken to make sure these spaces were still bright and didn’t feel small, in the en-suite this was done with mirrors to make the very long room not feel to narrow.

Year / 2019
Construction Cost / £75k
Structural Engineers / Constant Structural Design
Contractor / Whiti Projects Ltd
Photographer / Matt Clayton Photography

Originally this flat was a studio space with a mezzanine bedroom. We transformed it into a 2-bedroom apartment by increasing the size of the mezzanine and flipping the spaces, so the living areas were on the upper level and the bedrooms were on the lower level. The retained double height space for the stairwell brings sufficient lighting kept the spaces bright.

Year / 2016
Construction Costs / £65k
Structural Engineers / Stand Engineers
Contractor / Neighbour Construction
Photographer / Matthew Smith Architectural Photography
Awards / Don’t Move Improve! Awards Longlisted 2018

The kitchen is the heart of the home and is often the focal point of our interiors. Modern living often leads to open plan layouts revolving around the kitchen, so its design becomes a priority for many clients. That said, kitchens don’t need to be expensive, they need to be practical and durable.

Here is a selection of some of the kitchens that we have designed for our clients. Some from kitchen suppliers and off the shelf and others completely bespoke, designed by us and constructed by the builder.

Whist our design aesthetic is minimal and natural, bathrooms are sometimes the place to be a little quirky. A bright tile can lift the space and brighten the start of your day, other times its kept minimal and loose fittings add the colour and texture.

Depending on the size of the space lighting can be incredibly important in the bathroom as there is often no window for natural light so artificial lighting is key to a good design. The use of mirror is also key to great bathroom design. It can double the size of the room and reflect light making it less claustrophobic, simple moves such as taking mirror to the ceiling and making it as wide as possible don’t add lots of cost but improve the space remarkably.