Kitchen extensions London residential guide

Kitchen extensions London

Inspiration and ideas

Modern lifestyles often demand that the kitchen area is layered in terms of functionality, and that it also connects well both with other reception rooms and the garden outside. Often enough kitchen extensions are also about finding a way to establish a better relationship with the rear garden and this is important to consider as part of any project. An architect kitchen extension should be a considered response to the client brief and to all relevant design, quality, planning, and cost issues. Below we have selected some projects to lend architectural inspiration and design ideas for your kitchen extension.

Architect designed Kilburn Brent NW2 kitchen house extension Kitchen 200x200 Kitchen extensions London | Home design

Architect designed Putney Wandsworth SW6 kitchen house extension Connecting to the rear garden Kitchen extensions London | Home design

East Finchley Barnet N2 House extension Kitchen view out 200x200 Kitchen extensions London | Home design

Architect designed flat extension Warwick Avenue Westminster W9 Kitchen area Kitchen extensions London | Home design

Visit our portfolio for a selection of case studies or alternatively visit our London Residential page for your local authority and information about planning.

Design aspirations

Designing for flexibility is the key here since a kitchen extension often results in a wide rearrangement of the spaces around it. Utility areas can be introduced (consider the zoning in terms of primary and secondary uses of various parts of the kitchen), and a relationship needs to be established between the kitchen extension, the new/old dining area, and the existing living/seating spaces.

Always consider circulation, sightlines, and natural light levels across the various rooms before deciding on the use and potential of various spaces. Rooflights can be added to define specific areas depending on their use.

One thing to remember is that the only fixed element of this reorganisation is the kitchen itself; everything else can float around it. If designed thoughtfully, a kitchen extension can allow the space to be used flexibly, and stay in tune with the changing needs of the occupants. Over time the dining table may move to the old seating area, the kids play area can become the new desk/study space and the under-the-stairs utility area could one day turn into a downstairs loo.

During the design development stage we will get to explore lots of ideas, but you can start the process now by considering answers to questions such as:

“Do we go for an island unit, or is the space too limited for that?”

“Would an open plan layout work for us, or do we prefer spaces that are more defined and enclosed?”

“Should we locate the dining area near the glazed external doors, or is it the kitchen area we would like to locate near the garden window?”

The existing house layout will quietly suggest some answers, and we can also explore design ideas on how to best match your brief to the potential of the house or flat. Victorian houses tend to be very adaptable when it comes to building kitchen extensions. The same thing applies to garden flats. Often kitchen extensions end up being more than just a building extension, and working with an architect will give you the opportunity to (re)think about the way you live and how you will be enjoying your home in the future.

Types

There are various types of kitchen extensions that might be right for your property; a lot will depend on the type of property you own and what you wish to achieve by extending it. Here are some common ways and approaches to consider:

Glass roof kitchen extension or conservatory kitchen extension | Flood your breakfast room with light, and create a space that opens out into garden areas or simply uses the sky and the ever-changing daylight as a way to colour your internal spaces.

Kitchen side extension or side return kitchen extension | This extension makes the most of unused space, expanding into areas such as side alleys that are often wasted square footage.

Kitchen diner extension | If you believe the kitchen should be the heart of the home this type of extension combines your functional working space with your entertaining space, and it brings the party to you even when you are re the one cooking for it.

Victorian terrace kitchen extension to a flat or house | London is so rich in Victorian buildings, and they are so easy to adapt and remodel. Whether you want to be sympathetic to the character of the existing building, or juxtapose it with a modern twist there is always an intelligent way to extend and add a new layer to a Victorian property.

GOAStudio recommends Kitchen Co-Ordination

When it comes to kitchens, it’s the small details and ingenious touches that make the difference, such as peg systems for plates and cups, large capacity pull-outs, corner units and roller shutter units that are functional and build with design in mind, soft closing drawers, and worktops built to your height. Kitchen Co-ordination use quartz, granite, laminate and coloured glass to complement their cabinets and create a truly bespoke kitchen design, and all their designer kitchens are built in Germany by Rational [LINK] (www.rational.de).
Website: www.kitchencoordination.co.uk
Contact: vivienne@kitchencoordination.co.uk

GOAStudio | London residential architecture and interior design is an award-winning practice, specialising in architectural services for residential projects across London.

Our architectural team aims to provide a friendly and professional service. Our approach is based on carefully considering the particular aspects of each scheme before coming up with a creative way for our clients to instil their unique stamp on what we do and how we do it. Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and Architects Registration Board (ARB).

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