Clapham Common | SW11

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, an island with a cooktop, open shelving with candles, brick wall accent, and dining area with table and chairs near large windows and skylight.

We have currently designed schemes for this project, which involves the opening up and enlarging of the ground floor - in order to create a large, open-plan living area, reconfiguration of the first floor and a loft extension. The clients came to us with the brief of creating a contemporary, open-plan ground floor, which maximised usable space in a 5-metre-wide Victorian terraced house. They wanted a larger kitchen and dining area and a living/seating area that was better connected to the kitchen for their growing family. The priority was also to get more light into the space.

Our scheme completely opens up the ground floor by removing all internal walls, however, a small entrance hall has been retained in order to create a lobby between the living space and the front door. This also separates the stairs and landings throughout the house from the kitchen area, maintaining the protected stairwell for fire regulations. All other walls were removed and the secondary entrance from the hallway into the kitchen (which was also accessed by the living room) was omitted, and instead that space became part of the open-plan area

To the rear, we have extended into the garden, retaining 50% of the garden to comply with Wandsworth’s planning requirements. We have designed the extension so that it protrudes lengthways into the garden, instead of across the back of the house. This sits alongside the neighbouring extension and extends almost to the rear garden wall. This responds to the orientation of the site and creates a decked garden that faces South. This section of the garden is also the area that is not bordered by tall neighbouring extensions on the boundary lines and therefore will enjoy more open views through the surrounding buildings. The client wanted to maintain a small section of the garden only, for sitting. Because of the size of the garden, we designed the extension to be glazed, with an open corner, to allow the dining area to be fully opened up to the garden and very much become an extension of the external space in the summer.

A rear extension with a skylight, corner glass

Modern kitchen and a view into a dining area with a table and wooden chairs. There are large windows and a sliding glass door leading to an outdoor patio with potted plants, exposed brick walls, and a brick building outside.

Modern open-concept kitchen and dining area with white and gray decor, brick wall accent, large window, and greenery outside.

Modern living room with gray and white walls, mounted TV, built-in shelves, and a bay window with seating.

Interior of a modern, well-lit living room with white and gray walls, ceiling lights, white furniture, and a flat-screen TV on the wall. A bar area extends into the kitchen with a dining table in the background.

A bird's eye view of a modern backyard space with a glass-roofed greenhouse, outdoor dining area, and landscaped greenery.