Cottage extensions should be undertaken with care to avoid spoiling the character of the original building — we take a close look at the best way to approach it and offer some tips and ideas
To undertake a successful cottage extension, you need to take care and attention. Cottages brim with character and rustic charm, leading many people to dream of owning one, but they have their drawbacks, too: low ceilings, a lack of natural light and diminutive size. So building an extension on to a cottage can not only overcome any issues faced by modern-day homeowners, but, designed well, can even highlight and further draw out the original features that are so sought after.
However, a badly designed or poorly planned cottage extension risks compromising its original charm or overshadowing delicate architectural details. So what are the best ways of increasing the footprint of cottages without negatively impacting their beauty?
Although cottages are all different in their design, they have certain traits in common.“Buildings are often small in scale or nicely proportioned as a standalone property,” explains architect Ian Phillips of VESP Architects. “Any addition needs to be carefully designed to complement the scale of a cottage.”
This doesn’t mean that an extension has to match the original building, simply that it needs to be thoroughly considered in how it will affect the proportions of it — in fact, contrasting or modern extensions can really draw out and highlight the quirky nature of these buildings.
Here, we take a look at some of the best ways to add space to old cottages, including design tips on how to bring in natural light, navigate low ceilings and open up warrens of dark rooms.
EMBRACE GLAZING
If you are looking for a way to add space to your cottage without overshadowing it or adding unnecessary visual ‘heft’ to the structure, consider gl
