EXTENSION PROJECT
DEVELOPING EXISTING PLANS HELPED TRANSFORM A DISJOINTED PROPERTY INTO A COHESIVE FAMILY HOME, SAY JAMES LAI OF JL ARCHITECTURE
BEFORE
THE PROBLEM
A succession of poorly connected spaces, both internally and between the house and the garden
THE SOLUTION
‘We began by demolishing the existing conservatory,’ explains James Lai from JL Architecture, ‘and we replaced it with a groundfloor rear extension. It spans the full width of the property and opens out onto a new patio area, creating a clear connection with the garden. The new extension allowed us to reconfigure the ground floor plan of the property. We removed the wall between the former rear living room and the kitchen to create a generous open-plan kitchen, dining and family living space.
‘An existing side extension housed the utility room; however, it was cold and poorly insulated so it was rebuilt, with new access from the kitchen. The patterned tiles in the utility help zone the space, while oak engineered flooring, with underfloor heating, runs throughout the kitchen, dining and family space.
‘During the build, the garage was converted into the children’s playroom, accessed via the kitchen and the hallway, while a downstairs cloakroom was installed below the staircase. Th
