EXTENDED 1930S HOME
Kate and Craig ’s plans for a modest side extension morphed into a complete reconfiguration of the rear, inspired by a neighbour’s new open-plan space
patience has been a virtue for Kate and Craig Moorhouse, who have waited 15 years to create their dream groundfloor extension. After renting a Victorian terraced house in the bustling but pricey Manchester suburb of Chorlton, they moved five minutes away to the quieter enclave of Firswood, where they’d found an abundance of 1930s semis with driveways and gardens that would’ve fetched a premium where they used to live.
Their new home had scope for an ambitious remodel, but these plans went on the back burner with the arrival of son Herbie. However, in 2020, a side extension added space for an office, utility and toilet, while a rear extension provided the ‘wow’ with a Scandistyle open-plan kitchen, dining and living area. Kate and Craig explain how they pulled it off.
BEFORE
KATE SAYS…
‘After viewing around 20 properties, we whittled our shortlist down to two 1930s houses. Craig preferred the one decorated in the ‘80s and ‘90s that we nicknamed “new Sutherland”, while my favourite was the even more dated one with original carpets that we called “old Sutherland”. In the end we loved the quiet location of old Sutherland: it was cheaper and both houses would need updating anyway.
‘With plans to have a baby, we didn’t think about extending. Instead we focused on ripping out the smelly carpets, rewiring, replacing the back boiler, fixing the roof and updating the kitchen and bathroom.
‘In 2020, we decided to use money inherited from my dad and shares from work to build a single-storey side extension. Initially I just wanted a downstairs toilet and utility, but realised a new office would free up the second bedroom where I used to work. After visiting a neighbour’s house and seeing their open-plan living dining and kitchen space, we decided to use the same architect and extend at the back. We do a lot of entertaining and cooking but I was tucked away in the tiny galley kitchen, so it really appealed to me, and we could remortgage for the extra funds needed.
‘The design has a pitched roof, which gives us more light, more ceiling height and is more in keeping with the style of the house. As I’m a graphic desi
