Ground floor extensions are vitally important to get right with the kitchen

 

often the busiest and

 

most family friendly room in the house. It's important to invest in design.

Would your extension be better served by having a

 

more sociable, open

 

flow running through it, or

 

sectioned

 

off zones

 

each used for a specific purpose.

If you often find yourself working

 

from the kitchen table, why not designate

 

a corner for a study,

 

or if you have young

 

children, create a separation

 

between kitchen and play area in a design where sections work independently, but blend together.

If the

 

garden is where the family

 

spends most of its time, extending

 

into the outdoor space may

 

not

 

be worth it

 

and a loft conversion could be the more practical option for extra room to

 

work or play.

You could even reverse the living entirely and have your kitchen and lounge upstairs in the loft

 

if garden space is too valuable

 

or in short supply.

Why not film the family for a

 

week using the existing space for a better

 

idea of exactly how the family lives to help you decide what is needed.

Extensions are considered Permitted Development (PD) and do not require Planning Permission if certain limits and conditions are met.

If you already have 2.4m of headroom available in the roof space, a successful and undisruptive

 

roof window conversion should be easily doable

 

under PD.

 

Find out more about how to successfuly transform your Loft

 

here.

 

For storage, use all of the space available to you, such as in the

 

eaves. These can be ideal

 

spots for books, ornaments,

 

baths etc.

When you're adding space try not to waste it. Large expansive doors can make a stunning feature, but

 

might leave less room for other possessions.

Under recent Building Regulation changes, extensions can now stretch further out

 

into the garden- read more here.

 

If you're short on

 

space, consider a side or wraparound extension, such as this extension in Teddington, or a garage conversion.

Remember rear extensions will move light away from the original building. Rooflights and doors are therefore essential to compensating for this. For help deciding which

 

roof windows you need for project, see our guide.