The Problem
Our clients had purchased a ground floor apartment in London with great potential, but in its existing form it lacked the space, light, and functional layout required for their family and busy lifestyle. The kitchen in particular was poorly configured, a narrow corridor with no connection to a family dining area. They were particularly keen to create a more open and connected living environment, better suited to modern day living.
The Wishlist
The clients’ wish list focused on transforming the apartment into a light-filled, open home that better supports everyday living. A key priority was the introduction of a rear ground floor extension, which they envisioned would unlock additional space and draw natural light deeper into the plan, resulting in a brighter and more uplifting interior.
They were eager to improve the connection to the garden and expand the ground floor to create a stronger sense of flow between inside and out. Internally, they wanted to enlarge the master bedroom and reconfigure two small bathrooms into a single, more generous and luxurious space, alongside the addition of a separate WC accessed from the hallway.
As a family who enjoys entertaining, creating a more sociable home was central to the brief. This meant increasing the overall footprint to accommodate a larger, well-connected kitchen, dining, and living area, designed to maximise both functionality and a greater sense of openness.
The Solution
The property benefitted from generous external space to the rear, enabling the addition of a full 4 metre extension that provides the additional accommodation required to meet the brief. This new space creates a spacious kitchen, living, and dining area, designed to feel open, cohesive, and highly functional.
Large rooflights and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors were introduced to the rear elevation, allowing natural light to flood deep into the plan. As a result, the new extension feels bright and expansive, while also enhancing the perceived ceiling heights and overall sense of space within the apartment.
Reconfiguring the position of the front door established a clearer sense of arrival and improved privacy to the bedroom areas, while also helping to draw daylight further into the centre of the plan.
The master bedroom was enlarged to comfortably accommodate a double bed, integrated storage, and generous circulation space, creating a more balanced and restful environment. A number of bathroom layouts were explored, with the final solution combining two smaller rooms into a single, generous and more luxurious bathroom.
A minimalist and uncluttered design approach was adopted throughout, with carefully considered finishes and furnishings that enhance the sense of light, space, and calm across the home.
The Results
The completed project demonstrates how a carefully considered, minimalist approach to interiors can enhance both light and space. A restrained palette and uncluttered furnishings allow the architecture to take centre stage, amplifying the impact of the rear extension and the various design strategies used to improve the quality of natural light throughout the home.
While the planning process was relatively straightforward, the property’s location within a conservation area required full planning permission rather than permitted development, adding an additional layer of consideration to the design.
The outcome is a striking transformation; a once constrained lower ground floor apartment has been reimagined as a bright, spacious family home. The new layout offers a series of light-filled, airy spaces that flow seamlessly and connect more strongly with the garden, demonstrating how thoughtful design can unlock the full potential of a property.
Showcase
