The client wanted to create a light and airy open plan kitchen and living space for this rear extension to their forever home. Happy Building created this vision by building in four living zones - kitchen, living area and dining area as one open plan space and building in an additional utility space comprised of utility room, boot room and downstairs bathroom - a hard working area that can be quickly closed off for relaxation and entertaining.
Let light In
This expansive open plan space needed to have several natural sources to keep it feeling fresh and airy. Bi fold doors are always an excellent way to maximise light and to have that open air feel during summer, but the addition of the bench window and the two sets of skylights is what really lets this space shine. To pull all these pieces together our Architect, Jamie Williams, suggested a timber rooflight reveal to create a really seamless finish, using a natural oak to really complement the rest of the finishing throughout the project.
An elegant kitchen
While the kitchen island is always the central piece to any open plan kitchen, its the pairing with the ombre chrome pendant lighting that really makes it a central feature. For our client it was really important that they had their own finishing touches to such a personal space, so they opted for the dark blue kitchen cabinetry which sits alongside the contrast tiling creating a real modern but liveable feel.
Living and dining space
While the bench window steals the show for the living space, the real focal point is the timber cladding panels and the integrated fireplace. The discreet storage units underneath the fireplace are an excellent smart storage solution, but these are the only hard working feature of the living space; the wooden panelling also acts as a sound absorber, allowing conversation to travel more naturally through such a large open plan space.
The quiet dining space is carefully placed in a secluded corner of this rear extension to allow for a more protected and intimate feel while dining.
Utility, boot room and Downstairs Bathroom
Boot rooms are the understated luxury of a modern interior - but continue to be a hardworking part of the house. It was a joy to create such an elegant feel to a functional space, continuing with the same feel from the kitchen - with full credit to our client’s very clever repurposing of some old white baskets as a fantastic storage solution.
