Crafting a Vision: Opening Up a Family Home

This project was all about igniting the imagination of prospective buyers especially families with young children as the most common buyer for this size and type of property. 

The current layout of the ground floor was closed with separate rooms and no direct view from inside the property into the entire garden.

​

The Ground Floor: Before and After

The house, while charming, suffered from a common ailment: The back part of the ground floor was carved into three separate rooms (a dining room, kitchen, and study), which felt cramped and disconnected. The challenge was to demonstrate how these individual spaces could seamlessly merge, creating a heart-of-the-home perfect for modern family life.

​

Our solution began with bold moves. We removed the walls between the existing dining room, kitchen, and study, instantly creating one expansive, flowing open-plan space. To provide a separate, cosy retreat, we then closed the opening between the living room and the former dining area, creating a dedicated lounge and TV snug. This gave families the flexible zones they crave – a vibrant communal space alongside a quieter hideaway.

​

Next, we tackled the exterior connection. The dated conservatory and an old bay window were removed, replaced with two new, generous openings onto a brand-new terrace. To give these openings a sense of grandeur and cleverly conceal pipework, the walls surrounding them were made thicker, adding architectural depth. Inside, every fixture and piece of furniture was chosen for its contemporary style, ensuring the design felt bright and welcoming.

​

Outside, the transformation continued. We designed a new terrace that stretched the entire length of the newly opened ground floor. This wasn't just a patio; it was an outdoor living extension, complete with an outside kitchen, a dedicated dining area, and a comfortable seating space, perfect for al fresco family meals and entertaining.

​​​

The impact

The design utterly changed the atmosphere of the house, shifting it from feeling closed and small to wonderfully open and filled with light. The cumbersome conservatory no longer obscured the garden; instead, there was a seamless, inviting connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces, ready for a new family to enjoy.