House extension ideas in London

This article explores house extension ideas for London properties. The chosen approach will very much depend on your aspirations, your style and the design of the existing house. Many of the options are explored below, with illustrated examples from Architecture for London’s residential projects.

Architecture for London is an RIBA Chartered Practice with specialist experience in house extension projects. View our portfolio, or if you would like to discuss your property, please contact us.

As a first step, it is a good idea to create your own mood board of house extension ideas using sites like Pinterest and Houzz. This can help to define your tastes and convey these to your architect.

 A note of caution, though, don’t try to fit every Pinterest idea that you have ever saved into your own project. Often, the best-designed architectural spaces are simple in concept, and their beauty comes from exploring one idea very well. Some of the key options to consider are explored in this article.

House extension ideas: modern or traditional?

• Modern house extensions usually feature large areas of uninterrupted glass. They often take a more minimal approach to decoration and detailing. They tend to rely on the beauty of craftsmanship and materials rather than using decoration in the traditional sense. Split-level spaces or double-height areas are a contemporary way to add architectural drama. The kitchen will often be clean-lined and may feature smooth surfaces and recessed handles to help free the space of visual clutter.

• Traditional house extensions typically feature glazed areas that are divided into smaller panes of glass, perhaps with crittal-style windows or timber mullions. Decoration in the form of panelling, skirtings and architraves may complete the space internally. The kitchen may be detailed with recessed door panels and traditional handles in a ‘shaker’ style.

Successful projects often mix traditional craftsmanship and materials with a contemporary approach to architectural detailing.

Should your house extension be contrasting or in-keeping?

This decision will depend on any heritage or conservation area planning considerations, your own tastes and your architect’s approach. An extension may use external materials that are in keeping and therefore relate to the house, yet still take a modern approach to design.

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Historically, some local planning authorities preferred an extension to be in keeping with the existing building. Planning policy generally now also supports design proposals where the existing house and the new extension are differentiated. Provided that the design and materials are of a high quality, you can develop your house extension ideas using either approach.

• In-keeping: In London, this typically means choosing from a palette of brick, render, stucco, slate and painted timber.
• Contrasting: A contrasting design approach offers more opportunity for unusual materials for the exterior of the extension. In London, contrasting materials are generally anything other than those listed above. This list is only limited by your imagination, for example, corten, concrete, thatch, rammed earth, zinc, copper or unpainted timber.

Victorian or Georgian house?

Georgian houses in London are likely to be listed and are often part of a conservation area. This will affect the options available. Your architect will have an in-depth understanding of the local authority planning requirements for heritage properties and will be able to help you make the most of its potential.

• Georgian houses typically feature living spaces over the lower ground and raised ground floor. It is therefore key to decide the level at which the kitchen will be located.
• Whilst the lower ground floor usually offers a direct connection to the garden, the better ceiling heights and decorative features will be on the upper ground floor.

Victorian houses often feature an original rear extension that would have housed service areas. These are typically not full-width and one or more storeys less than the main house.

• Victorian houses tend to have their main living spaces on the ground floor only. When refurbishing or extending to the rear, the kitchen is typically proposed at ground level to allow a direct connection to the garden.
•  A side return extension is a way of extending the house to make better use of the often redundant side area.

Glass box extensions

• Glass is a very useful tool when extending your house. As well as ensuring the new rooms are filled with light, it can help you maintain or improve light levels in the existing building.
• It is important that the use of glass is carefully considered to avoid running into issues with overheating in summer and loss of heat in winter. Your architect or environmental consultant will be able to help you with this.

House extension ideas: sustainability

• Refurbishing your house also allows you to upgrade its environmental credentials. Adding insulation, triple-glazing and using more efficient heating systems will all make your carbon footprint smaller. Architecture for London can design to Passivhaus and EnerPHit standards of low energy and comfort. Sustainability improvements will also reduce the associated cost of running your house.

Garden design and planting

• Your new house extension may offer improved views and access to the garden, so good landscape design is key to a successful project.

• Architecture for London frequently designs garden landscapes to link with the new extensions, aiming to tie the two spaces together. This can be achieved with materials and levels continuing inside and out.
• At Highbury, north London, outside storage cupboards were created that align with the kitchen cupboards inside for a seamless transition. These were clad in stone, and a bespoke timber fence was created to continue the clean, minimal lines from the interior to the garden.

Affordable house extension ideas

There are many affordable house extension ideas. The simplest option might be to reconfigure the existing house, removing internal walls to create larger spaces and therefore possibly minimising the size of the extension required. 

• If just reconfiguring your property isn’t going to be enough, it’s worth considering whether you can achieve your goals while keeping within the permitted development rights of your property. You will not only save money on planning fees but could also save 6 weeks on your programme and associated consultants’ fees.
• Keeping the overall form of the building simple, with a rectangular footprint and a simple pitched roof, can sometimes help to reduce costs.
• Materials: can cost-effective materials be used innovatively?

• Avoid rogue builders: you can get advice from friends, neighbours and your consultant team for reliable, good value contractors.
• Keep your neighbours on side by updating them on the project progress and allaying their concerns as soon as possible. You may also be able to save money on Party Wall Awards if your neighbour is willing to consent to your extension.
• An architect and cost consultant will help to manage the budget. 

Architecture for London has delivered house extension projects across a wide spectrum of costs, from £2,000/sqm to £8,000/sqm.

Please visit the Architecture for London projects page to see more London house extension ideas, or contact us on 020 3637 4236 to discuss your project.

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