Creating More Space
As were revisiting some of our previous posts (as part of our 15 year celebrations) and as we edge closer to Christmas, it seemed like an appropriate time to look at our blog ‘Creating More Space’. We’re now in December and the days are starting get shorter and the temperatures lower. We start to spend more time indoors and begin to dream of more having more space; somewhere with a quiet corner to take 5 in between the chaos of guests, or an adult space to unwind when the tiny ones are in bed.
Why extend?
Extending is a popular way to add space and often makes economic sense. Moving home is a costly process, taking into account the associated costs of buying, selling and the general costs of moving. Investing this money into your existing house could be a more sensible option and could even add value if you do decide to move sometime in the future.
A home extension can be a daunting and time consuming task without the proper support in place. If moving house, the time spent searching for the right house, showing your existing home, arranging the surveyor, meeting the lawyer, packing, redirecting the post, redecorating the new place and all the other associated tasks, and suddenly an extension seems like the quick option.
Where to start?
A well-developed design brief is essential to the success of every build project. It should clearly set out your main requirements, detailing your vision and communicating your motivations and expectations, design direction and budget. It should also set realistic time frames. Asking yourself a series of questions and addressing the current issues with the space will help to improve the final outcome of the project and ensure your vision is achieved. A good design brief will also help with the decision on moving or improving.
Questions like; do you have too much clutter on show? Do you have space to entertain family and friends comfortably? What do you love about your home as it is now and what must stay? What doesn’t work or don’t you have space to do?
Developing a holistic brief will ensure that your new extension will connect with the existing house in a meaningful way. You don’t want your beautiful new extension to turn the lounge into a corridor. It will also mean that you can address other issues at the same time. Your new extension should be improving your existing space rather than simply adding more volume.
Share your brief early on with a chartered architect for their honest appraisal and feedback. They will be able to highlight issues that you may not have thought of (like if you are adding bedrooms you may have to add parking spaces). They will also discuss how the extension will work for you in 15 years’ time and what aspects of your life may change over time.
You’ll be able to get expert knowledge around if full planning permission is required or if a certificate of lawfulness for permitted development would suffice. A chartered architect will be able to turn your brief into a design and then into set of drawings that can be built.
Design Considerations?
The right design will add character and enhance the existing building. Each house has its own style, so the new extension must be sensitive to this. The challenge is to create an authenticity that makes the new building work effortlessly. Matching styles means proportions, details and materials must be harmonised. A contrasting extension may require new ideas, but it should still enhance the house, rather than spoil it.
Getting the size of your extension right is important both in terms of giving you the space you need and the overall look of the home. It shouldn’t be so big so that it dominates either your existing home or your neighbours (this can risk not getting planning permission too). Keeping down the size of your addition will help to manage the environmental impact of the build, reduce the build budget and reduce running costs. You also don’t want the extension to be so small that it effects the flow of the house and is impractical. A bold two storey extension may look more in character with your home and be cheaper than a single storey and a loft extension.
Consider the function of the spaces you require and consider how these spaces fit into the house. Making a room multifunctional can save space and make your home work more fluidly; for example a kitchen diner means you can entertain friends or help with homework while also cooking. Other groupings can be less harmonious, for example a study space in the bedroom or a reading chair in the games room. When considering the function of the new space think about the pairings that already exist around the house and ask yourself if they work well and if they could be improved.
An important consideration is also storage. Sufficient storage is important, but it needs to be fit for purpose and responsive. What works well in the kitchen will not work in the children’s play room. Utilising dead spaces for storage in a creative way can make it into an inviting space.
The advantage of working with an architect to assist with the design work, is that they will visualise the space in ways that you may not have thought about, bringing new solutions.
How much does an extension cost?
There are many variables which will affect the cost of your project; from foundations, to the number of storeys, volume of glazing, location and even how you choose to finance the build. The web lists anything from £1,000 per/m2 to £2,500 per/m2 as guide prices. Getting a professional on board from an early stage will help you keep track of your project and help you to identify the costly elements – allowing you to make an informed decision as to whether it should stay or go. Spending the time agreeing your design now means that you will get the outcome that you want and avoid high pressure, costly decision making on site.
Keep referring back to your brief when making decisions. You want to ensure that the elements that you are keeping are really going to help you get to the end goal that you want and that you aren’t making too many sacrifices. Listen to the professional advice but don’t let them make the decisions – it’s your project.
