This property, which appears in Houzz, is an end-of-terrace house in Southsea, sitting on a good-sized plot, with a larger than average garden. During my initial visit, the owners identified a number of problems that they asked me to resolve.

Their main bugbear was the fact that the existing kitchen was a quirky L-shape, which they felt was cramped and didn’t maximise the views of their lovely garden. The couple also felt that, when their grandchildren came to visit, access to the garden was rather limited.

My solution was to knock down two walls and build a 5m x 5m extension at the side of the house. I designed this to include a large rooflight, plenty of windows and glazed doors leading out to their garden. We added extra insulation and high performance glazing to help balance the effects of so much glass and the property’s exposed location.

The new enlarged and light-filled space became a spacious kitchen/diner and sitting area – perfect for relaxed open plan living. The couple loved my suggestion of building a verandah and wooden decked area, running right across the rear of their 1980s property, to unify the new and old sections. 

I also recommended underfloor heating and wooden flooring, as a practical option and also to tie in with the exterior decking. With Crittal-style windows, a woodburning stove and smart kitchen units, their new family-friendly space is now a much brighter and more inviting area.