Kitchen
The lower-ground floor (seen here) saw a dramatic makeover, with walls knocked down and a modern glass extension added that has transformed this area into the new hub of the house.In the home’s light and bright new kitchen, the making of this impressive worktop was described as a “labour of love”. Find out how it was constructed and see the rest of the property by following the link below.Tour the whole of this historic townhouse
Seen from the inside, however, the extension feels positively futuristic and minimal – giving the owners the best of both worlds. Huge expanses of glass forming much of the ceiling area, as well as an almost seamlessly connected window at the end of the shorter part of the extension, seen here, give the space a lovely link to the garden – making that the feature, rather than the inspired yet non-visually intrusive architecture.
A dazzlingly contemporary extension wrapped in a traditional exteriorChoosing brickwork that matches the original so closely makes this extension, designed by FC Architects, almost invisible from the outside. The pitched roof and choice not to extend the full side return also nod to the earlier life of the building. It all makes the large, light-loving patio doors less of a feature in their own right as they, too, blend in more easily with such a backdrop.
An extension to a between-the-wars home looks as if it’s always been thereFrom the inside of this detached 1930s family home in Cambridge, a key feature that stands out is the unusual window formation – a change from the more typical large expanse of uninterrupted glass and bifold doors. This is significant, as it’s a major detail that helps the new part of the house blend in with the original building, as you can see in the next photo. The new extension houses a sleek and contemporary kitchen-diner, but architect Kieran Hawkins of Mailen Design was keen to put it in context. “We wanted to make a room that respected the feel of an early 20th century English house. The rhythm of the windows and doors, and views of the garden, also helped to define the layout.”Materials including wood and ceramics were key to the characterful feel of the room. “It’s important to use natural materials that age well wherever possible,” Hawkins adds.
At number 5…It’s easy to see what attracted you to this boldly extended historic home. It flows beautifully, and it’s comfortable, contemporary and yet respectful of its great vintage (not to mention its Grade II listed status). But there’s nothing small-scale about this handsome, late 17th century house, with five bedrooms and three bathrooms.
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