The Room Planner: Side Extensions
The Sunday Telegraph: Home & Living, 3rd Sept, 2006. Author: Paula Robinson
Side extensions to terrace properties offer much needed additional floor space, but many look like after-thoughts instead of blending seamlessly with the whole. Living with them and making them work can be quite a challenge.
Most contemporary extensions are designed to maximize the sence of space and open-plan living. Concealed structural beams and camouflaged structural pillars make this possible, with no hint of the original layout.
If your extension is more of a carbuncle that an asset, consider your options carefully. First, call in a structural engineer to discuss the possibility of removing retaining walls and replacing them with structural supports. Be prepared for major upheaval and cost, but remember the result should be more than worth it.
If you decide to live with an exsisting structure, take a fresh look at the best use of the space. This may also involve changing the layout of the rest of your home. Choose a function for the extension that is well suited both to its shape and position, maybe a kitchen, library or office.
Try to disguise the thickness of the wall that divides the extension from the rest of the home. Depending on the use of each of the adjoining rooms, consider either a wall of bookshelves above and around the entrance to disguise theretaining wall, or a pair of reclaimed wrought-iron gates with two tall plants flanking the entrance to create the sence of walking into a garden room.
The extension itself often feels like a transition space: a wide corridor leading from the main house to the garden or patio outside. This can be disconcerting when you use the area for sitting and relaxing. Minimise the corridor effect by placingsome furniture perpendicular to the walls. This devides the space discreetly and creates different areas of activity. Arrange sofas and chairs in cosy, convivial configurations, never parallel to the extension's two long walls, or it will feel like a waiting room.
Optical illusions can make the extension appear wider than it actually is. Mirroring the main wall from floor to ceiling is always effective, especially as it increases the amount of natural light. Alternatively, line this wall with floor-to-ceiling narrow bookshelves and mirror the backs of each (or some) of the boxes. This creates an illusion of depth and the sence of an open space beyond the bookshelves. If you have a sizeable collection of interesting objects rather than books, this is an excellent solution.
If part of your extension includes a second floor, you may find this restricted space even harder to deal with. When it is not feasible to open up the space, consider using the area as a bathroom, dressing room, baby's room or a small gym.
Visualizing the many possibilities for transforming your extension can be difficult. Consider getting a planning kit that helps you create a scale layout of the space. You can test out different configurations and decide what works best.
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