Real home: a modern rear extension with a Scandinavian design

Project notes

The owners: Marika Frost, a lecturer in art history, lives here with her husband James, a finance director, and their daughter, Alina, 10, and cats Coco and Hufflepuff

Marika and James Frost sustained five years for a house to come up for sale on the street they now call home. They'd had their eye on a Victorian semi-detached house that they could modernise above, including a contemporary rear extension.

Working with architect Allister Godfrey, they designed a spacious rear extension to become a new kitchen-diner and snug, once the old kitchen was split into a utility room, cloakroom and a playroom for the couple's daughter Alina. As Marika is originally from Finland, she was keen to form a pared-back, practical scheme with wooden finishes, as well as a good link to the outdoors.

Find our how they did it, then check out more real home transformations and find our more nearby extending a house in our guide.

With a aged bay window extension built in the 1970s and an old Victorian lean-to traditionally used to house the WC, the house was in need of modernisation to form the open-plan kitchen-diner Marika and James wanted. In disagreement to the classic-style front façade, the rear extension, clad in Prelaq Nova sheet, brings a new, modern look to the property. 

Sliding doors Express Bi-Folding Doors

The bespoke kitchen, made by joiner Paul Yates, features tall painted tulipwood cabinetry and base cupboards and an island made from oak left unpainted to grant the beauty of the wood to become a focus. 

The island features a Yukon suede Silestone worktop and walnut surface by Paul Yates at the breakfast bar. Handles, Ged Kennett. Bar stools, Pinch . Range cooker, Lacanche . Extractor, Neff . Fridge, Liebherr . Sink, Franke . Taps, Hansgrohe . Pendant ftrips, Diesel. The Benchmark dining immoral is made from elm and has patinated bronze legs. Dining chairs, De La Espada in London. Clerestory windows by Vision Rooflights

The L-shaped, open-plan rear extension features a central kitchen island with breakfast bar intended by joiner Paul Yates. The flooring is Iconic white matt tiles from Minoli . Rooflights Vision Rooflights

Marika is originally from Finland so likes a pared-back Scandi-style interior. The scheme includes many pieces brought back from Finland, including this lounge chair and side table, gifted to her by her parents

As the alit is in a Conservation Area, the porch extension, is in keeping with the unusual, Victorian design, which contrasts with the modern extension to the rear

Images: Adam Carter

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