Double Storey Rear & Loft
Project Description
Located in the quiet suburb of Northwood, this detached two-storey home was redesigned to better reflect the needs of a modern family while respecting the language of its original form. The project involved a full-width single-storey rear extension, internal spatial reconfiguration, and a comprehensive visual refresh across both front and rear elevations.
The primary challenge was to overcome the fragmented nature of the ground floor layout, where a series of separate rooms restricted natural light and movement. By removing internal partitions and extending to the rear, the new design unlocked a bright and expansive open-plan kitchen, dining and family space — all visually anchored by a large-format glazed sliding system that spans the rear façade. This seamless connection between inside and out is further emphasised by the introduction of a large tiered terrace, allowing the living space to flow directly into the garden.
Internally, the reconfiguration allowed for the integration of a concealed utility space and improved circulation throughout the home. Upstairs, layout refinements and a new rear dormer added both functionality and character to the loft space, while bathrooms and storage were modernised to better serve day-to-day living.
Materially, the home was given a fresh white rendered finish, paired with muted sage-coloured windows and doors to tie the traditional form with a modern softness. The result is a calm, balanced, and light-filled family home tailored for contemporary life.
The primary challenge was to overcome the fragmented nature of the ground floor layout, where a series of separate rooms restricted natural light and movement. By removing internal partitions and extending to the rear, the new design unlocked a bright and expansive open-plan kitchen, dining and family space — all visually anchored by a large-format glazed sliding system that spans the rear façade. This seamless connection between inside and out is further emphasised by the introduction of a large tiered terrace, allowing the living space to flow directly into the garden.
Internally, the reconfiguration allowed for the integration of a concealed utility space and improved circulation throughout the home. Upstairs, layout refinements and a new rear dormer added both functionality and character to the loft space, while bathrooms and storage were modernised to better serve day-to-day living.
Materially, the home was given a fresh white rendered finish, paired with muted sage-coloured windows and doors to tie the traditional form with a modern softness. The result is a calm, balanced, and light-filled family home tailored for contemporary life.
01. Introduction
02. Process
03. Decor
Case Study
The transformation of this Northwood property was not about dramatic gestures but about the quiet discipline of refinement. Although the house sat confidently within its suburban street, its internal arrangement lacked cohesion and didn’t respond to its generous plot. Rooms felt closed off, light was diluted, and the garden — a key asset — remained visually and spatially detached.
The extension wasn’t designed as a statement, but as a continuation. The new rear elevation — now composed of clean render and broad glass — feels less like an addition and more like a natural resolution to the home’s layout. The stepped terrace that follows it mirrors this sense of clarity, providing layered outdoor space that mediates between the house and garden.
One of the project's more subtle successes lies in the balance of tradition and modernity. The muted colour palette and pitched roof form acknowledge the surrounding context, while minimal detailing and precision joinery bring a crisp, contemporary edge. The loft dormer, almost sculptural in its framing, completes the house’s silhouette without disrupting its rhythm.
Ultimately, this project became a lesson in proportion, alignment, and restraint. It allowed the existing structure to breathe, encouraged movement through the home, and created a space where old and new could sit in quiet dialogue.
The extension wasn’t designed as a statement, but as a continuation. The new rear elevation — now composed of clean render and broad glass — feels less like an addition and more like a natural resolution to the home’s layout. The stepped terrace that follows it mirrors this sense of clarity, providing layered outdoor space that mediates between the house and garden.
One of the project's more subtle successes lies in the balance of tradition and modernity. The muted colour palette and pitched roof form acknowledge the surrounding context, while minimal detailing and precision joinery bring a crisp, contemporary edge. The loft dormer, almost sculptural in its framing, completes the house’s silhouette without disrupting its rhythm.
Ultimately, this project became a lesson in proportion, alignment, and restraint. It allowed the existing structure to breathe, encouraged movement through the home, and created a space where old and new could sit in quiet dialogue.