Two disconnected extensions — a garden room to one side and a narrow kitchen and dark dining space on the other — meant that while there was technically an open-plan area, it felt anything but open. The garden, with all its potential for light, views and easy indoor-outdoor living, was almost entirely cut off.

Our brief was clear: to design a single storey infill extension that would unify the rear of the house and create a generous, flowing kitchen, dining and living space. A space that would not only work for everyday family life with their soon-to-be-teenage children, but one that would also take full advantage of the spectacular garden beyond.

But as ever, open-plan doesn’t mean one-size-fits-all. We put real care into how the space would be zoned — testing numerous layouts and volume studies to bring definition and subtle shifts to the design. We explored ways to create moments of compression and expansion, so that each part of the space could function independently while still feeling connected.

At the rear, glazing plays a starring role. Large panes of glass stretch across the full width of the extension, creating a sense of theatre and a true wow moment as you move through the house. It's not just about light — it's about drawing the garden in, framing views, and restoring that all-important connection between home and landscape.

What was once a frustratingly disconnected layout is now a bold, unified space — one that feels open yet grounded, defined yet flexible. A place for gathering, for family, and for taking in that view, every single day.