The focus of our work centred on preparing the house for the next chapter. At ground floor, we were asked to explore ways of opening up the rear of the home to create a generous, flowing space for cooking, dining, and everyday family life — essential given Giulia's Italian heritage, while also making room for the more practical back-of-house functions like a separate utility. Upstairs, the plan was to extend over the garage to create a fourth bedroom and an en-suite for the master — upgrading the house in both form and function.

The problem was that the plot itself posed a few challenges. The house sat on an awkwardly shaped site — one that gave us some extra wiggle room at first floor level, but which also meant the rear garden was relatively shallow. It quickly became clear that more space wasn’t automatically better; what mattered was getting the proportions and layout just right. There were also no windows on the side elevation of the semi-detached property, which left the centre of the ground floor dark and disconnected.

Our design response balanced ambition with restraint. At first floor, we pushed the envelope — quite literally — to make the most of the site’s unusual shape. The new fourth bedroom isn’t just a good size; it’s a joyful space with a vaulted ceiling, a climbing wall, and a secret mezzanine crawl space for children to explore. At ground floor, we designed a carefully sized extension focused on quality of light and flow, not just square footage. Rooflights were positioned tight to the rear face of the original house, drawing natural light deep into the plan and transforming what had once been a gloomy centre into a bright, social heart of the home.

The result is a house reimagined — not through extravagance, but through considered choices, playful touches, and a clear-eyed understanding of what a growing family really needs. And not to mention a splash of colour! It’s now a home that can adapt, support and delight — ready for whatever comes next.