When more space is needed, an extension isn’t the only option. An outbuilding-like structure — linked in some way to the main house — will give extra room while retaining the integrity of the original home.
The setup
Kevin and Nicola Harrington live in a pretty village in Hampshire, not far from Salisbury. Kevin, 42, works in local government and Nicola, also 42, for a charity. Their house is a quaint two-bedroom thatched cottage. Space is at a premium, though, and they have reached crisis point — their six-year-old son, like Kevin, is bike-mad, and their bicycles are obstructing the rear porch area.
As well as essential storage space, the Harringtons would like an extra room that could be used as a spare bedroom, a living space or a playroom. Nicola would love a more open-plan kitchen/living area, but knows this is out of kilter with the compartmentalised period layout.
The solution
The thatch and the original nature of the cottage, which dates from about 1790, make extensions trickier than normal. It may not be listed, like many cottages, but it is categorised as “a building of local interest”, so the council will scrutinise the proposals to check they are sensitive to the host building and to the conservation area.
The key to designing sensitively is to understand and retain the best heritage features of a home. The house should take the lead in terms of where an extension goes. This might seem like a strange concept, as it isn’t the approach for the average property: generally, if someone wants a large kitchen/diner, they build an extension off the existing kitchen area. In the case of a heritage-sensitive house, however, it might be inappropriate to locate an extension off the kitchen; the solution may be to reconfigure the existing layout.
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When evaluating a heritage building, I also look for weak points — an area that has been messed with in the past or is not original. These often turn out to be the best place to extend, as they are less critical in the eyes of conservation officers.
In this case, though, the house looks as if it hasn’t been tampered with. The thatch is such a dominant feature, and is really an entity in itself; altering or extending it would harm the integrity of the property. A side extension is ruled out because of the house’s proximity to the boundary, and there is not much room at the front.
In situations like this, I consider what kind of structure could have been built at the same time as the original cottage without looking out of place. With this in mind, my proposal is an outbuilding-like structure running along the boundary wall. It will look physically separate to the main house, but a discreet glazed link will connect the two buildings. This allows the house to retain its simple rectangular layout and gives the thatch space to flaunt its magnificent sculptural form.
The new structure sits directly on the (narrow) road boundary, as is common in many small villages. I’d suggest a wall built with reclaimed local brick, perhaps with a flint dressing, as is typical in the region. The new structure would be in keeping with the local vernacular from the roadside, but would have more modern touches on the garden side.
The “outbuilding” provides the crucial extra room. I’ve suggested a foldaway wall bed that allows it to be used as a guest bedroom suite, a sitting area or a playroom. Whatever the function, there’s great garden access — and with a vaulted ceiling, roof lights and sliding doors, it offers a pleasing contrast to the darker main building.
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Next to the new room, I’ve shown a utility area, which would free up space in the couple’s existing kitchen. And at the end of the structure, there’s a room dedicated to all things cycling.
The glazed link to the house lines up with the existing rear porch corridor (where there’s also a downstairs toilet) and forms a small courtyard between the kitchen and the new outbuilding. This area would work brilliantly as a kitchen herb garden, with tiles on the floor and walls, planters, potted plants and a timber fence on the roadside. I would replace the existing kitchen window with a door to give easy access to the courtyard and bring more daylight into the kitchen.
As the house is not listed, interior alterations are less contentious, so a larger opening between kitchen and dining room would improve things in terms of daylight in the dining room and increased sociability in the kitchen.
Key tips
The design guidance prepared by councils offers advice on suitable local materials. Always check if there’s one for your area before drawing up any plans. The guidelines will inform your design and should make it easier to attain planning permission.
Basic costs
● New 290 sq ft structure £41,000
● Foldaway wall bed £2,500
● Glazed link and courtyard £10,000
● Internal remodelling £2,000
TOTAL £55,500
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The verdict
“We love the idea of making the extension look like an outbuilding,” Nicola says. “Our neighbours have a row of reclaimed brick outbuildings, with clay tiled roofs, and ours would be in keeping with the area.”
Greg Toon is the founder of Potential etc…, which specialises in making the most of unloved spaces; potentialetc.com.
Do you need Greg’s help? Email property@sunday-times.co.uk