We extended this house in every way’ From the loft

Project news Kitchen

A full-width extension has transformed the back of the house, creating a new kitchendiner and seating area. The glass balustrade on the patio surrounds the basement’s light well

‘We extended this house in ever y way’

The Alexis family converted the loft, basement and garage, as well as adding an extension, to maximise ever y bit of space

The three-storey house was barely habitable, with a cramped kitchen and a ramshackle lean-to at the back

Welcome to our home

Larissa Alexis lives here with her husband and their sons, aged six months and two years. Larissa works for an environmental consultancy.

T H E P R O P E RT Y A four-storey, f ivebedroom Victorian semi in southeast London.

T H E VA LU E Bought in 2016 for £1.3m; now worth more than £2m.

W H AT I T C O ST

Fees.……...............£62,500 Loft conversion.................. ............................£150,000 Basement..........£350,000 Kitchen extension.............. ………....................£150,000 Glazing..........…..£100,000 Structural work.................. …………...................£70,000 Kitchen.…..........…£25,000 Sanitaryware........£25,000 Flooring, tiles........£55,000 Landscaping.........£12,500 TOTA L . … . . . . . £1,000,000 “After living so long in a small f lat, we couldn’t imagine having a basement cinema and gym!”

Take a quick tour...

BEDROOM DRESSING ROOM

MAIN BEDROOM

BEDROOM BEDROOM

BEDROOM

F I RST F LOO R S E CO N D F LOO R

GYM AREA GAMES AREA DINING AREA KITCHEN

LIVING AREA

UTILITY SITTING ROOM

STUDY

BA S E M E NT G ROU N D F LOO R

After years living in a two-bedroom f lat, Larissa Alexis and her husband were so desperate for space that they took on a doer upper. ‘We found a r un-down house that we could never normally have afforded,’ says Larissa. ‘Its three storeys were so dark and damp, it was virtually uninhabitable. It also had a collapsing lean-to and a small, low-ceilinged cellar.’

P L A N N I N G S PAC E ‘We loved the designs of Henri Bredenkamp at Studio 30 Architects and began consulting with him even before we’d completed on the house,’ says Larissa. ‘Our brief was vag ue – we knew we wanted a lighter, more open-plan layout and my husband was keen to convert the basement into a f un space.’

M A K I N G IT WO R K The couple moved into rented accommodation during the project. ‘Our builders removed walls and built the rear glass extension on the ground f loor, converted the garage into a study, and finally dug out and enlarged the basement,’ says Larissa. ‘It was frightening to see how many walls came down and the amount of steel that was used to hold it all up. But seeing the completed basement was a real high point, as this was a completely new part of the house, which feels ver y different to the rest.’

I NTE R I O R D E S I G N Each room is fitted with bespoke joiner y, and f ull-height glass doors make them f low together. ‘The engineered oak parquet f looring was something I wasn’t prepared to compromise on, and it was expensive,’ says Larissa. ‘To offset the cost, we chose fake marble worktops, which are still beautif ul and practical. You can’t choose fittings too early, as once building begins decisions need to be made quickly. We definitely ma xed out on the extensions! It’s lovely to have so much space and to be able to host big gatherings, which was always our hope.’

The back of the house has been opened up to create a multifunctional living space with areas for cooking, dining and sitting

A glass roof keeps the dining area light and airy, while oak parquet and brick slips on one wall add warmth

The basement has a cinema, gym, steam room and ping pong table. Glass doors lead to the light well 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT... Basements

Henri Bredenkamp (studio30architects.co.uk) gives us the lowdownÉ

1IT’S NOT A DIY JOB Specialist companies will hold appropriate insurance cover and be able to offer warranties.

2YOU’LL PROBABLY NEED PLANNING PERMISSION Excavating a new basement is likely to require it, but converting an existing residential cellar or basement into a living space may not. The Planning Portal has more details (planningportal.co.uk).

3THERE ARE RISKS Excavation could undermine existing foundations, leading to instability or even the collapse of supporting walls – another reason to use an experienced company.

4THEY MUST BE DRY Water penetration should be carefully controlled. Building regulations for cellars and basements state that all floors and walls below ground level need to be waterproofed.

5LIGHTING IS KEY A welldesigned light well with tall windows or doors is the most obvious way of introducing not only natural light, but also ventilation.

W H AT W E ’ V E L E A R N E D “Positioning the k itchen in the centre of the hou se works perfectly becau se that’s where ever yone tend s to cong regate, and we wanted enough space to enter tain large numbers of f r iend s and family”