The clients had bought a 2 bedroomed ex-council house on a large plot, at the edge of a 1950s council estate.

The house had already been extended at the ground floor, but the arrival of another child meant that 3 bedrooms were necessary.

As the budget was small, the proposal was to build on top of the existing single storey extension to provide an extra bedroom. This meant that there were no groundworks or foundations involved.

The whole floor plan was reconfigured on the ground floor to provide better access into the garden, with a new kitchen layout more appropriate for open plan family living. Whilst the plot was good, the house had not been designed to take advantage of the beautiful surroundings, which looked out over open fields. A large, low window from the landing provided views over the fields and gardens, with a space to sit and relax. The new patio doors meant that all the living spaces at ground floor level had direct connection to the garden, improving the flow of the spaces.

The new bedroom has open rafters and a vaulted ceiling to add to the feeling of spaciousness.

Externally, the whole of the extension has been rendered with a through-colour silicone render in dark grey, to match the windows. This contrasts the blossom on the pear tree directly outside and helps the building to remain visually recessive whilst the beautiful planting takes centre stage.