What makes a good house extension?

The very best house extension is the one where you can't see the join. An extension should look as if it has always been there and is meant to be there. This doesn't preclude a contemporary extension on a traditional house or building, but it does mean listening to you to find out what you want from an extension and then 'listening' to the building and looking at it's surroundings, then sympathetically fusing together the traditional and contemporary elements.                                                 

The bungalow illustrated on this page is a good example of extending sympathetically to create a large family home from a small bungalow in a large garden. The property has extensively remodelled, inside and out, for clients who live in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Opposite are photos of the house before and after a two storey extension was designed and built on the side. I worked with the clients to carefully establish exactly what they wanted from the look, feel and function of their new home.

"Gordon provided us with the thought and innovation to transform an old bungalow into a modern home. He was a positive source of great ideas throughout the project. His ongoing help and service provides us with a ready source of reference for our continuing architectural and building needs." Jen and Nigel Casson. North Lancashire.

Below are photographs showing the rear of the property before and after a porch was added to link the kitchen and utility room together.

For more information on extending you home, please contact me: -

Gordon Smith RIBA, End Cottage, The Green, Over Kellet, Nr Lancaster, Lancashire, LA6 1BU.

tel 01524 733773 email gordondraws@dsl.pipex.com