In our latest lookbook, we’ve compiled eight London homes that have replaced unused garden spaces with contemporary, light-filled living areas.
Rear extensions are a popular option for converting pokie side returns and galley kitchens in Victorian and Edwardian homes, which are common in many parts of London.
The eight examples below show how extensions can bring modern flair to traditional homes and optimize living spaces for entertaining, relaxing, and cooking.
This is the latest in a series of lookbooks offering visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archives. If you need more inspiration, take a look at our previous lookbook, which featured a calming cabin interior, a kitchen with sleek metal details, and a living room with a warm fireplace.
Photo credit: Jim Stevenson
Victorian terraced house, England, by Oliver Leech Architects
Oliver Leach Architects opened up the “detached and dark” interior of this Victorian terraced house in Herne Hill, while preserving the building’s late 19th-century character.
Prioritizing natural light, the studio extended the ground floor to include an open living, dining and kitchen space, blending in with the existing building with large skylights and window seating.
Learn more about Victorian terraced houses ›
Photo by Jae WV Kim
Sunnyside Up, UK, THISS Studio
THISS Studio approached this east London extension as if it were a piece of furniture rather than a traditional structure.
“We wanted to think of our new addition on a national scale, more like a piece of furniture that you can sit on and enjoy, rather than a general extension of an existing space,” THIS Studio told Dezeen.
This practice reconfigured the dark interior of this interwar house, featuring wooden fittings and a light-filled dining space.
Click here for more information about Sunny Side Up ›
Photo credit: Helen Leach
Moroccan style house, UK, by Merrett Houmøller Architects and All & Nxthing
The client’s extensive travels to Morocco and the Mediterranean inspired this rear extension in London.
Merrett Houmøller Architects and interior designers All & Nxthing renovated and expanded this Victorian home with clay plaster walls, exposed brickwork, and tiled floors to evoke the feel of a Moroccan home .
Learn more about Moroccan-style houses ›
Photo credit: Ståle Eriksen
Heath House, England, by Procter & Shaw
At this Grade II listed villa in Highgate, north London, a dilapidated conservatory and awkwardly sized rooms have been replaced with bright, wood-filled interiors.
Architectural studio Procter & Shaw prioritized natural light and a natural material palette of wood and white brick for the above-ground and underground extension in north London.
Learn more about Heath House ›
Photo credit: Tim Crocker
Magpie House, UK, by DGN Studio
DGN Studio extended the kitchen of this east London terraced house by 3 meters to create a “more consistent and seamless sequence of living, dining and cooking”.
The extension is illuminated by skylights between wooden beams, features a concrete window seat overlooking the garden, and incorporates the client’s furniture and fittings throughout.
Learn more about Stoke Newington House ›
Photo credit: Jim Stevenson
Victorian maisonette, England, by Nimtim Architects
Douglas fir wood screens, exposed brickwork and rough plaster characterize this Victorian maisonette extension in Camberwell, south-east London.
Nimtim Architects responded to a short call to increase the connectivity and openness of the home in order to create a “refuge from the city and a place of reflection”.
Learn more about Victorian maisonettes ›
Photo courtesy of Lorenzo Zandri and Christian Braley.
Edwardian house, England, by Architecture for London
Architecture for London transformed an Edwardian house in Muswell Hill, which had remained untouched for 40 years, using only sustainable considerations and natural materials.
Created for studio founder Ben Ridley, the house was renovated and extended to create a minimalist interior featuring oak, stone and lime plaster.
Learn more about Edwardian homes ›
Photo provided by: AOC
Forest House, UK, produced by AOC
When designing the front extension of a Victorian house in north London, Gillian Lambert and Geoff Shearcroft of architecture firm AOC wanted to add character and a connection to nearby Epping Forest. Ta.
The single-story garage was removed to create a series of interconnected, playful living spaces featuring tactile materials, exposed blockwork, and bold colors.
Learn more about Forest House ›
This is the latest in a series of lookbooks offering visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archives. For more inspiration, check out our previous lookbook featuring a signature kitchen with sleek metal details, a soothing cabin interior, and a living room with a warm fireplace.
