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Kitchen Extension: Creating Your Dream Space

Kitchen Extension: Creating Your Dream Space

Matthew Montague
4.7.2024
8 minutes

Intro

Are you constantly looking around your home and thinking that your kitchen is a bit too small for what you need? Or perhaps you're ready to go open plan and create a space that is both functional and stylish. If so, planning a kitchen extension may be the perfect solution for you. Not only will it provide you with the extra square footage you need, but it can also increase the value of your home. In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about kitchen extensions, from costs to ideas, so you can create the kitchen of your dreams.

Table of contents

Understanding Kitchen Extension Costs

When planning a kitchen extension, one of the first considerations is the cost. The total cost of a kitchen extension will depend on various factors, including the size of the extension, the level of finish, and any additional structural work required. It's essential to set a budget and be realistic about what you can achieve.

To keep costs down, consider using standard building materials and regular fittings. Additionally, explore options for buying used or ex-display kitchens to save on expenses. It's also worth noting that bespoke kitchens don't always have to be the most expensive option. Local cabinet makers can often create your desired look for a more affordable price.

Exploring Kitchen Extension Ideas

When planning a kitchen extension, it's essential to consider your specific needs and preferences. Creating a wishlist can help you prioritize the key elements you want in your kitchen extension. Some popular kitchen extension ideas include:

1. Side Return Extension

A side return extension can be a great kitchen extension idea for those who own semi-detached or detached homes. This type of home improvement project, often recognised as an extended kitchen method, involves utilising the often underused space running along the side of the house.

The result is a kitchen that spans the entire width of the property, providing a spacious and open feel, much like a kitchen island with table extension does. This type of extension, full of kitchen diner extension ideas, is particularly well-suited for period terraced homes, where space can often be at a premium.

Considered as one of the vital kitchen extension ideas, the side return extension is an ideal solution for those looking to maximise the use of space in their homes, turning it into an extended kitchen, without compromising on style or functionality. If you're in need of kitchen diner extension ideas, or even looking to create a kitchen island with table extension, a side return can be a remarkable avenue to explore.

2. Maximising a Conservatory or Orangery

Incorporating a conservatory or an orangery into your kitchen extension can significantly enhance the influx of natural light into your home. Considering rear kitchen extension ideas, such as a large kitchen extension designed as a kitchen conservatory extension or a kitchen orangery extension, can be incredibly beneficial. By design, a conservatory kitchen extension usually features a glazed roof and walls, allowing for maximum light penetration.

An orangery kitchen extension, on the other hand, while also generously letting in light, is characterized by a more extensive presence of brickwork and a centrally located glazed roof area. When cogitating over various rear kitchen extension ideas, it's essential to take into account the level of insulation provided by both a kitchen conservatory extension and a kitchen orangery extension. Additionally, don't overlook the heat-loss regulations related to a large kitchen extension, as they can impact the overall efficiency and comfort of your glass kitchen extension.

3. Expanding into the Garden

The concept of a kitchen extension, expanding it into the garden, is a popular choice, particularly for those fortunate enough to have generous amounts of outdoor space at their disposal. This type of extension on kitchen can significantly enhance the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your home. An extension can be accomplished either by extending the full rear of your property or merely the width of the kitchen as part of kitchen extension plans.

However, it's crucial to exercise caution with open plan kitchen extensions and not consume too much garden space. Overextending could potentially lead to a decrease in the overall value of your property, something which you definitely would want to avoid.

Kitchen extensions from outside, incorporating the abundant nature, can be an attractive choice, but being mindful of the balance between extension and preservation of your outdoor space is key when considering plans for a kitchen extension. After all, the goal is to improve the harmony in your living situation, not to disrupt the flair of what you already have.

So, if you're thinking about an innovative take on a kitchen extension and going for an extension on kitchen, it's crucial to wisely plan and not overwhelm your garden space with the additions. Kitchen extensions from outside should add value not just to your kitchen but to the entire property, enhancing your lifestyle and the aesthetic appeal of your living spaces rather than detracting from them.

4. Incorporating Large Windows and Doors

Incorporating large windows and doors can serve as a transformative feature when planning a glass kitchen extension and kitchen extensions from outside. It's worth considering the inclusion of Crittall-style windows or full-height sliding glazed doors in your kitchen glass extension plans. These elements not only add a sense of height and drama to the kitchen extension with skylights, but also create a seamless connection with the outdoor environment. It's a way to make kitchen extensions from outside feel integral to your indoor space.

The strategic use of natural light, such as through the addition of skylights in your kitchen extension with skylights, plays a pivotal role in creating a space that feels bright, airy, and welcoming. This is essential in crafting a glass kitchen extension that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Kitchen extensions from outside, particularly the ones that incorporate a kitchen extension with skylights and are designed as a kitchen glass extension, have the potential to transform your home, fulfilling both practical needs and aesthetic desires.

5. Double Up on Storage

While planning your kitchen extension, you'll find it absolutely necessary to introspect about your storage needs carefully. Keeping a well-organized, clutter-free extended kitchen demands significant focus. As part of your kitchen extension design, the inclusion of numerous cabinets and various other storage alternatives can assist in optimising the utilisation of available space.

Cutting-edge kitchen extension ideas such as recessed storage, the top of doorways, and the area beneath floorboards should all be put to perfect use for efficient functioning. Furthermore, in your innovative kitchen extension ideas, consider the underutilized space above doorways and under the floorboards, which can be your potential storage pockets.

Ponder upon including a good deal of kitchen cabinet extension along with other storage remedies to exploit, to the utmost, the available space in your kitchen extension design. You can also look to infuse a utility room as part of your kitchen extension ideas, a unique idea that furnishes you with an extra room for various other purposes.

While pursuing the ideal kitchen extension, you must remember that the goal is a kitchen that is not only extended but also reordered and effectively arranged with the help of your thought-through kitchen extension ideas. The most compelling kitchen extension design engenders a generous kitchen island extension for additional counter space. Moreover, a creative kitchen cabinet extension can enable you to enhance your storage commitments progressively.

In conclusion, when designing your kitchen extension, never underestimate the importance of employing all available space in the executed kitchen island extension or the overall kitchen cabinet extension. By making the most of your kitchen extension ideas, you can construct an efficient, well-organised, and extended kitchen that truly meets all your needs.

6. Making the Most of a Small Space

Even with the constraints of a small kitchen space, it's crucial to bear in mind that a modern kitchen extension doesn't have to restrict your style and functionality. Despite its size, with meticulous planning and careful consideration of small kitchen extension ideas, you can indeed create a strikingly modern kitchen extension that leaves an impressive and enduring impression.

One of the ways to achieve this small kitchen extension is by focusing on enhancing natural light levels. The implementation of elements such as skylights, French doors, or even a roof lantern can significantly improve the ambiance of your small kitchen extension. The design of your lighting within this modern kitchen extension also holds the potential to make the area feel larger and more spacious, playing a crucial role in the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your space.

By utilising these small kitchen extension ideas with a focus on lighting, you can ultimately transform your small kitchen space into a modern kitchen extension that is both stylish and functional.

7. Embracing Large Windows and Doors

In dealing with extensions, particularly those in larger kitchen environments with high ceilings, a worthwhile consideration is the application of large windows and doors as an avenue to divide the spacious open-plan kitchen extension design. The addition of full-height sliding glazed doors not only enhances the kitchen extension, but also sets a defined separation between the indoor kitchen extension space and the kitchen extensions viewed from outside.

Furthermore, an excellent way to underscore the height and overall aesthetic appeal of your kitchen extension with skylights is by embracing low-hanging pendant lights and tall storage units in your kitchen extension plans. These features not only contribute to the illusion of height but also enhance the overall visual charm of the kitchen extension.

One of the top kitchen extension ideas includes the inclusion of a utility room. It scales the functionality of your kitchen extension, allowing the primary area to hold a more aesthetic appeal while the utility room handles the more practical aspects.

Your kitchen extension is not just about creating more space. It's more about designing a functional area that suits your needs and enhances your home's overall appeal, both from inside and outside, ultimately contributing to the worth and aesthetic appeal of your home. Ideas for a kitchen extension with utility room could include dedicated storage for appliances not in use, a secondary sink, or even a washing machine, ensuring that your beautiful kitchen extension remains clutter-free.

8. Adding a Splash of Colour

Don't hesitate or hold back when it comes to incorporating colour into your extension kitchen ideas. Regardless of whether your personal taste leans towards a sleek, streamlined aesthetic or you have a penchant for a more diverse, eclectic look, the strategic use of colour in your kitchen cabinet extension ideas can infuse your space with a unique personality and a distinctive style.

Incorporating colours into your extension kitchen ideas, think about utilising vibrant, eye-catching colours in high gloss finishes if you're aiming to make a bold, unapologetic statement. Alternatively, if your preference lies within your kitchen cabinet extension ideas for a more understated, classic appeal, you might want to opt for a more neutral colour palette that will stand the test of time and never go out of style.

9. Exploring Basement Extensions

In circumstances where space is at a premium, basement extensions can present themselves as a feasible solution, particularly in densely populated urban areas where every square foot of space is a precious commodity.

The process of creating these extensions typically involves either the conversion of an already existing cellar or the more complex task of excavating beneath the house.

Although the financial outlay can be significant, the potential benefits of basement extensions should not be overlooked. They can provide a much-needed addition to your kitchen space, particularly when other options such as a ground floor extension or a loft conversion are not feasible due to various constraints.

10. Creating an Open-Plan Space

By removing walls and embracing the open-plan design, you can create a seamless connection between your kitchen and the other areas within your home. This modern kitchen extension not only enhances the flow of natural light but also promotes a sense of spaciousness and unity.

With this particular kitchen diner extension ideas, you can enjoy easy and effortless interaction with family members and friends, whether you're cooking or entertaining. It provides the perfect setting for multitasking, allowing you to prepare meals on the kitchen island extension while still being part of the social atmosphere.

Expert Tips for Planning a Kitchen Extension

Here are some expert tips to keep in mind when planning your kitchen extension:

  1. Create a detailed wishlist and prioritise your key items.
  2. Set a realistic budget, taking into account all the necessary costs.
  3. Determine if you need planning permission and seek guidance from your local council.
  4. Consider the type of kitchen extension that best suits your property and space.
  5. Engage with a kitchen designer early on to ensure the kitchen design aligns with the extension plans.
  6. Carefully consider the layout of your kitchen, taking into account storage needs and functionality.
  7. Explore different ideas for maximising natural light and incorporating windows and doors.
  8. Add a personal touch to your kitchen extension with color and decorative elements.
  9. Consider alternative options such as basement extensions if space is limited.
  10. Embrace the concept of open-plan living to create a versatile and sociable space.

By following these tips and carefully planning your kitchen extension, you can create a space that not only meets your practical needs but also reflects your personal style and enhances the value of your home.

Conclusion

Planning a kitchen extension is an exciting opportunity to create the kitchen of your dreams. By carefully considering your needs, setting a budget, and exploring different ideas, you can design a functional and stylish space that enhances your home.

Remember to consult with experts, such as architects and kitchen designers, to ensure your plans align and create a cohesive and well-executed space. With proper planning and attention to detail, your kitchen extension will become the heart of your home, providing a space where you can cook, entertain, and create lasting memories.

Matthew Montague

Award-Winning Residential Architect

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