The benefits of a small extension

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Adding a small extension to a dark kitchen has transformed the McFarlanes’ Victorian farmhouse, resulting in a space that merited the title of Best Garden Room in our Readers’ Awards 2009.

Angela and Graeme McFarlane’s small extension proves that you don’t have to spend a fortune to transform your period home from dark and dated, to fresh and welcoming. Their imaginative use of space and light complements the original architectural character of their Victorian home.

‘When we first saw our farmhouse two years ago, we were struck by its grand presence in beautiful grounds overlooking parkland,’ says Angela. ‘As we stepped over the threshold, we thought we’d discover cast-iron fireplaces and Victorian tiling, and perhaps an old range and stripped wooden floors. So imagine our dismay when we found that the whole house had been refurbished in 1980s style with fitted false fireplaces, linoleum flooring and avocado and pink bathroom suites.’

The McFarlanes decided from the start that they had to prioritise renovating the kitchen so that they could have a sanctuary in the midst of all the building work. ‘The kitchen was small and dwarfed by a dark utility room,’ explains Angela. ‘I enjoy cooking and as we spend a lot of time together as a family in the kitchen, we wanted a larger room that would have more natural light and lead directly to the rear garden.’

She continues: ‘With the help of a locally based architect, Geoffrey Morgan, we set about creating my vision for an airy, country style kitchen that would only involve a small extension – one that wouldn’t need planning permission. We liked the fact Geoffrey was able to see what we envisaged straightaway and understood our tight budget, unlike others we’d spoken to who came up with ambitious designs that would have taken months and cost a huge amount of money.’

Geoffrey’s architectural plan was to break through the external wall of the old utility room, remove the makeshift lean-to and build a garden room with patio doors on the same footprint; he also incorporated roof lights into the design that repeated the same shape and form of the lean-to. This thoughtful solution could proceed immediately without the need and delay of a planning application.

The finished room isn’t just beautiful, it’s practical, too. ‘We have dogs and horses,’ explains Angela, ‘so a durable floor that is muddy-paw and wellie-resistant was a must. We researched many options for the country look; prices varied massively so we were glad to find inexpensive travertine tiles from Topps Tiles. The wall tiles behind the range came from there too.’

Angela decided to keep the old kitchen carcasses and designed replacement doors to suit the feel of the room. ‘I referred to back issues of Period Living to create the style I wanted,’ she says, ‘and commissioned Gavin Angus of Pewsey Vale Cabinet Makers to make them for me. The company normally works on high end kitchens, but they rose to the challenge and helped us stay within our overall budget, which was £20,000.’

Although the garden room is now complete, work on the rest of the house continues, so the McFarlane family have the sanctuary they need from the rest of the renovations. Angela says: ‘It provides a relaxing area to cook and entertain friends, with gorgeous views over our garden; when we’re in here, we can almost forget about the demands of the other rooms.’

FEATURE NAOMI JONES PHOTOGRAPHS BRENT DARBY
Featured in the August 2010 issue of Period Living