Last year, we wrapped up renovations on a ground floor maisonette flat in Mortlake SW14. Previously a two-bed, two-bath home, we built a side return extension, transforming the living space and adding an additional office/guest room, en suite half bath, and walk-in pantry. We also renovated the two existing bathrooms and the entrance hallway.
We didn’t engage a separate architect for this project, opting to design the extension in-house under the guidance of the structural engineer. The planning application was submitted to Richmond Council in April 2021. With a couple of minor tweaks, it was granted two months later, and work began that October.
The builders, Lamber & Sons, are the same guys who did the guest bathroom and kitchen extension for another of my clients in SW14. They are lovely guys, and they did a cracking job on both projects.
The build took nine months, and we wrapped up in Summer 2022, just in time for the client to welcome her new baby.
Side Return Extension Plans
The side return extension added approximately 20 square meters (215 square feet) of living space to this Victorian flat in Southwest London.
We relocated the laundry and utility area into an existing hallway cupboard, so we could make better use of space at the rear. The new office/guest room has its own en suite half bath, and a double murphy bed that transforms into a desk for working from home. We also opened up a cupboard in the hallway, and added bespoke cabinetry to make space for buggy parking while still retaining storage.
This animation shows the full design plan for the project:
The Planning Process
Interior design was considered the very beginning of this project. We started compiling mood boards at the offset, before we’d even heard back from planning. If you have the luxury of time, it is so helpful to consider the end of the project before you begin.
We were able to present builders with a provisional finishes schedule and a comprehensive budget right at the quoting stage. This meant that the quotes were more accurate, and we could build in a realistic contingency for unforeseen costs that would arise during construction.
In a lot of renovation projects, the budget is swallowed up by the build, and there’s not much left for the pretty bits at the end. And it’s those bits at the end – namely lighting, furniture, art and accessories – that make all the difference. Proper preparation helps avoid all that. And, in this case, it ensured that the client could check off almost everything on her wish list.
A Sneak Peek at the Reveal
Upcoming blog posts will get into the design details of each room in this side return extension project. In the meantime, here are a few photos of the finished space…
Living & Dining
Entry Hall
Guest/Family Bathroom
Master Bathroom
Office / Guest Room
En Suite Half Bathroom
Exterior (Rear)
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