1. SMALL REAR ADDITIONS
Building a single storey addition on the back of your house is the cheapest and often most viable architectural ideas for homes, and could totally transform your home. Creating a bigger kitchen, an open-plan kitchen diner, a utility room, cloakroom or home office with access to the garden, you could be getting the extra space you need without having to move. With the addition of glazed doors and roof lights it will also bring in more natural light, giving an airier feel. This one, above, cleverly used pivot doors which are a smart solution.
2. SIDE ADDITIONS
Most Western cities are filled with houses built closely together - many of which can benefit from side addition. Without one, the side of the property tends to get used for for bikes and garbage cans, which could be hidden or incorporated into the main house fairly simply.
3. WRAP-AROUND ADDITIONS
This addition takes in the side return and combines it with a rear addition to give an L shape. Effectively wrapping around the existing house, this design gives a bigger, brighter kitchen and dining space which also improves the indoor-outdoor connection without eating up too much of the garden.
4. PARTY WALL ACT
The party wall act is designed to protect you and your neighbors, and can be the cause of much anxiety on both sides. By law, you must give your neighbors notice before starting work close to the boundary with their property. Notifiable work includes excavations within three - six metres of a neighboring property, depending on the depth of the foundations planned. Having party wall agreements explained from the outset can avoid a lot of headaches and heartache.
5. ROOF ADDITION
The style of roof addition you choose largely depends on whether there is enough head height without having to build on, and what the space is to be used for.
If the room is to be used for a child’s room, chill-out space or for home office ideas, it might be enough just to put rooflights in to bring in light. Ideally your loft should be 2.2m or higher from the floor to the ridge point. However, if the plan is to use it as an extra bedroom or bathroom, a dormer or mansard loft conversion is a better option, but it will be more expensive as you will need an architect and/or structural engineer.
5. GLASS BOX WINDOW
If you are really tight on space or to add interest to a single storey addition then a box - or oriel window - could be an option. They are becoming increasingly popular as a show-stopping design feature. These contemporary boxes protrude from the wall and appear to float, but are sturdy enough to form a window seat offering extra seating - our guide to glazing will help you get this right.
6. GALLEY KITCHEN ADDITION
One of the smartest modern small kitchen ideas, this has been created in a small space by installing an internal window and roof lights to turn a dark, cramped space into a usable kitchen, filling the space with light.
7. PORCH ADDITIONS
If your front door opens directly onto the living room, or you have been reliant on small hallway ideas, then a porch addition is a good option. It could be used for coats, shoes, bags and prevents dirty footprints being walked directly into the house. It is also a useful barrier from the elements.