Louise Ives-Wilkinson gives her expert tips on how to create the perfect extension in your home.
Whether you have outgrown your house, increased your family or just love your neighbours, there are many reasons people are deciding to improve, not move. Below I share my Top 5 Tips on how to seamlessly blend your shiny new extension with your existing property and interior:
Define: Don't be afraid to show a distinction between the exterior of the existing property and new extension. A minimal, clean line extension attached to a gorgeous Edwardian brick-built property can look much more stylish than trying to conceal the fact the property has been extended and mimic a traditional build.
Plan: Take your time to observe how you live, think about what you are missing from your current home and what your ideal home would include. Start thinking about your wish list as soon as you decide to extend and keep notes. All this information is helpful to plan your new space with the architect and you may be surprised at how much of your wish list can be achieved.
Connect: Create a visual connection from the existing space to the new. This could be a creative use of blended flooring to join the areas but also define certain zones. Or a more affordable option could be a clever use of complementary paint colours repeated throughout the ground floor space.
Curate: A new extension is the perfect time to de-clutter and get rid of those unwanted items in the rest of your home. Carefully curate your possessions and be ruthless, if you neither love the item or it is not of use then donate say goodbye. Consider re-siting some of the items left to a new room as this will bring a new energy to your home and freshen up the whole house. Also, by bringing some much-loved items into the new extension it will provide instant homeliness.
Open: One of the most common extension styles involves bi-fold doors. The importance of our connection with nature in modern day life, and the benefits it provides is huge. I would personally recommend inviting in as much light and natural views as possible by incorporation as large glazed openings as you can afford. The feeling of outdoor/indoor living in the summer is priceless.
Good luck with your extension build, we are always here to offer free advice on any questions you may have so please do give us a call on 01603 425333.
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Louise Ives-Wilkinson Interior Design has sponsored this column.
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