Semi-detached house extension ideas
The humble semi-detached home is the most common type of property in the UK. Making up 32% of all housing stock, the vast majority of semis, as they are also known, were built between 1945 and 1964, to ease the housing shortage after the war. Semi-detached houses do make great family homes which is why they are still built today.
Typically, most semi-detached properties have a garden and some room to one side of the house, this means they are ideal for rear and/or side return extensions. It is also often possible to build double storey extensions, if you wish.
Kitchen extension for a semi-detached home
If you want to extend so you can have a bigger kitchen, there are few ways this could be done. You can extend to the side of your house, build a rear kitchen extension or do it as part of a double storey extension. You can also combine all three into one project.
Building to the side of your house, also known as a side return extension, can be one of the most cost-effective ways of gaining some extra square footage in your home. You may look at the area at the side of your property and think it’s not a lot of space, but you’ll be surprised how much extending into this, often unused, space, opens-up your home. If you are worried about this area being dark and pokey, light can easily be let in by placing some strategic skylights or light wells in the roof or ceiling.
Rear extension for a semi-detached house
A rear extension is one of our most popular extensions and is a great way to create an open plan kitchen-diner. These open plan spaces are perfect for families and create a flexible space for you, your family and guests to enjoy. Another benefit of a rear extension is that it can better connect your home to your garden. To create the perfect indoor-outdoor space, you can opt for wall-to-wall bi-folding doors, which can be opened in good weather, and it’s also a great way to let in plenty of natural light.
When creating a rear extension, you can choose to either be sympathetic to the aesthetic of your property, or you can design it to juxtapose its design with something striking and modern. There is a school of thought currently among some designers and architects, that an extension should be quite distinctive and stand out against the original building – instead of blending in. Of course, the decision on the exterior design of an extension is always the choice of the homeowner and there are pros and cons to both sides.
Open plan living
Semi-detached house extension ideas
Extensions are a great way to create open-plan spaces. Open plan has gained in popularity since the 50s and 60s. Pioneered by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, open plan living is characterised by its more fluid and flexible use of space. Typically, in an extension, an open plan space will consist of a kitchen area, dining area and lounge space that may include a sofa and a TV. As times have changed, we demand more of our home, needing it to fit with our changing needs such as home working, a growing family and entertaining. Creating an open plan space can help to meet these needs as well as giving you and your property other benefits, such as letting in more natural light, and it may also add value to your property.
For a great example of how an extension can enhance your home, take a look at our case studies in Layton, Richmond and Wimbledon.
If you are thinking about adding an extension to your semi-detached property, contact us today for a free site survey!
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