the picture windows house
The goal for this project was to extend a traditional semi-detached 1930's home by creating a wide, open-plan living and dining area that feels deeply connected to the garden. The layout is designed to maximise the width of the site, moving away from a cramped kitchen toward a generous, light-filled space where the family can cook, dine, and relax together.
From the garden, the extension appears as a clean, sculptural block finished in a soft, textured clay render with deep window and door recesses.
A retractable white awning offers a comfortable, Mediterranean-style transition that allows for outdoor dining even during a midday heatwave or a light drizzle.
The stone patio tiles are level with the internal oak floors, making the move from the dining table to the garden feel completely seamless.
The raised rendered beds bring the garden closer to the house, ensuring that the view from the window seat is always lush and vibrant, regardless of the season.
The interior is defined by a calm, tonal palette of pale oak floors and soft, sandy-colored walls. We avoided cluttered wall units, choosing instead a sleek, low-level kitchen run that keeps the eye focused on the garden outside.
The large, fixed-glass picture window, perfectly frames the mature trees and planting. Inside we integrated a deep, upholstered window seat directly into the oak frame. This creates a cozy "room within a room" where you can lounge right at the garden's edge.
The large timber bi-fold doors can be swept aside, completely opening the dining area to the patio and effectively doubling the living space on warm days.