A Glass-Walled Extension Sits Proud on a Heritage Home
Exciting, unexpected and minimal, this kitchen, dining and utility space sits boldy within a Cheshire cottage
Scott Donald, who designed the new kitchen, dining and utility space in this Cheshire cottage, is in no doubt about its owners’ credentials. “They are so cool!” he says. A retired couple in their mid-seventies, they are also living proof that there’s no upper age limit when it comes to enjoying exciting design. “They always knew they wanted something incredibly minimal and contemporary,” Donald says.
He replaced an existing conservatory with a dazzling new space, now home to a utility room and dining area, which open onto an equally sleek, white kitchen, all modernised as part of a phase of improvements.
He replaced an existing conservatory with a dazzling new space, now home to a utility room and dining area, which open onto an equally sleek, white kitchen, all modernised as part of a phase of improvements.
Donald worked within the confines of an existing garden wall to create a much bigger room. “The original conservatory was set back from the house wall,” he says. “We extended to double the depth of this space by pulling the room forwards. It was about 2 metres deep before; it’s now about 4.5 metres deep.”
As well as gaining space, building the new room proud of the existing external wall helps it to make a strong statement. “I wanted to pop that glass box out from the house,” Donald says.
As well as gaining space, building the new room proud of the existing external wall helps it to make a strong statement. “I wanted to pop that glass box out from the house,” Donald says.
Two sections of roof glazing flood the space with natural light. “We looked at doing this as a glass box, but thought it would be a bit too much,” Donald says. “Now you have ceiling in the middle and sections of glazing either side for a bit of drama and height, and for views skywards. It’s more like walking into a room than a conservatory. We didn’t want it to feel at all like a conventional conservatory.”
Jasper Morrison Smithfield pendant light: Flos; Tulip round dining table: Knoll; Eames DSW chairs: Vitra
Jasper Morrison Smithfield pendant light: Flos; Tulip round dining table: Knoll; Eames DSW chairs: Vitra
Donald carefully considered how the new space would interact with the existing building in order to create clean lines, both inside and out. “I made sure the corner bricks of the cottage were flush with the internal plasterboard, so it’s all neat,” he says. “All the interfaces are smooth; there are no awkward corners or angles.”
The house gable was opened up considerably and steels installed to create the soaring roof here. “A lot of detail went into the structural work to keep it looking crisp and contemporary,” says Donald. “The owners were very clear about the style. Their tastes are so clean-lined and minimal.”
There’s no art on the walls, for example. “They might add some, but they won’t ever put a great deal of stuff in here; they’re very selective,” he adds.
There’s no art on the walls, for example. “They might add some, but they won’t ever put a great deal of stuff in here; they’re very selective,” he adds.
The island measures 1 x 2.7 metres, with four 600 millimetre units beneath. “It looks big, but it’s not actually that huge,” says Donald. “I couldn’t fit the sink on the galley side. There wasn’t a huge amount of space.”
“The extractor is the most attractive and discreet one we could find,” says Donald. “It was quite expensive, but probably the most minimal.” The floor is laid with 600 x 600 millimetre grey porcelain tiles.
Kitchen: SieMatic; appliances: Gaggenau; extractor with wing slats: bulthaup
“The extractor is the most attractive and discreet one we could find,” says Donald. “It was quite expensive, but probably the most minimal.” The floor is laid with 600 x 600 millimetre grey porcelain tiles.
Kitchen: SieMatic; appliances: Gaggenau; extractor with wing slats: bulthaup
The rest of the house is cottagey, but still feels modern. Its fabric – the beams for example – has all been painted white, and there’s dark grey carpet throughout. “You go into the old house and can still see all its character,” says Donald. “Then you walk into this mega white box with clean lines.”
He kept the original cottage door to mark the threshold between these two areas, just seen at the far end of the kitchen in this image.
He kept the original cottage door to mark the threshold between these two areas, just seen at the far end of the kitchen in this image.
In addition to the renovation and extension works, the glazing on the cottage was redesigned throughout, combining original-style timber windows with large, frameless structural glazing.
The owners’ pieces of design-classic furniture look perfect against the white backdrop of the new space. This striking chair was designed by Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. “It’s visually amazing, but not the most comfortable,” Donald says with a laugh.
A run of wall-hung units that match the kitchen work as a contemporary sideboard.
Unit: SieMatic
A run of wall-hung units that match the kitchen work as a contemporary sideboard.
Unit: SieMatic
A microwave is built into the wall. “The owner is a great cook and these are all her utensils, lined up like an artwork,” says Donald. “Quite cool.”
Microwave: Gaggenau
Microwave: Gaggenau
A utility room opens off the kitchen and dining space, with a striking floor-to-ceiling window. “It’s the most minimal utility room you’ll ever find,” says Donald.
At night, the new dining space glows, its striking glazing sitting proud of the house wall and giving a glimpse of the interior.
Who lives here: A retired couple in their seventies
Location: Cheshire, UK
Property: A detached cottage with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The cottage was rebuilt in 1750, but there was a cottage of sorts here as far back as 1086 (it’s listed in the Domesday Book)
Dimensions: The kitchen is 4.3 x 3.9 metres; the dining area is 4.3 x 3.6 metres; the utility space is 2.2 x 3.6 metres; the cottage as a whole is 213 square metres
Completed: November 2016
Architect: Scott Donald of Donald Architecture
Photos by Andrew Haslam
The owners have lived in this cottage for about 35 years. “They have a lovely house and have added bits over the years,” says Donald. “They did an extension about 20 years ago on the other side. They’ve worked in phases.”
For this latest round of improvements, the couple wanted to increase space in their home by creating a large dining and utility area with a clean, crisp aesthetic in the spot where a conservatory had stood. They also wanted a sleek, contemporary kitchen fitted, in line with the new architecture.