The Edgware House
When the original plans for a ground-floor renovation became too expensive to proceed with, we took another look at what the homeowners actually wanted to achieve.
By reconsidering the layout alongside the architect, we found a way to create a more open, connected family home without relocating the kitchen or carrying out all the structural changes originally proposed.
Sometimes, the best solution isn’t starting again. It’s looking at what you already have.
A new kitchen was the plan. But was it what the house really needed?
The original brief was to renovate the ground floor and create a more modern, open-plan kitchen and living space.
The architect had proposed moving the kitchen to the opposite side of the ground floor, alongside a new utility room connecting to the garage entrance. The plans also involved removing two internal walls to open up the full width of the house for kitchen, dining and living.
The kitchen was a big part of the proposed changes. The assumption was that it would need to be relocated and replaced to achieve the look and feel the clients wanted.
However, when the building work was being priced, the cost of the structural steel required to remove both walls made the scheme unviable.
So, it was time to take another look at what was actually needed.
Because when you look beyond the initial brief, sometimes the answer isn't to replace everything. It's to understand what needs to change, and what can stay.
What if the kitchen didn't need to move at all?
Looking at the existing ground floor, I could see that moving the kitchen wasn't necessarily what would make the biggest difference to the space. So the Architect and I worked together to find the best layout for our client.
The kitchen could stay where it was, with a new, modern design and some thoughtful changes. Removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room would open up the space, while an arched opening in the other wall would create a connection without removing the entire wall.
This meant less structural steel was needed and, importantly, the budget could be directed towards the changes that would make a real difference to the way the ground floor worked.
Instead of asking how we could fit in a completely new kitchen somewhere else, we could focus on what the clients actually wanted to achieve: a more open, connected and modern home.
It was about finding the right balance between openness and separation, rather than assuming that everything needed to be all open plan.
Where would the money make the biggest difference?
Once the original scheme was reconsidered, the opportunity was there to make better use of the budget rather than spend it on moving things that didn't necessarily need to move.
The existing kitchen location could be retained, but the clients could still have the modern kitchen they wanted, alongside an upgraded utility room. The changes to the walls would help create a more connected ground floor without the cost and disruption associated with the original proposal.
I was also conscious that the hallway could easily become another part of the project without anyone quite defining what that involved. So, I treated it as a separate scope of work, allowing the clients to consider those improvements with a clear understanding of what was included.
It's a small but important distinction. Renovation projects can grow as ideas develop, and being clear about what belongs to the main project… and what doesn't; helps everyone make informed decisions.
So, what actually changed?
The project moved away from the original plan of relocating the kitchen and opening up the entire ground floor, towards a more considered approach to the existing house.
The kitchen stayed in its original location, but was redesigned to give the clients the modern kitchen they wanted. The utility room was upgraded, and the changes to the internal walls created a more open, connected living space.
The glazed connection to the playroom added flexibility, allowing the rooms to feel connected without losing their separate functions.
And the hallway could be considered in its own right, with the potential for storage, seating, mirrors and artwork, rather than becoming an afterthought or an undefined addition to the main project.
The difference wasn't about doing less for the sake of it. It was about making sure that the work being done was the work that mattered most.
This is where I think good interior design makes a difference.
For me, this project is a good example of why I like to look at the whole picture before getting too far into design decisions.
It's not just about how a room will look. It's about how the spaces connect, what is already there, what can be retained, what needs to change and how all of those decisions affect the way a home works for the people living in it.
Sometimes, a relatively simple change can have a much bigger impact than you might expect. And sometimes, the obvious solution isn't necessarily the right one.
The kitchen didn't need to move to give the clients a more modern home. The layout needed to be reconsidered, the right changes made, and the budget focused where it would have the greatest effect.
Before
After
Floor Plan Before
Floor Plan After
For me, that's the value of looking a little
closer before jumping into a design.
It's about joining the dots, asking the right questions and finding a way forward that makes sense for the house, the people living in it and the budget available.
Because the aim isn't to create a completely new space just because you're renovating. It's to make the home you have work better for the life you're living now.
