Should I extend my kitchen? Pros, cons and the alternatives to consider, according to design experts
If you’re thinking about a kitchen extension, our expert guide will help you weigh up whether it’s the best choice for your home.
By Sarah Warwick
Design advice by George Omalianakis
Extending a kitchen is a tempting project. A larger room could create additional storage, boost cooking and preparation space, and even make room for dining. It might also be an opportunity to introduce more light and a make a better connection to the garden.
But as packed with potential as kitchen extension ideas are, there’s still the question of whether a kitchen extension project is the right one for your home and your lifestyle. If not, there are other ways to improve a kitchen you might consider.
To help you answer the question of whether you should build an extension to house a bigger kitchen, we’ve put together a guide to the advantages and possible downsides, along with the other space-expanding strategies that are on offer.
George Omalianakis – Architect
George Omalianakis is a chartered architect (RIBA) specialising in kitchen extensions to historic and contemporary residential properties across London. He likes to create spaces that blend modern additions with period features and with an overarching focus on environment design principles. He set up his practice, GOAStudio London residential architecture, in 2009.
Is a kitchen extension a good idea?
Planning a kitchen extension can be a great project for some homes and it’s often a good addition to a property. ‘Do you want to improve the amount of living space in your home?’ asks George Omalianakis of GOAStudio London residential architecture. ‘Do you want to increase it because your family or work circumstances changed? Are you tired of having to go through small door openings and dark utility rooms to enjoy your garden?
‘To all three questions a kitchen extension is your answer,’ he says. ‘When you move your kitchen to a new extension, through a considered design that takes into account the rest of your home, you free up space across the ground floor. This space can then be re-used and re-arranged to meet your requirements in a way that can maximise what your property can become.’
But it’s not necessarily the right choice for everyone. ‘For very practical reasons, both for yourselves and future owners, you do not want to unbalance the house by either adding too much living space, by not creating enough bedroom space, or by reducing the size of the garden too much,’ says George. ‘It is important to get the balance right.’
Pros of adding a kitchen extension
Light and views. George Omalianakis suggests it could allow ‘a kids’ play area to keep an eye on the kids when you prepare food; sightlines to the sky outside; and long views across your garden’.
Cons of adding a kitchen extension
Compromised circulation. ‘A kitchen extension gives you the chance to re-examine your ground floor plan and to maximise its potential,’ says George Omalianakis. ‘If you simply add a “box” at the rear or side of your home you are likely to create circulation problems and block access to natural light.’
Will a kitchen extension add value to your home?
Beware, too, the ceiling value of a home where you live. ‘If you spend too much on your extension for the property type and location, you might not recoup this money through the value added to the property,’ says George Omalianakis.
And you do need to devote adequate budget to a kitchen extension. ‘If you spend too little, estate agents might advise that you have just devalued the property,’ says George. ‘The same thing is likely to happen if you overdevelop the property by leaving a garden space that is just too small,’ he adds.
What other ways can improve your kitchen without extending?
There are alternatives to an extension that can create the kitchen you want. ‘You can achieve wonders by simply opening up existing walls, or by intelligently re-arranging rooms,’ says George Omalianakis.
BOROUGH SPECIFIC ARCHITECT AND PLANNING GUIDES FOR YOUR HOME PROJECT
Your local Council will have in place design and planning requirements for your home project and you will need to obtain planning approval for a wide range of extensions and alterations to your property.
When you get in touch we will offer you detailed advice about what is likely that your Council will approve and in the meantime we have prepared the following architectural and planning guides that include extracts of the relevant planning policy and examples of our projects in our Borough.
Barnet architects | Planning and design homeowner guide, Camden residential architect and planning guide, Enfield residential architect and planning guide, Hackney residential architect and planning guide, Hammersmith Fulham residential architect and planning guide, Haringey architects | Planning and design homeowner guide and planning guide, Islington residential architect and planning guide, Kensington and Chelsea Conservation architects, residential and planning guide, Lambeth residential architect and planning guide, Lewisham residential architect and planning guide, Newham residential architect and planning guide, Tower Hamlets residential architect and planning guide, Waltham Forest residential architect and planning guide, Wandsworth residential architect and planning guide, Westminster residential architect and planning guide
HOME DESIGN – Find ideas for your project.
- Side extensions London residential guide
- Rear extensions London residential guide
- Kitchen extensions London residential guide
- Roof extensions London residential guide
- Residential renovations London guide
- Mansard roof extensions London residential guide
- Contemporary extensions London residential guide
- Flat extensions London residential guide
- Garden flat extensions London residential guide
- House extensions London residential guide
We provide architectural services for residential projects in the following London Boroughs:
Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster
We specialise in
- Greener homes
- Retrofit and energy efficiency for older and traditional buildings
- Conservation areas
- Listed Buildings
- Homeowner architectural services
- Property developments architectural services
GOAStudio London residential architecture limited.
86-90 Paul Street, EC2A 4NE, Hackney
Chestnut Avenue South, E17 9EJ, Waltham Forest
t: 0203 984 3005
