Kitchen Extension Types Explained

A kitchen extension can open up space, and easily transform your home into a beautiful modern area that is comfortable to live in. The extension you choose will max out your living and cooking space, and increase the value of your home.

If you’ve always wanted to scale up space and live more comfortably, an open-plan kitchen might be your best bet.

There are many types of kitchen extensions to choose from, and a myriad of ways to use your area to make the house spacious to live in. Here are some of the types of extensions you can choose from:

 

Single Storey Kitchen Extension

 

If your kitchen lacks space, a single-storey kitchen extension can help you with expansions in your home.

You can expand the first floor of your home, and add some space for dining, extra workspace now that work from home is a basic requirement, or space for additional appliances.

Choosing a single-storey extension will enable you to incorporate more space into your home, and provide you with a bigger area to bring in some natural light. It is a cost-effective way for you to have an open plan kitchen space that you’ve always wanted, without needing to move into a bigger space.

 

Side Return Kitchen Extension

If your house has a ‘side return’ (a narrow strip of land that runs alongside the ground floor of a property), it is probably being used to house equipment that you don’t use. Typically, this is used as a storage area.

Usually, side return extensions are built into Victorian or Edwardian era buildings.

Even though it may appear to just be a limited amount of space, it is actually a significant area that can be used to help make your kitchen more spacious.

While side return extensions can also help you save garden space, a side return kitchen extension definitely adds value to your property as it gives you a much larger kitchen bringing more light into your kitchen space. And it only sets you back by £2,000 to £5,000 per square metre, so it is definitely an investment worth considering.

 

Wraparound Kitchen (L-Shaped Extension)

A wrap-around kitchen is an L-shaped extension utilising the extra space outside your kitchen to maximise the space in your home.

It is basically a side-return extension combined with a rear house extension.

For growing families, this is a good option as the kitchen extension can increase space and transform how it feels to be at home. It also helps create a flow between your house and garden bringing the outdoor space in using bi-folding floors, skylights, light-wells or patios.

However, it is worth looking into how to plan a wraparound kitchen extension as it can be quite challenging to create such a space without proper planning.

 

Rear Kitchen Extension

 

In case there is no room to the side of the property that can be expanded upon, a rear extension is a good option.

It can transform the look of a house and create more space at the back and open it up to the garden, enabling you to entertain guests in an open living space. You can use light-wells and skylights to ensure enough light flows into your living area and make it a breathable, comfortable living area.

 

Conservatory-Style Kitchen

 

Usually, conservatories are added to the main house as a separate entity, however, these days, conservatories are used as extensions due to the flexibility they can offer.

Conservatory-style kitchens must be built keeping in mind the exterior and interior of the rooms in your home. These extensions can bring in a lot of light into the kitchen area. However, you must ensure that the glazing is appropriate and can keep the kitchen at the right temperature in summer as well as winter. Make sure the glazing is easily cleanable, as they may gather grease or dirt from cooking.

With conservatory kitchen extensions, you do save a lot more than with a typical house extension because conservatories are priced depending on the size and style you require, while house extensions are priced per square metre.

 

Planning Permissions

Once you pick an extension, you must find out if you require planning permission for it, and check with the council, as rules may differ based on your location, property type, or proximity to next door.

Zeroing in on the kind of kitchen extension may be contingent on the size and shape of the space available outside your home, and by what is allowed by your local council.

The most common kitchen extensions are either side return extensions or wrap-around extensions but you must choose an extension based on what you like and what suits you most. You can also get a free home feasibility study and use the advice you get to plan a kitchen extension that will make your home more spacious and useful for daily use while staying within your budget.