Extending an older home can be the most rewarding aspect of designing and building extensions.

Older homes generally have a grace and charm missing from the new budget driven project homes – but with the grace and charm can come costs not associated with a project home.

Tips to successfully extending an older homes include:

• Retain ceiling heights, cornices and skirtings.
• Open out the kitchen into the family room /alfresco/garden as so many older homes have kitchens without aspect.
• Try to provide separate living and sleeping space for both parents and children, giving each family group their own privacy but still retain a feeling of family with well positioned kitchen / family areas.
• Keep floor levels constant – this enhances the size and safety in a home.
• Be sensible with space and proportion room sizes accordingly.
• Remember ensuite bathrooms are for two people at one time and they must be generous enough to allow freedom of movement.
• Ensure that the external finishes relate to the home being extended, matching roof type, brick or plaster, window sills, eaves and corbelling.

Always remember that while important, the front appearance of your home is generally for other people and relating to the streetscape.

As a family you will live and entertain in your garden generally at the rear of the property and so this viewing function of your home must be the most pleasing to you and your family.