We recently completed this incredible project in Wandsworth, SW18. This property is a mid-terrace home on the Southfields grid. It required a full home renovation throughout, and the homeowners also wanted to maximise space with a ground floor extension and a loft conversion. The property was a spacious 3-bed before we extended, with large rooms and high ceilings. The downstairs offered a double reception area and a kitchen. The house was very run down, with no one having lived it in for quite a while prior to the purchase. It had very little electrics and no central heating system. 

One thing we love about this project, is that Home Tales was involved from the very beginning. We attended the initial site visit while the property was under offer. The new homeowners wanted to get a quote straight away. As the house wasn’t in a good state, they didn’t intend to move in until the work had been completed. As a result, they wanted to get planning underway as quickly as possible, so works could start the building work shortly after completion of the sale. 

We took the house back to brick and installed electrics, plumbing and heating throughout. We re-plastered the entire property, and replaced all seven windows, including a double height bay window. We completed a ground floor side infill extension which added 11SQM of space to the ground floor. We extended into the loft, adding an l-shaped dormer. This gave the property an entirely new floor, which includes two double bedrooms and a bathroom, totalling 41SQM of new floor area. 

Ground floor refurbishment and extension

After completing the architectural floorplans for the property, we went through various extension options with the homeowner. As the entire house was being refurbished, we recommended looking at the entire ground floor as a whole rather than just focusing on the extension area. The homeowner had previously owned a home with a redundant middle room, so they were keen to open it up and incorporate it into the living area. Due to the configuration of the property, a WC wouldn’t fit under the existing staircase, so we suggested putting it opposite the stairs instead, stealing some of the space from that otherwise ‘middle’ room. This enables a generous sized WC to be added. In terms of the extension, the garden was quite modest in size and the other properties on the row of terraces had all extended to the side, filling in the ‘side return’ of the property. For this reason, we suggested we do the same. Even though 11SQM doesn’t sound like a huge amount of space, once you encompass it into an open plan room it actually changes the entire dynamic of the property.  

First floor refurbishment 

We refurbished all of the first-floor bedrooms, adding internal doors and external windows throughout. The windows are made of accoya which is a fantastic material for wooden framed windows. This gives you the traditional effect but it’s much more resilient. You can actually leave accoya in water for days and it won’t expand. The traditional wooden floors were actually in great condition so we sanded and varnished the boards. There was an existing wall which separated the WC and bathroom, so we removed this wall to create one large bathroom instead.  

We also installed a wall of wallpaper in the nursery. This map of the world brightens up this bedroom. 

Loft conversion 

We added a double dormer to this property, giving the homeowners two new bedrooms and a bathroom. Both bedrooms are spacious and could easily fit double beds with room to spare. There is also eaves storage which spans the entire width of the house. There are windows in each loft bedroom which are made from aluminium, and they have a wonderful deep grey finish. The room towards the front of the property has a slight pitch part of the ceiling, and this has Velux windows in to utilise all opportunity for natural light. The bathroom houses a shower, toilet and sink and is accessible from the hallway, and this also has a Velux window. We got approval for the loft via permitted development. 

Our involvement 

We project managed this entire project from start to finish. We did the drawings, obtained the relevant planning permission, and assigned a contractor to execute the works. We project managed the build and helped with Thames Water, Building Control, and any other items that cropped up during the build process. Our project management service gives you dedicated eyes and ears on-site for the duration of your build. Want more information? Call our friendly team on 0207 043 2378 or email us at hello@hometales.co.uk.

The before and after pictures speaks for themselves! This was truly a transformation and we were so excited to be a part of this project. We work on all kinds of projects – small and large.