If you are after ways of adding space to your home in a super efficient and very stylish way, seeking out L-shaped kitchen extension ideas should be high on your agenda. Building an extension like this opens up all kinds of opportunities, often making the very most of every inch of available space.
"An L-shaped extension typically wraps around the ground floor, often incorporating a side and rear extension into a single, cohesive addition to the home," explains architect James Dale of James Dale Architects. "It works particularly well for kitchen renovations, as it can dramatically increase space on the ground floor, and can improve the relationship between a house and garden."
If you love the idea of a spacious kitchen that is full of light and feels connected to your outdoor spaces – and, lets face it, who wouldn't – take a look at the collection of projects we have pulled together here. From modest creations to large scale additions, there is something for everyone.
James Dale Architects are an established design practice based in north London, specialising in creating innovative, residential renovation and extensions for projects across London and the south east. All projects are design-led with a contemporary approach internally and externally, resulting in reimagined modern dwellings.
1. Use the natural zones wisely
There are several different ways to design an L-shaped kitchen extension. Structures comprising a side and rear extension are common and these are also sometimes referred to as 'wrap around extensions' due to the fact that they snake around the back and side of a house.
Internally, they make for great kitchen diners as they very naturally lend themselves to being zoned into separate cooking and eating spaces.
"This type of extension results in layouts that work exceptionally well for open-plan kitchens, allowing for distinct zones for cooking, dining, and relaxing, all sitting comfortably within one connected space," says James Dale.
This extension, designed by Delve Architects, sees the dining area located in the projecting section of the layout, meaning diners can enjoy a bright outlook while eating.
2. Be creative with your glazing choices
An L-shaped extension opens up some really interesting glazing options, allowing you to mirror the forms, or styles of windows and doors within each section, for a pleasingly cohesive end result.
Within the extension of this Victorian terrace, designed by James Dale Architects, side and rear extensions have been brought together to form a new kitchen and dining space.
While the dining area has access to the patio through aluminium glazed doors, the kitchen is cleverly lit through the use of full-height fixed glazed panels, narrow in profile so as not to take up too much wall storage space.
3. Maximise the projecting element
The stepped nature of extension ideas formed in an L-shape means the longer section often projects out into the garden space. This element of the extension is, therefore, the perfect location for an area of the home you spend a lot of time in, so you can enjoy natural light and views.
James Munro at Pace Architecture designed this L-shaped kitchen extension so that the kitchen feels as though it sits firmly within the garden, with the living and dining areas towards the back of the space, lit by glazed doors.
L-shaped kitchen extensions are one of the best ways to gain maximum space and this design also allowed for an additional utility and WC, along with a separate walk-in pantry directly off the kitchen.
4. Seriously consider a bi-fold window seat
A side and rear extension have completely transformed this traditional Victorian house, allowing for the creation of a bright, airy and distinctly modern new kitchen dining space for the family.
A large window wraps around the projecting section of the extension and incorporates bi-fold windows over a window seat, meaning the area can be opened up to the carefully landscaped garden beyond.
The side section not only benefits from a glazed ceiling to flood it with light, but also features a full height glazed door which provides access to outside.
5. Create a lightweight look using carefully chosen materials
An L-shaped extension – as opposed to a simple side return extension or small rear extension – totally changes the exterior appearance of a house, so extra care needs to be taken to ensure it doesn't overwhelm the rest of the building, or the landscape it sits within.
This L-shaped extension, designed by Pace Architecture, was designed to provide a large kitchen diner. External zinc cladding was chosen to, "reduce the overall massing of the extension and break up the facade," according to designer James Munro.
A mixture of glazing features have also been used – slimline sliding doors, large rooflights and an oriel bay window to bringlots of natural light into the home, and create a great connection with the outside.
6. Design the interior to enjoy the exterior
Kitchen extensions come in all shapes and sizes, but in the case of those that are L-shaped, you need to take into account the fact that each element, and in particularly the protruding section, will have a view of the other – so take the opportunity to create something you really enjoy looking at.
Within the ingenious design of this extension by YARD Architects, the dining area of the new space has been designed with glazed openings that allow for glimpses of the eye-catching corbelled brickwork.
The kitchen is set back slightly, and features a large window with sliding panes that allow for uninterrupted views out over the garden beyond.
7. Use modern, yet complimentary, cladding materials
The owners of this beautiful Victorian home, which had been turned into flats and seriously neglected over the years, were keen to introduce contemporary design elements that respected the original details of the building.
Pace Architecture responded to the brief by designing a metal-clad horizontal addition, which balances out the three-storey pitched original form of the building perfectly.
The earthy red of the metal cladding purposefully echoes the colour of the old brickwork, in order to unite the old and new sections visually.
8. Light your L-shaped extension from above
L-shaped kitchen extensions offer so much potential for creating a really welcoming, open kitchen, dining and living space – more so, in most cases, than other types of extension. This extended townhouse, designed by George & James Architects, is a fantastic example.
"We added an L-shaped extension, combining a side and rear extension, carefully designed to maximise the available space at the period townhouse," explains Simon Drayson, director at the practice.
"As the property faces north, bringing natural light deep into the home was central to the design approach," continues Simon. "The careful positioning of generous rooflights introduces daylight from above throughout the day, while a striking picture window in the rear elevation further enhances light levels and frames views of the garden beyond. To strengthen this indoor–outdoor relationship, large glazed doors open onto a terrace, precisely aligned with the kitchen floor level to create a seamless transition between inside and out."
When architect Simon Drayson founded George & James Architects with Darren Leach, they embodied the perfect combination of skills and interests, with Simon bringing more emotional intelligence and Darren more logic and analytical thinking. Simon has worked on his fair share of high-profile urban projects over the years, but upping sticks and going it alone definitely ranks as one of the best decisions of his life.
9. Use glazed walls to create views from all angles
An L-shaped kitchen extension offers the potential to enjoy views over your outdoor spaces from multiple perspectives – so be sure to take full advantage of this through your choice of architectural glazing.
This kitchen extension was created as part of a Victorian house renovation and combines side and rear extensions to form a kitchen, dining and living space that has very much become the heart of the home.
By using a variety of both fixed and opening glazed apertures, as well as ceiling glazing, the homeowners can enjoy different vistas throughout the new space.
10. Consider using a different shade of brickwork
While building an extension that sits in complete contrast to the original house can be viewed upon very favourably by planners, creating some kind of cohesion between old and new remains important.
That might mean echoing the shape of the original roofline or windows, matching up colours or, as is the case in the design of this extension, by George & James Architects, using similar materials yet varying their shades.
The aim with this extension was to create a modern new space that wouldn't overwhelm the original property — the stylishly subtle blue brickwork and slimline sliding patio doors were the perfect way to do this.
If you are hoping to incorporate some clever open plan kitchen ideas into your renovation or extension project, there is no doubt that an L-shaped design is the perfect way to allow for this.
That said, don't forget to make sure that you also pay attention to making sure that your extension works with your garden too – particularly as an extension like this is so tightly connected to your outdoor space.
