Before and After: How a Concrete Extension Revamped this Terrace Home

When Scott and Camilla Trindle, who were looking to modernise their
terrace house in London, were introduced to another recent resident, Stuart Archer, by a neighbour, the chance encounter proved to be a game changer. 

Architect Stuart had recently refurbished and extended his own family home and the Trindles were impressed by what they saw. So much so they decided to ask Stuart to work with them on the redevelopment of their own home.  

Renovating the interiors and building an extension with a very modern aesthetic would prove the key to unlocking the potential of their home, and providing space to meet the needs of their growing family.

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A Contemporary Addition

Scott and Camilla were looking for “a recognisably British aesthetic” explains Stuart. “The design is a nod to mid-century British architects. We chose the concrete to create a monolithic and uniform exterior. The panels have an exposed aggregate that has warm tones that complement the London stock brickwork it sits next to,” says Stuart who a principal at London-based Archer + Braun Architects. 

The rough texture of this house cladding is offset by dark metal slimline sliding doors with minimal 20mm frames to create a seamless transition from outside to inside. 

The new open-plan kitchen and dining space also features an exposed polished concrete floor finish that has been sanded to show the aggregate in the material, similar to the external cladding. 

Planning could have been tricky, as the building is locally listed and in a conservation area. 

“There are no other extensions on the street, so there was no planning precedent, and the back of the house is visible from another street, so it was always quite challenging to receive permission for a striking contemporary design. 

"We convinced the planners by proposing a high quality design that looks visibly different to the existing,” says Stuart.

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Pared-Back Interiors

Whilst the extension has create a larger, more sociable open plan kitchen and dining space with a better connection to the garden, the couple were also keen to ensure that any renovation work in the main house would retain the building’s handsome Georgian character and features.

The couple have made the most of the period features, whilst injecting their own style into the interiors. Bespoke joinery, such as built-in benches to the kitchen and dining area, are complemented by key reclaimed features such as the kitchen worktops, made from teak flooring salvaged from a hospital in East London. 

Reclaimed shelving from Eton College, a range cooker, cast iron handles, a ceramic sink and silver nickel taps complete the look in this new area. The high-quality finish achieved makes this a masterclass in renovating a terrace house.

“Previously, the kitchen and living areas were separate so cooking was isolated, and we spent less time together. Now the kitchen/dining area is a much more social space to cook and chat. It wasn’t easy, but it was definitely worthwhile and we would do it again!" say the couple. 

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The old dining room was turned into a music room/playroom, with the cill of the existing window in the playroom lowered to create access to the kitchen and a view to the garden.

The original timber sash windows and floorboards complement the bespoke joinery; the paint is from Little Greene.