Cottage Extension Bushey

The key objective for this rear kitchen extension was to make to most of the narrow, yet deep rear ground floor of the former railway-mans cottage.

As a design and build project Acumen were responsible for designing and specifying all features and finishes.

With the help of their friends at Chess Structural Consultants, Acumen installed a steel box-frame to support the existing walls at first floor level. This allowed the kitchen area to be free of any obstruction and create an airy feel.

The increased depth of the ground floor presented a need to bring natural light into the middle of the house. This was achieved by installing a fixed skylight in the flat roof of the side addition.

The kitchen was faithfully reproduced by our joiner, David Preusse, in Harpenden after the client provided magazine clippings showing the style she was trying to emulate.

The dark Basalt floor was used as an alternative to slate as the honed nature of these Basalt tiles provide a more contemporary feel. Oak was used for the island to tie in with floor finishes and joinery used elsewhere in the house.

An acrylic, polymer-modified coloured render was used on the new walls instead of a traditional sand and cement render. As this finish is flexible, this will prevent cracking and provided a maintenance free finish for years to come.