Built in the 1920s, the Marodeens' new home was the house that time forgot, as nothing had been done to it in 50 years. ‘It had this teeny-weeny kitchen that was revolting,’ recalls Amanda. ‘Thankfully, it also had an imposing double frontage and a huge entrance hall. The feel of the place was just exquisite and we had to have it.’
First job on the list? A new open plan kitchen diner. Find out how they did it – and then see all our real home transformations and extensions.
Fact file
The owners: Amanda Marodeen, a full-time mum, lives here with husband Mark, who works in finance, and children, Molly, 19, Dylan, 16, and Sienna, seven
The property: A detached, five-bedroom house, built in the 1920s in Littlehampton, West Sussex
Amanda loves: Walking on the beach; Shopping at The White Company; Avocados; The film Dream Girls and its music; Cats
Project cost: £103,650
‘The first thing I wanted to change was the kitchen,’ says Amanda. ‘I didn’t only want a large open-plan space, I wanted it to be huge, as I knew it would be the hub of the home. ’
The decision was made to knock through the existing kitchen, breakfast room and utility, and then add a single storey extension into the garden by almost 4m – a loss of outside space that the family was happy to compromise on.
Bespoke units, Stephen Anthony Design & Bespoke Kitchens. Quartz worktops, Silestone. Emperor smoked oak engineered flooring, Mark Doran. Merle medium cream ceiling pendants, Barker & Stonehouse. Rhone bar stools, Maison Interiors
Mark had to convince Amanda that they should include a kitchen island, as she originally wanted more clear space, but she now finds it offers invaluable storage.
Locker unit, Barker & Stonehouse. Ladder shelves, Loaf. Calia extending dining table, John Lewis. Industrial leather dining chairs, Rockett St George. Fridge-freezer, Panasonic. Ovens, Siemens
‘Even though the kitchen was going to be a key part of the space, I didn’t want too much clutter and I had to resist the temptation to have lots of cupboards and worktops. I also wanted a lot of clear space,’ explains Amanda.
Drainage grooves have been cut in the Silestone worktop around the sink to avoid the need for a separate drainer. For a similar sink and tap, try Franke
‘I’ve always wanted to do a project like this,’ Amanda, homeowner
Amanda invested in furniture with a reclaimed look to give the new extension an industrial edge.
All of the walls are painted white, which emphasises the portraits Amanda took of her children.
The couple included a seating area to make the new extension the hub of family life. Freya sofa, DFS. Scatter cushions, Loaf. Rug, Neptune. Leather sling-back chair, French Connection Home. Floor task lamp, Maison Interiors. For a similar coffee table, try Barker & Stonehouse
Knocking together the existing kitchen and dining room and adding a four-metre rear extension created the ‘huge’ space Amanda craved. It was created to look seamless from the outside, with its cream rendering and pitched roof, angled and tiled to mimic the original building.
- The full feature – including stockists and more images – appears in the March 2016 issue of Real Homes. Subscribe today to take advantage of our money-saving subscription offers.
