Kitchen extension invites more light into this period property

This period property, located near Richmond, was bought by Lewis and his wife for approximately £1,000,000 in early 2016. The couple bought the property knowing it would be a real fixer-upper, but they loved the area, they loved that they would be able to make the house their own, and they loved the idea of the challenge ahead.

The biggest improvement the couple made to their property was their kitchen extension, which has created a much larger, brighter and open plan kitchen dining area for the couple and their two small children to enjoy. Part of this project involved turning their cold and outdated conservatory into a function room that the family could use. This conservatory, the couple felt, also prevented a lot of light from coming into the back of the house and generally made the house feel dark and unnatural. So, the couple began their search for a team to help them transform their home into a light and modern space.

Lewis came across the Origin brand after his plasterer recommended WLRG (West London Roofing and Glazing) for their doors, windows and roof lantern. WLRG - an Origin Trade Partner - recommended a variety of products the couple might like, but Lewis remembers that they said the Origin product was far superior, offering high quality products backed by a long and comprehensive guarantee. Lewis notes, “you could really tell the difference with the Origin products and, ultimately, you get what you pay for.” When asked about his experience using WLRG, Lewis said, “The WLRG were really lovely people; they really knew their stuff. They came in, they installed the doors, and that was it. It was really a non-event, which is exactly what you want when you’ve had 19 months of building hell. I was surprised how quickly Origin could provide the windows, especially considering it was all made-to-measure.” The couple had their bi-fold doors and windows installed in April 2019.

Before

After

The family had a 5-door set of Bifold Doors installed in their new extension, along with two Origin Single Doors and an Origin Casement Window over their kitchen sink. All their Origin products were coloured 9910G (Hipca White) both inside and out with white gaskets for a clean and seamless white finish. They opted for a weathered threshold for their large set of bi-fold doors, meaning they needn’t worry about any leaks or drafts. When asked whether he’s noticed a difference to the thermal efficiency of the house, Lewis said, “Absolutely. We had single glazed windows before so now, with our double glazed Origin Doors and Windows, we’ve noticed a massive difference in how warm our home is.”

However, when asked about the biggest difference Lewis feels his new doors and windows have made, he says “the amount of light we now have radiating through the back of our house. When you’re standing in the kitchen, the natural light that comes through from the extension really draws the eye so you don’t really notice any darkness at all.”

“The doors, along with the new extension as a whole, has totally transformed the way our family uses the space. It’s stretched the size of the house, connecting the inside and outside. I deliberately wanted the house to be more connected to the landscape and we feel we’ve achieved this with the doors, as well as our choice of flooring,” Lewis continued.

Overall, the couple are very happy with their new extension and the service they received from both WLRG and Origin. “The customer journey was so quick and seamless,” Lewis says.