Surrey Border Traditional Kitchen Extension
Classic British kitchen extension featuring Hampshire green painted cabinetry with brass fixtures and bi-fold doors opening to the garden.
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The Brief
On the border between Surrey and Hampshire, our clients owned a handsome Edwardian semi-detached house with original features they cherished — cornicing, picture rails, a tiled hallway. The existing kitchen was a 1980s lean-to that leaked in heavy rain and bore no relationship to the character of the rest of the house. They wanted a proper kitchen extension that felt like a natural evolution of the Edwardian original.
Our Design Approach
We designed a 32m² extension with a pitched roof using reclaimed clay tiles that match the original Edwardian roof. Timber sash windows on the side elevation echo the proportions and detailing of the existing windows, whilst bi-fold doors across the rear provide the garden connection our clients wanted.
The kitchen design centres on traditional in-frame cabinetry painted in a deep Hampshire green — a colour that sits perfectly with the Edwardian aesthetic and has become increasingly popular for its warmth and sophistication. Unlacquered brass handles, taps and light fittings will develop a beautiful patina over time, adding to the sense of a kitchen that belongs to this house.
Planning and Approvals
The property sits outside any conservation area, and the extension fell within Permitted Development limits. We obtained a Lawful Development Certificate and Building Regulations approval covering the structural opening between old and new, foundation design (the existing footings needed careful assessment), and compliance with current insulation standards.
Key Design Features
- Hampshire green cabinetry: In-frame painted kitchen in a rich green that complements the Edwardian character
- Brass fixtures: Unlacquered brass throughout — handles, taps, light fittings — developing natural patina
- Reclaimed tiles: Clay roof tiles sourced from a local reclamation yard to match the original roof
- Sash windows: Timber sash windows matching the Edwardian originals in proportion and detail
- Bi-fold garden doors: Painted timber bi-fold doors in matching green opening onto the garden
The Result
Walk into this kitchen and you would be forgiven for thinking it has been here since 1905. That was exactly the intention. The Hampshire green cabinetry has become the room's defining feature — warm, characterful and completely at home in this Edwardian property. The brass fittings are already developing the gentle patina that will make them even more beautiful with time. It is a kitchen that tells a story of craftsmanship and care.
Cost and Package Guidance
For a 32m² kitchen extension in Surrey/Hampshire Border, the biggest budget variables are usually structural steelwork, glazing specification, drainage changes, foundation conditions and final kitchen, bathroom or joinery choices. Hampshire Build's fixed-fee design packages give homeowners clear design-cost certainty before construction begins, with Essential, Pre-Build and Premium options depending on how much technical documentation and contractor support is needed. The design fee is separate from builder costs, planning fees, Building Control fees and any third-party specialist reports, so clients can make informed decisions without confusing design work with the wider construction budget.
Local Context and Practical Considerations
Projects in Surrey/Hampshire Border benefit from early attention to neighbouring amenity, overlooking, daylight, access for builders and material choices that sit comfortably with the existing street scene. On this project, the drawings needed to communicate not only the look of the extension but also how it would work technically: roof drainage, insulation build-ups, structural openings, floor levels and practical circulation through the home. That level of detail helps planning officers, Building Control and builders understand the proposal clearly, reducing avoidable questions and giving the homeowner a stronger basis for the next stage of their extension journey.
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