Having a gut feeling about a property is always a good sign, and that’s exactly how homeowner Candice felt about this tired Edwardian house in Wimbledon…

Most people would have given up after 10 months of trying to secure a home, but Candice and Sebastian knew it was worth persevering. Originally from South Africa, the couple moved to the UK 15 years ago and found themselves in 2020 looking for their next family home.

“We bought this house at the end of 2021 after nearly a year of negotiations. The previous buyer’s purchase fell through so I was able to get a second chance at it. I knew this house was special, it was in our dream location and had not been updated in a very long time, so it had so much potential,” Candice tells KBB journo Becca Cullum-Green.

The original kitchen and dining area were completely separate and dated, and there was even an outside toilet. As the house falls under a conservation area, Candice knew they had to carefully plan any major changes.

“When it came to choosing an architect, I browsed many local firms and ended up meeting with four of them. Eventually, we went with Momo & Co who I felt totally understood the needs of busy family life as well as my design goals, and I’m so glad we did”, she smiles.

The extension

The extension was no small feat; the couple have added 70 sq m between the loft and rear extension and now have a large open-plan kitchen-dining area, a snug and a desk space for kids crafting and homework activities – with the entire renovation taking just 10 months. Where the old kitchen was, is now a neat utility room and downstairs loo.

“I had three key kitchen design features that were an absolute must when planning the extension; a wrap-around roof light, which you can see as soon as you walk through the front door, a statement waterfall island and the wooden slatted wall to zone off the snug area from the kitchen”.

In order to incorporate these three non-negotiables and deliver the couple’s dream space, there were a few practical issues Momo & Co had to consider. For instance, the architects came up with the innovative pantry area which has turned out to be very useful storage for Sebasatian’s collection of kitchen gadgets.

It occurred to Candice mid-renovation to repurpose the old back doors for the pantry, which she admits, “took forever to sand down, but in the end, I had to decide to embrace their particular character and imperfections.” They are a lovely touch that brings a rustic element to their fresh, modern home.

The kitchen design

For the kitchen itself, Candice and Sebastian went with Olive & Barr as they sat at a reasonable price point and the couple had heard nothing but good things. “I knew I wanted a classic wooden painted kitchen, and Olive & Barr fit the brief perfectly. They were able to work around some tricky angles and insets, which they incorporated really well, minimising their visual impact.”

The units are hand-painted in Portland Stone by Little Greene, and the worktops, including the island, were sourced from a local stonemason called Mario Marble & Granite. One of the main elements that Candice spent a lot of time planning was the lighting in the rear extension.

“I am not a fan of spotlights and I felt I was taking a risk not putting any in throughout the house. However, as we have sufficient overhead lighting and wall lights, I have had no regrets at all. The impact of lighting on the ambience of a space is massive and it’s one of the main reasons I think our kitchen works so well in the winter months,” she explains.

Looking back on the finished project

It’s clear to see the passion Candice has had during this entire project. It’s a million miles away from her day job as an accountant, but she relished the opportunity to get creative and to design the ideal space for her and her family.

She finishes our chat by happily admitting she has zero renovation regrets. “I am so proud of what we have created. I wanted a space that wasn’t a carbon copy of other London kitchen extensions, and I feel that we have achieved that. The design is a total success as I can sense the flow and ease with which we live in it, but also, when it’s full of people, it still feels airy and accessible.”

Styling: Becca Cullum-Green | Photography: Anna Stathaki

This house tour was featured in the October 2024 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.

Enjoyed this post? Click here to tour this dark blue kitchen design with marble surfaces and a curved island

About Post Author