A West Ealing extension that opens up the whole ground floor

This West Ealing project is less about adding a dramatic new wing than fixing a house where everyday life had started to pinch. Kitchen Bee and Brown Urbanism replaced an old rear lean-to on a period terraced home, turning a cramped galley kitchen into a larger kitchen and dining space that reaches towards the garden. The brief came from a family of three who wanted more light, better flow, more storage and a few practical essentials, including a guest WC and space for laundry.

What is appealing here is how much attention went into circulation. After testing several layouts, the team settled on a plan organised by two mirrored arched openings, creating what architect Brown Urbanism describes as a double route between the lounge and the kitchen-dining space. That keeps views running from front to back while still giving the living area a slightly cosier feel. Utility functions are folded into tall kitchen units, rather than cut off into a separate room.

There are a few carefully judged details too: a pitched side infill section, exposed painted rafters below roof lights, and sunlight broken into a softer pattern across the ceiling. Armony Cucine handled the build. It is a private home, so not somewhere to visit, but it is a useful small-house lesson in making limited space feel generous without pretending it is bigger than it is.

Our summary of a story from Wallpaper*, published 3 October 2026. Read the original

Photos: Wallpaper* · See all 8