6 Extension Ideas For The Modern Home
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Building an extension is one of the most popular home renovation projects - and it’s easy to understand why. Not only do they heighten your standard of living through creating more space in the home, extensions increase the value and livability of your property. Typically, the addition of an extra bedroom or bathroom is the most favoured option, whether to update the house or simply accommodate for a growing family size. However, there are lots of other options for using the extra space which will add a more personal touch to the household. Here are 6 luxurious alternatives to the average extension, perfect for adding a little beauty to the modern home.
Kitchen
Back in ye olde day, kitchens were pokey little crevices isolated from the rest of the house. Cooking and food preparation were not things to be seen, rather things to be undertaken in secret with minimal fuss or occasion. Nowadays, however, the kitchen is really the heart of the home and serves as a central meeting place. More and more people are opting for open plan living arrangements with the kitchen as the social epicentre, integrated in the living, dining or lounge space, and with a few carefully selected bar stools tossed in. Kitchen extensions follow this logic - they bring in as much light as possible through full size windows and skylights, opening up the space as both a gathering and focal point.
Conservatory
Atriums or sun rooms were once a real sign of wealth, popular with the aristocracy for housing exotic plants and modelled on the French ‘orangerie’ style. Their shape and dimensions had to conform to a very strict protocol of design - whereas now, you can be as creative as you like when it comes to constructing your own contemporary conservatory. From a practical point of view, these are great if you live in the milder parts of Australia - because they trap heat, conservatories make good relaxation areas for the autumn and spring months. They also provide ideal space for other luxuries, like a herb or cacti garden or even an indoor pool or spa. The trend in modern extensions is to go for a very contrasting, eye-catching style of greenhouse, rather than try to assimilate it into the existing house facade. Minimalist and elegant, these ‘glass cube’ style extensions improve the feel of the garden overall.
Patio or deck
Extending your outdoor entertaining space rather than the house itself is a staple in the extension world - a more humble way to transform the rear of your property. The beauty of this design is that it gives the homeowner maximum freedom to manipulate the space as they’d like - and it is easier to install on uneven terrain. A good deck might feature a viewing platform, a BBQ area or some nifty shades. Often the house itself will be given a makeover to complement the addition, such as an all-glass feature wall to look out over the new area and provide full access.
Home office
Creating a home office may be an ideal choice for your extension. This is because the shape of the existing house may only allow expansion from a small area and home offices do not suffer from being unusually distant from the centre of the home - in fact, isolating the office space a little is good for keeping work and home life separate so if the extension cannot connect to that many rooms or come off the main area of the home, it is no loss. What’s more, it’s handy being able to restrict paperwork storage from cluttering up living areas - and a nice view may aid concentration!
Recreation room
Many modern extensions do not explicitly take on a purpose, especially if they are being constructed around a large central space. Rather, as a multifunctional living area, they provide space for a range of entertaining and recreational needs. A table tennis or pool table, items which are notoriously difficult for finding appropriate room for, are welcome additions to such an extension. You could create a miniature home library or cinema or simply designate a section for guests, with the careful arrangement of couches and coffee tables.
Hobby room
If you’ve discovered a new hobby and need the space to pursue it properly, a hobby room extension may be just the thing. Extensions are often large and unsegmented - perfect for bringing in lots of equipment. Why do up your garage when you can move that space into the house? Ideas include an art studio for painting or pottery, a music room or even a private gym or yoga space.
Want more? Have a look at our guide to building an extension or talk to our qualified landscapers and builders about making your home extension dreams a reality.
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