I’ve mentioned before that our home is listed.
The main part of it was built in the 17th century with a shiny new extension added in 1890 (modern hey?!).
But even though it could really do with being dragged into the 21st century, extending a listed building is easier said than done.
That said, 15 years or so ago the previous owners managed to get planning approved for a conservatory.
Wooden framed — and a decent size — it’s turned the house into an L shape.
We currently use it as our ‘smart’ sitting room; basically a child-free room that isn’t strewn with an assortment of plastic toys and stuffed animals.
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Extending a Listed Building
I *like* the conservatory (the space but not the look of it) but what I really want to do is knock the whole thing down and rebuild across the whole of the back of the house.
It’s freezing in the winter and like an oven in the summer. It just doesn’t serve it’s purpose.
But I don’t want our extension to look like it was built in the 1600s either — a pastiche of the era — I want it to look super modern but still tie in with the existing building.
Not too much to ask eh?
It is a big ask — and a BIG job — but I’ve been trawling the internet and there are some gorgeous examples that make me think it could work beautifully.
A Room With a View
One thing’s for sure.
If we did knock down our existing conservatory and replace it with something fabulous, I’d *definitely* have plenty room for the dream kitchen I’ve been banging on about!
Editor’s note: Since this post was written, we managed to get planning permission passed. Plus listed building consent on our Grade 2 listed cottage. You can read all about it here.
Extending a listed building certainly isn’t as straightforward as extending a modern, unlisted home. But the rewards are amazing!! I wrote a post with tips on how to get listed building consent approval.
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
I love the second image. I’ve used Rated People lots and always had good experiences- particularly good if you have just moved somewhere new! x
That’s fab that you’ve used them before Kaleigh!! I’d never heard of them before — such a fabulous idea! :)
The best of luck with it… I can but dream of a house like that.. I am desperate to move house #twinklytuesday
Aah me too! The chance of it ever happening and us building something amazing like that are pretty slim! x
Oh wow! I love all your inspiration pictures. Those conservatories are beautiful and that kitchen would be pretty close to my dream kitchen too! It’s so hard to find good builders. We’re lucky enough to have one that we no and trust to do all of our work, there has been a lot done to our house and we are getting our loft done soon too x #twinklytuesday
You’re SO lucky to have found a great builder!! Keep hold of him! :) I’m holding out for my dream kitchen, that’s for sure!! One day… ;)
Some lovely choices there, I think it would look gorgeous! Thanks for hosting. #twinklytuesday
Aah me to Helen!! If only eh? I need a big windfall first!! :)
Well….just…WOW…!!! How stunningly amazing are these pictures??? This just looks so historical (yet of course beautifully modern!). I am writing from Australia…so incredible to think your house was built prior to the settlement of our country. So rich in culture and ‘stories’. Good luck with it all…seriously, I can totally get sucked in to trawling the internet on ‘projects’ forever!! #TwinklyTuesday
They’re amazing aren’t they? And yes — it’s SO weird to think how long our house has stood for. I love the character and the history of it. It feels lovely inside — amazing to think how many people have lived here over the years! Thanks so much and yep — me too. My husband curses the advent of Pinterest!! ;)
Ah stunning – i’d choose something similar with a lottery win #TwinklyTuesday
Me too!! I think a lottery win would definitely be needed to create something as fabulous as that!! :)
I love those ideas – they look fabulous. We’re currently thinking of drastically changing our house and this is exactly the way my thoughts are leaning too! x
Aah do it Lizzie!! You’ve probably got more chance than me!! We’d have a massive battle with the listings officers in order to do something like this. We’d spend a fortune just trying to get the planning approved!!
Wow sounds like an exciting project to get stuck in to! We had so many grand ideas for our big build, in the end some of the more swanky ones were a little out of our budget, but we were very happy with the end result. And also, very happy its all over! x MMT #twinklytuesday
As my mother-in-law is fond of saying; ‘All you need is money’!! It’s so true. I’m certainly never stuck for ideas or inspiration!!! It’s the cash to carry out the plans that I’m sadly lacking!! ;)
These are stunning. How beautiful and they really make the period part of the look stunning and brings out the character. One day hopefully for you!!!!! Jess x #twinklytuesday
Thanks lovely!! I think we’ll need a big win first!!!! It would be amazing though :)
Now that is a dream kitchen! Imagine the parties you could have – no worries about space at all. Oh and all the fun of choosing things for it. I fully support this extension. Nicky x#TwinklyTuesday
Thanks Nicky — I really appreciate your support ;) You can help me to lobby and try and persuade my husband ;) xx