The Victorian home is the archetypal London abode. It is characterful and has stood the test of time. However, it is a style two centuries old. The kitchen was just for cooking and washing up and remained out of sight. But in the subsequent centuries, the kitchen made leaps and bounds in its significance. It is now the base camp and control room of home life. Its activities take centre stage. Instead of staying hidden, it now welcomes visitors and multitasks. Kitchen extensions for Victorian homes are standard. A beautiful kitchen adds value to a home and transforms house aesthetics. Here’s how to make the style statement of the century with your Victorian kitchen.
Kitchen Extensions for Victorian Homes – Factors to consider
Consider these aspects before remodelling your kitchen.
Evaluating your current kitchen layout
Identify the pain points of your current kitchen. These may be limited space, lack of natural light & ventilation, smaller work surfaces or absence of a dining area. Evaluate how much more room you can free up with different extension styles.
Preserve the elements you already love about your kitchen. Maybe you have a sink with a view you would like to keep. Consider upgrading the sink area and enhancing the view with an oversized window. Identify limitations and how to work around them to achieve what you want.
Functionality
Space, light, open-plan living and entertaining are the principal functionalities of kitchen extensions. Assess the necessity for the space and which element should take up most of it.
The modern kitchen is both family-centric and social. Determine how casual or formal you would like the dining/hangout area to be. Consider the connection to the garden. It can serve as an extension blending into dining and entertaining activities.
Retaining Victorian aesthetics
Wood, stone and glass are natural materials that help retain the period charm. Wooden kitchen units, stone flooring and worktops, glass chandeliers and arched or bay windows complement the Victorian aesthetics.
Integration of modern appliances
Kitchen appliances are part of the design. They are pivotal to the look you are trying to create. Sleek, polished designs and seamless integration work for contemporary and classic styles. Invest in power and durability. Pro-grade models are workhorses that not only look the part but play the part.
Kitchen extension ideas for your home
Combine these elements to turn your Victorian kitchen into a spacious, light-filled and airy space.
Expanding the floor area
Increase the square footage with a Side Return (Side Infill), Rear, Wraparound or Double-Storey extension. Choose a kitchen extension design for your Victorian home in London here.
Adding a conservatory or orangery
These maximise natural light and enhance aesthetics with extensive glazing and uninterrupted garden views. The design enhances open-plan kitchens with dining and lounge areas. You can choose the Victorian style for both conservatories and orangeries. Introduce citrus fruit trees and other plants that thrive on the sunny aspect of the conservatory and orangery.
Adding skylights
Skylights and roof lanterns are especially beneficial when there’s no room for windows. They are also great for optimising natural light. Incorporating them into Victorian properties illuminates dim interiors. Bright kitchens feel airy and spacious.
Choosing the right colour palette
Deep hues, as well as neutral tones, harmonise well with Victorian homes. It is all in keeping with the ornate style of the Victorian Era. Rich greens, olives, blues, burgundy and yellow can bring warmth and character. You can amplify the vintage look with brass, gold and copper accents for handles, knobs and tapware. Neutral tones brighten spaces. They are more versatile to handle and exude a sense of spaciousness. You can choose a monochromatic scheme or contrast with standout colours for cabinetry, worktops, flooring and appliances.
Selecting appropriate flooring and worktops
You can extend the same flooring used in the rest of the house to your kitchen or use something different. Hardwood, cork, porcelain & ceramic tiles and stone complement the Victorian architecture.
Wood is sustainable, versatile and withstands wear and tear. It also has an extended life with sanding and recoating. Porcelain and ceramic are hardwearing and naturally resistant to stains and water. They are easy to clean. Parquet and herringbone wood and black & white chequer tiling are heritage flooring styles to incorporate.
Consider natural stones like marble, granite, quartzite, slate, travertine, limestone and sandstone. These have natural shading and patterns that give your kitchen a premium look. Marble, quartz and granite also make excellent worktops. The veining on marble adds a natural hue and texture.
Storage solutions
Make cabinetry a part of kitchen design. Choose functional and spacious kitchen units. Use all dead space to install a shelf or cupboard. Add storage options to your kitchen island. Opt for a utensil rail along backsplashes. For those tight spaces, insert vertical pull-out larders. Consider hanging shelves or utensil racks. Fill in alcoves and recesses with slimline cupboards. Build a walk-in larder or pantry into the kitchen footprint. Add shelving and storage units all around it, including the inside of the door.
Lighting and fixtures
Decorative pendants, chandeliers and wall lanterns evoke the timeless elegance of Victorian style. Opt for glass and crystal fixtures and warm light. You can use these concurrently with modern low-profile recessed and under-cabinet lighting. Consider pitched roofs when designing the extension. These allow more room for hanging lights.
Accessorising with Victorian-style design elements
A decorative cooker hood, brass and heritage cookware, a vintage-style range cooker, a fireclay sink, ornate taps, detailed moulding and grid-style windows & doors accentuate Victorian features.
Remodelling your Victorian kitchen with GDB
Make your kitchen the ultimate comfort zone and a visual pleaser. Watch your property amplify in value and functionality. Transform your Victorian home with a kitchen extension that adds style and substance.
Good Design and Build is a specialist in Victorian and 1930s property remodelling. We have designed and built high-quality kitchen extensions across London. From bespoke designs to skilled craftsmanship and taking care of paperwork in between, we offer the complete home improvement package. Get in touch today to get a free, no-obligation quote.
