Case study
Laurie’s Victorian Home Extension
The Project
Laurie and her family came to us with a big project on the horizon: a full renovation and extension of their Victorian home in South London, with seven rooms on the scope. They originally hoped for full project management, but with our on-site schedule fully booked, we offered our Hybrid+ service instead, with in-person support at the moments that matter most and everything else handled remotely.
Together that meant an in-person initial meeting, a measuring survey, kitchen showroom visits with Harvey Jones, a dedicated samples meeting and a further visit towards the end of the renovation to see progress on site. Behind the scenes, we produced a full paint plan, elevations and a trade pack for the builders, so every detail was thought through before work began.
The Challenge
With a young family, practicality mattered every bit as much as aesthetics. Every choice, from paint to fabrics to storage, needed to stand up to everyday family life without the home feeling any less considered.
“We decided to work with Topology because they understood that practicality was just as important to us as aesthetics,” Laurie told us. “They recommended wipeable paints, durable fabrics and clever storage that could genuinely stand up to everyday family life.”
The Goal
An open-plan kitchen, dining and living space that would become the heart of the home, a hallway that worked harder, and a house the family could share with the people they love, from big celebrations to spontaneous play dates, without it ever descending into chaos.
The Design Decisions
The bravest call in this home was the entrance. Rethinking the hallway meant removing the original Victorian floor tiles, a wrench for any period home owner, even though they were in poor condition. We suggested London Mosaic, who specialise in recreating original Victorian tile patterns, and the new floor sits completely in keeping with the age of the house, while making room for a considerably wider hallway with generous storage.
As Laurie put it: “It’s now one of my favourite spaces in the house, and one of the first things people comment on when they visit.”
The Transformation
The extension created an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space that is now the heart of the home, anchored by a Harvey Jones kitchen with a walnut island. A separate utility room keeps the practical side of family life contained, while the front lounge gives the family somewhere calm to retreat to in the evenings.
The open layout lets everyone be together while doing different things: people gather around the kitchen island, the kids play nearby, and there is space for everyone without the house feeling chaotic.
In Laurie's Words
“We wanted to do it once and do it right, but knew that would require professional expertise. The hybrid approach gave us the reassurance of key in-person meetings when it really mattered, as well as the flexibility of remote consultations in between. It was so good to feel supported without it becoming another thing to juggle.”
Her advice for anyone embarking on an extension? Hire an interior designer before the builders even start. “Having every design decision, layout, joinery detail and specification thought through from the outset actually saves time and therefore money. You can also save thousands if they have access to lots of trade discounts.”
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Talk to our Expert
If Laurie’s home has struck a chord, we’d love to hear about your project. Whether you want a full design scheme or a little expert guidance to get started, our packages are designed to meet you where you are. Get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.
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