Kitchen Extension Design in Belsize Park

The kitchen extension is the most popular renovation project in Belsize Park, transforming the traditional separate kitchen into a generous open-plan space that connects cooking, dining, and living areas. In Belsize Park's terraced properties, this typically means extending into the rear garden and incorporating the side return.

Design Possibilities

A typical Belsize Park kitchen extension combines a rear extension of 3-5 metres with the side return, creating an L-shaped open-plan space of 35-55 square metres. The rear wall is replaced with large glazed doors — bi-fold, sliding, or pivot — opening onto the garden. Rooflights along the side return flood the space with natural light.

Conservation Area Design

Kitchen extensions in the Belsize Conservation Area must be designed sensitively. Camden's conservation officers generally prefer contemporary glass and steel designs over imitation period architecture for rear extensions. The key is quality — slim aluminium or steel frames, careful detailing, and materials that complement rather than compete with the Victorian or Edwardian building.

Kitchen Specification

Belsize Park homeowners typically specify premium kitchens with bespoke or high-end cabinetry (German brands like Poggenpohl, SieMatic, or British makers like Plain English and deVOL), natural stone or premium quartz worktops, integrated appliances from Gaggenau, Miele, or Sub-Zero Wolf, large kitchen islands with seating, and underfloor heating beneath natural stone or large-format porcelain tiles.

Costs

Building work for a kitchen extension in Belsize Park: £70,000 to £150,000. Premium kitchen installation: £35,000 to £85,000. Total project costs typically range from £110,000 to £235,000 including professional fees, services, and finishes. While significant, these investments typically add more to property values than they cost.

Planning and Building Control

Small rear extensions may fall under permitted development, but conservation area restrictions often mean planning permission is required. Building regulations approval covers structural adequacy, energy efficiency, drainage, and ventilation. An architect experienced with Belsize Park properties will design your extension to maximise the chance of planning approval.