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Anna Hope redesigned the kitchen extension in her Victorian townhouse, removing a cramped downstairs bathroom and replacing the former layout with an L-shaped kitchen. The project pairs darker cabinetry and terracotta tiles with antique furniture and reclaimed details; Hope says the room now works better for her family.
Anna Hope has transformed the kitchen extension in her Victorian townhouse, replacing a cold, narrow layout with an L-shaped kitchen, warmer finishes and antique furnishings. The redesign removed a small bathroom that had taken up space in the kitchen and aimed to make the modern extension feel more connected to the older house, according to a report by Ideal Home.
The previous kitchen had white gloss cabinets, cream floor tiles and dark worktops. Although roof lights, French doors and windows brought in natural light, Hope said the room felt sterile and was not a comfortable place for the family to spend time. A narrow downstairs bathroom against the rear wall further restricted the kitchen to a small, rectangular work area.
Hope worked with designers at Harvey Jones to redraw the floor plan. A local building company then removed the bathroom walls and existing fixtures, rerouted plumbing, rewired the room and moved the bathroom beneath the stairs. The new arrangement uses an L-shaped run of cabinetry to make better use of the available space.
The redesign also changed the room’s relationship to the rest of the house. The doorway was reshaped into a curved arch, while several windows and roof lights were filled in to create a more enclosed, cosy atmosphere. The former bathroom window was enlarged to accommodate a traditional Victorian sash window, and the original doorway lintel was reused as the windowsill behind the sink.
A Better-Connected Family Kitchen
The project addresses two practical problems at once: the kitchen’s cramped working area and the awkward placement of a bathroom inside the extension. Moving the bathroom under the stairs gave the kitchen more usable space, while the revised cabinetry established a clearer working layout. Hope said that “Everything works so much better” in the finished room.
The renovation also shows how a modern extension can be adapted to sit more comfortably alongside a period home. Rather than relying on additional glazing to make the room feel brighter, the design team reduced some of the openings and introduced traditional details, including the sash window and arched doorway. The result, as presented in the report, places family use and a sense of continuity alongside the kitchen’s appearance.
For readers planning similar work, the account points to the importance of layout decisions before finishes are chosen. Relocating a bathroom, moving plumbing and changing openings can affect the construction scope as well as the look of a room. The report does not provide a project budget or construction duration, so it cannot establish what comparable work might cost.
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From Stark Extension to Warm Interior
The kitchen was located in an existing modern extension to a Victorian townhouse. The rest of the house was, in Hope’s view, well proportioned, making the narrow kitchen feel out of place. The original arrangement included the kitchen and a small bathroom at the back, leaving limited room for cooking and family use.
After the layout was stripped back, the design combined dark cabinetry with muted plaster-pink walls and raw terracotta tiles sourced from Floors of Stone. Hope chose cabinetry with intricate beading rather than a more familiar Shaker-style finish. She also wanted the extension to feel as though its details belonged to the older property, selecting aged-brass finishes and hardware intended to suit the house’s age.
Antiques provide much of the room’s character. The centrepiece is a 100-year-old French dough-bin table used as an island. The kitchen also includes a Victorian dresser found through Instagram and a Georgian buffet from Vinterior. Cupboard curtains and worn-in Persian rugs add soft furnishings to the space. Ideal Home’s report first appeared in Period Living magazine and includes images credited to Harvey Jones and Laura Marin Rupolo.
Project Costs and Timeline Not Given
Ideal Home’s report describes the design and completed work but does not state the renovation’s cost, duration or completion date. It also gives no measurements for the room or the amount of usable space gained by moving the bathroom, so the scale of the change cannot be quantified from the information provided.
The account is a homeowner-focused design report, not an independent evaluation of the build. It does not include the building company’s name, a detailed breakdown of the work or information about any planning or building-control approvals. Those details remain unavailable in the source material.
The Finished Kitchen in Use
The reported renovation is presented as complete, and Hope says the kitchen is now more practical and enjoyable for family life. Ideal Home’s feature highlights the finished layout, materials and antiques rather than announcing a further construction phase or upcoming milestone.
Readers considering similar changes would need to assess their own building and plumbing requirements with relevant professionals; the report does not provide a cost guide or a template for other homes. No additional updates or plans for the townhouse are identified in the source.
Key Questions
What changed in Anna Hope’s kitchen renovation?
The project replaced the original narrow layout with an L-shaped kitchen, removed a small bathroom from the extension and moved it beneath the stairs. It also changed the doorway, window arrangement, cabinetry and finishes.
Which antique pieces feature in the kitchen?
The kitchen includes a 100-year-old French dough-bin table used as an island, a Victorian dresser found through Instagram and a Georgian buffet from Vinterior.
Why were some windows and roof lights filled in?
Hope said she wanted a cosier feel, so several windows and roof lights were filled in. The former bathroom window was enlarged to take a traditional Victorian sash window.
How much did the kitchen renovation cost?
The Ideal Home report does not give a project cost, budget or itemised estimate.
When was the renovation completed?
The source describes the finished kitchen but does not provide a completion date or construction timeline.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
