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Completed project · Bromley, South East London

Rear House Extension in Bromley A brighter family space.

Transformed the rear of this 1930s semi-detached house with a 4-metre single-storey extension, structural alterations and a new open-plan kitchen, dining and family space connected to the garden.

Completed 4m rear house extension with open-plan kitchen and family space in Bromley Completed Bromley extension
1930s Semi-detached house
4 metres Rear projection
Single storey Rear extension
4 months Actual construction period
Open plan Kitchen and family space

Project overview

Extending a 1930s Bromley home for modern family life.

This completed Bromley rear extension project transformed the enclosed rooms at the back of a 1930s semi-detached house into a bright, connected kitchen, dining and family space. The 4-metre extension was constructed and internally finished over a four-month programme.

From the original layout

A complete change to how the rear of the house works.

Before work began, the rear of the property contained a separate fitted kitchen and adjoining reception space, with the garden reached through the existing rear openings. A raised timber deck occupied much of the area immediately behind the house.

Stripped out the existing kitchen, cleared the external construction area and opened the original rear structure. The new single-storey extension now brings the kitchen, dining and family areas together within one continuous ground-floor space.

01

Bromley, London

A genuine completed residential extension project.

02

1930s property

A semi-detached London house with an enclosed original rear layout.

03

4m extension

A single-storey addition projecting four metres from the original rear elevation.

04

Four months

The verified construction period for the completed project.

Work documented in this case study

The photographs record the project from the original kitchen and garden preparation through structural construction, internal finishing and completion.

01
Strip-out and site preparation

Removal of the former kitchen, internal finishes and raised garden decking.

02
Structural alterations

Temporary support, removal of the original rear wall and installation of structural steelwork.

03
Foundations and floor

Excavation, concrete foundations, below-ground blockwork and new floor construction.

04
Walls and flat roof

New external walls, timber roof construction and two large rooflight openings.

05
Glazing and garden access

Wide black-framed sliding doors opening towards the completed rear terrace.

06
Kitchen and internal finishes

New fitted kitchen, island, plastering, decoration, lighting and continuous flooring.

Before and after

From separate rear rooms to one light-filled family space.

Follow this genuine Bromley project from the original enclosed kitchen and raised garden deck through structural construction to the completed 4-metre rear extension.

01

Four-metre extension

The new single-storey structure projects four metres beyond the original rear elevation.

02

Structural opening

The original rear wall was removed under temporary support and replaced with permanent structural steelwork.

03

More natural light

Two large rooflights and wide sliding doors bring daylight deep into the new open-plan interior.

04

Finished throughout

The completed work includes the kitchen, island, plastering, decoration, lighting, flooring and rear terrace.

Foundations and structure

Building the new extension from the ground up.

Once the raised decking had been removed, the rear garden area was cleared for excavation. The photographs document the foundation trenches, concrete work, below-ground masonry and the structural opening formed across the original rear elevation.

Concrete poured into the foundation trenches for the 4m rear extension in Bromley Foundation construction
01

Excavation and concrete foundations

Mechanical excavation was used to clear the footprint and form the foundation trenches. Concrete was then placed throughout the prepared trench layout before below-ground construction began.

Permanent structural steel beam installed across the original rear elevation in Bromley Structural alterations
02

A wide opening into the extension

The original rear masonry was temporarily supported and carefully removed. Permanent steelwork was then installed to create the broad connection between the existing house and the new extension.

Construction sequence

From cleared garden to structural shell.

01

Site clearance

The raised timber deck and its supporting frame were dismantled to expose and clear the proposed extension footprint.

02

Foundation excavation

Trenches were mechanically excavated around the new extension layout. The photographs confirm the trench arrangement but not the exact historic depth.

03

Concrete and below-ground masonry

Concrete was placed in the excavated trenches before blockwork was constructed upwards to establish the extension footprint.

04

New ground-floor construction

The project photographs record preparation of the new floor, including the membrane, steel reinforcement and concrete work.

05

Rear structural opening

Temporary supports were installed before the original rear wall was removed and the permanent structural steel was positioned.

Project evidence note

This case study describes work visible in the genuine construction photographs. Exact foundation depths, steel specifications, engineering calculations and approval records are not stated because those historic details have not yet been verified.

Building the extension

From structural shell to a bright, weather-enclosed space

The new four-metre single-storey rear extension was built across the back of the 1930s semi-detached house. The photographs document the blockwork shell, timber flat-roof construction, two large rooflight openings and the installation of the wide black-framed sliding doors.

Timber flat-roof construction on a four-metre rear extension in Bromley
Construction stage Blockwork walls and timber flat-roof structure
Black-framed sliding doors installed in the Bromley rear extension
Enclosing the extension Wide black-framed sliding doors installed
01

Extension shell

The new external walls were constructed in blockwork above the completed foundations and below-ground structure, establishing the full footprint of the rear addition.

02

Flat roof and rooflights

A timber flat-roof structure was formed with two generous rooflight openings. These bring daylight into the deeper parts of the new open-plan room.

03

Garden-facing glazing

Wide black-framed sliding doors were fitted across the rear elevation, creating a broad view towards the garden and a direct connection with the new tiled terrace.

Internal fit-out

Preparing the new open-plan family space

Once the extension shell was enclosed, attention moved to the internal fit-out. The new and existing ground-floor areas were brought together before the finishes and dark-grey kitchen with central island were installed.

01

Framing and services

Internal timber framing and service preparation inside the Bromley rear extension
Internal framing and service preparation

Internal timber framing was formed and the positions for electrical cabling and other household services were prepared before the walls and ceilings were closed.

02

Plastering and floors

Floor preparation underway in the open-plan Bromley rear extension
Floor preparation across the open-plan room

The internal surfaces were lined and finished to create one consistent space. Floor preparation then continued across the extended kitchen, dining and family area.

03

Kitchen installation

Dark-grey kitchen units being installed in the Bromley rear extension
Dark-grey kitchen cabinetry being installed

The kitchen was assembled around the new open-plan layout, combining full-height cabinetry, fitted appliances and a central island facing the family seating and garden.

The completed space

A brighter kitchen and family room connected to the garden

The completed extension transformed the rear of the house into a bright, open-plan setting for cooking, dining and relaxing. The result is a more practical family layout with daylight from above and a wide view of the garden.

Completed open-plan kitchen and family room in a Bromley rear extension
Completed interior One open-plan space for cooking, dining and family life
Completed Bromley rear extension with black-framed sliding doors
Garden connection Wide sliding doors opening towards the tiled terrace
01

Defined family zones

The enlarged room provides distinct kitchen, dining and seating areas while retaining the openness of a single connected family space.

02

Daylight from above

Two large rooflights bring natural light into the deeper parts of the extended ground floor and visually define the new rear addition.

03

Stronger garden connection

The black-framed sliding doors provide a broad garden outlook and connect the family room directly with the completed rear terrace.

Project outcome

A four-month transformation of the ground floor

The completed project gave the homeowners a substantially larger and brighter family room without losing the relationship between the house and garden. Construction of the extension and associated internal work took approximately four months.

This completed Bromley project

More space, more daylight and a better family layout

The four-metre rear extension brought the kitchen, dining and seating areas together in one open-plan setting. Two large rooflights and the garden-facing sliding doors introduced natural light, while the new kitchen island created a practical centre for everyday family use.

4 metres Verified extension depth
4 months Approximate actual programme

Discuss your extension

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Proposed extension

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