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Modern kitchen with gray cabinets, an island with bar stools, exposed brick wall, large windows, and a view of a backyard with a pink shed and green lawn.

Extending @thelittleeastlondonterrace

Home › Case Studies › Extending @thelittleeastlondonterrace

Aluminium bifold doorsLanternsRoof lights

When owners Katherine & Martin first purchased their modest terraced house in East London, they saw not just what it was – but what it could become. “It was always our dream to extend, make it bigger, more of a family home,” they explain. The existing layout felt dark and cramped, and the couple knew that opening up the downstairs would be the key to unlocking the full potential of the property.


For them, the objective was clear: create a bright, open-plan living space that seamlessly connected to the garden. “Linking the garden to the downstairs was very important to us, it was our dream to open it all up.”

Designing in light, openness and flexibility

Tucked away amongst rows of terraced houses in East London, this Victorian home featured a compact footprint and a narrow garden typical of the area – so the choice of doors across the back of the new single-storey extension was crucial. The homeowners knew immediately that they needed a solution that would maximise the opening – not just frame it.

“Bifold doors are integral to this design because of the size of the opening and the width of the garden,” they explain. Unlike sliding doors, which would only open part of the aperture, the couple needed something that could transform the entire rear elevation when fully opened. “When we really want to open up the doors, it’s important that we can open them right up. Because it is not the widest of openings that extra space really makes a difference. We looked at sliding doors and they are stunning with their narrow frames, but they just didn’t work for us with the space that we have.”

Choosing IDSystems for the doors

After exploring their options, the couple selected IDSystems for both product quality and service. “We looked at so many different door systems and spent so much time researching them and chose IDSystems and the SF75eco system because of their reputation and you could really tell the quality of the doors. The communication was great from start to finish, and when they came to install it was an easy process.”

A space that has changed the way they live

The completed extension has done more than add extra square metres – it has transformed how the home is used and enjoyed. The new kitchen-dining-living area acts as the hub of the house, especially when entertaining. Summer days now spill naturally into the garden, with wide-open aluminium bifold doors creating a sociable indoor-outdoor space for hosting friends and family and a flat rooflight and lantern that draw light into the house all year around.

“The best bit of the extension for me is definitely this kitchen, outdoor area,” they say. “We can have breakfast here, lunch here, dinner, have friends here, open up the doors, have a barbecue. It’s literally a life at home.”

A transformation that has impressed everyone

Even friends and family have been astonished by the change. “Some of our friends can’t believe the difference. Some of them thought we were just redecorating. Now they’ve come and they’re shocked – massively shocked.”

Looking back on the journey, the couple feel proud of what they’ve achieved. “We get a lot of satisfaction now that the house is finished… Sometimes it’s easy to forget all the hard work because we’ve got so comfortable living in this space.”

With disruption and living on a building site for months in such confined spaces, the process was a challenge, but when asked about whether it was worth it the answer comes quickly: “Yeah, easy question—100%. It’s all worth it in the end.”

Learn more about Katherine & Martin’s journey on Instagram @thelittleeastlondonterrace

Location: East London
Architect: SM ARC
Main contractor: Self-build
Photos: Chris Taylor Photography

Gallery

Modern kitchen with a marble island, pendant lights, exposed brick wall, and sliding glass doors opening to a backyard with a pink shed and picnic table.
Modern kitchen and dining area with open glass doors to a patio featuring a small table and chairs; brick exterior and herringbone wood floor visible.
A modern living room with a green sofa, glass coffee table, patterned rug, indoor plants, large bay window with white shutters, and built-in dark shelving unit.
Modern kitchen with island, wire bar stools, wooden dining table, and sliding glass doors opening to a backyard with a pink shed and outdoor furniture.
A wooden table with two chairs sits against a brick wall, topped with a vase of flowers and a small yellow bowl.
A modern dining area with a wooden table and metal chairs next to glass doors overlooking a backyard with a bright pink shed and plants.
Modern kitchen with gray cabinets, a white countertop island, hanging glass light fixtures, kitchen appliances, and a potted plant on the island.
View through a glass door showing a garden with a green lawn, a pink shed, a black picnic table, and a gray fence.
Modern kitchen with grey cabinets, an island with bar stools, exposed brick wall, pendant lights, and large glass doors opening to a garden with a pink shed.
Modern dining area with a wooden table and chairs next to a brick wall, overlooking a backyard with a bright pink shed through large glass doors.
Modern kitchen with black cabinets, wooden dining table, and large glass doors opening to a backyard with green lawn, pink shed, and outdoor seating under a blue sky.
Modern kitchen with a marble island, pendant lights, exposed brick wall, and sliding glass doors opening to a backyard with a pink shed and picnic table.
Modern kitchen and dining area with open glass doors to a patio featuring a small table and chairs; brick exterior and herringbone wood floor visible.
A modern living room with a green sofa, glass coffee table, patterned rug, indoor plants, large bay window with white shutters, and built-in dark shelving unit.
Modern kitchen with island, wire bar stools, wooden dining table, and sliding glass doors opening to a backyard with a pink shed and outdoor furniture.
A wooden table with two chairs sits against a brick wall, topped with a vase of flowers and a small yellow bowl.
A modern dining area with a wooden table and metal chairs next to glass doors overlooking a backyard with a bright pink shed and plants.
Modern kitchen with gray cabinets, a white countertop island, hanging glass light fixtures, kitchen appliances, and a potted plant on the island.
View through a glass door showing a garden with a green lawn, a pink shed, a black picnic table, and a gray fence.
Modern kitchen with grey cabinets, an island with bar stools, exposed brick wall, pendant lights, and large glass doors opening to a garden with a pink shed.
Modern dining area with a wooden table and chairs next to a brick wall, overlooking a backyard with a bright pink shed through large glass doors.
Modern kitchen with black cabinets, wooden dining table, and large glass doors opening to a backyard with green lawn, pink shed, and outdoor seating under a blue sky.

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