Victorian terraced townhouses present a specific design problem: they're narrow. Typically 5-6 meters wide, these proportions were fine for parlours and sculleries but feel cramped for open-plan family living.

Extending backwards is the obvious solution, but it creates challenges. How do you avoid a long, dark corridor effect? How do you make a narrow space feel generous? The answer lies in light, sightlines, and spatial flow.

For this Sutton Coldfield project, we designed full-height glass corner doors that do several jobs at once. They flood the extension with natural light from two directions, eliminating the gloom that plagues rear extensions. They create a visual connection to the garden that extends the perceived space beyond the physical walls. And they turn what could feel like a narrow galley into a light-filled pavilion.

The new extension houses the kitchen, dining area, and living space as one cohesive zone. No more chopped-up rooms fighting for space—just a functional family area that works for modern life while sitting comfortably alongside the Victorian front of house.

For homeowners in Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks, and surrounding conservation areas, this project demonstrates that period properties can be sensitively modernized without compromising their character or falling foul of planning restrictions.