kitchen side extension - worth it?

[duedec2]

We've just bought a standard design Victorian terrace (two storeys at front; fourth back bedroom on third floor) with a VERY small garden (less than 20 ft from the end of the kitchen). We were planning to make the kitchen (currently 20 by 10-ish) bigger by extending it into the nice wide side return that runs along side it but are now wondering if it's worth it. Prob 40K (more including new units etc. tho we need to get those anyway) and I'm wondering if the side return adds useful outside space (and a sense of space - there is nice bay window in the kitchen) - we have 3 small DC who I can imagine playing in the side return a bit.

The house has the usual layout of two receptions (we will knock the wall through to make one) and I'm wondering if there's any way we could either incorporate the second one, next to the kitchen, into the kitchen (knock the bit of wall down between them and put the table in there) OR to turn the whole thing topsy turvey and build a kitchen at the front of the house, in the two receptions, and have what is currently a kitchen as a sort of children's room opening to the garden with a sofa, TV, coffee table ... I have a feeling that the second reception will be wasted space as it not really big enough for sofas etc. and seems crazy to expensively build instead of better using the space we have.

Has anyone decided on a side return in this sort of house; or considered it and decided against it?

Watching with interest as we're in the process of buying a similar house and were considering a side return extension in future.

FWIW, we considered and decided against it because:

1. this house will only last us another five years or so and is not our forever house;

2. our garden is tiny and it would use up too much of it;

3. architect felt there would be too much dead space because of the layout.

I have viewed houses where it's been done very impressively but also viewed houses where the side return looks like an afterthought and doesn't quite feel right. I think it's really important to make sure you can design it so there are no columns or changes in floor level that separate the new bit from the old bit as it's really important that the two areas feel like one.

Good luck!

How long do you think you will stay in the house? Will you get the £40k back on the value of the house ? Check out what local houses are selling for with the same work, it's v common. If so and more, then go for it unless the space really is quite sunny and usable. They are quite often shady, dumping grounds though.
Re layout, moving the kitchen to the middle works well (though extra plumbing costs) but it's non-traditional so may limit your resale market. If it gives you a huge family room with a dining table too, it seems like a no brainer with three small kids. Done well, and all at the same level it should make the garden seem bigger too. No need for a table in the garden if you can have a kitchen table near to doors that open back..

thank you all. I guess we may be in the house for a decade or less; not forever. At the moment I'm inclined not to bother, as if we use the existing kitchen space well there is room for a six person table (perhaps at the end, with folding doors to the garden, so no need for garden table, as Oscar points out ) and perhaps even an armchair. Unfortunately I don't have a floorplan as we bought it without agent ...