Beautiful and interesting ideas to make a 3 bed semi renovation more exciting

[dietstartstomorrowok]

Turning 3 bed semi into 5 bed, ground floor too out the back for the expected family kitchen/diner.

Compiling a list for our architect on things to include in the design. Looking for alternatives to veluxs and bi folds! My style is pretty traditional, love shaker kitchens, limestone floors, original fireplaces and doors so want to keep it traditional.

What did you do in your renovation that made it a bit special? Thank you.

Whisky, that sounds like a very interesting book.

We've actually got sliding doors too - you get a lot more glazing and light coming in than with bifolds are the sections are much larger.

We have a lantern in our kitchen diner box - it always gets the "wow!" response the first time somebody sees it :-)

We also have a small loft mezzanine that (once we get rid of all the crap we have stored up there) we can make into something cool.

I think use of lighting is very important and can make a huge difference. On the outside our house still looks like a 1930s semi, but it is a bit nicer inside (not posting pictures though as it's very untidy!)

whiskyowl - I'll see what I can find. The photos I have from the 1970s are traditional photographs so they'd need to be scanned. Most of the 'futuristic' furniture my parents had was later passed onto relatives, sold or taken to the dump (yes, the dump, sadly! grrrr!). I also remember we had white Panton-style chairs (not the real thing!) in the kitchen, only the base of the chairs was open whereas the base of a Panton chair is closed (solid). Anyway I'll see what I can find.

We’re going for big sliding doors and a big roof light - or sheet of glass rather than velux and bifold as is cleaner plus more light.

Also hardwood timber in outside

On outside

Noooooooooooooooooo!! Not the dump pax! How very sad. That style of furniture did fall massively out of fashion for a bit, and I fear many lovely pieces got trashed the same way It would be wonderful to see some pictures if you can find them. It sounds like your parents had super-utopian tastes. Did they have a futuristic lifestyle too?

I'm intrigued by your open-base Panton chairs, too.

MarshaBradyo - re the roof light/glass sheet - and the OP mentioned a roof lantern - I think I would be a little bit worried about hail storms. But I guess (and hope) that today's roof lights and roof lanterns are made of strong enough glass to protect against breakage?

What type of hardwood timber are you going to use? I like afzelia wood. It has a warm colour and is long lasting.

whiskyowl - did they have futuristic lifestyles? That made me smile! They sure did. They were into all kinds of unusual things.
Anyway, if I can find any pics I'll open a separate thread.

Now I'm totally intrigued. I love people like that! They're just endlessly bonkers interesting!

Please do @ me into your next thread as I sometimes miss things and I'd hate not to see this one! I'm really interested in where we lost the utopian in architecture. It's a hot topic at the moment - lots of exhibitions across Europe last summer, from the Barbican to MAAT in Portugal.

Pax we've just started so getting samples, so far I have Ipe, Garapa, Cumaru on their way. I don't know anything about these yet, so will check out Afzelia too.

Not sure on the hail etc! Will definitely check though so thanks for heads up.

If I can have light, airiness, clean space, wood and glass then I'm happy.

I want to add some E15 pics to show calm serenity of glass, wood and snow covered trees but I can't see the add file buttons, argh why not.

MarshaBradyo - Afzelia hardwood is also known under the name of 'Doussie'. It has been compared to mahogany and teak. The colour is a warm, reddish brown. Google it.
Tbh, I can't find the add file button either! I'd like to see the pics though.

Oh, and I also like some beautifully crafted decorations made from driftwood. But I'm selective, it depends on what they look like.

whiskyowl - will do. And don't get me started on the fancy dress costumes my dad used to make in his workshop. Yes, costumes made in a workshop, with tools. Never mind a sewing machine! Yes, I agree, bonkers!

I had a look, it's beautiful. Love the warmth. I'll have to hunt it down.

Does anyone have a preference for roof material on an extension?

It's not a pitch roof so won't be able to see it from the garden but will from upstairs and I want it to be nice.

MarshaBradyo - if it's a flat roof I'd go for EPDM rubber. It's plain but it's long lasting and safe. Be sure to find a reliable person or company who knows their stuff to install it. Roof covering for a flat roof is massively important.

Brilliant thanks Pax

Thank you for all these great responses. So many interesting ideas and as always, amazing MN collective wisdom.

I hate anything modern, so glass boxes are out as are glass and oak staircases, high gloss kitchens, multi coloured LED plinth lights etc.....

So far I have on my list:

Lounge:
Alcove cabinetry
Window seat for bay window
Wood burner, beautiful lighting and soft furnishings. Not too much more we can do structurally in this room as it will stay as the 'adults room' at front of house as it currently is.

Kitchen/Diner/Family Room:

Roof lantern so far!
Not sure about bifolds

Also would like:

Timber wood windows
Bookshelf around door frame (pic attached)
Window seat in loft like original pictures
Bespoke oak porch with clever storage
Light tunnels possibly for upstairs landing
Any other ideas for something else apart from velux in loft?
Considering those balcony velux someone posted.

It all seems very average so far though....!

If you like traditional have you tried googling, for example, '1930s mansion'. I'm thinking bigger, fancier versions of your house. I just clicked on the first link I got and thought this bay window with patio doors was lovely.