Need help! I want a kitchen extension, but it will be built into our sloping garden, so the only light source will be roof lights/roof lantern

[thesunandtherain]

What do you think? Could it look ok? An architect has drawn up the plans, so it works in terms of building regs, but will it work in practice? Teh room will be about 22 ft long and 10ft wide, with one door to the hall at one end, and another one at the other end leading to a reception room where the door is about 3 ft in.

I am sure there will be enough light, just not sure it won't look dungeon-like?

I can't find any pics of anything similar on t'internet either

You could use light tubes/pipes for extra light? (Type into google you will see what I mean)

Can you not level the ground?

Hiya
The garden slopes upwards, so no chance of levellling it - it is about 6ft high at the lowest point nearest the house . It is a terrace too, which limits things.

I am not so much worried about the light - I think the roof lantern/lights will give enough light, I am just worried it will feel subterranean.

The description I gave earlier is a bit misleading - the room will be rectangular. One of the short end sides is the solid wall with the lounge on the other side. The wall facing it ie the other short wall, will be the one where it meets the garden where there won't be any windows. On the long righthand side is the wall with our neighbours, while the long lefthand side, the room will have another reception room on the other side. That will end about 4 foot before the new kitchen at the garden end, so we could have a lettle door there or a window (in the kitchen). Is that description any good ? Help!!

Described it well, thanks. If it were me, I think I would work with the subterranean nature of it, rather than trying to disguise it.

It may be worth investing in a lighting specialist though.

Silly q - but the wall where it meets the garden - how is the earth being held back from the house?

Thanks taffetacat. Describing the room seemed simple till I tried it!
Would you be able to expand on the 'work with the subterranean' idea? (I had images of stalactites pop into my mind lol!)
As for the garden, we have a retaining wall made up of steel 'I' beams with railway sleepers dropped into them. They currently hold the garden back about 13 ft from the back of the house. The garden starts about 6ft high from the sleepers and then goes back about 30 ft, going up about another 4 ft. It is on two terraces, so there will be a flat space for builders to work from. Gulp.

I understand the garden better now. I was interested as we are also on a slope, albiet the other way. We had a big refurb/extension last year and had a lot of levelling done, but the playroom at the front of the house has earth looming, which I need to work with and build in some good planting to highlight it.

re working with the subterranean feel - I suppose I mean make it look cosy and traditional rather than light and contemporary. Is it a period property - Victorian? I'm imagining a fire/Aga, big Windsor armchair, Belfast sink etc. I think I am seeing Bilbo's house in LOTR.

Alas the house is neither period nor modern - it is a rather bland 1920/30's standard terrace. I think with the roof lantern the room will look quite modern, and I was thinking we would go 'light' with the colour scheme so it doesn't look dingy. Certainly an aga and belfast sink (while lovely) wouldlook out of place with the rest of the house

I suppose it feels a bit weird to build a room where there is no door or window, although at the garden end we will have a door into the other reception room, which will be about 3 foot away from the doors into the garden...

Obviously, it sounds like it would be easier to move, but we could extend for 100k

What are you intending to do about your looming in front of the playroom ?

Ah, OK. Our house was 1950's so we just made it contemporary as if we went trad I thought it would be a bit naff.

I can't imagine the roof lantern, do you have a link or pic? Lighting will be key, I think.

I see what you are saying about costs of extending vs upsizing elsewhere. Do you have DC? How long will the work take? Do factor in the stress of having the work done, esp if you continue to live in it whilst it is done. I speak from experience.

re: Looming earth in front of playroom. I am thinking lavender. It grows beautifully round here, and I love it. It will take a few years to get it to the right size but we don't ever plan on moving.

this is one which was on Grand Designs. The seciton of ceiling nearest the photographer is a long rectangle of window, on the ceiling, you can just about see it. The window was part of the floor int he garden. if you see what I mean.

don't kno if that helps?

I think in that one, it doesn't look odd cos there are ways out, ie the stairs up, the doorway at the back.

Don't know what a plain box would look like.

That photo really helps Mary, tho my house will never be Grand Designs . It would be similar though, with the roof lantern being elevl with the garden iykwim?

Taffeta, a lantern is like a big roof light (like 8ftx6ft kind of size), which looks like the top of a lantern i.e there are vertical sides and then pointy bits up to a ridge at the top. Our architect reckons it will bring loads of light - much more than a set of patio doors or a row of windows. It is just whether the room will look odd...that Grand designs room doesn't . Now, what was my budget again

Oh, and yes, moving just isn't an option. i have children, but all at school, so as easy as it can ever be. We would have to stay put while building works take place, so I know it will be a nightmare. However, extending the only way we can get the space we need...

op - sounds lovely. The lantern light sounds amazing.

Good luck with it all.