Budget Breakdown: In London, a Midcentury-Inspired Kitchen Update Leads to a $229K Home Revamp

Nicola and Patrick had been dreaming of an extension for almost two decades—and 4 S Architecture managed to pack everything they wanted into a smaller footprint than they expected.

May 22, 2024 - 20:17
Budget Breakdown: In London, a Midcentury-Inspired Kitchen Update Leads to a $229K Home Revamp

Nicola and Patrick had been dreaming of an extension for almost two decades—and 4 S Architecture managed to pack everything they wanted into a smaller footprint than they expected.

The new kitchen features green kit kat tiles, a terrazzo-effect rubber floor, white cabinetry, and cherry wood veneered cabinets. The client originally wanted teak cabinets, but 4 S Architecture recommended using cherry wood instead as it is more sustainable but has the same warm tones as teak.

From the moment they moved into their semidetached Victorian home in London in 2006, Nicola and Patrick Kendall dreamed of renovating their kitchen—but life and more pressing home improvements got in the way.

Located at the top of a steep hill overlooking a conservation area, the home had a ground-floor kitchen and a large, private garden—but connections between the two spaces were limited. The garden could be glimpsed through a tiny window above the sink, and the only access point was through a shoddy conservatory made from unplasticized PVC.

The new kitchen features green kit kat tiles, a terrazzo-effect rubber floor, white cabinetry, and cherry wood veneered cabinets. The client originally wanted teak cabinets, but 4 S Architecture recommended using cherry wood instead as it is more sustainable but has the same warm tones as teak.

Nicola and Patrick Kendall‘s new kitchen features green kit kat tiles, a terrazzo-effect rubber floor, white cabinetry, and cherry veneer cabinets. The clients originally wanted teak cabinets, but 4 S Architecture suggested an alternative. "We couldn’t get behind teak as a product, so we used FSC-certified European cherry that has less air miles than American cherry," explains architect Julia Hamson. "The client was really pleased with the result."

Photo by Henry Woide

$5,985
Site Work		$12,045
Foundations		$24,872
Structural
$29,887
Wall Finishes		$4,901
Flooring		$5,846
Roofing
$6,199
Electrical		$5,078
Plumbing		$8,568
Heating & Ventilation
$12,159
Landscaping		$15,561
Kitchen & Bath Fixtures		$14,244
Cabinetry
$13,734
Windows & Glazing		$13,633
Doors		$7,560
Tilework
$1,796
Metalwork		$325
Planning		$1,197
Approved Inspector
$5,229
General Contractor Fee		$33,674
Architect Fee		$687
Party Wall Agreement
$2,016
Measured Survey		$3,710
Structural Engineer
Grand Total: $228,906
The home now features an elegant, brick side extension with a rounded form that elevates the view of the home from the garden.

The home now features an elegant, brick side extension with a rounded form. "I really wanted a curved wall," says Nicola. "It all began with an image of a house on a mood board I put together on Pinterest."

Photo by Henry Woide

The original garden was underutilized.

Before: The original garden was underutilized. "Before the renovation, the garden wasn’t the nicest," recalls Nicola. "We made the most of it but it just feels so much more polished and clean now. It’s more grown up."

Photo by 4 S Architecture

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