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Anna Hope reworked the kitchen extension in her Victorian townhouse, removing a bathroom that narrowed the room and replacing the old galley layout with an L-shaped kitchen. Terracotta tiles, deep green cabinetry, a curved archway and antique furniture give the space a warmer, more traditional character while retaining a practical family kitchen.
Anna Hope has redesigned the kitchen extension in her Victorian townhouse, replacing a cold, narrow galley layout with an L-shaped kitchen that combines new cabinetry and building work with antique furniture and period-inspired details. The project addressed a bathroom that had taken up part of the kitchen and aimed to make the modern extension feel more connected to the older house.
Hope told Ideal Home that the previous kitchen had white gloss cabinets, cream floor tiles and dark worktops. Although roof lights, windows and glazed French doors brought in natural light, she said the room felt sterile and was not a comfortable place for the family to spend time. A narrow downstairs bathroom built into the extension further reduced the usable kitchen area.
Working with designers at Harvey Jones, Hope developed a new floor plan. The bathroom walls were removed, plumbing was rerouted and the bathroom was moved beneath the stairs. A local building company carried out the work, including removing existing fixtures and rewiring the space so lighting and sockets could be positioned to suit the new plan.
The redesign also changed the connection to the rest of the house. A tall rectangular doorway was replaced with a curved archway, while several windows and roof lights were filled in to create a cosier atmosphere. The former bathroom window was enlarged to accommodate a traditional Victorian sash window; the original doorway lintel was reused as the windowsill behind the sink.
A Better Link to the Victorian House
The project shows how an extension can be made to feel more consistent with an older home without removing its modern function. In this case, the solution involved both replanning the room and choosing finishes that relate to the townhouse’s character, rather than relying on decoration alone.
Moving the bathroom freed space for a more usable kitchen layout, while the archway softened the boundary between the extension and the rest of the house. Hope also chose to reduce the number of roof lights and windows, showing that the renovation’s aim was not simply to maximise brightness, but to create a room she felt was warmer and more comfortable. The source does not provide project costs, dimensions or an independent assessment of the work.
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From Narrow Galley to Family Kitchen
The original kitchen was in a modern extension to a Victorian townhouse, rather than in the older part of the property. Hope said the rest of the house was well proportioned, which made the compact kitchen feel out of place. The existing bathroom, positioned along the back wall, left the working area as a narrow rectangle.
After the layout was changed, the room’s materials and furnishings were selected to add visual warmth and a sense of age. The floor uses raw terracotta tiles from Floors of Stone. Muted plaster pink walls sit alongside dark cabinetry designed and fitted by Harvey Jones; the report identifies Farrow & Ball’s Studio Green as a similar colour. The cabinetry has intricate beading, which Hope said gave it a more individual appearance than standard Shaker-style doors.
Antiques provide much of the room’s distinct character. The central island is a 100-year-old French dough-bin table; the room also contains a Victorian dresser found through Instagram and a Georgian buffet sourced from Vinterior. Aged brass hardware, cupboard curtains and worn-in Persian rugs complete the look. The report was published by Ideal Home and first appeared in Period Living Magazine.
Costs and Project Details Unreported
Ideal Home’s account does not state how much the renovation cost, how long construction took or whether the project required planning permission or other approvals. It also gives no floor area, contractor details beyond the local building company, or measurements for the new layout. The design’s performance over time has not been independently assessed, and the article presents Hope’s own account of how the finished kitchen works for her family.
No Further Work Announced
The source describes the completed kitchen renovation and does not report any further building work, planned changes or upcoming project milestones. It is not clear whether Hope intends to make additional alterations. For readers considering a similar redesign, the reported sequence offers a practical outline—rethink the layout, address the bathroom’s position and then select materials and furnishings—but the article does not provide technical specifications or cost guidance.
Key Questions
What was changed in Anna Hope’s kitchen?
The narrow galley layout was replaced with an L-shaped run of cabinetry. The bathroom that had occupied part of the extension was moved beneath the stairs, and the room was rewired and replumbed as part of the work.
How did the redesign connect the extension to the older house?
A tall rectangular doorway was replaced with a curved archway. Hope also chose heritage-style materials and details, including a Victorian sash window, terracotta flooring and aged brass finishes.
Which antiques feature in the finished kitchen?
The island is a 100-year-old French dough-bin table. The room also includes a Victorian dresser found on Instagram and a Georgian buffet sourced from Vinterior.
Did the renovation add more windows or roof lights?
No. Hope said several windows and roof lights were filled in to make the extension feel cosier. The former bathroom window was enlarged to hold a traditional Victorian sash window.
How much did the kitchen renovation cost?
The reported source does not give a project cost. It also does not state the renovation’s duration or provide measurements for the kitchen.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
