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

Mandi Keighran
·2 min read

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.
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.
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.

$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 that elevates the view of the home from the garden.
The original garden was underutilized.
The original garden was underutilized.

See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: In London, a Midcentury-Inspired Kitchen Update Leads to a $229K Home Revamp
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