When people walk into a space, one of the first things they comment on is the light (or lack of it). Estate agents are quick to highlight a home’s natural light when it’s on the market. And at this time of year, the promise of longer, brighter days seems to unite us all.
It won’t come as any surprise, then, that one of the most common requests we hear from clients goes along the lines of: “please can you maximise the light!”
With that in mind, we thought we’d share a few recent projects where inviting in more natural light has been the driving force behind our designs.
ADDING EXTENSIONS
One of the most effective ways to bring in more natural light is to design a space from scratch with brightness in mind. Enter the kitchen in our Penarth Family Home project – part of a wider renovation of a former Victorian care home.
We transformed the original kitchen into a cosy snug connected to a brand-new kitchen extension. Extending into the garden allowed us to create a space that feels wonderfully open and bright. Full-width sliding doors form a seamless connection between indoors and out, while roof lights positioned above the entrance to the kitchen drench the space in daylight from the moment you step inside.
INTRODUCING ROOF LIGHTS
Speaking of roof lights… When we first viewed our clients’ family bathroom – part of a wider renovation of their family home in Guildford – it sat right in the middle of the house with no windows and no natural light. So when they asked us to introduce daylight, we knew a structural rethink was on the cards.
By opening up the attic space to install an electronically controlled roof light (easy to open at the touch of a button), the transformation was immediate. The new lightwell not only floods the room with daylight but also adds character to the space. And what was once a dark, enclosed room now feels airy, spacious and full of life.
KNOCKING DOWN WALLS
Sometimes, you can create the feeling of an extension without extending a thing – simply by knocking down walls.
This was certainly the case when we redesigned the kitchen in our Bethel House project, part of a wider renovation of a former Methodist church-turned-family home. By removing the original walls surrounding the kitchen, we opened the space into the adjoining dining and sitting rooms, instantly improving flow and light.
The real magic happened when we removed the existing ceiling though! In doing so, we discovered a small hidden room above, complete with a beautiful window we were keen to celebrate. (It had been blocked off by previous owners with no direct access.) The findings were too exciting to ignore so we decided to utilise the double height space and let the (unexpected) addition of overhead natural light do its thing. We’re bias, yes, but the results are pretty special!
Knocking down walls created magic in our Surrey Cottage project, too.
As you’ll see from the before-and-after images, while the kitchen footprint and conservatory remained unchanged, the original layout felt dark, enclosed and disconnected from the garden. By working closely with our build team to trim back nib walls (while retaining essential structural beams), we created space for beautiful Shaker-style cabinetry along both sides of the room.
We also relocated the old WC (previously accessed via the conservatory) and removed the study walls. The result? A clear, uninterrupted sightline from kitchen to garden – and a glorious flow of natural light throughout.
USING COLOUR CAREFULLY
The Surrey Cottage kitchen is a lovely reminder that you don’t need to drench everything in white to enhance natural light, too. In fact, colour can work with daylight rather than against it.
By choosing linen-toned cabinetry, terracotta flooring and ‘Hay’ by Farrow & Ball on the walls, we amplified the warmth and optimism that natural light naturally brings. The space feels joyful, welcoming and full of character – proof that light and colour are at their best when they work hand in hand. You can read a detailed account of the full kitchen transformation here.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, natural light transforms how a home looks and feels – lifting the mood, enhancing colour and creating that sense of space and serenity we all crave.
To that end, if you’re planning a renovation or simply feel your home could benefit from a brighter approach, please feel free to reach out here to discuss your project.
For now, we hope you enjoy Spring’s arrival in the coming weeks and we look forward to welcoming you back next month.
Emily and Danielle
