Victorian cottage kitchen extension reimagined with flat roof windows

We checked back in with Ian and Ross’ 70s Victorian cottage to see how their VELUX roof window installations improved the flow of the home, made visits from family and friends effortless and brought more of the outdoors in.

The couple ventured from a lively town to the sleepy woodlands of Hampshire. They knew it was likely that they would need to renovate their new home, as their criteria of a period house with a large garden that was rural but close enough to work was a tough task.

However, they were ready to put their own stamp on a new project, which is exactly what they did with their 70s Victorian cottage. They flooded the house with natural daylight, extended outwards and upwards, while remaining true to the home’s best original features.

Modifying the flow of the house to bring in more daylight

The original part of the Victorian cottage is situated at the front, and towards the back, an extension was added in the late 70s, but for Ian and Ross the flow of the home didn’t sit right.

They introduced an open-air look, which extends from the newer part of the old extension as they felt this was the best way to carry that through and improve the flow.

As it was a flat roof extension with a low ceiling, this meant the light shifted away from the centre of the room and reduced the amount of natural light entering the space. To effectively bring back the light and make the space brighter and more welcoming, they opted for two rooflights in the kitchen either side of the island to keep everything symmetrical and matching in size. Putting the two flat roof windows  in this part of the home gave this space a whole new feeling thanks to the amount of light flooding in.

The kitchen is where Ian and Ross entertain friends and family when they come over. That’s why they positioned the flat roof windows on either side of the island, so they could have friends and family sitting on one side, and they could then be on the other prepping the food and drinks in full daylight.

Revelations of the flat roof windows

When the timber on the roof went up and they saw how high the ceilings were going to be, it was a big moment for Ian and Ross. They had a real feel for how much light the flat roof windows were going to bring to the space.

Originally there was boarding over where the flat roof windows were going to be, and the moment it was removed, the light shone through and that’s when they knew it was the right choice, it was a huge sense of excitement for them.

The couple couldn’t help but keep on looking up at the blue sky. They were amazed that this was the view from inside the kitchen - they felt like they were outdoors.

Daylight: A must-have, not a nice-to-have

Light is so important to Ross and Ian. To them, adding roof windows isn’t just a nice-to-have but an unquestionable addition.

They wanted people to enter and to see that wow factor and be amazed by the space, and they undoubtedly achieved this. They told us that people don’t initially realise where all the light is coming from because the windows are understated.

We’ve noticed that there aren’t any windows in the utility room, just a single flat roof window, and yet it's one of the brightest rooms in the house. The couple revealed that compared to their downstairs shower room and bathroom that has two windows, the bathroom is actually much darker, proving to them that the best light simply comes from above.

A kitchen that almost feels outdoors

Ian and Ross expressed concerns with extension work. From experience, they wanted to avoid creating dark spots, which is why they knew roof windows were the solution to eliminate that worry as they bring in plenty of natural light.

And with the kitchen doors open, the natural daylight and the visible skies above, the outdoors is brought all the way through into the kitchen. It’s perfect for when they’re hosting a barbecue outside, as the transition from the garden to the inside is easy, and everyone enjoys the inside now just as much as the outside.

Even on a cloudy day, it's so bright and airy in the kitchen. Everybody always wants to be where the light is.

A bright idea for a room in the middle of the home

When building their kitchen extension, Ian and Ross also installed a large rooflight in their living room as there aren’t any façade windows, and because these two rooms are connected, it would set the living room deeper into the house, making it darker. With the only source of daylight coming from the bi-fold doors from the kitchen extension, having this added light source truly transformed the space.

Choosing the right place for roof windows

Ian and Ross shared that they used the VELUX Configurator to feel out the flat roof window sizes. They played around with operation, finish and size to help them understand how they could maximise the light that was coming through.

They put an electric flat roof window in the utility room, as the space was dark. They did consider the option of putting a door in but because that side of the house is close to the neighbours, they didn’t want to open it up. Instead, they put in a flat roof window so they wouldn’t be overlooked. This also gave them much more light than a window or a door ever would and the possibility to air out the room quickly.

In their living room, their large rooflight gives them plenty of extra wall space to play with. They don’t use the artificial lights in their either because the moonlight shines through and it lights up the room in the evening.

They installed electric flat roof windows in the kitchen to maximise the light and ventilation. Even though the room is north-facing, it’s not obvious because they get the sun that shines through on one side. It comes up through the day and changes all the different elements.

In the summer, at 9 pm, it's still light outside, meaning they don’t have to put a light on in the house. This is just one of the perks of having the roof windows – for them, there isn’t a reason to put the lights on in daytime.