Open up your home — without losing your garden.
Side return, rear and wraparound extensions that bring light into the back of the house and make kitchens the room everyone actually wants to be in. Built properly, on a fixed price.
The most popular way to gain a larger kitchen in South West London.
Period terraces and semis across Twickenham, Richmond and Kew were built when kitchens were utility rooms, not living spaces. An extension changes that — pushing the back of the house out to create an open-plan kitchen-diner that works the way modern families actually live.
The right extension type depends on your plot shape and what you want to achieve. Side return extensions reclaim that narrow gap down the side of the house. Rear extensions push the back wall out. Wraparounds combine both, creating a genuinely transformative L-shaped footprint. We'll tell you which approach makes the most sense for your property at the site visit — and whether it falls under permitted development or needs a planning application.
Three approaches — we'll tell you which one works for your plot.
Most period properties in South West London suit one of three extension types. The deciding factors are your plot width, the depth of your garden, and whether you're in a conservation area.
Side return extension
Fills in the narrow alleyway that runs alongside most Victorian terraces. Typically adds 2–3 metres of width to the ground floor, transforming a galley kitchen into a proper open-plan space flooded with roof-light.
Rear extension
Extends the back of the house into the garden to add depth. Works on almost any property type and is the go-to choice when you want a large kitchen-diner or a new ground-floor living room with direct garden access.
Wraparound extension
Combines a side return and rear extension into a single L-shaped structure, delivering the maximum possible ground-floor gain. The most ambitious option — and the most transformative when the plot allows it.
One contract covers the whole job.
We don't quote for the shell and leave you to find your own trades for the fit-out. The price we give you covers everything from foundations to finished floor — all under one contract.
Foundations & structure
Strip or pad foundations to suit your soil, steel beams where the existing walls are opened up, and all structural calculations coordinated with our engineer.
Planning & building regs
We handle permitted development prior approval or full planning applications, and manage building control inspections through to completion certificate.
Roof, glazing & shell
Flat or pitched roof, roof lights, bifold or sliding doors, steelwork and brickwork — all weather-tight before internal work begins.
Internal fit-out
First and second fix electrics, underfloor heating, plasterboard, floor finishes and decoration — to the finish spec agreed in your contract.
A visual reference for the styles of extension we build.
Four clear steps before you commit.
Extensions involve more groundwork than most projects — literally. We've made the first four steps free so you understand exactly what's involved before you commit to anything.
Start with a free consultation-
01
Consultation call
A free 20-minute call to understand what you want to achieve. We'll tell you which extension type likely suits your property, give you a ballpark cost range, and flag any planning considerations worth knowing about upfront.
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02
Site visit
We come out to assess your plot, the existing structure and any constraints — no charge, no obligation. We'll check soil conditions, drainage routes, boundary positions and any conservation area restrictions, and give you a straight view on what's achievable.
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03
Itemised proposal
A written, line-by-line proposal covering groundworks, structure, roofing, glazing, electrics, plumbing, fit-out and all statutory fees. Walk through it with us before you sign anything.
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04
Project kickoff
We handle planning or permitted development, structural engineer coordination and building control. We run the site, manage the trades and keep you informed at every stage — you approve the key decisions.
Questions we get asked before most extensions.
Do I need planning permission for a home extension?
Many single-storey rear and side return extensions fall under permitted development, meaning no full planning application is required. The rules depend on how far the extension projects, its height, and whether your property is in a conservation area or has already used its permitted development allowance. Permitted development rights can be restricted for flats, listed buildings, conservation areas, previous extensions, or properties where rights have been removed. We'll check all of this at the site visit and tell you exactly what approval route applies to your project.
How long does a home extension take?
A single-storey side return or rear extension typically takes 12–16 weeks on site once groundworks start. A wraparound extension usually runs 16–20 weeks due to the additional footprint and structural complexity. If planning permission is needed rather than permitted development, allow 8–10 weeks for the application process before work begins. We'll give you a realistic programme in the proposal.
How much does a home extension cost in South West London?
Costs vary significantly depending on extension type, size and finish spec. As a rough guide, side return extensions in this area typically start from around £80,000–£120,000; rear extensions are broadly similar depending on depth; wraparounds tend to start from £130,000 upward. The most useful thing we can do is look at your specific property and give you a real number — which is what the free site visit is for.
Will I need to move out during the build?
In most cases, no — though there will be a period when your kitchen is taken out of use while the rear wall is opened up and the new space is made weather-tight. We plan this phase carefully and aim to minimise the time you're without a working kitchen. We'll be honest with you if your particular project makes it more practical to be out for a week or two during the most disruptive phase.
Can I add underfloor heating to my extension?
Yes — and an extension is the ideal opportunity to do it, since the floor build-up is being designed from scratch. We typically specify electric underfloor heating for extensions (simpler to install and control than wet systems in a single zone), though we can accommodate wet systems if you're planning a full rewiring or heating upgrade at the same time. We'll discuss the options during the proposal stage.
What glazing options work best for extensions?
The most popular choices in South West London are bifold doors, sliding doors and roof lights — often combined. Bifolds open up the full width of the rear elevation and work well on wider plots; sliding doors suit narrower openings and have slimmer sight lines. Roof lights (particularly on flat-roof extensions) bring in natural light from above and avoid overlooking issues. We'll help you choose based on your orientation, plot and budget.
A full-service design-and-build team, based in Twickenham.
You always deal with the people actually doing the work. We coordinate architects, structural engineers and building control in-house, so you have one team, one contract and one point of contact from first sketch to final handover.
One team, start to finish
You meet the same team that will build your extension — no sales handover to a site manager you've never spoken to.
Fixed-price contracts
An itemised, written quote before any work starts. No "while we're at it" surprises halfway through.
Planning & building regs
We handle the full statutory process — permitted development, planning applications, and building control sign-off.
Built to last
Built properly beneath the surface, finished carefully where it shows. Proper foundations, correct drainage and a watertight envelope before any fit-out begins.
South West London — TW, KT, SW and W postcodes.
We're based in Twickenham and work across the TW, KT, SW and W postcodes — from Hampton Wick to Hammersmith, and Kensington to Kew. If you're just outside that area, ask anyway.
Honest reviews from homeowners we've worked with.
"We hired Distinct Spaces to fully renovate our property in Kingston, originally with the intention of putting it on the rental market. However, once we saw the quality of the work, the finish, and how beautifully the house had been transformed, we decided to move in ourselves. Konstantinos was professional, reliable, and easy to communicate with throughout the project, and his team worked to a very high standard. We are extremely pleased with the result and would highly recommend Distinct Spaces."
"We asked Distinct Spaces to renovate both of our bathrooms in our Twickenham home, and we are very pleased with how everything turned out. The bathrooms look beautiful and the finish is excellent. Konstantinos was easy to speak with throughout the job and kept things clear whenever we had questions. His team were respectful, worked hard, and clearly knew what they were doing. It was a well-managed project and we would be happy to recommend them."
"A big thank you to Konstantinos and the Distinct Spaces team for our loft conversion. They transformed an unused loft into a bright, practical room with a great finish. Communication was clear, the team were hardworking, and any questions we had were dealt with quickly. We would definitely recommend them for loft conversion work."
Every project starts with a conversation.
Send us a few details and we'll be in touch within one working day.