Real home: a 1960s house with modern extension

published 8 January 2019

When they moved into their home 20 years ago, Su and Jim Bonner knew that one day they would double it in size. ‘The location is perfect,’ says Jim. ‘We live on half an acre beside a lake in a semi-wooded area. While the top half of the house can be seen from the road, it does look smaller from the front elevation. It’s a kind of “stealth” house, as our architect calls it.’

Although the property was modern for its time, being an upside-down design (with bedrooms downstairs), it was simply too small for the couple and their two children. ‘We only had three bedrooms, one bathroom and one living space as well as a separate kitchen, so we were all living on top of each other,’ says Jim.

Find out what they did next, then browse through more real home transformations and learn more about extending a house.

rh-bonner-kitchen-table — On the side of the fireplace nearest to the kitchen area, which is the other side of the store cupboards, the dining room has a tranquil feel. The dining table is an oak Pinto design by Ercol. The lights match those over the kitchen island

When they moved into their home 20 years ago, Su and Jim Bonner knew that one day they would double it in size.

‘The location is perfect,’ says Jim. ‘We live on half an acre beside a lake in a semi-wooded area. While the top half of the house can be seen from the road, it does look smaller from the front elevation. It’s a kind of “stealth” house, as our architect calls it.’