Kitchen Extension – Eeeeek?

When I bought my house three years ago I imagined adding a kitchen extension to the side. Life, as it does, changed course. The house felt too big for just me, so for the first year I focused on settling in, recovering, and making a home.

About two years ago I found myself walking around the outside of the house imagining a cart lodge on the side and a secret garden at the back with a pizza oven. It was tempting. But there was a persistent question in my head: could I get planning permission? The space really did beg for a build, and I needed a kitchen that would allow Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy to grow—an “I did it anyway” kitchen that reflected my love of cooking, entertaining and feeding people.

The Architect – what to expect?

Once I decided to explore the idea, I spoke to friends and asked for recommendations. My advice: get your design right from the start. Consider the practical details — where the kettle will go, power outlets, phone chargers — and run through every scenario. Have the plans drawn up and sit with your architect for a few weeks before submitting to the council.

Conservation Area

My home sits in a conservation area, which complicates things. I paid just over a thousand pounds to investigate whether planning was possible. I hesitated, but at least I’d have an answer. Deep down I’d accepted that it might become a cart lodge and garden instead, and I was okay with that. Or so I thought.

The Council

The council initially refused the application. I wasn’t willing to accept that immediately, so I revised the plans and submitted again. After three submissions and significant changes to the original design (the glass roof idea had to go), I finally received approval. That brought relief, but also another six months of indecision—would I really go ahead? Was it worth spending more money? After talking to family and friends, I decided to take the plunge. It felt like a now-or-never moment.

I underestimated how much was involved. What began as a kitchen extension evolved into a full downstairs remodel.

The Builder – what to expect?

I sought three quotes and chose AG Hugo Limited, a local company in Great Dunmow, for many reasons beyond price. Andy and his team promised professional management from start to finish, and they delivered. They guided me through the process, answered every question (even the silly ones), and handled contracts and staged payments clearly and professionally.

Work started on 7th January. Despite the timing, I kept thinking it would be finished by late spring in time to enjoy the summer. The build progressed quickly: groundwork, foundations, inspections, the frame, then the roof. The crew managed everything with minimal disruption to my daily life—aside from muddy shoes.

The early days

The Hugo team arrived at 7:20 a.m. every morning without fail. They communicated what would happen each day and who would be there, which made the process predictable and reassuring. I left for work and returned to find the site locked up and tidy. Progress was rapid and, honestly, impressive. Andy kept my enthusiasm in check when necessary—some items I wanted to buy early would have simply gotten in the way—and that guidance proved invaluable.

Low point

The toughest moment came when they knocked through to create the new space in early February: it was bitterly cold and I was left with boarded-up openings and no windows, sleeping in a bobble hat for a couple of nights. I later fell ill for several weeks, which made that stretch harder. Still, the team’s project management and attention to detail never wavered, and their expertise carried the build through.

My Advice

Treat your tradespeople well. AG Hugo stuck to the agreed plan and it’s important that clients do the same—pay on time and avoid indecision that holds up the work. Provide tea, coffee, cake, and sandwiches if you can; mutual respect goes a long way. Trust is essential: you are investing in your future, and you need to trust the company you hire.

Find a great builder through recommendations and research. Meet your builders in person before deciding. If you don’t gel at the first meeting, consider other options. You’ll be working closely with them, so comfort and trust are crucial. I told my team that if a decision was needed while I wasn’t available, they should do what they would in their own home—and that approach worked. They had keys, set alarms, and managed the site responsibly.

So what did we do — just a kitchen extension?

We built a 7m x 3.5m single-story extension with a high pitched roof. We removed the cloakroom to create a larger lounge, split the original kitchen into a pantry on one side and a cloakroom/laundry on the other. New cupboards were fitted, everything was painted, underfloor heating and oak flooring were installed, and countless finishing choices were made: skirtings, lights, paint colours. By the end of March the floor was in and the kitchen from deVol was fitted—stunning and handmade. Three months, start to finish.

I loved the whole process—the hidden work, the hurdles and the achievements. Three months from start to finish and the kitchen extension of my dreams was complete.

What’s next?

I’ll miss the team, though I joked they might be back to build me a new house in a few years. My thanks to Andy, Lamby, Dave, Multi Dave, Zac, Stuart, Peter, Justin, Tommy and James for the recommendation. The kettle is always on.

This new space will help Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy move forward: supper clubs, teaching, recipe development, photography and more. I’m thrilled with the result.

Cx

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