Ferndale House, Tunbridge Wells
Location: Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Property type: 1980s detached home
Scope: Ground floor remodelling and rear extension
Size / area: Approx. 60m² extension
Budget band: £200k–£300k
Completed: 2023
A contemporary ground-floor extension and remodel in Tunbridge Wells, transforming a dated 1980s house into a bright, connected family home.
The owners of this 1980s home approached Sharpe Architecture to reconfigure their ground floor and create a contemporary space for family life. They wanted better flow between the kitchen, dining and living areas — and a stronger connection to their garden.
Our initial feasibility study explored several options, weighing the pros and cons of extending versus reworking the existing interior. The clients chose an asymmetric extension that aligned the home parallel with the garden, maximising both light and views.
We led the project from concept design through planning approval, technical design, site monitoring and contract administration, ensuring a smooth build from start to finish. Our approach combined practical reconfiguration with bold architectural gestures to completely transform how the family uses their home.
The new kitchen extension forms the heart of the home, it is a bright, flexible space with large sliding doors that open directly to the terrace. The layout now creates a long view from the entrance through to the garden, enhancing light and visual connection.
Internally, we re-clad the original 1980s staircase in oak and added a slatted oak balustrade to give it a clean, contemporary feel.
The asymmetric form of the extension realigns the kitchen with the garden, reframing the view and creating new a sheltered outdoor seating area under the canopy overhang. Large format paving forms a generous, open terrace area for hosting friends and family.
We collaborated with Hello Geronimo, who selected the furniture and soft furnishings to complement the architecture and bring warmth and personality to every room.
The result is a light-filled, connected family home that feels both open and intimate. The glass corner detail increases views of the garden, while the new layout supports the family’s daily routine and lifestyle.
“We can’t speak highly enough of Sharpe Architecture. They have been the dictionary definition of professional, responsive and their input has been enormously valuable from first concept proposal to completion.”
