Converting an Old Basement into a Double Height Kitchen – See the Transformation

For many, the kitchen is the central hub of the home. It’s where homework is rushed each morning before school, it’s where friends gather to socialise over a good meal, it’s where the family cook and eat together as a group. It’s natural, then, that many people seek a spacious kitchen, with enough room for all of these activities and more.

One client of A-Zero Architects in London came to the firm with a clear brief: they wanted to convert the basement of their existing house into a kitchen and bicycle workshop, which would give them instant access to their garden, as well as making use of a space which wasn’t currently functional (the basement).

The conversion was initially going to be a straightforward one, with the basement transformed into a traditional kitchen – but the architect had a brainwave, and encouraged the client to embrace something a little more adventurous. The architect eventually persuaded the client to open up the space dramatically with a beautiful double height space that stretched from the floor of the basement to the ceiling of the original ground floor.

The new double height area creates some amazing connections throughout the house – there’s now a sort of mezzanine level on the first floor which overlooks the kitchen and dining area, and the ground floor living area maintains a beautiful view over the west-facing garden.

The original building was Victorian, and it was important to both the architect and the client to be respectful to the period features, while introducing an element of modernity. The original pine flooring stayed, and in a nod to a more modern style, the steel supports that were exposed in the basement were painted a vibrant turquoise. Exposed brick was a theme throughout, but it was painted white to create a lighter, brighter space for the whole family to enjoy.

Transforming a basement into a double height space is no mean feat, but it adds some serious wow-factor to any building – and the conversion in general has added plenty of value to the property. Would you consider trying to introduce a double-height space into your home?