A Plus Aluminium Helps Transform 1930s Bungalow

When Kate and Liam bought a run-down bungalow in a peaceful area of Harpenden, they were keen to make the most of the plot.

“The bungalow was built in the 1930s and needed love. There were two bedrooms at the front, a very small and tired kitchen and a conservatory on the back which needed a lot of work,” says Kate. “Yet, it had loads of potential”.

“We had a vision for the Scandinavian look we wanted to achieve, with lots of clean lines and natural light. It’s just us, our eight-year-old son and dog, Roxy; so we were looking for a three-bed family home and an open plan kitchen/diner, as well as a utility room and a snug.”

The project began onsite in June 2023. The approved scheme retains the essence of the bungalow but increases the floor space from 1,000sqft to 2300sqft, with a single storey extension offering much needed additional space. Other than three internal walls everything else was demolished. The couple used brick and block for the single storey extension and put in a steel support frame for the roof and rear glazing.

Increasing Light Levels
Natural light was essential for achieving the couple’s preferred Scandinavian interior design style with a mid-century twist.

“The house is north facing so the glazing needed to be right. The feature window in the open plan hallway and lovely wide windows in the kitchen and window seat let in so much natural light, so we never feel it is dark.”

The couple also opted for sliding doors over bi-folds for an uninterrupted view of the garden.

“When you walk into the house, you can immediately see straight through to the garden.”

They also provide a stylish entrance to the balcony off the master suite.

Aluminium windows and doors
Kate and Liam chose aluminium windows and doors for their quality, durability and stylish appearance.
The PlusGlide 47 sliding doors, Crown flush casement windows and Dualframe 75 entrance doors were supplied by trade fabricator, A Plus Aluminium and fitted by KMC Windows.

“It was very easy dealing with A Plus Aluminium,” continues Kate. “They were very thorough and picked up on things that needed to be adjusted – for example, they spotted that the sliding doors in the bedroom were very low. We were able to make a quick adjustment and can now access our amazing balcony with ease; it works brilliantly.”

The aluminium frames are powder coated Anthracite Grey to complement the untreated Western Red Cedar and zinc cladding, and contrast with the white render. The contemporary hardware is subtle and blends perfectly with the frames.

Light and Love
The family moved in in June 2024, and they are thrilled with the transformation.

“We are such foodies that we always gravitate to the kitchen. It’s our family space and we love it,” says Kate. “We also enjoy using the snug. It’s a cosy space which, while it has a lovely big picture window, it’s a small enough room to hunker down in!”

“Despite the architect’s early concerns about light, the house is filled with natural light. The windows above the front door are particularly special – they let in the early morning light which floods the entrance hall and landing, and the evening light comes through the roof windows and reflects the glass pendant all around the landing, which is stunning. The house gives us the lifestyle we wanted, and there is a real feeling of joy throughout.”