L-Shaped House Extension in Kent by Ark Design Build
Published: 20 March 2026
Reading Time: 3 minutes 10 seconds
Ark Design Build, alongside their garden rooms and self-contained living annexes, also builds bespoke house extensions in Kent. As this project showcases, the brief was to open up the back of the home and create an L-shape kitchen and living space that flows naturally onto the garden.
Ark Design Build worked closely with the homeowners to understand the vision for the new layout. From design conception through to the finishing details, the team handled the project end-to-end, leaving clients with a ready-to-use room.
An L-Shape Layout for Kitchen, Dining and Seating
The result is an extension that supports day-to-day living. The L-shaped plan allows the kitchen, dining and seating areas to sit together, while still giving each zone its own feel through sightlines and the way doors frame the garden.
Rather than using a one-size-fits-all footprint, Ark Design Build tailored the build around how the space needed to work for the family. With the traditional insulated timber framing system the team uses, a bespoke layout can be achieved cleanly and confidently.
A Hipped Roofline
The carpentry skills behind the extension are visible in the hipped roofline, which helps the new structure sit comfortably with the main house. This matters in extensions, where the transition between old and new often becomes the most noticeable junction.
The build was also managed with approvals in mind. As with Ark Design Build’s wider turnkey service, the project was handled from concept through to sign-off, so the finished room could be used properly as part of the home.
An 8m Steel Beam Opens the Back of the House
To create a genuinely generous open-plan feel, an 8m steel beam was installed to open up the rear of the property. With the structural element in place, the extension could be arranged so kitchen worktops, dining seating and an informal lounge space all share the same bright, connected interior.
Aluminium Bi-Folds and an Oversized Roof Lantern
Aluminium bi-fold doors lead out from the kitchen area into the garden, giving a strong indoor–outdoor connection. In the dining area, an oversized roof lantern has been installed to bring daylight deep into the space, brightening the seating zone and making the whole room feel lighter.
Doors overlooking the garden keep views in play throughout the day, and the glazed openings help the L-shaped layout feel even more open by breaking up the solid wall areas.
A Pergola Seating Area in the Shade
A pergola seating area leads off the dining space, creating a sheltered outdoor spot. With the dining room acting as the heart of the extension, this covered area provides a practical option when weather changes, without losing the connection to the garden.
A Durable Exterior Palette That Matches the House
The material palette was chosen for long-term durability and to complement the main house. Brick slips run around the bottom of the extension, matching the brickwork on the property and helping the new structure blend into the existing elevation.
Above the brick plinth, Marley weatherboard has been fitted. Marley Weatherboard is a cement fibre board designed to resist rot and fungal attack, with a lifespan of around 50 years. It only requires a simple soapy wash to keep its woodgrain surface texture looking like it does now.
Plastering, Electrical Work and Finishing Details
Inside, Ark Design Build undertook the plastering and electrical work, down to the final finishing details.
Learn More
For a bespoke house extension in Kent, contact Ark Design Build on 07896 196 718 or email contact@arkdesignbuild.co.uk. Visit www.arkdesignbuild.co.uk to explore more of their work, including garden rooms, living annexes and extensions.
