Sarah & Steve - Making Every Inch Count

The Project Brief

Sarah and Steve came to us with one of the trickiest briefs we've had to date. They wanted a bedroom, a full bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe; all in an exceptionally small loft space. To make things even more interesting, their property has an unusual structure. It was originally one large home that was later divided into two separate dwellings, which meant the party wall runs through the centre of the building rather than down the side. This creates some complex shared-roof geometry that we had to work around.

Despite the challenges, the owners were clear about what they wanted. They wanted to maximise every single inch of that tight loft space while maintaining the period styling that runs through the rest of their home.

What We Created

We built a rear dormer that created the bedroom space, positioned the bathroom cleverly under the front elevation, and carved out a walk-in wardrobe from what little space remained. We installed a PK10 Velux window over the bath, which not only brought in natural light but also gave lovely views - turning what could have been a cramped bathroom into something quite special.

The layout planning was really important on this job due to the tricky structure and shape (here’s more about how we plan a loft conversion with ‘awkward’ spaces). We positioned the staircase over the existing stairs (the most efficient use of space), though this did mean the bathroom needed to be slightly reduced to accommodate the stairwell. Even so, we managed to create three distinct, functional zones in a loft that many builders would have said was too small to convert.

For the finishes, we matched everything to the period style of the rest of the house. We turned newel posts and spindles on the staircase, period skirting and architraves throughout and the detailing was carried through from the ground floor aesthetic.

How We Delivered the Project

The complex geometry of the roof could have caused all sorts of headaches, but through clever design and careful planning, we managed to transform this extremely small loft into three separate, functional areas. The whole project took 10 weeks, and despite the challenges, it progressed without any major issues.

Learn more about how you can maximise the floor space of your loft.

Investment and Value

This type of job usually costs in the region of £50,000. When you're adding a complete additional floor with both a bedroom and a bathroom, you're significantly increasing your property's value. Depending on the area you live in, this type of conversion typically delivers returns that exceed the initial investment, particularly when you're adding that rare extra bathroom space that buyers are always looking for.

The End Result

The family in this house were absolutely thrilled with the transformation. This project stands out as one of our showcase conversions because it proves that even the most challenging, compact loft spaces can become beautiful, functional living areas. The finished result looks stunning and the custom staircase with hand-turned spindles is particularly impressive.

It's a perfect example of what's possible when you have the right expertise and a bit of creativity.