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Castledykes

Castledykes


A Practical Extension to a Family Home

This project involves the significant extension and internal reworking of a detached suburban house in Dumfries. A new rear kitchen extension opens onto the garden, while a two-storey side extension creates a new master suite upstairs and flexible family spaces below.
This fairly typical 1970s detached house had served the clients well for several years but had become too small for their growing family. They enjoyed living in the area and chose to stay and improve their home rather than move elsewhere.

Set on a generous plot with a sunny, south-facing garden, the property had clear potential. However, extending the house was complicated by the irregular shape of the plot and a change in level, with the garden sitting around a metre below the main floor.
Existing Situation - Rear
Existing Situation - Front
1/2 Existing Plan
2/2 Proposed Plan
We proposed a generous kitchen extension to the rear of the house, stepped down towards the garden to respond to the change in level and to enclose a sheltered, south-west-facing patio.

At the side of the house, a two-storey extension replaces the existing garage. This provides a new master bedroom with en-suite at first floor, with a family sitting area and a home office below.

The ground floor layout is otherwise reworked to improve day-to-day practicality, including a new WC and utility room with a side entrance, providing convenient access for canines and muddy boots.

The family sitting area connects directly to the new kitchen, maintaining clear visual links across the main living spaces while a change in level gives each space its own character. The difference in floor heights is resolved through a pitched roof form, which creates a generous volume to the kitchen/dining area. Rooflights and large windows draw daylight deep into the plan and provide views towards the garden.

By placing the kitchen at garden level, the extension creates a direct and level relationship between the main living space and the terrace outside, perfect for outside dining and entertaining in the summer.  

Designed in close collaboration with the client, who is a skilled joiner, the project was tailored to suit a hands-on and practical approach to construction. Materials were chosen for their familiarity, with the extension finished in wet-dash render to match the original house and surrounding area. This is a project rooted in everyday family life, showing how considered design can bring space, light, and flexibility to a much-loved home.

Construction was completed in summer 2025 with external garden works still to be finalised.

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Project Details

Location - Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway
Status - Completed August 2025
Contractor - Ewan Middleton Joiner
Structural Engineer - Finite Engineering

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