A Black Timber Clad Extension with a Striking Concrete Kitchen Island

This once-disjointed Victorian home has been transformed into a warm, modern sanctuary.

The project by Forgeworks, aptly named House of Birch, features an asymmetric black timber clad extension, with one standout feature taking centre stage—a striking 6m cast concrete kitchen island that anchors the heart of the home.

Open-plan kitchen and living area with neutral tones, leather sofa, and sliding glass doors to a landscaped garden. — The light-filled kitchen and living area features comfortable leather seating and expansive glass doors leading to the garden.

The Concrete Kitchen Island: A Centrepiece for Cooking and Entertaining

At the heart of the new black timber clad extension is a bespoke, cast-concrete island with an integrated dining table, designed to host everything from casual breakfasts to lively dinner parties. Its pale grey tone adds texture and weight to the space, balancing beautifully with the warmth of birch joinery. The scale of the island not only makes it a stunning visual statement but also a highly practical surface for prepping, plating, and gathering around.

Minimalist kitchen with light wood cabinets, concrete island, and skylights. — The sleek concrete kitchen island is paired with light wood cabinetry.

Minimalist kitchen with concrete island, light wood cabinetry, and skylight ceiling. — Overhead skylights illuminate the space.

The kitchen is fully custom-made in birch plywood, offering concealed storage and clean lines that keep the open-plan layout feeling calm and clutter-free. Subtle references to Victorian joinery, such as hand-routed panels, bring character back to a house where many original details had been stripped away over time.

Sage green staircase with wooden balustrade and natural oak flooring. — A classic staircase painted in sage green contrasts beautifully with the light oak flooring.

Breathing Light into a Victorian Terrace

The original home suffered from a common terrace dilemma: a narrow galley kitchen, underused hallways, and disconnected rooms that made everyday living feel cramped. Forgeworks reimagined the space by opening up the rear of the house into one generous, light-filled living area.

Modern kitchen with concrete dining island, wood chairs, and garden view through glass doors. — The kitchen seamlessly connects to the outdoor space.

Black timber-clad extension with glass doors opening to a patio garden. — A large pivoting glass door floods the space with daylight.

Five roof lights and a 2m x 2m pivot door flood the space with daylight, while clean architectural lines create a calming flow. The pivot door, almost picture-frame-like when closed, opens to connect the kitchen and garden terrace seamlessly, making indoor-outdoor living effortless.

Minimalist kitchen with light wood cabinets, concrete countertop, and abstract artwork on a backsplash shelf. — Soft wood tones and a sleek concrete surface create a calm, minimalist aesthetic.

Modern black-clad house extension with outdoor dining area and garden landscaping. — The asymmetric black timber-clad extension opens onto a relaxed outdoor dining area.

An Asymmetric Extension That Transforms Everyday Living

Previously, the home faced the classic terrace layout struggles: low ceilings, a dark galley kitchen, no hallway storage, and disconnected living areas. Forgeworks reconfigured the entire ground floor, adding an asymmetric cedar-clad extension that opens up the rear of the house.

A 2m x 2m pivot door, unusually large for a home of this scale, acts like a picture window when closed and transforms the connection to the new garden terrace when open. Five roof lights above the living and dining area bring daylight deep into the north-facing plan, making the new open space feel bright and uplifting all day long.

Minimalist kitchen with light wood cabinets, concrete countertops, and skylight above. — Soft natural light highlights the clean lines of this modern kitchen.

Materials That Feel Honest and Warm

The interiors celebrate natural, tactile materials: birch plywood joinery, white-painted exposed brick walls, a stainless steel backsplash, and the stunning pale grey concrete worktop and kitchen island. Every finish has been carefully chosen to age gracefully and feel good under hand, creating a home that is both functional and inviting.

Entryway with sage green bench seating and umbrella stand under built-in wall niches. — Built-in bench seating with a minimal umbrella stand creates a functional and welcoming entryway.

Elsewhere on the ground floor, clever built-in solutions make life easier: a hallway bench with umbrella storage, bespoke shelving in the living room, and hidden utility spaces behind flush doors. Upstairs, the formerly cold back bedroom has been fully insulated and transformed into a cozy home office, while a new resin terrazzo bathroom delivers a clean, monolithic look.

Modern bathroom sink with terrazzo tiles, wood backsplash, and a rust-coloured hand towel. — The bathroom pairs terrazzo tiles with a plywood backsplash. A rust-coloured towel adds a splash of colour.

A Home Designed to Grow With Its Owners

Forgeworks approached the project with long-term living in mind, balancing ambition with practicality and cost.

The result is a refined, highly efficient home that meets the couple’s current needs—space to cook, entertain, and work from home—while offering room for family life to flourish in the future.