Bungalow Renovation Ideas – Real-Life Single-Storey Home Transformations

3. Dated Bungalow Upgraded with a Full-House & Garage Extension

Paul Archer Design has breathed new life into this once-tired bungalow with a full renovation and an expansive, 14.5m open-plan extension. Having lived in the property since 2013, the homeowners wanted more space and natural light.

Photo: Killian O’Sullivan

They worked closely with the architects to develop the resulting, family-friendly scheme. The main structure has been extended at first floor level and above the garage.

Photo: Killian O’Sullivan

A stained, cedar-clad exterior makes a modern statement, with the bathroom window obscured behind the batons for privacy. Inside, the ceiling of the extended first floor follows the pitch of the roof, creating a lofty, open living space.

4. Single-Storey Bungalow Fit for Modern Life

This 1930s bungalow has been reimagined with a striking extension and complete renovation, devised by Meme Architects.

Photo: Sam Grady

Designed for a textile designer and rugmaker, creativity sits at the core of the scheme, which comprises a double-height, L-shaped addition with floor-to-ceiling glazing, creating an open-plan space flooded with natural light.

Photo: Sam Grady

The interior is bright and colourful, incorporating bespoke joinery to display the clients’ own designs, eclectic artworks and ceramics collection, making a home that reflects the personalities of its owners.

EXPERT VIEW What do I need to know about extending a bungalow? Meredith Bowles Meredith Bowles, director at Mole Architects, takes a look at the different options and considerations to note when adding space. Mole Architects is an award-winning RIBA Chartered practice. They design low-energy buildings and are Passivhaus-certified designers. Should I extend to the rear of the bungalow? It all depends! If you have a side area that’s poorly used, or a large front garden and a small back yard, it might make sense to extend into the excess space. Something to be aware of, especially when extending the ground floor of a bungalow, is creating dark, unappealing areas in the middle of the floorplan due to cutting off natural light. Any addition should try to avoid this through good use of available space. Should I add an extra storey with a loft conversion & extension? A loft conversion tends to be the most logical project when upgrading a bungalow, as you’re repurposing existing space, without having to pay for new foundations and a new roof. A loft conversion will add significant value to the home, too. Just consider available headroom inside the zone and whether or not you’ll require a dormer extension in addition to the conversion. You will also need to factor fire safety into the design. While extending or converting the loft, you may be able to upgrade the home’s existing roof insulation to improve its thermal performance. If you have to scaffold the house, it would be a good time to think about external maintenance or even solar panels if they’re a viable option. When do I need planning permission to extend a bungalow? You can build quite substantial single-storey extensions to a house without needing planning approval, under permitted development (PD), although the rules as to what you can and can’t do are quite detailed. Building to the front of the house is generally not allowed under PD, and building close to the boundary is only possible under certain circumstances. You will always need to apply for planning permission if you are in a designated area or if your bungalow is listed. How much should I budget for a bungalow extension? Costs are always difficult to estimate when dealing with an existing building, as the work required to the home will vary. Generally, if it’s in good condition, it will be cheaper to extend. A standard extension spec will include a brick and block structure, PVCu windows and doors, and concrete roof tiles. To build an interesting, non-standard extension that features elements such as exposed beams, high levels of insulation, large windows, and energy-saving tech, will likely cost double. Allow somewhere between £2,500 and £4,500 per m² for the extension (from basic to architecturally interesting), plus whatever renovation work you are doing to the existing house. Our Stones Throw project (number 2 in this feature) involved a complete renovation and extension. The original 140m² bungalow was refurbished and we added a 75m² extension. The project cost a total of £425,000.

5. Mid-Century Modern Bungalow Upgraded with a Light-Filled Renovation

Charlie Luxton Design remodelled and refurbished this mid-century modern bungalow on the edge of a village in Buckinghamshire.

Photo: Ed RS Aves

Working with the existing building’s fabric, the internal layout was rearranged to open up the spaces and improve the connection to the terraced garden and surrounding countryside views.

Photo: Ed RS Aves

The renovation is characterised by three peaked, multi-level structures, which each make use of wide spans of glazing to fill the interiors with natural light.

Photo: Ed RS Aves

6. Compact Bungalow Transformed with a Dormer Loft Conversion

Sketch Architects masterminded this complete transformation to a dated bungalow, transforming it into a low-energy, contemporary family home. The project involved converting the loft and adding dormer windows either side to double the property’s useable floorspace – which was achieved under permitted development rights (PD).

For the remaining bungalow renovation works, a full planning application was required to change the building’s exterior facade (from brick to cedar cladding), along with upgrading the windows and glazed features.

Photo: Simon Maxwell

The bungalow is located on a gently sloping site, which meant that the rear of the house had to be lowered to ensure better access to the garden – which had previously been accessed via a set of narrow concrete stairs.

Photo: Simon Maxwell

Now, a set of large, glazed sliding doors open out onto the newly-landscaped patio, flooding the kitchen area with daylight while providing a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor zones. The kitchen inside is now slightly elevated above the dining and sitting area, with a wow-factor headheight of 2.9m.

7. 1960s Bungalow Renovation & Oak Frame Extension

This 1960s bungalow was in poor condition, with a dysfunctional layout, dark spaces and an unsightly conservatory. The owners knew the home had potential, and were after more space, natural light and to enhance the property’s connection with the garden while capitalising on the spectacular countryside views.

Photo: Studio CHY

Studio CHY designed a brand-new oak frame extension, replacing the conservatory, which mirrors the existing bungalow’s gables.

Photo: Studio CHY

The structure utilises medieval oak details, spanning the length of the room without the need for additional internal posts.

Photo: Studio CHY

High-level rooflights and glazed bifold doors help to create a light-filled zone, which now benefits from far-reaching views of the rural surroundings.

8. Striking Loft Conversion & Rear Extension Project

When Build It readers John and Susan Yates were looking to move from the west coast of Scotland to Edinburgh, their initial plan was to find a flat in the city centre. However, they became inspired by a bungalow that was under renovation works in the coastal town of Portobello.

Photo: David Barbour

With the help of Chambers McMillan architects, the couple completely transformed this traditional, single-storey building with a modern, light-filled, zinc-clad extension, expansive glazing and a contemporary interior scheme.

Photo: David Barbour

To make maximum use of solar gain throughout the day, the roof was converted into a living area with a glazed gable and overhead windows, rather than a bedroom.

Photo: David Barbour

(Chambers McMillan has now evolved into two practices: Studio McMillan Architects, and Mind the Gap Inclusive Design Consultancy)

FAQs

Sophie Bates Sophie Bates, director at Sophie Bates Architects, answers your top bungalow renovation FAQs. The London-based architecture studio delivers innovative, contemporary and sustainable homes, tailored perfectly to the homeowners’ unique lifestyle.

What do I need to consider if I want to create an open-plan space?

Knocking down internal walls to create open-plan living spaces will require you to install new structural beams in the ceiling for additional support. If you want to maximise headroom, locate these in the loft floor zone to achieve a flat ceiling. You will need a designer and a structural engineer to prepare the plans and submit these to building control for approval.

When designing an open-plan zone, especially as part of a bungalow renovation, it’s important to consider the existing layout and rooms that may be cut off from natural light – such as those in the centre of the floorplan. Position storage rooms, utility spaces and downstairs WCs in the middle of the house, allowing the rooms you will spend most of your time in to have better access to natural light and views of the garden. Our Richmond project (number 1 in this feature) has a large, open space to the rear, with wide spans of glazing to ensure the living areas have good access to daylight.

How can I improve my bungalow’s thermal efficiency?

Adding insulation is key to a warm, thermally-efficient home. This could be cavity insulation to the walls or solid wall insulation (internal or external). External insulation will change the appearance of the house, while internal insulation will compromise some of your floorspace, but both can provide excellent thermal performance. Use the most effective floor insulation you can afford to reduce the required thickness, as this will retain as much floor-to-ceiling height as possible. Double or triple-glazed windows and doors will help to minimise heat loss and boost your home’s efficiency. You should also think about solar panels, paired with battery storage, so you can access cheap electricity from the grid at night and store excess energy on sunny days.

What do I need to consider before commencing the building work?

Before you start any work on site, make sure you have an asbestos survey carried out, as many bungalows were built in the 60s when it was commonly used. Knowing if there is any asbestos before you begin will allow you to budget for its removal in advance and avoid costly delays if the builders discover it later on.

How can I modernise my bungalow’s exterior as part of a renovation?

Upgrading your bungalow’s exterior cladding while addressing external insulation will simultaneously improve the home’s kerb appeal and thermal performance. Consider tall, floor-to-ceiling glass doors and large windows to enhance the home’s relationship with the outdoors, improve access to natural light and create a sense of space. External artificial lighting features can make a charming addition to the house’s exterior facade and garden, creating an atmosphere in the evening.

What’s the best way to add value to a single-storey home?

Bungalows have huge potential and make great renovation and extension projects. Often situated on wide plots, you can extend to the rear and up into the roof space to create additional bedrooms, bathrooms and more. Bungalows are not usually situated in conservation areas, which means you will typically benefit from permitted development (PD) rights when making any upgrades. You may also want to convert the garage, extend it or add an extra storey on top, or if you are lucky enough to find a wide corner plot, building out to the side to create new living space will also be extremely beneficial.