Another issue that is common in these houses is the shape of the extension. This Victorian terrace in west London is painted white to accentuate the light and space. There is no right and wrong its just about thinking through the different ways and not assuming the original floorplan is the best. If you are not intending on having a dormer in the loft, then moving the stairs to the only option on the left hand gable would involve taking down the Chimney stack, and, would be dependant on the width of the landing and whether or not you can fit a staircase in lengthwise along that wall. Also since the kitchen has a pink ceiling you could do this room pink too as a further link between the front and back of the house. How about extending to the left of the kitchen, but only at the point where all the writing is. Today's moody dark hues work brilliantly with Victorian features and are in keeping with that period's love of dark shades. There are options but they all depend on what you want to achieve and budget. Historically, Victorian terraced houses were utilitarian in nature. So to take the classic example of the terraced house which would, originally, have had a front room the parlour a dining room in the middle and a small kitchen, scullery, pantry arrangement depending on the size of the house and the number of servants. However, we passed building inspection without any problems; although they asked us to get both a smoke alarm and a fire alarm in the kitchen. Thats a brilliant use of the space. She has written about homes and interiors for the best part of a decade for brands including Homes & Gardens, Ideal Home and Gardeningetc and isn't afraid to take the inspiration she finds at work into her own space a Victorian terrace which she has been (slowly) remodelling for the last eight years. How to make your garden look like a Victorian garden If you are considering undertaking works to your own Victorian terrace, we would love to hear from you! Many of our clients come to us wanting to modernise their beautiful, traditional home, whether theyd like to open the ground floor plan up or extend the structure. Every couple of years should be enough. Lucy is Global Editor-in-Chief of Homes & Gardens having worked on numerous interiors and property titles. Our top tips for increasing natural light and creating a brighter home. We are about to extend, including a side return. I'm a journalist who writes about interiors mainly for The Financial Times but I have also written regularly for The Independent and The Daily Mail. Sarah Brown on Instagram: "The tricky middle room in a Victorian terrace. Heres how it works. The Victorian terrace is a landmark of British architecture and while their original layout isn't designed for modern living, they do allow for a lot of flexibility when it comes to a contemporary redesign and making it your own. This is perhaps the most flexible of all the ideas and means you can use the space in many different ways. A terrace renovation often retains the front two or three rooms of the original dwelling for heritage and structural integrity.