Since moving to France permanently in mid 2016 we took the first steps to convert a garage (sited next to the kitchen and connected through a door) into a larger more practical kitchen that would accommodate our family as well as the volunteers that we regularly host throughout the year. We also wanted the kitchen to have direct access into the potager and then rest of the garden, thus ensuring there was more flow from the outside to the inside space. The kitchen was designed with the objective of renovating and insulating with eco-friendly, low VOC and A++rated products throughout. This would align with the Permaculture ethics of Earthcare and people care

Materials Selected for the build:
• Insulation and sound proofing: Recycled denim cotton manufactured in Normandy, France. 80 mm rolls used in the roof space and 100mm panels on outside and inside walls.
• Floor: Vapour barrier onto concrete floor, then 20mm cork panels manufactured in Portugal from cork forests used as insulation, then a matting to stabilise the Wineo floor panels made in Germany with no VOC emissions.
• Walls: These were fireproof plaster boarding, and instead of getting someone in to plaster the walls I used an eco-friendly plaster alternative that gave a rustic textured effect. After this I used a wax-based tint to colour the walls and finally a light varnish to protect.
• Windows and Doors: We bought new PVC double glazed windows and French doors opening to the deck area
• Tiles: purchased as splashbacks around cupboard areas and Ceramic Tiles on the wall behind the wood burner
• Nordika wood fired back-boiler for heating water and central heating in the winter, with oven at the top
• Kitchen units: After a lot of research I finally designed the kitchen at the IKEA website. I found kitchen cupboard doors that were 80% PET recycled plastic and this fitted in with the ethos we were building into the kitchen of Recyclable products

Implementation
Clear out of the garage began in December 2019 just before lock down where we had the mezzanine area removed.

Designer:

Karen Noon

Practical Solutions Categories
Extending a property
Stage of design
implemented
Date of design