I-DIY - CONVERSIONS SOPHIE NGUYEN ARCHITECTS
Loft conversions 101 with Sophie Nguyen In this article, Sophie Nguyen, Director at Sophie Nguyen Architects, offers her professional advice on converting lofts for optimum spatial and aestheticallypleasing, relaxing areas so you can make the most of your conversion. What are the main reasons we all want to convert our lofts? Converting a loft can: Add extra floor area and potentially increase the value of your house Create more floor area without the need to create an extension Create more living space such as an additional bedroom, a study room or family room, without the need to extend your home. These lofts are usually uninsulated, as they are not used for living spaces. A quarter of heat you generate to keep warm will be lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. Therefore, insulating your loft is very important as it will reduce heat loss and lower your heating bills. Once the space is insulated, it makes good sense to use it for a living area. How can you transform your loft?
Add an en-suite bathroom With an en-suite bathroom, the loft conversion becomes a precious private bedroom that your teenager has been longing for. Or it could be the personal space highly appreciated by your guests. I-B U I L D/ JAN/21
Adding a rooflight or a dormer window will radically transform this small shower room into a charming room, as it will be flooded with natural light. Also, it will contribute to feeling healthy with plenty of natural ventilation. Good use of a full-height mirror can also add a sense of depth.
Create a view and add natural light
The daylight that floods into a room is a connection to the natural environment and its benefit to our mental health is well known. Furthermore, the sunlight transforms the room spatially, as the light changes through the day. Dormer windows will increase the usable space by adding height. And a rooflight will increase the sense of height – the sky is the limit. In both cases, it will create a space flooded with natural light. A dormer window or a rooflight will generate a connection to the outdoors and will add views of your surroundings. The ability to see nature from a room is a healing element, whether it is the sight of a surrounding park or the views over the street below.
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When choosing rooflights, it is advisable to use standard skylights, double-glazed or triple-glazed, with integrated blinds (manual or electrical), top-hung with hinges, allowing central rotation for ease of cleaning without having to go on the roof.