How long does a typical home extension take?

Most single-story extensions take 8-12 weeks from start to completion, depending on size and complexity. We provide detailed timelines during our initial consultation.

Do I need planning permission for a home extension?

Many extensions fall under permitted development rights, but this depends on your property type and extension size. We help assess requirements and handle planning applications when needed.

Are you fully licensed and insured?

Yes, we are fully licensed with £2 million public liability insurance. All our tradespeople are qualified professionals and members of relevant trade associations.

Prime London's Trusted Luxury Builder

Vine Construction luxury London home renovation — Kensington townhouse extension with heritage sash windows and stone facade

Vine Construction is a family-run firm of luxury London builders specialising in the discreet, high-specification renovation of period townhouses, mews properties and prime residential estates across the capital. Since 2008 we have delivered complex home extensions, loft conversions, basement conversions and full period property restorations for owners of Grade II listed homes, conservation-area properties and estate-managed leaseholds including Grosvenor, Cadogan, Portman and Howard de Walden.

Our teams combine traditional trades — lime plastering, timber joinery, lead work, stone masonry and traditional sash window restoration — with modern building science: airtightness detailing, MVHR, underfloor heating and heritage-appropriate secondary glazing for acoustic and thermal upgrades that preserve historic character. Every project is led by a dedicated contracts manager, delivered under a JCT contract, and covered by £2m public liability and £10m employer's liability insurance.

Signature Services

Rear kitchen extension with steel-framed Crittall doors opening onto a landscaped Chelsea garden

Home & Kitchen Extensions — single, double and wrap-around rear extensions with structural steels, glazed lanterns and seamless internal reconfiguration.
Loft Conversions — mansard, L-shape and dormer loft conversions engineered for Victorian and Edwardian roofs across RBKC, Westminster and Camden.
Basement & Vault Conversions — single-storey basement digs, lightwell formation and Party Wall Act coordination for terraced London homes.
Bespoke Kitchen Renovations — architect-led kitchens with hand-made cabinetry, stone worktops and integrated appliance packages.
Luxury Bathroom Refurbishment — spa-standard master suites with book-matched stone, walk-in showers and underfloor heating.
Period Property Restoration — sympathetic restoration of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian townhouses under listed-building consent.
Sash Window Restoration — full overhaul, draught-proofing and reinstatement of timber box-sash windows.
Heritage Secondary Glazing — discreet slimline systems that deliver acoustic and thermal performance without altering the primary window.
Roofing & Leadwork — natural slate, clay tile and traditional lead detailing for heritage roofs.
Interior Fit-Out — joinery, decoration and finishes coordinated with our in-house project managers.

Areas We Serve Across Prime London

Map of prime Central and West London neighbourhoods served by Vine Construction including Kensington, Chelsea, Mayfair and Belgravia

We work across the most demanding postcodes in the capital, coordinating with local conservation officers, estate surveyors and heritage architects to deliver renovations that respect neighbourhood character.

Builders in Kensington (W8) — Victorian and Edwardian townhouses under RBKC control.
Builders in Chelsea (SW3) — Cadogan Estate leaseholds and King's Road properties.
Builders in Mayfair (W1) — Grosvenor Estate townhouses and Georgian terraces.
Builders in Belgravia (SW1) — stucco-fronted Grade II listed homes.
Builders in Knightsbridge (SW1X, SW7) — high-security prime residential renovations.
Builders in Notting Hill (W11) — stucco terraces and mews houses.
Builders in Hampstead (NW3) — Arts & Crafts and Georgian properties.
Builders in Marylebone (W1U) — Howard de Walden and Portman Estate homes.
Builders in Fulham (SW6) — Victorian terraces and family extensions.
Builders in Richmond (TW9, TW10) — riverside conservation homes.
Kensington Victorian & Edwardian Restorations
See all 40+ London areas served →

Recent Projects & Case Studies

Chelsea townhouse whole-house renovation featured in Vine Construction portfolio

Our portfolio documents ten flagship renovations completed across Central London, each with detailed scope, timeline, challenge and solution notes:

Chelsea Sash Window Restoration — full overhaul of 18 heritage box-sash windows.
Discreet Secondary Glazing, Belgravia — acoustic upgrade to a Grade II listed townhouse.
Mayfair Townhouse Whole-House Refurbishment
Kensington Basement Conversion & Lightwell
Notting Hill Mansard Loft Conversion
Knightsbridge Rear Kitchen Extension

Journal — Insights on Heritage Renovation

Long-form guides written by our contracts managers and heritage specialists:

Our Process — From Enquiry to Handover

Confidential consultation — a site survey and NDA-backed initial discussion.
Feasibility & costing — a detailed cost plan aligned with your architect's drawings.
Pre-construction — planning, listed-building consent and Party Wall Act notices.
Construction — dedicated contracts manager, weekly reporting and JCT contract administration.
Handover & aftercare — 12-month workmanship warranty and defects liability period.

Trust, Credentials & Insurance

Vine Construction is a fully insured contractor with £2m public liability, £10m employer's liability and contract works cover to £5m. We hold CSCS-carded trades, Gas Safe registered engineers and NICEIC-approved electricians, and we work regularly with heritage architects, conservation officers, and estate surveyors. Every completed project is backed by a written 12-month workmanship warranty in addition to standard manufacturer guarantees.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a typical London home extension take?

Most single-storey rear extensions take 14–20 weeks on site once planning and Party Wall matters are resolved. Larger wrap-around and basement projects range from 6 to 14 months.

Do you work on Grade II listed buildings?

Yes — a significant portion of our workload is Grade II listed and conservation-area properties in Kensington, Chelsea, Belgravia and Mayfair. See our period property restoration page.

Are you fully insured?

Yes, we carry £2m public liability, £10m employer's liability and project-specific contract works cover.

Can you coordinate with our architect and interior designer?

Absolutely — we regularly work as principal contractor alongside leading London architects and design studios.

Request a Confidential Site Survey

To discuss your project in confidence, call 020 7060 1579, WhatsApp +44 7853 322555, or email info@vineconstruction.com. Book online via our contact page or request a complimentary site survey.

Interior Decoration · Statement Finishes

Feature Walls, Panelling & Accent Colours

A well-executed feature wall is the shortest path to giving a London room character. Whether it is a saturated Farrow & Ball colour behind a bedhead in a Chelsea principal bedroom, tongue-and-groove panelling in a Notting Hill hallway, or a fluted oak wall behind a Mayfair drawing room fireplace, the effect depends on precision joinery, faultless preparation, and the right sheen level for the light in the room.

Our team handles both the joinery and the decoration in one coordinated package — so the panel spacing, mitre alignment, shadow-gap trim and paint finish all arrive at the same standard, without the finger-pointing between separate trades that so often mars this kind of work.

From single-wall accent schemes to full-height panelling running through hallways, stairwells and reception rooms, we deliver installations that look considered, permanent and appropriate to the age and scale of the property.

Traditional and contemporary wall panelling

Tongue-and-groove, shaker, board-and-batten and fluted styles

Bespoke MDF, tulipwood and oak fabrication

Saturated accent colours from Farrow & Ball, Little Greene

Coordinated joinery + decoration package

Panelling around radiators, sockets and existing architectural details

Panelling Styles for Period & Modern London Homes

Panelling style should relate to the age of the property. Georgian and Victorian homes carry traditional shaker or raised-and-fielded panels beautifully — typically to dado height in dining rooms and full-height in libraries. Edwardian houses respond well to tongue-and-groove at 1.2–1.5m, painted in a saturated wall colour. Contemporary flats and new extensions suit fluted or slatted panels in oak or painted MDF, often as a full-height feature wall.

Our joiners fabricate all panelling on site or in workshop to the exact wall dimensions, working around skirting, cornice, sockets, switches, radiators and architrave so the finished wall reads as a single considered surface rather than a bought-in kit.

Shaker and raised-panel: Georgian / Victorian
Tongue-and-groove: Edwardian / cottage
Board-and-batten: contemporary / hallway feature
Fluted or slatted: modern extensions and studies

Choosing the Right Accent Colour

The wall you accent matters as much as the colour you choose. Bedheads, chimneybreasts and the wall at the end of a long sightline are the strongest candidates; a random side wall in a rectangular room rarely reads as intentional. For colour, deep saturated shades — Farrow & Ball Hague Blue, Studio Green, De Nimes, Little Greene Basalt, Bronze Red — pull weight in London's soft northern light in a way that pale accents cannot.

For clients unsure, we combine our colour consultation service with on-wall sample boards so the accent is proven in situ before committing to the full paint job.

Preparation & Paint System

A feature wall is punished by inadequate preparation. Every wall is filled, sanded, primed with a stain-blocking primer, then finished in two coats of premium emulsion — typically Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion for a chalky matt, Modern Emulsion for washable performance, or Little Greene Absolute Matt where deeper pigment saturation is required. For panelling, joinery is caulked at every joint, filled, sanded and finished in Little Greene Intelligent Eggshell or F&B Modern Eggshell for durability.

Coordination with Furniture & Lighting

A feature wall works with — not against — the lighting and furniture in front of it. We coordinate with your interior designer, electrician and upholsterer so wall sockets, sconces, art hanging systems and the bed or sofa are positioned correctly before the panelling is set out. It is significantly cheaper to move a socket in advance than to hide one badly afterwards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does wall panelling take to install and paint?

A single feature wall (up to 5m x 3m) typically takes 3–4 days: one for setting-out and fitting, one for filling and caulking, and two for priming and top-coats. Full-room panelling takes 1–2 weeks.

Can panelling be installed in a rented property?

Yes, but landlord consent is required for anything fixed to the wall. We offer removable panelling systems for tenants that lift away without damage at end of tenancy.

Do you supply the panels or fabricate them?

We fabricate to the exact wall dimensions in-house. Off-the-shelf kits rarely align well with London wall lengths and always look bought-in.

What is the best paint for a saturated accent wall?

For matt: Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion or Little Greene Absolute Matt. For a slight sheen or washability: Little Greene Intelligent Matt Emulsion. Two coats over a tinted primer for full colour depth.

Related Services

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