Space Planning & Layout Design for Renovations and Extensions (UK)
Precise, builder-ready layouts for extensions, renovations and reconfigurations — planned before a single wall comes down
Most renovations don't go wrong at the finishing stage. They go wrong months earlier, when a wall comes down, a kitchen goes in, or an extension gets built around a layout nobody properly tested first. Before you choose a single tile or paint colour, the question that actually decides whether your home works is simpler: does the layout make sense?
Alekseeva Design is a residential interior design studio led by Tetiana Alyeksyeyeva, working with homeowners across the UK on exactly that question. The specialism is space planning — extensions, whole-house reconfigurations, open-plan conversions, and the smaller rooms that never seem to fit, from bathrooms and en-suites to storage and flats. Projects are supported remotely UK-wide, with in-person visits available across the East Midlands from the studio's base in South Derbyshire.
What makes the difference is precision. Every project is delivered as accurate, builder-ready drawings — not mood boards — so the layout is resolved on paper, tested against real dimensions, before a contractor is booked or a wall comes down
What Is Space Planning in Interior Design?
Space planning is the process of working out how a home should function before deciding how it should look. It covers movement and circulation, room proportions, furniture placement, storage integration, sightlines between rooms, and how each zone relates to the next.
It comes before material choices and finishes, not alongside them. Get the layout right first, and decoration becomes straightforward. Get it wrong, and no amount of styling fixes a room that doesn't work.
Find the Right Layout Service for Your Project
Space planning covers a wide range of projects, each with its own priorities and challenges. See below how space planning can help with your project:
Kitchen Extension Layout Design
Planning a single-storey rear or side-return extension? This covers how the new kitchen, dining and sitting areas work together as one connected space — island position, sightlines to the garden, and where the old and new structure meet.
Open-Plan Kitchen, Dining & Living Design
Removing internal walls without extending? This is about zoning one large room into distinct kitchen, dining and living areas that each still feel purposeful, without needing extra square metres to do it.
Whole-House Layout Reconfiguration
Reworking more than one room at once — a full ground floor, the bedroom floor, or a loft conversion. For projects where several spaces need to be planned together, not room by room.
Flat & Apartment Layout Planning
Flats and apartments come with different constraints to houses — fixed structural walls, shared services, and less flexibility to extend. This covers making a fixed footprint work harder.
Homeowners planning a kitchen extension or rear addition
Anyone removing internal walls for open-plan living
Projects reconfiguring a whole floor or converting a loft
Homes with rooms that don't work — an awkward bathroom, a flat with no storage, a bedroom that needs to become an en-suite
Anyone with existing drawings who wants a second opinion before building
Who This Service Is For?
What You Receive:
✔️ Existing floor plan review
✔️ 2–3 strategic layout options
✔️ Detailed 2D floor plans illustrating zoning, circulation and traffic flow
✔️ Scaled 2D furniture layout plans
✔️ Kitchen island positioning strategy (if applicable)*
✔️ 3D floor plan of the final approved layout
✔️ Targeted design recommendations for each functional zone
The goal is to resolve the layout fully before any building work starts.
*Not sure whether an island will fit your space? Read the guide How to Size a Kitchen Island Properly.
If you are planning a renovation, kitchen extension, or open-plan reconfiguration and want to ensure your layout is fully resolved before construction begins, professional space planning provides clarity, confidence, and long-term functionality.
Whether you are based in the East/West Midlands (Birmingham, Solihull, Lichfield, Swadlincote, Burton-on-Trent, Ashby de la Zouch, Tamworth) or working remotely elsewhere in the UK, space planning can be delivered with clarity and precision.
Investment
Space planning starts from £10 per sq.m. Exact scope and pricing depend on the size and type of project — a single en-suite is a different scope to a whole-house reconfiguration.
Space Planning Process
Once the project is confirmed, you will be asked to provide existing plans, measurements, photos of the space, and any ideas or inspiration you have collected.
Step 1 – Project Review & Brief
You'll receive 2–3 layout options to compare, each tested against real dimensions and how you move through the space — not just how it looks on paper.
Step 2 – Layout Development
Step 3 – Final Layout & Recommendations
After reviewing the proposed options, the most suitable layout is refined and finalised.
From here, some clients move into fuller design work — kitchen design, lighting, or a complete interior design package — built on the layout that's already been resolved.
Step 4 – Optional Design Development
Benefits of Professional Space Planning
Better Flow Between Rooms
One of the main benefits of space planning is improving how people move through a home. A well-designed layout considers circulation routes, door positions, and how different areas connect. This prevents awkward bottlenecks, blocked walkways, or furniture that disrupts movement. The result is a home that feels intuitive and comfortable to navigate.
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Make the Most of Every Square Metre
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Many homes have areas that are underused or difficult to furnish. A professional space planner looks at the layout with fresh eyes and identifies opportunities to use space more efficiently. This may include reconfiguring walls, adjusting room proportions, or introducing built-in storage. Even small layout changes can significantly increase how usable a space feels.
Avoid Costly Renovation Mistakes
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Layout decisions made early in a renovation have long-term consequences. Incorrect positioning of walls, kitchens, or doors can lead to expensive changes later. Space planning allows different layout options to be explored before construction begins, helping homeowners make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary costs. Read more about House Plans UK: How to Design a Layout That Actually Works before construction begins.
Improve Function in Everyday Life
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A good layout is not only about aesthetics — it supports how people actually live. Space planning considers daily routines such as cooking, entertaining, working from home, and family life. By aligning the layout with these activities, each room becomes more practical and enjoyable to use.
Maximise Natural Light
The arrangement of walls, furniture, and openings has a major impact on how light travels through a home. Space planning can help distribute natural light more effectively by adjusting layouts and sightlines. This often makes interiors feel brighter, larger, and more welcoming.
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Create a Strong Foundation for Interior Design
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When the layout works well, every other design decision becomes easier. Furniture placement, lighting design, and storage solutions all rely on a solid spatial plan. Space planning, therefore, provides the structure that allows the rest of the interior design to come together successfully.
How to Start Working Together
Frequently Asked Questions
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Space planning focuses purely on layout and function — how rooms connect, flow and work. Full interior design builds on that foundation with materials, finishes, lighting and furniture selection. Many clients start with space planning and move into full design once the layout is resolved.
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Yes. If you don't have an existing survey or floor plan, one can be arranged as the starting point for the project.
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Yes. It's common to review and refine an architect's layout before it goes to a builder, particularly around kitchen and living space planning, storage, and room-to-room flow.
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Yes. Space planning is delivered remotely for clients across the UK, with in-person visits available across the East Midlands.
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Two rounds of revisions are included at each stage, giving you room to adjust the layout before it's finalised.
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Space planning is priced from £10 per sq.m. The exact cost depends on the size and complexity of the project — get in touch for a quote specific to your home.
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Ready to Start?
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Every project on this page starts the same way — with a conversation about your home and what isn't working yet. There's no obligation, and no assumption you already know exactly what you want.
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Start With a Project Review →
‍The layout is the foundation. Get it right first, and everything else — the finishes, the furniture, the feel of the room — falls into place.
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