Table-top football always goes down well with kids THE POLISHED CAST IRON RADIATORS ARE FROM CRANE A fur cover on the piano stool injects a bit of coziness into the room with - and get used to for a while,' says Sarah. 'A project like this can take up to a year and you'll have to endure some of the disorder during winter.' Tricks and treats 'WE STOLE LIGHT BY PLACING MIRRORS BEHIND FALSE WINDOWS INSTEAD OF GLASS. IT'S A TRICK OF THE EYES' 224 | NOVEMBER 2015 WHEN FAMILY SPILL ONTO THE FLOOR, A RUG STRATEGICALLY PLACED IS A WINNER what should go where.' When it came to laying the floor, Sarah pushed for parquet. 'I'm obsessed with parquet flooring. In my opinion, it's the most practical hardfloor - particularly if you have children. And it looks fab. 'There is a rug between the sofas to make it comfortable for when people sit on the floor.' Light and space were major factors when it came to designing this extension. And while it looks huge, it's all thanks to clever planning. 'Altering the ceiling height makes the room look bigger than it is. We stole light by WORDS: LYNNE MAXWELL PHOTOGRAPHS: DAN KENNEDY STOCKISTS: SEE PG 297 Sarah believes the key to successful groundwork is laying the concrete piles correctly. 'The piles keep the soil away. Hiring a professional to do the digging and groundwork is so important. And once that's done, make sure you use a waterproofing system you fully understand. When it comes to cleaning and clearing, the fun starts. The site was lovely and it was fairly logical deciding