If you own a house or a flat in Chelsea or South Kensington and want more from it, there are really only three moves: add floor area underneath, add floor area at the back, or fix the interior you already have. This post covers what each one involves, and what NU Projects does on them.
Why invest in the house you already own
Property here already sells at a high price per square foot, which is exactly why adding square feet works. Moving costs tens of thousands in stamp duty, fees and the move itself, and none of that makes a house bigger. Improving the one you own keeps the money in the building.
About NU Projects
NU Projects is a West London design and build company, working since 2010. One team takes the house from drawings to handover. Our own quantity surveyor prices the work in the open.
The three moves
NU Projects offers a range of services designed to maximise your home’s potential. Here’s how they can help you add value to your Chelsea or South Kensington property:
1. Basement conversions
A basement adds a floor without touching the footprint or the garden. Gyms, cinemas and guest suites are the usual uses, because they are the rooms that do not need a window. Published rates for basement work are on our cost calculator.
- Why It Works: Extra living space appeals to buyers and increases market price.
- What we bring. Design and construction in one appointment, so the structural sequence and the finish are decided by the same people.
2. Extensions
If you like where you live, an extension is the other way to add area. A kitchen extension, a side return infill or a garden room, drawn so the new part meets the old part properly rather than being bolted on.
- Why It Works: More space means higher value and improved functionality.
- What we bring. The junctions, which is where an extension is judged: glazing to brick, floor to threshold, new ceiling to old cornice.
3. Interior updates
Sometimes the house is the right size and the plan is simply wrong. Reworking layouts, kitchens, bathrooms, lighting and storage can change how a house lives without adding a square foot to it.
- Why It Works: Modern, high-end interiors attract premium offers from buyers.
- What we bring. Interior designers who sit beside the quantity surveyor, so the scheme is priced as it is drawn.
How this adds value
Investing in your home with NU Projects is a strategic move to enhance its worth. Here’s how their services deliver tangible results:
- Floor area. Extensions and basements make the house bigger, and size is the main thing a London valuation turns on.
- The interior. A well planned, well built interior puts a house in a different bracket from one that needs work.
- Local Market Expertise: NU Projects understands the expectations of Chelsea and South Kensington homeowners, tailoring every project to meet the demands of these affluent neighbourhoods.
Completed work is on our projects page.
Ask to speak to our clients
Rather than publishing anonymous praise, we will give you the telephone numbers of two clients whose Chelsea or South Kensington projects finished recently. Ask them what went wrong and how long it took us to answer. That tells you more than any testimonial.
Why these two areas
Both neighbourhoods are heavily constrained: conservation areas, listed buildings, party walls and neighbours who will notice. That is why the planning strategy and the construction management plan matter as much as the drawings here.
Get started
If you are ready to start, tell us about the property, or call the studio on 020 7731 6841.
Published 15 March 2025. Written by the NU Projects studio, edited since for house style and accuracy.