How would we extend here?
My partner and I went to view a property today that we really loved but had a really small kitchen and we're not sure how we would extend to try and create something a little more open plan. The property is towards the top end of our budget so if we did put in an offer then in all likelihood we wouldn't be able to make any modifications straight away but it would be good to work out what could be done.
The obvious change would be to convert the basement. Although the floorplan shows cellar rooms covering half the house, I could see through the back wall that the basement continues under the whole house. I love the idea of a huge basement/living area but I'd imagine that the cost would also be huge and so I'm not sure it would ever be an option (the head height wasn't great so I'd have thought would need to be dug out to give a good space).
Another option could possibly be a side return but how would this work with the basement? Here is the back of the house where you can just see the door and window to the basement. Would there be a way to create a side return without closing off the option of creating an entrance to the basement and blocking off all the natural light? With the height of the ground floor, would it be possible to extend out at all and would we end up losing more garden to be able to step down? I like the idea of a glass side return which would mean that the window to the dining room could be left as it is but then it also would be nice to open that room up to any extension at the back. Also, the garden isn't huge so wouldn't really want to eat into that space too much
What do you guys think would be both possible and sensible here to create a larger kitchen / dining area?
Comments (17)
Prince Fafa
6 years ago
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6 years agoRelated Discussions
Can we get the space / storage we need without extending ground floor?
Comments (5)Hi ! It's something that with proper planing can all be sorted ! It's just a case of sitting down with it all drawn to scale and working out what goes where!! Eg to claim your loo back and add laundry area under the stairs might be an option. Then add cleaning supplies cupboard in the loo of a more proportional size etc ! Drop down table might be a solution for kitchen ? Or fixed bar rather than table... Drop me a line if you would be interested in a freelance design, that you can then shop around with to get the best deal !...See Moredo we extend or reconfigure?! 1903 house
Comments (2)I can't see any measurements on the plan, however what you are thinking of sounds like the right thing to do. I like a proper living room, not open plan, but a large open kitchen/diner. Rooms downstairs look big enough for that. I think its best to use the space you have, rather than extend, that what we done. Hate seeing houses that extend and don't use the original rooms that then are used as a walkway to the extension!...See More1930s home layout. Would you redesign or extend?
Comments (8)Turn dining room into cozy sitting room, add log stove to existing fireplace and assume french doors to orangery are not usually used. Get structural engineer's advice about how much of the wall between the current living room and kitchen you can safely remove then get the sledge hammers in. Remove all of kitchen and pantry, add insulating internal doors to access orangery. 3 Put kitchen units down both sides of current living room, old kitchen (possibly with chimney retained or steel columns) will be a small dining area for winter use. Conservatory / orangery can then be open to this area for the mild weather or closed off in mid winter. The flow from front door to kitchen - dining - conservatory will be along clear sight lines and would not feel so 'busy'. Retiring to the cosy sitting room would be just off the main hall. The restored privacy means It could also double as a guest bedroom. Upstairs, I would turn the smallest bedroom into a large bathroom, look into keeping the loo as an ensuite to the left bedroom (although does this plumbing go internal to the conservatory?). Anyway good luck with it....See MoreHow can we extend underneath an oriel window?
Comments (7)What a lovely house! Much of this proposal is excellent - the reconfigured utility/wc, the wrap around orangery, and the external flow from the house via the terrace and down into the garden. If the orangery and kitchen extension were to have pitched roofs that would provide a pleasing counterpoint to the main roof lines but, as you say, you’d lose the impact of the oriel window. However, the plan seems to be for flat roofs with lanterns. In this case the roof line may be lower than you are anticipating, but the lantern would likely still clash, physically and visually, with the oriel. I think that Sarah L’s suggestion is excellent: to leave out the kitchen extension, and to replace the kitchen window with tall French doors. It seems that a bigger terrace might actually be more useful than a bigger kitchen?...See More
PROSanya Polescuk Architects
6 years agoA B
6 years agoA B
6 years agoPaul Murphy
6 years agoJonathan
6 years agoPaul Murphy
6 years agoA B
6 years agoandrewbooton
6 years agoPaul Murphy
6 years agotamp75
6 years agoJonathan
6 years ago- PRO
User
6 years agoThe basement would make a great space for a Utility and Playroom. You could then eventually extend your kitchen slightly by around just 8-10 feet ( not eating in to the garden too much and have a great kitchen breakfast room. Glass on two sides, opening out the whole corner on to a small decked area?
I personally think, just as important is putting another bathroom in on the second floor. The house needs two bathrooms! Add a dormer and away you go!
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Sanya Polescuk Architects
6 years ago - PRO
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6 years ago
Jonathan