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Kitchen off bedroom - how to fix this quirky layout?

8 years ago

Dear all I have purchased a property with an unusual layout with the kitchen off of the bedroom. Unfortunately the waste pipe is in the current kitchen so moving the kitchen to the back of the living room for an open plan arrangement does not appear practical. Any advice greatly appreciated?

Thanks

My property on Rightmove

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53287862.html

Featured Answer

Jonathan

8 years ago

Swap the kitchen and the bathroom

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Comments (13)

Brandi Nash Hicks
8 years ago
Can you close the kitchen wall to the bedroom and open the end wall to your lounge
Brandi Nash Hicks
8 years ago
Or add a wall across the lounge and make that the bedroom nock down the wall the current bedroom has now adjoining lounge and make current bedroom the lounge
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One plan - thank you thank you thank you... I have been at work all day earning £ to pay for this little lot and have only just seen your plans and advice. Your quick(??) sketch up shows exactly what I was thinking but couldn't visualise. It looks great. What width would you advise is the minimum for the walk in to allow movement space ? It has even prompted the man of the house to get his tape measure out which is good ! This would definitely give us the most storage space of all our options. So now there are 3 options To weigh up. 1. Walk in - Will throw current symmetry of room, but will definitely give the most hidden storage space (perfect as we also need linen and towel storage for the house within this room somewhere). Assuming cost will be studded wall, plastering plus internal fittings. 2. Alcove wardrobes - Will maintain symmetry of the room, will give the least storage of all options. Probably the most expensive option as will require bespoke alcoves with internal fittings. May install fireplace/ dressing table to chimney breast. 3. Wardrobe bank along wall opposite chimney. This would maintain symmetry of alcoves. I think storage would probably be somewhere between the other 2 options. Maybe more potential to get wardrobe company in to have a look. I like the look of the handle less ones shown above. Would leave option of bed on wall either as you come into the room or on the chimney breast. Luciana - thanks for your measurements - really helpful. I will add them onto our plan to check how the space works. I'm in Bristol - which Italian company did you use ? Those fittings are really lovely. I'm not sure where else to source just the interior bits. All - we have the most fabulous carpenter - retired guy who doesn't charge the earth and also just does a few jobs to keep himself out of his wife's hair ! Perfect - he's been one of the finds of our job - a real gem. Really appreciate all the advice - I'm going over to see how monk0104 is getting on with her kitchen plan. What fun this is !!
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Nice ideas Jonathan, and its great that you have spent time on this thread but in many ways you have resolved the issue by adding an extra box to the side and even more space onto the job (and about another £40k!) 1.I think it dubious that the planner would allow you to extend to both boundaries - I think you have already done well to get the size of extension you already have. 2. this also creates a penisular kitchen which brings us back to a further kitchen island design issue/conversation 3. if for no other reason but property value you would add a door into the utility or kitchen from the garage 4. I think you would need to potentially bring the front door forward to get the 'space' in the hallway but the centralised entrance gives you much better options for canopies/overhanging leaning to roof/lighting etc.. 5. you could potentially grab back the space under the stairs to the family room at the rear as this (and the front reception room both struggle for width) 6.In terms of the first floor layout you would be better served using the bathroom in the top left as the main bathroom for the house and take back the far right bathroom for the bedroom over the garage (also take back all of that nasty corridor that runs the width of the extension and bring the bedroom door adjacent to the neighbouring bedroom (then utilise the excessive corridor width to add wardrobes to the bedroom) 6.The airing cupboard appears to be about 1.2-1.5m deep which is probably a bit OTT 7.remember that there is still more storage space to be had over the stairs. 8. if the option is available in teh roof it might be nice to be able to add a rooflight to bring some natural light into the central enclose hall/landing space. I personally would say your 'slight tweaks on earlier plan' alternatives were better in terms of effective use and maximising space - the stairs would need to be fully worked out to maximise the remaining spaces and the hallway could be revised. Overall all thought great effort. G
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Brandi Nash Hicks
8 years ago
Add a wall across half of lounge even with bathroom entry run the wall across to the kitchen,take down the two small walls from where the kitchen meets with bedroom,make the old bedroom part of lounge and half of the old lounge with new wall your bedroom.
tamp75
8 years ago
Block off the kitchen door to the bedroom and open up the kitchen along the short wall to the lounge. You could have a doorway or leave it open plan depending on your preference. Kitchen units would need to stop at the sink but you could install another unit on the short wall opposite the new opening / doorway.
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OnePlan
8 years ago
I like Jonathan's idea - but the soil pipe might cause a stumbling block ?!? Maybe a Murphy bed on the right wall in the lounge might open up the space during the day - also you can increase the kitchen into the space that was closed off as a bedroom and use that as wardrobe space and as a dining/work table nook . If the arch wall between bedroom and lounge might be able to be removed that would make the place feel larger too .
It's a little tight I'll grant you ...
Robin Cole
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you all for these suggestions, several good ideas to think about. Re Blocking off the kitchen and creating a galley kitchen, there is another property where the owner has done this, but it leaves a very small and dark bedroom. http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51294817.html/svr/1717
Trisha Goodwin
8 years ago
I would use what is now the bedroom, as a dining room next to the kitchen and then make what is now the lounge into a bed sitting room. Even better if you can sub divide it into two parts with a wall or part wall, but if not, how about a sofa bed or a daybed that transforms at night? Is this an apartment or a house? Having the dining area next to the kitchen makes so much more sense, as does having the bedroom next to the bathroom. There are some very creative arrangements for bed that hide by day nowadays, including fitting into cupboards etc - these look contemporary rather than the old fashioned bed sitting rooms and will make the space much more usable by day as well.
michelle hufton
8 years ago
why not have a look into a sani flow system then you could reverse bathroom for kitchen and have an open plan layout
Trisha Goodwin
8 years ago
I would just say that the Sani flow system is usually intended for a main bathroom; it is intended for a secondary toilet, usually downstairs as in a former cupboard or wherever you can't get normal plumbing installed. I have had friends who have had problems even with these even in such situations, so I don't think you would want to add to your problems!
Jonathan
8 years ago
I have had Saniflos with no problems..... But should you swap the kitchen and bathroom I don't think you will need one as I think I see a soil pipe in the corner of the kitchen.
As far as the bedroom being dark you can get around that with good decoration and better lighting. I would have full length curtains to disguise the unexpected high window, add dimable LED spotlights inset into the ceiling and then paint a deep colour but add a lot of white soft furnishings and wall art.
Trisha Goodwin
8 years ago
I would just refer you to the following among other links http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4304215

Some people obviously have no problems with Saniflos, but there are building regs concerning their use for a main bathroom in building, noise factors, blocking instances etc and plumbers often won't touch them if one goes wrong! Having said that, they can be useful in places where normal plumbing would be impossible.
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OnePlan
8 years ago
In addition to above comments - if you put a mirror below that high window it could give an impression of more Window !!

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