If you can move the staircase to the left of the front door then move the bathroom to start from the back of staircase (you may need a turn on the staircase for it to work) then the bedroom you currently have after the stairs next to the bedroom you have on the right - then that bedroom has the bathroom opposite

Hello Jen,

It might be better to view the space for now as two halves.. So bedrooms are not sitting where living space and kitchen would naturally flow given an open plan configuration, but separate. So divide the living space with living/kitchen and dining to the rear or opening onto garden for entertaining. Then the bedroom sections could perhaps either turn into other functions later on such as a study/office or simply be opened up to join the living area.

Consider the idea of open stairs (not boxed in) and or floating stairs so that rather than just form function they can form part of the aesthetics of the space internally..So they need to be considered early on in any design process. You may also have to incorporate other safety aspects to meet regs. This though should not deter the idea of innovation..

You could also look at them from a bolder architectural element and actually situate them as a divide through the space going upwards into the eventual loft area. Working with a structural engineer could determine how much play you have with situation to be in line with regulations but I rather feel it could be fantastic. The images are to give you an idea about what is possible and interesting and which could be adapted to suit the home you have.. : ))

Hello Jen,

Well not exactly.. as did you mention open plan? It's an idea but I saw you going from living to dining... kitchen and out to the garden.. So bedrooms area separate from the living/kitchen and dining areas. So probably if garden at the back, have bedrooms at the front.. : ))

Hello Jen,

If the extension is to the rear where garden extends then logically and spatially kitchen living and dining would be situated to enhance this. Especially if you want to enjoy entertaining. It makes for enhanced flow within the home.

The bedrooms on the ground floor are temporary due to the need and desire for extending to an upper floor level and thus, it would be better to design with this in mind to maximise the ground floor, so that when the upper level is built, the relocation of sleeping quarters is relatively easy and you have more room to consider how many and where.

I would be looking to make this easier when the time comes by putting these at the front of the house in order to re organise the ground level to its optimum and once.

There are many ways to achieve a design process and ideally you want someone who considers all these things first. Many good professionals are used to working together and so often a range of specialists are needed from architects to structural engineers and gr8 designers who understand how to optimise a scheme and home to its full potential. :))

Hi Jen, yes your new drawing is exactly what I thought would work. I wouldnt move the kitchen, lounge, etc to the front of the house, its better to walk out of the kitchen/dining room into the garden especially if you are eating in the garden

Hello Jen,

Ah right okay, I had imagined you moving them all upstairs but absolutely this works too and you could eventually have one of these as a study room or guest room but configured in such a way with a day bed etc so the room is multi functional, unless of course you are using all the bedrooms for your family..

Yes I like the idea of a shower room downstairs and this could be small with loo/sink in a tanked wet room style arrangement which is good for space.... You can then have a bathroom upstairs and even another en-suite style bathroom for one of the bedrooms if one is to be a master bedroom or yours.. I think there is a lot of potential for the space and the main thing is you have something that works for the long term.. : ))

looks good, only thing I would change is have the laundry/larder as one room, (a utility room) I think this would be more flexible - I am thinking of doing a similar thing next year - making room for a large floor to ceiling cupboard for larder contents

Hello Jen,

Perhaps consider the shower room on the other side with laundry or not as you could create a walk in closet area that houses loo and shower and then possibly laundry next door. This doesnt have to be a big space as you can house washing and drying on top of each other to maximise space here....

It's then completely separate from kitchen area. You could then have a galley kitchen along that side wall with larder at the start of this. Also consider the idea that you could include the washing machine within the run of lower cabinets.. as the Samsung Eco Bubble is beautiful! Quiet and extremely stylish.. It means you have a degree of separation between kitchen and showering/loo but also gives you options on how to configure it.... : ))

Hello Jen,

I was just about to add a little addition to your drawing, so here it is.. So the shower/loo could be closet and shower/loo if you decided to house the washing machine within the kitchen, as this would give you some space for coats etc. The door is located off the hall and you walk first into laundry and past into loo and shower thus access is not directly into living area... You might find you want to turn the dining table round the other way too when you're in the space.. Nothing is to any particular scale but just to give you an idea of possible placements. You might also be able to add an island or an island that morphs into dining.. . : ))

Most welcome Jen,

It's basic in it's delivery.. but you get the idea and of course when you're in the space deciding and considering how you cook and move around the eating and living area, it may be that you find another idea. I thought that if you have enough extension, it would be gr8 to have a double set of french doors or sliding doors to carry this area out into the garden area so the kitchen could finish part way, depending on how much addition you have.. The stairs would then be boxed in and first portion of the kitchen would be larder/pantry. With a galley run and island finishing part way into the extension you can have sliding or double doors and perhaps too consider the idea of a flat roof window such as velux or such.. if additional light is needed. : ))

Hi Jen. Do you have a plan with dimensions? I may well be wrong but I think the stairs and possibly the kitchen will need to have some form of fire doors ie you'll need to create a hall (which I'd put the bathroom in) You may want to consider swapping the kitchen/dining and living area as I'm not sure the living area will get much light and you'd then avoid an awkward kitchen layout? Are 4 beds a requirement as it may work better with 3 so you can keep the bathroom where it is and avoid the potential high costs of moving the soil pipe etc. can the front door also be moved to the left side?

Just a thought...since you are planning a 4 bedroom house, I assume either you are planning for kids, or to sell the house in future. Either way, I think a four bed with only one living area may not be the best plan. If there are going to be enough people in the house to need four bedrooms, you will want at least one separate living area - be it TV snug, office, playroom, etc.

Also, I'd plan for the shower room to open into a hallway rather than the living room. How about this?

FF is a fridge freezer- thought a freestanding one would work nicely as plenty of floor space. I haven't seen an island like this in actuality, but it featured on a design we had done for a house we almost bought. Had gone sale agreed, went to engineer to design extension, then sale fell through! We then bought a house that I love even more, but I still think fondly of that rounded island! I'd love someone to have it....

Nicely drawn bookworm and Jonathan, very nice! I like the idea of less rooms and division. If there is room spatially your plan could be nice, as a consideration re the ratio of beds to loo/bath/shower rooms could indeed increase. With the idea of two more rooms upstairs and another bathroom. Possibly keeping the downstairs as a closet/shower/loo. I also like your walk in utility which would be gr8 as a larder with ff next to it at the start of the galley run..

Gr8 ideas Jonathan and Bookworm which of course takes in to account what I said about planning the whole project so it's done once, even phased works are planned as a complete job.

Given the awkward proximity of current bathroom, it's probably inevitable that it would have to move. It's not impossible but if it allows for optimum design spatially then it's worth doing and relocation can be duplicated on the floor above to benefit. :))

Hello Jen,

Internal walls can be relatively easy and not expensive if partition etc but if structural movements or load bearing walls are required to re locate or remove then they require more specialists as you'll need a structural engineer and you may need permission, planning consent.

Do speak to your relative that's a boon! They will be able to discuss everything on site with you and who you will need to engage depending on what you decide to do. :))