Hi John, it looks fantastic, very exciting, I'm doing mine in January and asking for help and ideas is key to getting it right. We always feel that we are making the right decision but I do think we can get quite blinkered. Can I just ask if you need the fireplace? My feeling is you could have a super bank of storage/utilities etc for the kitchen and a breakfast bar. This could go to the right of where the fireplace is now (as you look at the plans). It will create the divide you need between the two areas, super for entertaining and it will give you more storage as you don't have a lot of wall space. Table in front of the large S facing window. It will also give you a little more space in the living area for a super corner sofa, lounge chair, coffee table and TV unit if you don't want to put it on the wall. Access to the utility should be from the kitchen, can you take out the pantry and pop a door into the utility, plant room into utility area (it does seem quite large) downstairs toilet into the wet room, this then opens up the hallway. I think your second plan open hallway is a much better option, this area is one of the most important in the house, 1st impressions, it's a big house, I would want a big open space as I walked in with fabulous lighting, Art and flooring. Gosh, I hope I haven't waffled too much!!! I hope this helped a little.

Hi Papillon,

Thanks for your ideas. regarding the fireplace, we don't need it but we want it...it's nice to have a real fire on those dark, cold Northern Irish nights.

We need a pantry/Larder of some sort and I'm guessing it is best to have it in the kitchen for all the to-ing and fro-ing during meal preparation. I agree the Plant room is too large and to be honest I will probably end up housing the manifolds etc... in a cupboard in the utility room, so that gives a bit more space to play with, thank you.

Not sure what you mean by "second plan"?

Ahhh have just seen that Jonathandb did a plan with a large hallway which I thought was super. I love fireplaces John but I wonder if its position restricts you from doing other things? However the area is large enough to cater for lots of layouts so I'm sure it can work. Perhaps if you lose the plant room then if you start with a door for the utility at the top (where the pantry is) then the second door into the hallway then a large closed storage area housing the fridge freezer and pantry so that they are hidden. You could an under stairs toilet or cloakroom if space allows and then the hallway has opened right up. I am just concerned that there will not be enough cupboard space in the kitchen so an island will be necessary, will that then interfere with the position of the fire???? It's so hard when it's your own. My kitchen will be long and narrow then opening into a large space which is really difficult to layout and find the best solution.

Thanks jonathandb1972, I've taken your idea of having a small WC off the Hall, which seems to have freed up some space and makes the Utility room a better shape

I've revised the layout a bit...

I think that works better. I also like Jonathan's idea, if you move the reception door towards the top left you can easily carve out the annexe with the study becoming kitchen. I also think the dressing room/bed 4 could be a great teenage den if downstairs does become an annexe otherwise open plan living could be hell :)

Guys, I appreciate that this is going off topic however the great layout suggestions above have prompted me to think that the house footprint and layout could be better.

I've attached a satellite image of the site with the sun path super-imposed and an image of the site itself. It's an elevated site with good views towards the South and East, especially from the 1st floor.

I mentioned in a previous post that I would like to be able to cordon off part of the downstairs as an annex, so some of the rooms will be dual purpose. What I would like to squeeze into approx. 200 square metres is;

Exterior

• Parking for 3 cars
• Storage for bikes etc...

Ground floor

• Hall
• WC
• Cloakroom & storage Open plan Kitchen\Living\Dining (with larder preferably on external wall)
• Utility (to double as kitchen for annex)
• Double bedroom with en-suite
• 2nd Living/Diner for annex

First floor

• Landing
• Master with en-suite & walk-in wardrobe
• 2 x Double bedrooms (with Jack & Jill bathroom if possible but not essential)
• Main bathroom
• Airing cupboard or Hot Press

Thanks

Hi John Walsh,

Our team would love to help you with your kitchen project.

we work with our clients to create a unique storage solution that will not only look great, but tailor-made to fit the exact dimensions of the property (furniture from floor to celing and wall to wall).

Please subscribe to our newsletter if you are interested in our service and someone from our team will contact you as soon as possible to discuss the project.

http://www.kitchenwardrobe.com/special-offers.html

Regards,

A&S Kitchen Wardrobe team.

Hi Victoria, please see image below showing the proposed site plan, however I am prepared to re-submit my planning application if someone comes up with a better layout/floor plan.

Thanks again.

jonathandb1972, I've used your idea and tweaked it in places to come up with this.

I'd appreciate any feedback from Houzz members as to which layout you think works better? The floorplans at the start of this thread or these latest ones.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks once again jonathandb1972.

I've mocked up both versions in Sketchup, the roof on the new one is a mess and I appreciate what you're saying about the 45 degree roof. One of the problems I'm struggling with is a 6.9M ridge height restriction, so even the 45 degree roof would have dormers and I'm not sure how that would look.

Thanks again jonathandb1972, once again a good idea. Here's the floor plan I'm currently toying with...

Here they are superimposed on each other... (Black line Ground floor, Red lines 1st floor)

Sorry I've just noticed that there are 2 "Hall"s on the Ground floor - bit extravagant I hear you say...no, simple typo. The one on the left should be Living room 2

Yes Oneplan, very similar. I can't work out from the image where the front door is??

Why don't you give us a call and we would love to help you design your own perfect space with no obligation.

Some great ideas flowing here!

With these projects we would generally produce as many as 10 preliminary designs as standard, all focusing on the kitchen and bathroom spaces, they all need to be functional and accessible, without the bathrooms being in your face!

Many options in total, I don't think you will be disappointed with any of these end products so far!

Please send some finished images when you do settle on a design!

New World Designers Ltd.

I thought I should update you all on the progress we have made since September 2016... We took all your advice on board and decided to get a 2nd architect to look at the site and give us some concept designs. Well they came up with some great ideas and working together we came up with the design below which was re-submitted to Planning in December and we're hoping for a positive decision any day now.

I believe the new design makes much better use of the site with the parking on the North side and private garden enjoying the South.

Please let me know what you think of the new designs and of course if you have any suggestions how to make it even better, I'd be delighted to hear them.

Thanks Victoria

Great project!! Good luck with the project and please do not forget to share some pics, once finished