Open-plan Kitchen-Livingroom in period-style flat - Can I pull it off?

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Hi all,

I'd like some advice on a refurb project I'm considering.

It's a first floor flat in a Victorian house conversion. Due to the layout, I'm considering expanding the Livingroom by knocking through to an adjoining room (currently the bathroom) and moving the kitchen, to create an open-plan Kitchen-Liveingroom. (Please see attached floor plan - Not to scale.)

My Dilemma is, as it's a period property, I feel the best return would be obtained by retaining/reimplementing as many period features as possible. However, Kitchen-Livingrooms are a relatively recent phenomenon, so I'm seeking advice as to how best deal with this juxtaposition, or whether I should abandon the idea completely. Can it pe "pulled-off" in a credible manner?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Rak.

Featured Answer

Lauren

7 years ago

I think you're right to want to swap the kitchen and bathroom over as a larger kitchen will add much more value. Regarding how to make the transition between the two rooms work I would suggest not completely knocking down the dividing wall. Instead create a large double door type opening and make sure to use matching trim to the existing door frames around it so it ties in well. I'm also a big fan of pocket doors as they work very well with the period details and allow you to shut in the noise or smells from the kitchen if needed.

Looking at your floorplan I would also be temped to steal a bit of extra space from the large hallway to make space for a pantry next to the kitchen. This would be a real wow factor.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

cheddarmum
7 years ago
It looks at though you arrive in kitchen from stairs and walk through kitchen to bed 2? What is the view / light in bed 2? Could you change that to reception so living area all together?
raksingh1 thanked cheddarmum
PRO
OnePlan
7 years ago
Is there a soil pipe on the outside wall of the current kitchen going to/ from any other bathrooms in the building ?
If there is then this might be feasible - but obviously the bathroom would be much smaller than the current kitchen space as you wouldn't want to walk through it to gain access to the apartment !!
You will need to speak with your fellow 'in the building' neighbours and check your lease before you start - as ducting out kitchen air from the newly place kitchen might be a problem - unless you have a duct already there in the bathroom ?!
raksingh1 thanked OnePlan
Related Discussions
Please help with awkward open plan living room...
Q
Comments (17)
@minnie101 top left door will only be used occasionally. I have another sofa option, which is marginally smaller (more practical but less trendy) but has narrower chase which helps a bit with arrangement. I am attaching pictures with 1. Quartz layout 2. Another sofa option - Bari 3. Bari layout (thick masking tape) 4. Bari layout opposite longest wall. 5. Different view of the Bari layout opposite longest wall. Chase sofas are my preference, but i am open to other suggestions. Thank you very much, minnie101 :)
...See More
Kitchen ideas for my small LG open plan flat
Q
Comments (3)
What a lovely thing to able to plan a new home! Wish you lots of luck, there is nothing much wrong with the kitchen as it is, so I would try living in the space for a while before taking the sledgehammer to anything. It doesn't look as though the light is being blocked by the high kitchen units so maybe they could stay and have a wider surface fitted so that you could have a breakfast bar on the other side and do away with the dining table area. You could use the tall wall cupboard system that Ikea do to combine extraction and storage above the cooker. If you like wood, take a look on ebay for iroko worktops they are really lovely and chunky and look better as they age. The doors you can change easily for something funkier try kitchenwarehouse uk online for a great range of replacement doors. If you want something boho they do a range of glossy doors in contemporary colours. You could have a boho look just by putting some colourful glasses in the see-through cupboard and lighting it. Hope your move goes well, give it time to settle in and you can have fun with the space on any size of budget.
...See More
open plan kitchen dinner living room
Q
Comments (10)
Hi Marco, It’s big enough, depending on what you want to include. As a designer and concept planner we begin with a questionnaire which looks at all the details relating to your space. This includes, how many people you need to sit? A look at how big your kitchen needs to be. The style you are going for? And so on. From here we then create several options of layout for your space, allowing you to see what’s truly possible.. and all in a 3D format so you can see how it actually feels to navigate the space. It maybe worth you doing something like this with a concept planner, so you can get your head around how big the space is and what’s possible with in it. My clients find it invaluable. All the best, Gina
...See More
partition between living room and open plan
Q
Comments (3)
Are you wanting to close off the living room? Depending on the style of your home and the room, simple french doors opening in or out. Bifolds could work. I do love the Crittal style internal doors, but I think they are pricey. Pocket doors sound great, but not sure how hardy they are. Another simple option is to put up a plasterboard wall with a door, creating a more closed off feeling.
...See More
Lauren
7 years ago
Another pic illustrating a semi open plan doorway - by keeping the architraving and height of the opening the same as the regular interior door seen in the dining space it feels cohesive but still spacious and open.
raksingh1 thanked Lauren
PRO
Equilibrando... Space Planning with Feng Shui
7 years ago
I think it is a great idea. The more open space you have the better. You just need to find out if this is possible technically, if not make it possible :) If you need some help with new layout just let me know. Good luck! / Marcin
raksingh1 thanked Equilibrando... Space Planning with Feng Shui
Jonathan
7 years ago
Everything Lauren said except if there is a large landing I think you add more value by adding an extra bathroom/shower room. You could also put in a laundry cupboard to keep the kitchen quieter
raksingh1 thanked Jonathan
raksingh1
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hi everyone,

The floor plan is a little inaccurate. The staircase leading down, next to the current bathroom is actually access to the rear shared-garden.

The stairs leading up to the flat start below the current bathroom, under the storage cupboard and the top of the stairs ends parallel to the word "landing" in the floorplan.

Judging by your comments and consulting with a few contacts, I agree that swapping the bathroom and kitchen is the right way to go.

Secondly, I'll move the entrance to the door to the garden stairs into the corridor, and close off the new bathroom.

The idea of extending the kitchen into the landing is interesting but, as I have loft access, I was thinking of installing fixed or "pull down" stairs to access it. I plan to insulate and board-out the loft and perhaps install Velux windows. I'm certain this will add value. I think extending the kitchen to the point where it's level with the rest of the LR wall should be possible.

The idea of having the sliding doors separating the kitchen from the LR is really good, if I can find suitable ones that tie into the rest of the property.

Time to start researching!
Jonathan
7 years ago
Another thought.....
Make bedroom 1 into the kitchen, bathroom where the original kitchen was and use the bathroom as bedroom 2.
This would mean less disruption later if you decide to convert the attic into a proper room as you could then dispense with the smaller front bedroom to make way for proper stairs to the next floor
raksingh1 thanked Jonathan

Open-plan Kitchen-Livingroom in period-style flat - Can I pull it off?

Lauren

Comments (8)

cheddarmum

OnePlan

Related Discussions

Lauren

Equilibrando... Space Planning with Feng Shui

Jonathan

raksingh1
Original Author

Jonathan

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Open-plan Kitchen-Livingroom in period-style flat - Can I pull it off?

Lauren

Comments (8)

cheddarmum

OnePlan

Related Discussions

Lauren

Equilibrando... Space Planning with Feng Shui

Jonathan

raksingh1Original Author

Jonathan

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

raksingh1
Original Author