Narrow victorian hall - where to store stuff
We have just bought a Victorian house and the plan is to convert the under stairs cupboard area to a downstairs toilet but then there is no space for a coat closet. I really want somewhere to hang coats and my husbands really wants this loo. [No option to create a porch]
The layout and narrowness of the hallway are quite common in Victorian terraces, how does everyone else deal with this?
In due course (when we have money) we want to do our side return extension but being a London terrace with a short garden there won't be a huge amount of space available there either....
Comments (12)
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7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoJ A thanked LN4 Architectural Design ServicesRelated Discussions
Narrow hallway
Comments (37)we have a similar hallway, although there is bend between the front and back room and then a back extension kitchen; the front door faces north. We have been through several incarnations regarding light. starting outside, we have a porch light, which helps to light the hall at night (if we use the override switch). the colours are portland pale above dado, and their darker shade below. woodwork Portland Pale too (eggshell)I would recommend leaving the dado in , it breaks up the tall wall and I am always hitting the walls with shopping and stuff and it is easier to paint over anglypta and it doesn't show the scuffs. All the paint is matt or eggshell, including skirtings/dado, so nothing jumps out at you it all recedes. we have a long mirror on the front part wall and a squarer one of the back so we get bounced light. Mirrors match and come from habitat. The door at the end of the hall is small glass pannelled to get the south light coming to the front of the house. The lighting is recessed into the ceiling and supplemented with pendant. We had the attic done and had a dome put in the top floor which floods light down into the first and ground floor. BTW it has taken us 20 years or so of trial and error..................... top photo from front, bottom photo from centre to back of hall...See MoreAdvice on hall in Victorian house
Comments (9)Hello, I would definitely paint the woodwork white rather than leave it cream. It really will lighten it up and help to make it feel fresh and new. You also must change the light fitting. Your hallway is quite narrow and looks quite dark; try to find a fitting that illuminates and is brighter. It might be worth experimenting with different bulbs too. Blue and gold go great together. I agree with chotston01 that wallpaper and paint don't always go together. Have you looked at a gold paint for above the rail? I also think its a huge change when all your other rooms are very light. You might find that its simply too dark for you once you live with it for a while - but then its easy to paint the smaller area with a lighter blue - like the duck egg. Ill be interested to see the finished hallway. Good luck....See MoreDado Dilemma in Victorian hallway renovation
Comments (8)I love my dado rails. I have picture rails in all rooms but dado rails in the hallways as I find it really breaks up the room and my toddler uses them to wipe his sticky fingers on, rather than the walls. I think your rail may be a little high though, like ours were and we also had 'dado rail art' at the top of the stairs. Took plastering to fix. It's really nice having pictures up the stairs which I haven't got around to as I don't have picture rails and drills make me worry our ancient plaster will crumble...so wonder if picture rails could have helped with that. Just a couple of thoughts!...See More"temporary" hallway flooring, before I lay the posh stuff?
Comments (8)@Jules Mc On the hallway floor at the moment - some tatty 1990s pale blond plasticky laminate that the previous owner of the house left. It has to come up to do some electrics underneath and once up I do not think it will go back down (and anyway it's way past time for that laminate to be retired). Yes it would be an option to paint the boards, although once the laminate is up I would have a slightly treacherous 'lip' to trip over into the front room, where there is parquet. The other factor is that messy family members in muddy boots tromp through the hall. However, a runner on dark boards would look temporarily great. On the basis of this thread I am going to investigate both vinyl and runner....See More
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7 years agoJ A
7 years ago- PRO
LN4 Architectural Design Services
7 years ago minnie101
7 years agoHi. I agree with OnePlan. However if you're going ahead with the loo you could potentially install storage either side of the fire in the dining room. I'd have open shelves in the small alcove and a full height "wardrobe" in the other. However bear in mind the coats would need to hang the other way round to normal (I can't think of the right word to use!) due to the depth of the wardrobe. It might be useful for other storage too though if it's floor to ceiling and planned well internally. A really large mirror opposite the fire would help open it up again. It might be an option to consider anyway
J A thanked minnie101whippet girl
7 years agoNot ideal, but it's a tricky problem. Built-in shoe storage, and coat hooks on the curved section of wall, not so visible from the front door.
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7 years agoB Jackson
7 years agowhippet girl
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