New Open Plan Layout Ideas and Advice
Hi All,
We recently bought a detached 1930's house in need of some serious updating, we now have completed drawings for the structural changes we would like to make and are quite happy with the proposed layout overall, but I would really love to hear any thoughts or advice you have in relation to the layout of the main open plan living space. I am probably trying to squeeze too much into the space, but would love it to include a kitchen (with island/breakfast bar), dining table, and small sofa/seating area for the tv. We will still have a separate lounge, so the seating area would not need to be big. Also worth mentioning that the utility room will be separate, so no need for washing machine, bolier etc. in the kitchen.
There are just the two of us, so the dining table could be modest, although we would like it to be extendable as we like to entertain, 6 seats would probably be enough, anything over that would probably be a more informal gathering or bbq.
I will try to upload the floorplan as it is now and the proposed layout, along with a rough sketch of where we are considering putting the kitchen, any thoughts or advice would be really appreciated...as is always the way with houses, I'm starting to worry that we have bitten off more than we can chew! :-/
Thanks in advance for any thoughts...
P.S. Sorry for the very long post!
Comments (10)
Sam N
7 years agoI probably should have highlighted the part of the proposed floorplan my question relates too...thanks
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POLL: Best Open Plan Kitchen Layout Idea
Comments (6)Hello, I’m not speaking as a Pro but I have a young family and also having a ground floor extension this year. I would prefer to keep the living room as it is as it’s nice to have a room for some quiet time ( also knocking down walls and having big bifolds will add extra cost to your renovation). I’m not keen on the kitchen units all stretching down the whole wall on the left, even though you have made room for a ‘living area’ as it will feel like you are always in a kitchen. If you keep the kitchen area in the first half of the room and have the ‘living space’ towards the section near the garden/back then you have a defined ‘living space’, you can use that for a dining area, watching tv, sofa and relaxing looking out onto the garden. Also as the area is clearly defined, parents can keep an eye on their young kids in the rear section whilst they are preparing dinner etc. I hope that helps....See MoreAdvice needed for Open Plan layout
Comments (4)Do you need a second full bathroom. I'd change to a shower room with a cloakroom / storage area. Go lengthwise. Change also the Kitchen to where the second living area is. Swap the second living area to living / dining. Much nicer to sit and relax over looking the garden. I don't know what type of flooring you currently have in the dining room. If it's floorboards then you should be able to have the kitchen left and plumb out to the right under the floor. Obviously if it's concrete this won't work and you'd have to have a further shuffle about! I presume also that you can't just fit in a toilet under the stairs as the meters are preventing this? ( I know that moving those can cost a fortune! ) Opening the front door and being able to see front to back makes the house seem a lot larger. So, yes I'd sacrifice the layout of the bathroom if a larger square bathroom is not needed. If you can't plumb the water drainage from the kitchen across from left to right then you are better off with this type of layout. Personally I think you suffer from lack of counter space even with a long island, but it's do'able with careful planning. Plus, I also think it's odd having two living areas back to back. I'd take the advice of a builder and see if you can sort out the plumbing. Go for the first plan with the bigger kitchen in the middle and the living / dining area at the back. Good luck!...See Morekitchen layout/ open plan advice
Comments (13)I think the flow through the three rooms at the back would be perfect if you like to entertain. I hadn’t noticed the existing utility, referring to my comment about squaring off the dining room, could a small utility be popped into that corridor area? I can’t get an idea of the size or whether it would be possible but would mean you’ve got a utility off the kitchen. I wouldn’t remove the wall between existing kitchen and dining room if you’re removing the other one. You could have it as a formal sitting room, a kids playroom, a cinema room, an additional guest bedroom? Options are endless but I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it more useable than a dining room! If you do decide to do double doors into the existing family room I’d do glazed so you can see straight through into the garden when you enter the house....See MoreLayout/Design ideas for our open plan living space
Comments (4)Hi Rishi Firstly congratulations on planning approval and what a lovely space you are creating. I do think the length @ approx 8.7mt is extremely long for a kitchen on it's own and so would benefit from being broken up. Whilst the utility is fixed i would consider moving the door further into the space to create a natural divide between the kitchen and possibly a snug area. Otherwise you loose the option of using the back wall for any real functionality - it will in effect just be a thru passage. Position of kitchen can either be immediately as you enter the room or further away towards the window / bi-fold. It really does depend upon how you see the dynamics of the room. Having the kitchen nearer to the entrance to the hallway means you can convert windows to bifolders or sliders balancing out the lounge area; the Kitchen then becomes more centrally positioned within the house. The path from front to the kitchen is shortest and easiest for putting away all that Party food shopping :) And you also get a great view into all 3 zones (dining room, lounge, snug) Imagine both sets of doors open and bringing the party to the outside space. Having the kitchen on an L-shape under the window enables the natural light to flood the kitchen area. The position of this kitchen layout creates a natural link between the snug & lounge. Whilst the dining room is a little further and concealed from view this means there is a clear demarcation of informal dining (via breakfast bar or table off the island) and a more formal room. Things to bear in mind wrt the island 1. jumbo slab sizes of stone are typically 3.2mt and longer and you would need a joint 2. compact resin tops can be found @ 3.6mt - 4.1mt and @ 1300mm deep. 3. acrylic wtops can be made at any size and the joints blended to create a seamless look oh gosh i could go on and on.... please contact us if you would like to talk thru any of my rational. meanwhile i wish you the best of luck on your amazing project regs belinda...See MoreSam N
7 years agoSam N
7 years agoSam N
7 years ago
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