W/C & Utility ideas!

9 years ago

We've been in our house nearly two years now and would really like a 2nd toilet on either the bottom or middle floor. Also preferably a small laundry/utility area that can house the dog and cats food and litter tray...Currently there is a cupboard under the straight stairs which houses the tumble dryer and coats, hoover etc and the washing machine is in the kitchen. Have previously looked at a W\C under the stairs and have it as a small en suite off of the front bedroom, but there is no real room for extraction (1890's terrace) and the floor joists run side to side so waste pipes couldn't go through the kitchen floor. Another idea was to partition off the length running under the turn of the bottom stairs all the way to the back of the room and have a W/C one end and a stacked laundry area the other, although I'm not too sure how soundproof it would be to the living area. We also still need a place for coats and shoes for guests as the hallway is too narrow for a bench etc. Any ideas are welcome! Not looking to relocate stairways as we've not much money spare. Also don't want to lose much space in the down stairs bedroom as the upstairs rear bedroom is already a small double and don't want to devalue the house. If any piccies are needed for inspiration then let me know! Help please! Thank you all in advance :)

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Comments (4)

A B
9 years ago
Would swapping the kitchen and lounge be a possibility? Then pitting a utility and wc in the extra bit of the ground floor
Ki
Original Author
9 years ago
I've been thinking that for a while, it's just cost (no idea what plumbing etc would cost!) and I'd want it to add value to the house as we are not in our 'forever home'. It's nice to know that it's not just me that has thought of this though! OH hasn't been sold on the idea before but he admits he has no vision of what could be and generally trust my instincts. He's an accountant though so is frugal when it comes to me spending money-in a nice way! :)
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Reminds me a lot of my wc i refurbished last year, as it too had exposed pipes, coloured suite :) I don't think half tiles is at all dated (as that's what i decided on) and think it would suit you room to do up to the window sill height. Here's some before and afterpics of mine: https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/no-more-pooey-pink-powder-room-dsvw-vd~1036357
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So if you want to do this you will need to put a sprinkler system in when you do your loft conversion - wet glass steps are going to be a bit slippy - so I'd suggest you think really carefully about this whole concept ! ( sorry ) As an alternative - You could look at adding daylight lighting in the front of the hall instead - ie bright lighting that's on a timer to only be on during daylight hours - then replaced by soft evening lighting at the end of the day - could be a lot safer ! And less expensive ! You will need to protect the escape route with I think it's 30min Fire doors to the hall ... check with your local planning and regs department for confirmation of the exact requirements for your situation.
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Hello, I personally think it is a great idea and suits your needs very well. I would also (as mentioned) above, getting the plans redrawn to ensure you are happy with everything. You could use a service who will offer a few option on the layout of the space. We offer a layout service that does that where no major works are needed - at a fraction of the cost of an architect so also make sure you shop around when looking to get plans redrawn. If you had sliding doors on both sides of the new utility room you wouldn't have any issue getting to it from upstairs with linen or with food shopping from the front door etc but it wouldn't have to be used as the main entrance to the kitchen. Best of luck with your project. It's a good idea. Gina
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Hi when I was searching for tiles I saw the tile you have chosen complimented with metro tiles in quite a few different websites. You could do half wall in metro tiles perhaps then a nice mirror above the sink? Just a thought 😊
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PRO
User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
It's a tricky one this one - A couple of options.

The placement of the toilet is the hardest, for ease it needs to go on the outside wall. Re-jigging the kitchen area puts the toilet on the floor where the bedrooms can make most use of it. Who wants to go up or down a floor in the middle of the night?

The washing machine can be integrated in to the kitchen, it can easily sit under the drainer of the sink cupboard to take up the least amount of room and the water is going straight out the wall which it has to sit on.

The tumble dryer if a condensing one can sit anywhere and can also be integrated if needs be.

If there's not enough cupboard space in your opinion for either then you can site both of them downstairs in the living room by building the cupboard as you suggest. If you sit the washing machine on a false raised platform, the fall created should be ample to create the drop for the water flow and by pass the joist problem. The tumble dryer can sit on top, plus you have direct access to the garden for drying etc. So yes you have an option for a utility cupboard downstairs, plus it creates a nice 'reading corner' !

I'd take out the cupboard in the kitchen and use that for a breakfast area or see the other option which utilises the whole space. The only problem there is the cupboard may be supporting the staircase, so you'd need to check that out.
I don't know obviously what the space is like over the stairwell ( far right ), so you either get the hand basin or the toilet in whatever space works best ( left or right ) .
A B
9 years ago
Talk to some local ea about adding value. But I assume it is a young family type home? In which case I'd have large kitchen diner and utility on ground floor. Living room at the front and third bedroom and shower room at the back of first floor, keep second floor as it is

W/C & Utility ideas!

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