House design ideas please for knock-down / rebuild
Hi - we are living in a very old, weatherboard home and have spent the last few years exploring our options. My parents live in the granny flat at the rear of the property, and we need to ensure that our new home provides sufficient space between our two homes and doesn't interfere too much on the beautiful and established garden. I have posted our current site plan, with the trees that we wish to retain highlighted in yellow. Our budget is approx $500k (max) and we require at least 3 bedrooms and 2 separate living areas. This is our forever home and any ideas you have would be very much appreciated. Thanks, Lydia
Comments (45)
PROJWA Electrical
6 years ago
PRODr Retro House Calls
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Victorian knocked through living and dining room design same or diff?
Comments (16)Thanks Ensign! The magnolia comment was just about a temporary measure as the majority of the room is already magnolia and we have some leftover from recent touch ups to our rental. Definitely won't be magnolia long term. We originally had a room by room plan, but got waylaid as we had to rip out carpets and wallpaper from upstairs immediately to get rid of smells. Downstairs we haven't touched the kitchen/utility, although we have had to strip both halls, again due to smell. With the exception of dealing with the floor, our bedroom will be finished first as it doesn't need any tradesman input. Everything else will have to be done in bits and pieces as and when we can afford to get trades in to plaster/ deal with pointing outside causing damp and so on....See MorePlease help with ground floor re-design and layout ideas
Comments (12)I do like the OnePlan en-suite option but it would be very, very small for an en-suite and I'd have to dig up the floor to add another toilet, all of which can be avoided if I just leave the downstairs bathroom as it is....I have guests who stay regularly and no one has complained yet. I think this would be an unnecessary expense, love to do it but must be mindful of my budget. I definitely agree that it would be less annoying and more private for my guests to access the bathroom and their bedroom off of the hallway and not the living/dining room, so I shall try and come up with something else for coat storage. kikiamack Unfortunately there is not enough space even when making the double doors into a single to squeeze coat storage into the corner :(...See MoreDetached House Design ideas?
Comments (32)Hi Nev, As Robert Mawby says this garage does not look like it is suitable for conversion from the photographs. It is difficult to tell without seeing the building in real life but it looks unlikely that you will be able to convert this garage. As Orange Key Design Studios suggest, you will be best to speak with a few small local architectural firms. Don't be surprised if they charge you for a site visit - any decent architectural firm charges for their time and will not necessarily do a site visit for free. A relatively small fee spent on an architect at this stage will answer most or perhaps all of your questions and will be money well spent. For example we offer a 1hour Home Design Concept meeting, which includes a site visit, for a relatively small fee. However, you appear to be outside the area that we offer this. You will have many options and an architect will be able to discuss these with you, make additional suggestions, and explain pros and cons plus answer your questions about project process - planning, building control, etc. It has been proven through research by CABE, now part of the Design Council, that property that has been designed by an architect sells more quickly and at a higher value than property that has had no architects input. As only about 2% of buildings have had an architects input, using an architect will give your property an advantage within the market. This should help you make the most of your investment. For your future investments you could consider getting an architect to visit any property that you are considering buying before you complete the purchase so that you will have an idea of the improvements that could be done and how much they will cost before you buy. We have provided many clients with a pre-purchase 1hr Home Design Consultation and they find these very helpful when deciding their budgets, deciding what to offer, and seeing if the property is really right for them....See MoreTwo rooms knocked in to one big living room! Design dilema
Comments (7)I think this room is brilliant (not only because of the potential of the size) because it gives you the chance to have two areas with different purposes. One for sitting on front of the fire/chatting to guests and a second for cosying up with your partner on front of the TV. Agreed with Ellie. On the left side, you could have another sofa (or armchairs) perpendicular to the fireplace, with a coffee table and armchair opposite. I like your idea of having two carpets: One under the coffee table, the other opposite the fireplace on far side. I would add a long side board (maybe an oak cupboard, with 4 freestanding legs) in the left corner for shoes, hats etc. It can change purpose if you decide to move it in future. You could add a fancy coat rack (or wall mounted coat hooks) between the two doors on the right. Are there options to put this beside your front door? In between the fireplaces I think a bookshelf would look lovely. If you’re more a kindle fan than a real book fan, use it for your favourite pictures you haven’t had the chance to hang, and vases and pots. You could map this out before buying more furniture, using newspapers or magazines roughly the same size. (Or use the Houzz feature “view in your room” to test furniture you like on the website in the areas). Also get yourself a measuring tape- this will prove indispensable when looking at furniture before packing it off home to find it doesn’t fit. I realise I rambled off a lot there so I hope this makes sense. I just saw so much potential in this room. Hopefully you manage to get it just how you like....See More
lydia_eastwell
6 years agoThese are our current plans which we are mostly happy with but we need to work on the playroom / bathroom / toilet configuration on the top floor to give us 2/solid walls to furnish against and more space width-wise in the playroom
oklouise
6 years agomy suggestions include swopping the leisure area and kids' bathroom so that the leisure area is over the laundry instead of the master bedroom, rearranging the bathroom allows for some extra storage and a small increse to teh space available for the leisure room, the leisure area has three walls for furniture and overlooking the stairs should also make the space feel more generous and downstairs has the small corner in the master bedroom removed (to improve walking space and allow space for bedside tables), the powder room is relocated with an external wall and a hinged external laundry door (instead of slider) is cheaper and reduces the extra width that can be added back to the master bedroom
lydia_eastwell
6 years agooklouise
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agolydia_eastwell
6 years agolydia_eastwell
6 years agooklouise
6 years agolydia_eastwell
6 years agoThanks Louise - I've attached our plans as JOG files that will hopefully show all the dimensions etc. I'm most concerned about weather building on a slab is the best approach given the amount of fall to the front and if possibly the garage could be stepped down? Also need to consider our landscaping plan outside the kitchen / dining / family rooms.
oklouise
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
Andy Pat
6 years agolydia_eastwell
6 years agoAndy Pat
6 years agolydia_eastwell
6 years agolydia_eastwell
6 years agolydia_eastwell
6 years agoAndy Pat
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoAndy Pat
6 years agolydia_eastwell
6 years agoAndy Pat
6 years agoAndy Pat
6 years agooklouise
6 years agohere's another idea to add to the confusion...similar master bed and living areas with the kids wing added to suit the slope of the land with a few steps to change levels ...this idea is about 186sq m, about 19m long x 15 m deep with options to rearrange to suit the site and is a split level single storey home that should have great connection to the garden from all rooms
Andy Pat
6 years agoAndy Pat
6 years ago
Doug Keogh
6 years agoAndy Pat
6 years agoHi Lydia, I've got a mudmap for you to consider: showing a double garage or carport, and some landscaping options 1) relocate trees 2) garden screen between buildings 3) a small garden section outside the kitchen window - suggest gravel and potplants for ease. 4) all decks can be build to accomodate trees. I think landscaping design will ease your concerns with losing the trees and in fact can add to your home. The carport I see as a double with brick lower portion, steel upper with timber slats horizontal to create privacy, but to still let air through. the breezeway between the carport and entry will need a bit of thought to get it right but will help breeze flow.
lydia_eastwell thanked Andy Patlydia_eastwell
6 years agoAndy Pat
6 years agooklouise
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agohere's a version of Andy Pat's suggestion drawn to scale..the overall size of the building footprint is under 23m x 8m (the original house plan was 20m X 9.5m and about 205sqm) this plan is about 180 sq m but doesn't include Andy's suggested study and breezeway as i'm attempting the shortest length to try and save the trees and garden between the new house and your parents' .. whole plan needs more work but is dependent on the space available...what is the length and width of the existing house and what is the distance to the nearest trees? please add the measurements (in big numbers) to the original site plan
Andy Pat
6 years agooklouise
6 years agoDoug Keogh
6 years agoAndy Pat
6 years agooklouise
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoAndy Pat
6 years agoDoug Keogh
6 years ago
Andy Pat