Personally I think the major issue is to move the stairs- if you have bigger, safer stairs this will of course impact the space upstairs but I don't think you need to extend the upstairs right now to have enough bedrooms since you have so much downstairs space.
I would put a modest extension downstairs so that the orangery is more connected and create a downstairs bedroom for occasional guests.
My plan looses the utility but you could easily stack a washer dryer in the downstairs bathroom or create room in a bedroom of your large upstairs bathrooms.
Should you later extend over the barn you can easily create a corridor through but at that time I would change the back bedroom into the master.

Kerry I like your ideas. I don't think we can extend over the barn as it is vaulted?

Jonathan I do wonder you are right to link the orangery in more. I'm not sure I can foresee reconfiguring so much though. I'm not against a bedroom downstairs.

Anyone ever moved their staircase into an extension?

In defense of reconfiguring it would be cheaper than extending.

Hi Claire, I'm glad you like my ideas.

If you are looking to reconfigure only, rather than extending upstairs you can keep your upstairs layout exactly the same. As I've only advised this for a more space and a possible guest bedroom/study. I completely understand that extending over vaulted roofs can be more of a problem than it's worth, although should this be something you would like to do in the future, it may be worth speaking with a Builder / Architect / or Structural Engineer to check the Integrity of the Build, to see if this is would be a possibility.

With regards to down stairs, as your main inconvenience is the stairway, I advise going with the plan I've advised for the down stairs layout with regards to creating a larger stair case (for safety) and decreasing the size of the utility slightly. Then closing up the doorway and looking to create an understairs cupboard for your everyday essentials and extra storage.

Another piece of advice I would keep is removing the wall between your kitchen and dining area, as this will provide you with the open-plan space you crave.

I agree with Jonathan, about opening a walkway between your orangery and the house, however, there would be an awful lot of reconfiguration with the other plans advised.

Essentially, It's completely up to how you want your space to work for you. :)

Let me know how you get on and if you need any more advice, I'd be happy to help.

Kerry

You've had some great tips from Kelly and Jonathan above: taking a couple of their key points together you could end up with something like this:

A combined kitchen diner; a through hallway from front door to a new staircase and then a follow theough from the stairs to the barn and orangery. The small extension/corridor (green) could be glazed so as not to restrict any light into the barn and help light that hallway next to the utility. Hopefully the stairs could be done in such a way so as to not impact on the upatairs layout too much, but it looks like you could squeeze a bit of space from the shower room if needs be.

The current family room would make a great multi-functional space as the family needs change - play room/ guest room/ games room, etc. Double doors either side of the corridor between it and the kitchen/diner would open it up but still enable closing it off as required. It will be a great house, good luck.

Kerry, not Kelly, sorry!

I realise that when I put together my plan I misread a measurement. Having checked I am now quite sure that the stairs have to move to be less steep. To rise at least 8' in a distance of around 6' they will be very steep. One suggestion was to create a U shaped stair riser but this would have taken room from the family bathroom making it about 6'x6' which would be tight, plus it would be unsupported underneath which is a problem as you can imagine how much a bath full of water weighs.
You should also get an engineer to look at what walls can be removed cost effectively. I imagine the wall between the kitchen and dining room is structural- given the age of your house I imagine if you look at the side of the house you will be able to see the roof- and I wouldn't be surprised if you have a roof on the front half and one in the back with a central gully which helps you imagine that the wall in question is indeed major.
I suspect your next step is to work out a budget and then consult a structural engineer as these actions will better illustrate what is possible.

Love this website.... yes my dad is an engineer and was worried about the stairs and that we would have to lose some space upstairs to take this into account. This is why I ended up with the thought of needing a double height extension. It does leave me wondering about an extension purely with stairs in it or using the barn room in some way to get upstairs - mezzanine style ?? I agree with you re the walls being structural so I'm not sure we can be too radical. Thanks again for all your input.

You can solve the stairs problem by extending them downstairs towards the kitchen or the utility. Mind you, this can cause head room problem upstairs in the room above the extended stairs (Bedroom 3 or shower) a local section will help you understand this.

I think the best way to extend the kitchen is to connect it to the dining room and make a large open-plan space with large doors opening to the back.

Thinking forward, you might want to consider a more wholesome solution. Because your space upstairs is tight for 4 bedrooms, how about making a second master bedroom downstairs which you will now use for guests, but in the future when the kids are older you can move into. The small bedroom 4 can then be turned into a game room.

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If you did put the stairs in barn you could swap the master bedroom to the bedroom at the back then swap the bathroom and ensuite

Hi. I like Kerry's downstairs plan. Without any extension upstairs will stay tight. I like Jonathon's re-gig with the stairs in the barn room. Then the family bathroom will be a decent size too. You'll end up with a fabulous house. Good luck

Revised ground floor layout with new stairs position.

John

I like Jonathan's original suggestions except for the bedroom downstairs. I would leave the kitchen as it is with the utility toilet turned at right angles or omitted altogether to allow for the connection to the orangery. With the extension to the orangery widened I think a bedroom could be added above it with a corridor taken off the bathroom and shower room to connect to the first floor plan. However whilst this gives a good plan and adds area without affecting garden space appreciably I think it would require some architectural thought to make the two storey extension look good externally.

Whilst there is an attraction to having the stairs in the barn room I think they are drawn narrow and will take up more space . The stairs may take away from the room's appearance internally and headroom on the stairs could be a problem. Hence my preference for the original.

Hope this is helpful

New ideas as it looks like we will exchange next week. Move stars to come more traditionally up through the middle of the house with the sacrifice of the 4th small bedroom. Make a new big kitchen diner across the back of the house plus utility and wetroom. Wondering if 4th bedroom then becomes room over car port to side of house or off the barn room into front bedroom/ ensuite- will need permission as forwards off building line. We currently have a front garden and just don't use it so can see the benefit in building forwards rather than backwards?? Any thoughts?

If you are allowed to build forward and you intend to build two storey I would consider moving the front door and making a grander entrance and staircase and putting it towards the middle of the total footprint of the property rather than keeping the original entrance that is only 4' wide so would never be very grand.
This also means that you have further extension possibilities later- for instance you might put an extra bathroom in the smallest bedroom, extend behind the barn or even over the remaining part of it.

Interesting. Had been going to say it would break up the front facade which is really pretty but you mean extend forward off the barn.... still wondering how that would work with the pitch roof of the barn. Plus if you put a double storey over even one part of the barn would we end up needing to add to the foundations?

Also looking for a recommendation of someone to take this forward for us. Would have thought an architect but some chat on here seems to imply you can also go with a designer?? We need someone near Cambridge. Assuming we need one? Assuming we can't just go to a builder with vague plans??

Ah.... now I see the house I can see it is stands really well and you don't want to mess that up.
I will take another look later. In the meantime you should be looking for a local architect who has experience of and relationships with the local planners as I can imagine planners being reluctant to allow you to build forward.
Your barn room may well need some strengthening but seems like the obvious direction to extend.
In my opinion the trick is to get a house with some generous rooms rather than adding to the square footage with more rooms.
Lovely house btw

Earlier in the thread you did talk about the possibility of a two storey extension at the back. Instead I offer an alternative at the side where the barn is, in order to give you a better kitchen/ family space

I like it. Unfortunately now we have keys I am quite torn. The internal structure of the barn room with high ceiling is really nice.
Back to wondering about a simple one or two storey extension at the back or a side extension over a car port?? Still can't decide on the stairs. Meeting with a builder next week.
Exciting times.

The best advice we were given when we moved two years ago was to live in the house a while before committing to any significant changes. So glad we did, as our plans now are much simpler than we originally thought. We wanted much more open-plan, having moved from a house that was built open-plan. But within six months we'd decided not to go open-plan with this house. We are still planning to add a bathroom, and I keep toying with changing the stairs round, but that'll be it for us!
Angie

I know what you mean and agree. However we are in an unusual scenario where my husband has moved ahead of the family and the rest of us can't move until Easter. Seems too good a chance to do work now when there aren't loads of kids to worry about. Plus the place needs damp proofing and the stairs are unsafe so some work needs doing now.... makes me feel we have to just do it now rather than wait? Would normally completely agree though! Good advice!

You need to employ a designer,concept planner or architect now, get plans formalised now and apply for planning in the next few weeks. You need to have a builder lined up to start just after Christmas because otherwise there is no hope that they will be finished by Easter.

Since you seem to be drawn to an extension at the back and want the barn room to remain here is an option (subject to approval etc)

And upstairs?? It's the bit I most struggle with...
what's not obvious from drawings is that there is a step up to the 3 front bedrooms and that the wall between 4 and 2 is a stud wall.
Having Ed from Sturdy build come and have a look with us tomorrow.
Wish us luck!

In case you were unable to see the upstairs plan I have included it again. I don’t think a step between the front and back part of the landing detracts from the house and it adds to its period charm.

So current thinking is kitchen in barn room.... less structural work needed- thoughts re your lay out within that room would be appreciated. My thinking was main kitchen units at far end so that either dining or seating is in front of the glass doors onto garden... there is also a wood burner at the house end that is really nice and would be nice to preserve... planning on roofing the conservatory and potentially could open that up more to link to barn??
Kitchen shopping Sunday..