Upstairs layout
We're new to Houzz - enjoying looking at all the inspiration already!
We have just had an offer accepted on a house (yay!) and now have a lot of thinking to do!! It's a Victorian terrace with the stairs between the front and back rooms. Upstairs currently 2 bed layout with a huge bathroom (used to be a bedroom I presume) accessed from the 2nd bedroom only. We're planning on extending downstairs hopefully a side return and knock through from dining room to make a big back extension.
We're keen to change the layout of the upstairs, options we've considered so far are flipping the stairs 180 degrees and putting in stud walls to create a hallway and separate access to the bathroom. Stairs would then be accessed from the dining room which I'm not sure about.
I would LOVE to move the stairs 90 degrees so they are along the side wall but we know this could be more expensive depending on the direction of the joists - something we will be looking into.
Just wondered if anyone has done this already or can make any other suggestions as to best use of space? We would love to squeeze a 3rd bedroom out of the 3rd floor somehow seeing as the bathroom is so big!
Any suggestions very welcome!
Thanks
Comments (6)
PROUser
6 years agoI'd spin the stairs so that they come up on the right hand side. This then gives you the needed landing to access both bedrooms and bathroom independently.
Also gives you a built in wardrobe over the stair void in whichever room you want to use as the master bedroom.
I don't believe a house of that size needs a downstairs toilet or utility. Therefore, I would sacrifice both in lieu of a larger kitchen with french doors.
You could of course do what some people do and move the stairs to the right to increase the size of the dining area, however, in doing so, you make the second bedroom around 6' narrower. The choice is yours. I prefer the first one.
Related Discussions
Redesign of upstairs layout
Comments (2)Hi - adding a very quick sketch ( as have a client meeting shortly !) something like this as a bedroom configuration could maybe work - with Jack and Jill ensuites between the four bedrooms or if budget allows four ensuite shower rooms instead ( or a combination - one J&J and two ES) but realistically you want something to suit you as a family - so need to know a bit more about you .... Possibly putting a bath in bay window of master might work - no electrics within 3m of it though !! And obviously check it could take the weight of a full bath and adult (s) too !! OnePlan offer a concept planning service, via email, at an hourly rate of £35 if you want to take these quick ideas further....See MoreProblem with upstairs layout!
Comments (3)Having done a few of these in my time, i can say, unless you want to go to major construction, the short answer is, 'No'. Unfortunately the way your bathroom is upstairs is on the 'wrong' side of the house to provide a good alternative. You will probably find that your neighbours house is easier changed as their bathroom comes up on the right side. Whatever you do, you will end up making the second bedroom much smaller. You have to take down the chimney stacks whatever you do, and unless you are able to put a solid roof on the conservatory, build over the top to create more space, you would be ending up with 3 small bedrooms, or two small bedrooms, a mediocre bedroom and a narrow bathroom. Plans 1 & 2 show these examples. Plan 3 is the only logical solution to improving the house that would be worth doing as it would add value and not diminish the spaces too much that you already have. It creates an upstairs worth having, a lovely sized master bedroom and a good size family bathroom....See MoreUpstairs layout Dilemna
Comments (6)You should be able to fit an 800/900mm wide shower in beside the door - most doors I've come across are between 760-900mm wide. Then it just depends how long that wall is up to the window.. I can imagine a nice offset quadrant in that space up to 1200mm long. Shower enclosure/walk in panel heights range from 1800 - 2000mm plus tray height of begween 25 - 45mm (or 0mm if you wet room it) so I don't think you'll be that constrained. You might end up bringing the eaves forward a bit to take into account standing height while at the wc but that just gives you an opportunity to create some more storage in the eaves if you need it.. Good luck with the planning!...See MoreUpstairs layout Dilemna
Comments (1)I think it looks pretty good. The only things I would look at are the layouts in the bathroom and ensuite. It may be arranged like this because of soil pipes/joists etc but could be enhanced to make better use of the space. I would probably swop the WC and shower in the ensuite, if possible, and look at an alternative place for the bath in the main bathroom. Good luck with it all....See More
whizzywig
6 years ago- PRO
User
6 years agoI'd have to question if putting a bathroom in the middle of the two big rooms was possible. I'm guessing the joists, due to the current orientation of the stairs, go from left to right. Therefore the waste pipe would not only have to have the right fall on it, which is doubtful given the distance, but that it would also have to go through most of the joists. Given that they will only be 7" deep, it would weaken the whole structure. Clearly, I doubt that's possible but you might get away with a macerator type. ( I wouldn't), and you've also got the bath / shower waste to also go through all the joists - I don't think Building Control are going to go for that one.
Plus - You would end up with three small bedrooms, two of which now have oddly sited Fireplaces due to not now being central on walls.
The only sensible conversion to a three bed, would be to go in to the loft using the stairs on the side, You have to have a steel beam in under bedroom two, and you make the second bedroom smaller, however, it gives good placement for the stairs on all floors.
Anyhow, just my opinion! I've done a few of these, and they all have their own problems, not least of which, that when you start banging on lime plaster, it often all falls off - another storey!!
You need to start off with a fixed budget, where the drains are and a structural engineer.
Jonathan
6 years agoTeresa Ward
6 years ago
Jonathan