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)
PRO8 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.
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Terraced house - reconfigure upstairs layout - advice needed!
Comments (10)I know! We’re exploring options and are unsure on the best most cost effective solution. We’ve considered squeezing a shower into the downstairs WC, could be done but tight. We have ruled out an extension as the house already requires extensive updating and due to its age we know we will need budget set aside to account for the unknowns! As for extending WC into dining room we hadn’t thought of that, but we have a plan to move an external door to that area so that wouldn’t really be an option either. So difficult!...See Moreplease help - upstairs layout reconfiguration
Comments (4)Personally I think you should be taking a more holistic view of how to plan this house. I think you should be thinking of what you want from the house..... for instance you are planning a sizeable downstairs extension at the back.... having nearly doubled the downstairs space is the upstairs undersized? If you are going to extend the house significantly should you make it look more substantial and extend sideways? Do you need a garage and if so is the current garage wide enough? Do you need the option for further extension later in which case should you plan that now to ensure what you do doesn’t make it impossible?...See MoreUpstairs layout help
Comments (6)Thanks Jonathan for your plan, that is a plan we have been debating but think we are struggling to keep the bedrooms good sizes but at the same time have a good sized bathroom!...See MoreDo we keep the Bathroom or rethink the upstairs layout?
Comments (4)There are quite a few options that you could investigate. If that is the only bath and it certainly appears so then really you need to try and fit in a toilet upstairs. You could swap the bath for a shower or a small japanese style one. I wouldn't eat into bedroom 3 as it's already quite cosy unless you were willing to lose that bedroom and have a much larger bathroom + dressing room. Looking at where your soil pipe is downstairs you really want the upstairs loo as close to it as possible. It really depends on your preferences. Maybe change the downstairs bathroom to include a bath and have a smaller shower upstairs so that you can include a toilet. A wetroom could save you a lot of space too....See More
8 years ago- PRO8 years ago
I'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.
- 8 years ago
- 8 years ago
Jonathan