Awful layout is bringing us down! Please, help!

8 years ago

Hello, this is the layout of our non really functional downstairs. We can not find a layout, which can work for us. We have two growing girls, 5&11, a husbands, who plays musical instrument and I paint& do craft in my spare time.
The house is East/west facing with smallish Garden to the west, where the current extension is. There is a garage to the front next to the front door.
I like space, less furniture, these walls are not doing anything for us @ you have to bring the food from the kitchen, from the living space into the dining room (the extension). At the moment the dining room is a storage/music/drying space. We lived in the house for more than 4 years and we are no wiser.

Please, help -any thoughts and ideas, welcome!

Featured Answer

J

8 years ago

I personally would dislike the kitchen as my main entry. And I'd avoid buying a house with that layout too. A good architect will sort it all out for you. And they will have all the relevant information to give you a great workable layout. Good luck with it all.

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Comments (36)

A B
8 years ago
How many rooms go you need? I guess a simple change would be to knock through between the kitchen and dining room. I’m confused by the hallway layout. Could the small room be extended under the stairs to become a combined loo and utility? If you want a separate room for music could you consider a garden room? Not sure what the soundproofing is like on these though!
PRO
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Can you mark up the room uses, most important kitchen as that will indicate where the drains are. Also, if you could put in the garage, as I presume it's not on that plan. What's the big brown thing in the Hallway? Thank you
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Thanks for your plan @Wumi! With two of us working from home all day I don't think I could face moving the office or sitting room to the darkest part of the house. As the current utility room has a translucent roof at the moment, and a glass door to the dining room, removing it wouldn't really bring more light into the middle of the house, so I think whatever room(s) gets placed there needs to be something that isn't used for long periods of time or, perhaps, 'embraces the dark'. It's a relatively large space for a utility and toilet alone though. Any ideas for what other rooms could go in a relatively windowless space? I think my imagination has hit a wall! Thank you!
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Stef
Original Author
8 years ago
The stairs are quite a low rise, so extension of the loo under the stairs will be very limited, I think the clearance in the highest point of the stairs is about 2m which goes very stiffly(80cm is the current clearance between the stairs and the loo) to 1.35m.

The hallway is rather grant and ...well, big! And that’s why we really dislike the series of awkwardly spaced smaller room to the back.

We would like a big living space and a room that you can close the door to. We’ve been thinking of extending/including the garage, but this creases additional issues with storage and service points.
Stef
Original Author
8 years ago
Does this help? The boiler is in the corner above the sink next to the window.
PRO
User
8 years ago
I'd initially be thinking something like this:- Do you need a Utility or Downstairs Loo?
Stef thanked User
A B
8 years ago
If it's a large hall could this be used for the music space? Or does he play after bedtimes?
Stef
Original Author
8 years ago
We do need a downstairs loo, and I’m concerned this will take a lot off the air around the stairs. I like allign8ng the walls tho..
Stef
Original Author
8 years ago
The hallway is not that big and half of it is double height so the sound will travel up to the bedrooms. Music is a hobby, but needs decent space.
A B
8 years ago
How about making the most of the grand hall by making it a dining space? Double doors to a kitchen family room. You could have a corner glass door overlooking the garden here as a real feature. Then separate living and music/craft rooms. You'd need to play around with room sizes probably
Stef thanked A B
Stef
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you Jen, this is something i haven’t considered so will need to draw it first and see whether and how it might work.
scalpman
8 years ago
If your serious and have the monies to do it then get your hands in your pocket and get an Architect to plan it. They will do a pro job and take into consideration such things as structural integrity, fire regulation and the like. They will do plans for you which you can then hawk around to Builders for quotes.

You don’t need them beyond the planning stage unless you want to be totally hands free and if you don’t take up too much of there time, can be £250 an hour or more, then it won’t cost a lot either maybe £3000, money well spent I suggest.
PRO
User
8 years ago
I didn't like walking in to the house straight in to the dining room., but, Jen got me thinking about all the wasted space at the front.

Therefore, I did this.....................it's a radical change at the front, but utilises the space well. It also puts the music / craft room slightly removed from the living areas.
The alignment of the areas gives better flow. It also allows for a utility and downstairs loo. Obviously you would need to keep the sink to the right hand set of kitchen units for drainage reasons, but the kitchen layout is amendable. It gives a nice dining space, and a great living room.

Obviously everything depends on budget - so whilst I could throw design features in like Bi-Fold doors on to the garden in all directions, a log burner etc, It will depend how much you can set aside for internal works.
Charnelle Els
8 years ago
@Man about the House I think you're onto something here. But I lived in a house once where you entered through the kitchen and I didn't like it at all. What if you move the kitchen diner down to loose the slight L shape of the living room and have the study door off the dining area. Then create a semi partition wall at the front door with a floor to ceiling cupboard for coat and nicknack storage. The partition wall doesn't need to be solid but just create a walk in entry space. Budget permitting this could be an awesome space.
Charnelle Els
8 years ago
... with access to the loo from the entryway too ;)
A B
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I disagree @MATH- a double height entrance/dining hall would look great, and be quieter in general. A double height kitchen, I'd just be thinking of all those cooking smells going upstairs! However it does give you a proper size living room. Lots for @Stef to think about! Would love an update when you have had plans drawn Stef to see how you use the space in the end
Stef
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you very much for your comments. We like the hallway and would like to keep it, maybe not in the shape as it is now. I think Jen have it, the hallway is wow, and then everything goes slightly depressing!
There are quite a few interesting ideas, things I didn’t even considered, I love the fire burner! I’d like the right balance between open place, air&light and cosines&utility. Hope that makes sense...some way to go, I think we are going into the architect way, I have now a better idea for the conversation..
If you have any after thoughts or questions, please, do share, it’s all very helpful!
Najeebah
8 years ago
Where is the main entrance to the house?? I was assuming it was from the bottom as drawn, but some comments make it seem the stairs/hallway area is the entrance
Stef
Original Author
8 years ago
The entry is on the top of my drawing with the stairs to the left and a garage to the right. At the moment is double glass door.
J
8 years ago
Looks like Jen had it right to me. Open the wall between the kitchen and dining room. Then you have your closed off room for a lounge/music room and a large family kitchen casual area to the rear of the building. Much lower costs and retain your nice entry. I'd look into converting part of the garage into the utility/downstairs and WC. As long as you can get into there without going outside of course.
Stef thanked J
Najeebah
8 years ago
I see. In that case, Hugh's layout is great. Switching the entrance and dining is also an option, comes down to pure preference and usage habits. There are some options for less structural changes, but it seems this is worth redoing entirely, properly, even if that means postponing it for a while
Stef thanked Najeebah
Stef
Original Author
8 years ago
@Najeebah, sorry, who is Hugh?
Najeebah
8 years ago
Sorry Stef! Man About the House is Hugh :)
PRO
User
8 years ago
Charnelle - Like this?? Obs, you don't get such a great kitchen, but it's do'able.
Stef thanked User
A B
8 years ago
Only problem is the kitchen window would be overlooking the garage I think!
Stef
Original Author
8 years ago
Turning the toilet around is something that we are considering if it helps with the layout. I’m not still sure the utility would work there tho - the kitchen would be left with no natural direct light. This totally unusual place to put the kitchen, would it not feel like a side walk than as the heart of the home though? Will need to model this and get my head around it!
PRO
User
8 years ago
Going back to the original without the smaller kitchen and having a sep hallway. You get the light from the front door and full height window panes, the light from the stairwell, the double height ceiling and you could make the utility smaller and have either a door or full height window in the dining area.
Plus don't forget you have french doors leading to the living room and you can see the garden through the french doors or bi-folds in that too.
Stef thanked User
Najeebah
8 years ago
A partition wall/ separate entrance hall doesn't make sense here. Rather have a dining space first of it feels more suitable. It will also allow a coat closet and such. closing it up means the northern light is allowed in to the entrance, effectively wasted space, and blocked from the kitchen/dining area. Depending on the style, you could do something like a frosted glass screen for more separation of the entrance space.
Stef thanked Najeebah
PRO
User
8 years ago
I agree with the Architect ! It's a terrible shape to try and re-configure. There isn't a perfect solution unless you go for a real radical change - Nobody has mentioned the Budget yet. However, I feel the only way to open that space is to convert the garage and make a hallway straight through. Something like this:-
With a lot of steel work you could go really open plan - like this - depending on how you like things:-
A B
8 years ago
Love both layouts are they possibilities @Stef? Agree an architect will be a very wise investment in what sounds like a unique house with huge potential. Please do come back with some before and afters!
PRO
User
8 years ago
You're a hard woman to please Jen P, glad I got there in the end! x
Stef
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you - @ J - My take on the buying a house is more to do with location and potential, we can change the layout, but not the location:-)

Thank you @Man..,sorry, was there a reason why you kept the place for the original loo intact? Apart from the Utility room, which I’m not very keen on having in the middle of the house, but I feel knocking into the garage feels inevitable. There are four houses build to that layout and having seen the other three, I’m not very keen on the their solutions so I’m looking for something with less walls and flow that works for us...not easy!

@Jen, I agree with you; I get the feeling we feel the layout similarly, I’m reassured I’m not just being on my own:-)

We haven’t defined budget yet. As someone mentioned above, it’s worth waiting&get it right than hurry and get it wrong..I’m just hoping that this ideal set up is not that illusive!

Im hoping to meet with an architect shortly and have ooptions.
Najeebah
8 years ago
do take your time weighing up these options. list your requirements and priorities for each space. Where do you need the most space, light, which areas should be close to each other, a whole lot more. get a good architect on board and their recommended contractor too. My preference of all here is the one Hugh/ M.a.t.h. posted showing an entrance directly into the kitchen/dining if you switch it. In a space that isn't large, I'm wary of giving space, particularly with windows, to circulatory or less used areas.
Stef thanked Najeebah
A B
8 years ago
Totally agree @Najeebah about taking your time. I have found this site most helpful in 'thinking out loud', getting others opinions and seeing what other people are doing. This isn't a replacement for hiring experts, but in my opinion compliments it.

@MATH that's just what my husband says!!
Stef thanked A B
Stef
Original Author
8 years ago
Completely agree, Jen, the comments and the discussion helped me greatly with figuring out what I like ..it’s great to be challenged as it opens avenues you didn’t know existed.
Luz
8 years ago
Sorry the drawing is freehand, but hope the suggested layout might give you a few ideas & it wouldn't require moving the services? Best of luck with the project!