Help needed with downstairs layout and dark lounge
We have recently bought an early 1970’s detached house in need of modernisation. We find the lounge to be a dark room with no windows and the only natural light comes from the patio doors in the connecting dining room. We would appreciate any layout ideas as considering swapping the lounge to back on the house to enjoy the view onto the south facing garden. Happy to knock down walls etc. Many thanks.
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Comments (5)we don't mind carrying out a lot of work over time as this will be our forever hows (at least the next 10 years i expect) we had similar thoughts as i have read on here there are downsides to opening the kitchen area (noise and cooking smells mostly). i really like this idea of having the log burner with the flue exposed as the lounge may look too small if we built a chimney around it. Another dilemma is whether to have the flue continue up through the house or to have it travel upwards outside of the house (from ceiling height upwards). thanks for the advice :)...See MoreSmall Lounge with awkward features - layout help needed
Comments (12)Dear Caroline, Congratulations on your new flat! Not wanting to assume, are the steps leading downstairs to the kitchen start as you enter the room? Couple of things for you to consider: - Storage unit on the other side of the stair (is there a bannister/wall/railing?); please do send through pictures. It might be possible to fit in a bookcase as a divider (recommend a low one and to accessorise the top, for example, with a vase, lamp, picture frames and candles. - Your lounge area is not that small; however, rather than a couch and a chair, have you considered an L-shaped sofa, with a coffee table in front of it and a TV unit across on the opposite wall. - What is your budget and preferred design style? - What is the flooring? Consider getting a rug. We are happy to assist you further so please do not hesitate to contact us. Good luck!...See MoreHelp with downstairs layout & extension
Comments (28)Hi Keswing, I'm not sure if this is helpful but we went through a similar (ish) process about 6 months ago and I found it all very confusing at the start as to what I needed from who and in what order! What I learnt from it was... We already had a very good idea of what we wanted (we got an interior designer / concept planner on board right at the start- highly recommended), so just used a local recommendation of an architect to do our basic drawings - we needed these for building regs and also to give to the builder so we had something to base the 'contract on'. We paid £500 for these drawings only. (For comparison we had architect quote for nearly £2k from a chartered firm) We also needed structural calculations for building regs and to give to the builders alongside the architects drawings. The builders needed the structural calcs so they knew what size steels etc to buy / install / quote against. This was £900 just on a separate structural engineer. It's worth noting our calcs were reasonably complicated and involved a site visit; had he been able to do them from the architect's drawings alone (quite often this is possible) then it would only have been £300. It then cost us £400 for all of our buildings regs submissions / certificates on top of the above. It's worth finding out from your two different quotes what they both will and won't include; Will either / both then require separate calculations from a structural engineer and therefore additional costs or is that already included in the quote with the architectural technologist? Does either quote include building regs and / or planning submission? Hopefully then you'll know that you're comparing the two quotes like for like and can also know how much of your budget is going to be allocated to fees. Hope this helps and good luck! Claire...See MoreNeed help with downstairs layout
Comments (4)Hi Essex Banners, you may find our blog helpful which is all about mistakes to avoid with open plan room. Here is the link if you would like to take a read - https://www.thelivinghouse.co.uk/blog-interior-design-tips/10-design-mistakes-to-avoid-with-an-open-plan-room If you would like any guidance and help with your home, we are an affordable online interior design company offering expert advice with affordable packages. Heres the link to our website if you would like to take a look - https://www.thelivinghouse.co.uk/...See More
PROUser
6 years agoSo many possibilities :-
Here for the ground, I went with this:- Introducing a Hallway I thought was really important, gaining back some front to back thoroughfare. Plus gaining space and light.
Then I went one step further for the future and balanced the upstairs with the downstairs..............the house is currently 'all bum and no boobs', basically meaning it's bottom heavy. So................two possibilities, one gains a fourth bedroom, and the other a huge master suite instead, just boils down to personal preference. I don't think either one is more valuable than the other. If it were me i'd keep it 3 beds, but have the Master Suite -
Lets face it, if you went for the Master Suite...............it's very easy for someone go come along add a wall and make it four beds afterwards.
A B
6 years agoJonathan
6 years agotamp75
6 years ago- PRO
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6 years ago Hannah White
6 years ago- PRO
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6 years agoPan up ..................it's the only one on here with a drawn plan -
Also gave you future options for upstairs. Have a look further up the to of the post x
A B
6 years ago- PRO
User
6 years agoCan anyone see either of the two posts i've put on now? Here it is again:-
So many possibilities :-
Here for the ground, I went with this:- Introducing a Hallway I thought was really important, gaining back some front to back thoroughfare. Plus gaining space and light.
Then I went one step further for the future and balanced the upstairs with the downstairs..............the house is currently 'all bum and no boobs', basically meaning it's bottom heavy. So................two possibilities, one gains a fourth bedroom, and the other a huge master suite instead, just boils down to personal preference. I don't think either one is more valuable than the other. If it were me i'd keep it 3 beds, but have the Master Suite -
Hopefully you can see these now. how weird!
wendy_saunt45
6 years ago
PROBetterSpace: The Floor Plan Experts
6 years agoHannah White
6 years ago
Rose Williams
6 years agoDoes the chimney breast not go all the way up?, because the plans don't quite line up. Another consideration is are you able to move plumbing and drainage to the opposite side of the house, and regardless of budget, wanting to deal with that kind of upheaval?
Of course, the obvious thing is to make the ground floor extension into one room, but I think little adjustments like lining up the inner entrance hall and opening that up would be a minimal approach to making a big difference.Here is my pop at it, but trying to not move services too far or move supporting points (of course still needs new larger lintels or more, but basically in the same places). I just moved living areas to places that the natural light already serves... and no dark corridors added.
Hannah White
6 years agoHannah White
6 years agoA B
6 years agoI would look into moving the porch to the right, putting a large window in the lounge at the front instead, turning the stairs (so upstairs would need a bit of rejigging too), then having the hallway as your music and study zone. You would lose the utility (could possibly squeeze in a laundry room upstairs as part of the rejig) but you'd have a great sized living room and huge kitchen, both of which would be light too! I also think you could make the corner fireplace created in the living room a bit of a feature
Rose Williams
6 years agoWe all like to have a play :) ... heres another. You could see right through from the study into the dining room, and that would also help let in light from the windows. Apart from making the extension into one room, the only major changes are the kitchen walls and a "window" for the breakfast bar into the extension. Ive suggested 2 new windows in this aswell. Its a shame you say you cant fit a door between the utility and "inner hall", but maybe a coat cupboard or storage, maybe even accessible from both sides?
Hannah White thanked Rose WilliamsHannah White
6 years ago
The progress so far- we have been busy....One of the windows now fitted either side of the chimney breast.Hannah White
6 years agowall removed between old music room and dining room, to create new lounge at back of house
sloeginfizzz