Give us your best layout + design ideas (& budget estimates!)

6 years ago

Hi everyone

I'm hoping somebody within this wonderful Houzz community (pros and DIYer's alike!) can provide some inspiration for us.

Below is a floorplan of a flat in dire need of modernisation. We are looking to do a complete refurb and layout change if budget permits. So far our only lightbulb moment has been to switch the bedroom on the bedroom and kitchen on the first floor and knock through the wall to create a open plan kitchen dining. That would mean though, that the third bedroom leads into the (small) garden (ideally you would have the kitchen / dining leading to the outside).

Other than that, is there anything else that you think we could do to improve the layout?

And also, any ideas of how much this could cost. It would be great if I could get a range - eg, if we were to hire a building company that would project manage the entire thing to DIY'ing (easy) bits and managing individual contractors ourselves.

Comments (4)

A B
6 years ago
I really like the current layout. If this was my flat, the one thing I'd look into changing is reducing the size of the shower room to become a wet room, and extending the kitchen slightly, I'd then put glass double doors there. It would make it into a decent sized kitchen diner although obviously may not be possible
Jonathan
6 years ago
I also like the current layout. If you do make the back room into a bedroom you could use it as a living room and put a daybed, fold down bed or sofa bed in there for occasional guests
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Well a quote - not an estimate - is not supposed to go up as you go along ! It's a price that's fixed. An hourly rate is obviously very different. Before you enter into any agreement with a professional they should set out what their services are for, how much they are and when and how you need to pay in their T&C's that should be given to you before they even start. Maybe you need a quote from a concept planner instead ( like us !) You'd still need SE obviously, when knocking through walls etc, but we don't really get involved with the colours and choosing soft furnishing - we deal more with the room flow, sight lines from strategic points, overall layout and also design of fitted furniture in rooms like kitchens, bedrooms, dressing rooms etc etc etc we put sofas and chairs etc when required into our drawings too, as they are a large part of the room and consequently the design, but we don't help you choose colours or tell you where to shop ! So it can work out less cost than an interior design service, as you are getting less help with that side of things.
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If you were to put the utility door in the hall which might be more practical for washing, you could do something like this? Rather than the island have the peninsula as shown in your whole ground floor layout. Personally speaking I'd also go for an integrated FF as it's a much cleaner and streamlined look and I think fewer appliances on show in a living space the better. I'd have a banquette seat for the dining table so you can have it against the wall. An L shaped might work well. I'd try the sofas opposite each other to create a bit more space although that may not work depending on how many people in your family watching tv! I think you'd need to bring in the one opposite the tv a little to be able to see the tv anyway unless it's a massive tv! Although if the dining table is pushed back into that corner as suggested it does leave room for a corner sofa with perhaps a low back chair opposite it in front of the tv.
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Really appreciate everyone's input so far - it's so useful to get these opinions! Yes there is a separate front door which guests would use - so no problems there. the conservatory is at the side/back and we would use this entrance as leads on from the car parking area. Jen P I am so interested in that!! Sounds amazing! Would you possibly have a photo or tell me how it's done? Did you do it yourself? What does it look like from the garden/outside the conservatory looking in? Thanks!! out of interest what are people's views on under the stairs utility rooms like the photo attached? I could screen the area off but it wouldn't be a room to enter as such. Could fit washer/dryer and vacuum/mops etc. But no sink/no space to hang laundry. Would this be enough 'utility room' for you if you were buying a house?
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Comments (4)
How many will live in this house: ... how many bedrooms do you actually need now and in the immediate future; ... how many people do you need to have sit at your dining table for each family meal. If you are living alone and/or with a spouse or significant other and have no children at this time, seriously consider just focusing your budget on remodeling the downstairs only. Consider beginning the remaking the conservatory so that it could be used as either the master bedroom or as a formal dining room later. Is the glass roof level or vaulted? Could you add a wall of patio doors instead of a single door that opens inward so that even if later you changed the roof or added a glass ceiling for warmth it could still give you plenty of light and a view of the garden. What is that odd exterior space between the conservatory and bathroom -- is there anything in that space (such as heat/ac or utility connections) or could that space be enclosed and become a part of the interior of the house. Is it wide enough to become a back stoop so you could have an exterior door from the kitchen to the back with a covered walkway there rather than needing to go through what is now the conservatory? Is the wall between the lounge/living room and the kitchen a weight bearing wall? Could you remove it and replace it with some version of a room divider cabinet and then use the part of the lounge/living room on the other side as a dining space, creating a modest sized "L" shaped great room with living, dining and kitchen? You should have at least a toilet and sink both upstairs and down. Logically, you could take a part of the back of the larger bedroom for a bath between the two bedrooms (and, perhaps, put a walk in closet on the other side). Until you do build an addition to your home, you might not need a tub/shower both upstairs and down so you could put it where it is most convenient for how you want to use it -- such as: if prefer your tub/shower near your washer and dryer and they are downstairs, you'd want your tub/shower there. For storage, go vertical. Tall chests of drawers and cabinets are going to give you more storage per square foot of floor space used than low wide ones. Choose smaller furnishings and appliances as they will make your space visually appear larger. Make what furnishings you buy do double duty: ... A two drawer filing cabinet can provide storage and serve as a living room end table or a bedside table. ... A storage ottoman with a reversible lid to enable it to serve as a coffee table can serve three purposes. Keep us updated; pics please. Good luck on your project.
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aliceampersand
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you both - great food for thought!
PRO
BetterSpace: The Floor Plan Experts
6 years ago
Hi Alice, you're on the right track! The layout of your flat is quite rigid and there isn't much that can be done within reasonable effort (and price). You might also consider removing the wall to the stair and moving the first steps towards the toilet. This will further enlarge the space.

Hiring a building company would of course increase the cost by 15-20% but if you don't have any experience in construction and project management, it is by far the most sensible thing to do. For a price tag, even a rough estimate, we would need quite a few more details about the existing house, furniture, finishes. I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any further questions, I will be more than happy to help. just drop me a line to service@betterspace.co or visit our website - betterspace.co

Good luck!

Give us your best layout + design ideas (& budget estimates!)

Comments (4)

A B

Jonathan

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Give us your best layout + design ideas (& budget estimates!)

Comments (4)

A B

Jonathan

Related Discussions

aliceampersandOriginal Author

BetterSpace: The Floor Plan Experts

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

aliceampersand
Original Author