Downstairs design layout

8 years ago

My partner and I have just bought an old Victorian semi-detached cottage which is in need of a complete refurbish.

The layout of the house downstairs is not working for us, and we are thinking about remodeling, but do not want to build an extension.

The current layout is an open plan lounge/dining room at the front of the house, this leads on to a narrow galley kitchen and a conservatory to the side which can be accessed via the dining room. Then through the galley kitchen is a empty space they used as a utility room, and then onto the separate downstairs bathroom. But then at the back of the house is an empty room which is accessed through the bathroom, it's got 2 large windows to the side.

We were discussing whether to move the kitchen to one of the back rooms and make it a kitchen diner, and then use the current dining room at the front of the house as an extension of the lounge. But then we have no idea what to do with the long corridor where the kitchen is.

Or the other option discussed was whether to just use the back room as a playroom or a TV room, and then where the bathroom is, make that a WC, and a utility room, but keep the kitchen as it is in the long narrow room. But I didn't like the idea of having a playroom which can only be accessed through the utility room, I would rather have it closer to the lounge.

The 2 back rooms are overlooking the lawn.

The picture I have drawn is just a rough guide so you can see the current layout.

Any advise or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as this is the first house we have bought, and do not have previous experience with this?

Thank you :)

Featured Answer

Jonathan

8 years ago

Always assuming you don’t need a downstairs bathroom this what I would do.

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Comments (22)

Emily
8 years ago
Would you post some photos? Including some of the space outside the rooms.
Does your budget allow replacing the conservatory if it needs it?
A B
8 years ago
Do u need a downstairs bathroom? There was s similar layout on Kirstie and Phil recently that Kirstie designed really well. Basically extending the kitchen into the bathroom, then a family room off or overlooking the garden
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Option 1 : Doesn't offer a lot of storage, sink to close to end panel of the appliance housing to make it practicle, the option of dining at the breakfast bar looks compromised by the hob, also doesn't appear to be much practical worktop to use for preparation, toaster kettle etc. In my opinion not a good design, creates more problems than it solves Option 2 : Is the better design but I think lose the wall have a straight run with tall units on the garden end and none at the other taking away the bulky end panels. Turn the island 90 degrees and make it longer and deeper.
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Your dilemma is just the sort of whole house project I enjoy working on with the clients, to tick all of their boxes … but if you aren’t after professional help, please feel free to click on my name or icon to see some past projects on our pro page, that might give you done ideas to get you started on a ‘do it yourself’ project ! ( do get your DIY ideas safety checked before you order anything - and call in a SE for any walls to be altered etc ! Stay safe !)
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Sarah L's suggestion would be worth considering, especially in the light of energy costs and heating or necessitate a complete rethink of heating solutions and incurring more renovation costs to have an energy efficient home.
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Ellie
8 years ago
Is this the ground floor so all to be used as living space or do you need a bedroom downstairs?
wendy_saunt45
8 years ago
Hi Vicky. Please could you let me know approx dimensions of the rooms, and tell me a little more about how you would use the space? Do you or your partner spend a lot of time cooking, do you like to eat in the kitchen or more formally in a dining room, where do you have breakfast, how many children do you have and how old are they, etc. Thank you.
Vicky Stenner
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for all of your comments. These are the pictures of the empty back room
Vicky Stenner
Original Author
8 years ago
And these are a few more pics of the downstairs and outside views
Vicky Stenner
Original Author
8 years ago
@Emily thanks for your comment. I’ve attached a few photos of the downstairs living space. Not really got the budget to take conservatory down. The space comes in handy too
Vicky Stenner
Original Author
8 years ago
@JenP thanks for commenting. We don’t need a downstairs bathroom but would quite like to keep a wc. Ah I will have to check out that episode, we liked the idea of having a family room over looking the garden, especially for the summer.
Vicky Stenner
Original Author
8 years ago
@Ellie the previous owners were using it as a bedroom, but we are extending into the loft so do not require a bedroom downstairs.
Vicky Stenner
Original Author
8 years ago
@Jonathan thank you so much for this comment, this is really helpful. I like the idea of the large kitchen out the back and the dining room works really well there too, hadn’t thought of putting double doors into the conservatory. The only issue we have is that from the kitchen there are 3 different levels separated by a few steps. Would it look strange having a kitchen that has 2 levels?
Vicky Stenner
Original Author
8 years ago
@createperfect thanks for your comment. The dimensions are on the picture I drew. I am a keen cook so it is important for me to have a relatively large kitchen, but we tend to eat in our formal dining room rather than a breakfast room. I tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen so it would be nice to have a family room nearby so I am not segregated all the time. We do not have children yet but are hoping to start a family ASAP. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
PRO
Design Spec
8 years ago
Hi Vicky,

It looks like a great property with a lot of potential!

Due to how thin the workspace is it may be difficult to obtain the larger spaces you desire, we would normally recommend at least exploring a potential extension on paper as to ensure your money achieves a design and end product you truly desire!

We would recommend not ruling out the extension just yet!

Please keep us up to date on your choices, this is a great project.

Design Spec Ltd.
Emily
8 years ago
I like that your property sits in the garden so well. And the conservatory has a great position and it’s probably why you like using it so much? For me I would like to give that prime position to a properly insulated room with easier access and views outside. Just to take full advantage of the garden. :)
Jonathan
8 years ago
In answer to your question I think that you steps are ok down a corridor but I would level out your floors so there is no step in the middle of what would be your kitchen
PRO
User
8 years ago
Good morning, if you can be useful visit our site.
We deal with turnkey renovations.
Best regards

Critelli

www.pieroluigicritelli.com

info@pieroluigicritelli.com
Carolina
8 years ago
I’m with Emily, would look into making the conservatory into a proper room, open it up to the kitchen. Turn the bathroom into a loo/shower room and utility. Bonus room could be an office or function as a shed if you put in a door to the garden. Not sure if you already have a shed.
wendy_saunt45
8 years ago
Hi Vicky. Thanks for your reply. What would work best for you is to create a 'hub' area within the largest rooms, as this is where you'll be spending most of your time. With a small reconfiguration - insulating the conservatory, or building into the original footprint of the conservatory (so presumably coming under permitted development) with beautiful bi-fold doors opening onto a terrace and the garden, and putting a steel beam between the existing kitchen and conservatory - you will significantly open up the space you have for a relatively small spend. It will be large and airy, and have great views from the kitchen, through the family room, to the garden - so you can keep an eye on the kids at all times! You will get all the benefit of a large, functional family space while keeping the location of your living room, dining room and back rooms as they are. The new kitchen/family room along with the living room becoming a 'grown-up' snug space, and the back rooms being functional - storage, utility, WC (all running off the kitchen utilities) would work very well for a young family. What an exciting project!
Jonathan
8 years ago
I think that if you open the kitchen to the conservatory the conservatory wouldn’t be warm enough and so you would most likely replace it at significantly more money than remodelling (although I will concede you haven’t actually specified a budget so it might be affordable). It is also the case that if you take one wall out of the kitchen you will end up with half as many units.

Furthermore the existing lounge and dining space are fairly modest considering the total footprint of the house. In my opinion the two rooms should be used as one lounge and then put a larger dining table in another room.
Vicky Stenner
Original Author
8 years ago
The idea of opening up the area between the kitchen and the conservatory sounds great, especially like you say Emily it sits nicely in the garden. My partner is a builder and doing all of the work so I'm sure it wouldn't cost too much to put a steel in and open up the space.

Thank you all so much for your ideas, its certainly given us lots to discuss :)

A very exciting project indeed!
Vicky Stenner
Original Author
8 years ago
That's a good point Jonathan, I would be losing unit space and I do need ample kitchen storage. I will certainly look into both ideas, your drawing was great and gave us a good indication of what it will look like.
Carolina
8 years ago
Kitchen island where the wall between conservatory and kitchen now is. And you’ll ha e a utility for the washing machine etc. Gives you more cupboard space in the kitchen.

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