design help for our new home

johno trainer

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

we just purchased our new home and need some design help please.

1. the stair case is in a daft place was wondering what could we do?

2. the flat roof areas above the windows we want to change the roof design could anyone help in what we should do?

3. we plan on doing open plan but what do you think what kind of design ideas?

4. we plan in removing the rear section of the garage which sits behind the house and extending the garden area, then moving the garage forward and converting it into the extended living room. please let me know what your thoughts are and what can be done?

Featured Answer

C C

6 years ago

I would be tempted leave the garage and stairs, open the wall between the kitchen and the large lounge have this as a big light kitchen dining living family area and lose the door from the kitchen to the dining area and make that a cosy separate living room

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Comments (21)

PRO
User
6 years ago
I think there are a whole host of things that you could do. For a good go at it, you'd have to put the dimensions of the rooms on the plan, as without those, it's really impossible to move things around.

The garage move, is awkward due to the external Chimney stack, as if you move the garage forward, the stack would be inside the garage. Thus the width of the current garage is important to assess future use. Building forward , although not in your case forward of your front elevation is often frowned upon by local authorities. You may wish to check out the likelihood of a successful planning application for that in advance.

You could potentially move the entrance to the middle of the house, thus making more sense of where the staircase is, have a downstairs shower room and built in coat cupboard. Something like this:-
Make the Garage detached.

Although you now miss out on a Utility room, something of which, for a house this size is very handy and for some a necessity.

You are lucky in that you have drains both sides, so a swap of the kitchen from one side to the other is a possibility, giving you a kitchen diner across the back and then possibly a second formal lounge area towards the front left.
However, this causes problems too as you need to get rid of the Chimney! But, it does give a much better layout.

I'd say get a professional of sorts on board, either a good concept planner or an architect, depending on how radical you want or can afford to do.
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PRO
OnePlan
6 years ago
Any changes of the stairs impacts the bedrooms - it might be a ‘daft’ place down stairs - but upstairs it’s in a good place ! So in my opinion you need to consider adapting the area downstairs so that the stairs don’t feel in the wrong place . Lots you can do - but without knowing how many bedrooms you need or how much and what type of living area etc - it’s all guesswork !
With roof work - it’s always a good idea to bring on board someone architecturally trained - they can help with the overall space too - or as MATH mentioned you can bring in a Concept Planner ( like us) for that side of things - but either way - it’s great to get some ideas on this sort of thread - just don’t feel that it is a replacement for pro help - it’s just a start point !
A B
6 years ago
I agree with Calvin I think it would be a cost effective improvement that would make a huge difference. But if you are seriously thinking of changing the roof, garage and stairs, I guess you can basically start from scratch upstairs, so an architect would be well worth it! It's badly positioned on a good sized plot- I wonder if knocking it down and starting again would be an option?!
johno trainer
Original Author
6 years ago
jen P - see the roof we want it to look like traditional house give it that street appeal...my wife was thinking to bring the 2nd floor forward as it sits behind the ground floor. So that would mean building a second layer of brick (type of shell) then you would be able to construct a traditional roof? let me know your thoughts?

Oneplan - 'but without knowing how many bedrooms you need or how much and what type of living area etc - it’s all guesswork ' - we want to keep the 5 bedroom house and want open plan living.

We dont want the chimney and will remove the fireplace - the garage we want to lose from the back so we can extend the garden from the side then by pushing the garage forward in line with the house we will change that into a room. Would we need to get planning for this or would it fall into permitted development?

Plus at the back of the garden we have a canal but we wanted to know is there anyway of buying land at the back and leveling the slope? its a steep slope but we want to increase our garden space for the kids you see.

ive attached some images from googlemaps
A B
6 years ago
That was what I meant by knocking down and starting again! You could potentially build a house (subject to planning) and incorporate much more of your land at the front and side into the garden. But if you knock down the garage, an architect may be able to incorporate the side garden into the back somehow.
johno trainer
Original Author
6 years ago
knocking down and rebuild is out of what we can afford to do
Emily
6 years ago
I’m guessing JenP means that when loads of work needs doing it can be more cost effective to know down and start again.
Like Math said there are lots of options with your property, maybe best start with saying what you want to achieve and see if people on here have ways that are not immediately obvious to achieve them?
Emily
6 years ago
Knock down not know down!
Emily
6 years ago
Just had a think and I would bet what money I’ve got left after renovating that the most spend efficient way of getting an extra bed plus extra living would be know down garage and do two storey extension. I am also betting that removing those dormers and building up and removing chimney will all be far more expensive than you think. I think it looks good enough and with some care and attention at front plus a sympathetic extension it will end up with street appeal. However you do end up with no garage, but perhaps there’s room for a carport with some storage attached?
PRO
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
If you want to change the roof line, and bring the Garage forward, and purchase land / remodel.................It certainly wouldn't be cheap. OnePlan is right, you need to work with a Concept Planner, or and Architect and the Local Council to see what you can do. They are likely to be fussy about Roof changes and often don't like or want to have things changed, or like to get really involved in changes to the front elevation and possibly the bringing forward of the garage.

Pick a budget, approach an Architect or Concept Planner, see what they can come up and then approach the Council with the ideas for an agreement in principal.
johno trainer
Original Author
6 years ago
This property was originally a 2 bedroom cottage then they converted it into a 4 bedroom property. The sale was not listed as a dorma bungalow....changing the roof on the flat areas would that not be possible?
johno trainer
Original Author
6 years ago

we would like a more traditional look on the front of the house would it not be likely?
PRO
OnePlan
6 years ago
Try Back to Front Architects ! They do some amazing work!
johno trainer
Original Author
6 years ago
the advert on the property was marketed as detached - your reckon that was a marketing game? i didnt notice myself but thanks to you houzz members its a dorma and me and my wife arent comfortable buying a dorma as we know around here dormas arent big sellers, young families prefer traditional houses.
Jonathan
6 years ago
What budget do you guys have?
johno trainer
Original Author
6 years ago
40k to do it up
Jonathan
6 years ago
I think you need to cost up the upgrades you want such as carpets and kitchen- When you know how much you have left you can decide if it is realistically going to allow you to remodel.
I suspect remodeling wont be in the current budget but when the budget allows I would seriously consider putting a new garage on the side with a bedroom above- Adding square footage is often the best way to add value.
PRO
User
6 years ago
For 40k choose downstairs and don't touch upstairs, you haven't the budget to amend both and definitely not a roof.

Maybe start with something like this, it's the easiest layout to attain:-

The one below involves taking out the Fireplace, but leaves you entering straight in to the kitchen and with a Utility off the kitchen, which is better all round.

As Jonathan says if and when you have more funds add a garage if you want one.
A B
6 years ago
I've no idea if you could do this, but I would look at planting a hedge around the side garden and having this as the main garden. I'd extend out the back not the side. I'd keep the garage. I'd aim to do what your neighbour has done 2 doors down. Keep the dormer look at the front but raise the roof slightly and go for full height at the back. Obviously all of this would cost more than 40 k though.
PRO
Italian Kitchen Studio
4 years ago
We can help you with design and make your kitchen life