Redesign/ reconfiguration ideas for 1900 2 bed semi

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Hi,

We are about to purchase our first house, it is a 1908 small semi, with ground floor kitchen extension done in the 1990's. Two bed (originally 3, but small bedroom sacrificed for upstairs bathroom). However, the bathroom is currently accessed via the second bedroom.

I would like to be able to access the bathroom without going through the bedroom as i feel this would put off potential buyers in the future.

This is the current layout. I've had a few (grand design-esque) ideas of my own ( turning the stairs 180 degrees) but fresh eyes maybe able to suggest something easier and better?

I am hoping to open up the downstairs too - so suggestions with regard to that would be helpful too. I want to turn the downstairs bathroom into a WC/ Utility room.

If the only real option is to turn the stairs 180 degrees and create a corridor along the internal wall - what kind of prices are we looking at?

Ideally i would like to go into the loft to create a third bedroom but i am not sure that is feasible, or if i have the budget. But might be an option in the future.

Thanks in advance.

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A B

6 years ago

I actually really like the current layout! For coupes or young families (ie people who buy 2 beds) having the main bathroom as an en suite plus an extra shower room downstairs should be no problem? Wouldn't be for me. It would be such a shame to loose your 2 double bedrooms to corridor space! Depending on the value of your house/not wanting to overspend/budget I'd either do a side return, or just knock through between the sitting room and kitchen.

If you decide to make changes, I'd get an architect on board now and have plans for the whole project including a possible loft conversion. Then you know the work you are doing won't need to be undone at a later stage, and having plans for a loft conversion could be a bonus when you come to sell.

Good luck!

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Comments (13)

PRO
OnePlan
6 years ago
This webpage gives an example of a 90degrees stair swap solution - no idea of the cost involved though ? ...
http://www.shade-abdul.com/remodelling-the-two-up-two-down/
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Thank you so so much for your comments! - this has been driving me crazy so getting feedback is invaluable. The estate agents think there is a ceiling value in our area of London that we have to be careful of. As such the budget depends on what we would get. Turning it from a two bed flat (1 single room, 1 double) into a two double bed with nice kitchen diner room = £25k. Turning it into a three bed flat with 2 single rooms and 1 double = £25k (apparently same value as a large two bed). Turning it into a three bed with 2 doubles and 1 single (so an extension) = £60k Option 1 is doing what a neighbor has done (copied layout from what I found online is below) means just moving the kitchen and putting in doors to outside and to the living room - but as you only get a small double and two singles, the estate agents didn't think it would be worth the money. Plus, we don't want a small double bedroom as we have a very big beautiful bed and other furniture Option 2 is similar but making it a large two bed - see below. This would cost even more so seems again unlikely we would get a return on our money Or there is the extension ideas... the first creates an akwward shaped kitchen diner, and a bathroom with no window. The second creates an awkward shaped bedroom with its own courtyard and potentially blocks the light for the master bedroom. The 3rd is not idea is deal as it wouldn't be a very big space to live in, and we wouldn't use the living room as a bedroom but others might... Long story short - im not convinced of any options :(
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Sarah Louise
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you for the suggestions so far.

I forgot to mention that the stairs are really steep as is usual in these type of properties.

I think there is some profit to be made, but obviously want to maximise this (to help ourselves up the property ladder, we are looking at this as a step up).

This house needs a fair bit of updating & modernising (rewire, kitchen, bathrooms) it’s a typical house that has belonged to an elderly couple. The exact same house layout and garden footprint down the street but modernised sold for £50k more than we paid four months ago, so I’m unsure what to do really. Want to be sensible but want the best house possible too .

But then again in the back of my mind is that this house has been on the market for over 6months so something has put people off? And I think the layout might be a factor, along with the work required to bring up to date.
PRO
LW Interior Architectural Design
6 years ago
hi Sarah,

lovely first home! looking over your house very briefly, it has potential to be a really lovely space, particularly if you plan on opening up the downstairs. my thoughts re the stairs is to move them along to the right hand side of the house, they would come up to the first floor just outside the back bedroom, thereby allowing the bathroom to be accessed by all. I would also move the bathroom door to the right hand side as well.
the old space taken up by the old stairs would then be incorporated into the back bedroom. it wouldn't replace all the lost space but at least you won't have shrunk it completely.
eventually the loft stairs can run over the new ones.

Hope that is a help and best of luck!
PRO
OnePlan
6 years ago
What was the changes that the one down the street made ? Have you looked on the planning portal or on their rightmove type page to see the changes they made when they re sold it? Makes sense to emulate them if that works ?
Sarah Louise
Original Author
6 years ago
They didn’t make any changes to the layout of the house at all. It is exactly as the floor plan above. I’ve checked it out on Rightmove already.

It has just be modernised and garden landscaped to a high standard.
A B
6 years ago
That’s what I’d do to :)
PRO
LW Interior Architectural Design
6 years ago
hi Sarah,

how's it all going? did you make any decision yet?

best,

Leah
Liz
6 years ago
It seems to me flipping stairs a full 180 degrees so they are in the same space but reverse the direction might be the most efficient use of space. Then corridor can go along back wall to bathroom with minimal encroachment on bedroom 1.
Heather
6 years ago
Flip the stairs 90 degrees so they are on right hand wall (ie you walk through door and go straight ahead up the stairs) Turn the remainder of the living room into a small snug, with a door to the rest of the ground floor. Extend into your side return and create open plan kitchen/dining+ seating area if there is room. Open plan area would replace what is currently the sitting room, kitchen and side return. Keep the utility you want at the end.

Upstairs - front bedroom loses a little width because of new stairs but can be widened the other way, creating a better proportioned room. Small landing with access to other bedroom and bathroom. If you want you could build up your side return extension to a 2 storey to create more room for the bedrooms upstairs.

Just an idea, hope this is helpful!

Is the house terraced/semi/detached?
Heather
6 years ago
Sorry, just realised you already said it was a semi!
Sarah Louise
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions everyone, really helpful and some things I hand not thought of . We are still toying with ideas and trying to decide what to do.

Another option I thought of, put might be impossible due to location was consider a small ensuite in the front bedroom. Maybe using some of the space that is currently the cupboard. Then keep a downstairs cloak & utility
PRO
Devyra Atelier
3 months ago

Redesign/ reconfiguration ideas for 1900 2 bed semi

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