skip to main content

Furniture Smaller Homes Design Dilemma

Small dwelling with too many doors and bad "flow"!

5 years ago

Just bought this property as a downsizer for retirement. The smallness of it and the 'flow' are challenging us! There are an awful lot of doors and 'pathways' that people need to walk through.

If anyone has any ideas about how to alter the layout and flow we would much appreciate it.

Our ideas so far have included:

Blocking up the 2nd kitchen door into the hallway & putting a storage cupboard in the kitchen side and another one in the hallway side
Removing all of part of the wall between the kitchen and lounge / diner
Putting sliding doors between kitchen & lounge diner ( if wall not removed), between lounge/diner and hallway and between master bedroom and en-suite
Knocking the 2 bathrooms into one but keeping the 2 access doors. Maybe partioning off a bit of the bathroom from the bedroom access as a dressing room

There is no built in storage apart from in the kitchen.

The ceilings in the lounge/diner, kitchen and master bedroom are sloping open loft type with the apex of the roof line running in the middle of the property,left to right, with a height of approx 12 feet, so upwards storage is a possibility.

We are also looking at furniture with multiple uses - e.g extendable table, seats with storage etc etc.

Any ideas, comments, experiences, suggestions at all would be most welcome!

Featured Answer

Jonathan

5 years ago

If you did decide to go down to one bathroom I think I might make the front bedroom with a better view into the main bedroom and then make the back bedroom smaller

Comments (16)

Ellie
5 years ago
Not sure how to scale the plan is, but I do not think there is a need for 2 bathrooms. I would make the ensuite the main bathroom, with a door from the hall.

I would remove the 'main' bathroom (one next to kitchen) to give a much bigger kitchen - it would double the size of it, if the plan above is accurate. The new door into kitchen/diner would be in the hallway right next to the door into the lounge. And I would block up the door between lounge and new kitchen.
smg0158 thanked Ellie
Jonathan
5 years ago
In my opinion the cost of remodeling will soon mount up to the point that you might as well have extended. Personally I would go down to one bathroom, have the current ensuite as a wardrobe for the main bedroom and consider putting on a garden room to either the kitchen or living room so that you gain an extra room for a dining table and thereby freeing up some space in the lounge.
smg0158 thanked Jonathan
Related Discussions
Help on Small flat interiors and storage
Q
Comments (7)
Hello Alice, your flat presents a challenge and your ideas look sensible. I wonder though.... since you haven't bought any furniture yet, would you consider having a design that uses built-in furniture. I know you don't want to spend a lot of money but if you need storage you could have lots of hidden storage and you'd certainly make the best use of space. Mirrors are always great for getting the feeling of space and light but if you were to consider the property as a container for living in, there is much that can be done to provide a comfortable and unusual home that will provide everything you wish for. With such a small flat I think it's time to think creatively and not go for the usual! I know I'm not providing any answers here but I hope I've encouraged you to explore all options before buying furniture that isn't ideal for small spaces. Yasmin.
...See More
Converting small kitchen into reception/living room
Q
Comments (11)
As I mentioned you could go further with the Open Plan idea. I decided not to put the doorway in the 'new kitchen' ( old dining room ) in to the downstairs cloakroom and use it as a Utility because:- The shape it creates would mean that it wouldn't work well as a combined loo and utility, and there's no need for a separate utility with a large kitchen and integrated appliances It's better to have a downstairs loo and cloakroom than a Utility and no downstairs loo. It's not great to have the entrance to the loo from the kitchen. . This is what it would look like. I agree with Jonathan on the size of the lounge. I think if you go more open plan as above, it will seem more spacious without doing to much work apart from a steel and removing the large portion of the kitchen wall. You could have gone completely off the charts with it and done something more like this:- However, I think the plan with the kitchen on the left and just opening it out more works just fine and involves a whole lot less expenditure!
...See More
Using corridor space for bigger kitchen good or bad idea?
Q
Comments (17)
I agree completely with OnePlan. There are lots of ways this house could be altered to suit you and your family and I presented just one option. A design professional would help you think about what you need out of the house and what parts bother you most and need addressing. They would also consider sunlight, regulations improving the flow, sight lines, aesthetics and correct sizes. Getting the design right is so important and most people don’t. They either make changes organically (make a small change then see what they want to do next) which never works, or make plans based on their budget concerns but don’t really know what things cost (By this I mean that they plan lots of little changes thinking that they are managing the budget or preferring to pay for lots of little jobs rather than one big one). In my opinion the best route is to get a great home is to get together a plan and to stick to it even if you can’t do everything all at once.
...See More
IKEA top range appliances UK - Good or Bad?
Q
Comments (9)
I have an Ikea kitchen and most non Ikea appliances fit their carcasses no problem, apart from the dishwasher. We used John Lewis ovens, great, an Ikea freezer as it was cheap and easy to replace if it goes wrong, but the massive pain was the dishwasher. We bought their basic one and within a couple of months the heating element went. It took a lot of time to arrange an engineer to come out, he did and fixed it. Then the door was a problem, then the element went again. I thought, this time I will replace it with a John Lewis one, but they are NOT compatible. You can't put a non Ikea dishwasher in one of their low carcasses. I reluctantly had to buy another Ikea one, but this time got the one with a 5 year guarantee. The engineer said all the parts are the same, so it could go wrong again. Which magazine doesn't rate Ikea appliances very well so worth a look on there. All said and done, it's a small price to pay for a well designed kitchen that is really good value.
...See More
A B
5 years ago
Do you have a budget in mind? I would also add a garden room as a second reception space. I’d personally make the kitchen and living room open plan. I’d definitely keep 2 bathrooms though! The house sounds fantastic with vaulted ceilings! Do you have any photos? How much storage do you need?
smg0158 thanked A B
smg0158
Original Author
5 years ago
Some super ideas so far that we hadn't thought of.

The garden is accessed from the doors in the living room and it is tiny as well. So, without losing the garden, there is no room for an extension/garden room unfortunately!

We don't really have a fixed budget but are working on a scale of most acheived/least spent to make the layout work better.

Does anyone have experience of adding additions ( platforms, storage etc) upwards into vaulted ceilings?

I have attached 2 photos showing the vaulted ceilings in the living room and master bedroom.

Please keep the ideas coming in - Houzz is a great platform for giving people the opportunity to do this!
Blondilox
5 years ago
Perhaps knock through between the en-suite and the bathroom to create a larger and more luxurious bathroom maybe with some fitted wardrobe space so it an be a dressing room/bathroom. This would allow more space in the bedroom if wardrobes aren't needed in there. I'd keep a door into it from the bedroom and main house if it's the only toilet.

Is knocking out both the walls to the lounge an option? You might need some supporting pillars but it would open up the whole space and you could reposition the kitchen to the most appropriate area and, if desirable, French or bifold doors into the garden which will also give a more open effect and let in loads of light.
smg0158 thanked Blondilox
PRO
OnePlan
5 years ago
We did a design for a children’s bedroom in Dubai with a storage platform - was accessed by a loft hatch as the parents didn’t want the boys going up there on their own . Wasn’t full height - so literally storage for suitcases and unpacked packing boxes etc - looks similar height to your space. Its relatively easy for a builder to retro fit things like this if your walls are sound.
Is this just a single storey dwelling ? Any chance you might like /want /be allowed to build another floor on top ?
smg0158 thanked OnePlan
jenniimatthews
5 years ago
Do you need two bedrooms?...... you could make bedroom 2 into a super dressing room, with access from bedroom 1 you could fit it out with ceiling high units on either side this would give you loads of storage and would also remove the entry door.
Also reduce the bathroom to a toilet only (always need two toilets) this would give you a bigger kitchen, then block the door into the lounge, this will also give you a better room for furniture placement in there.
Good luck, it’s not easy to downsize, just done it myself and we have to remember it’s for out use for most of the time.....this means no bedroom for our Grandchildren, but the love sleeping on the sofas.
smg0158 thanked jenniimatthews
Emily
5 years ago
Is there a path around the property? Just wondering since you said the only garden is outside living French doors but there are windows drawn on plan? And is it a new build or new conversion where you are limited to any changes visible outside? Just wondering since sometimes a bay window can change the feel of a room much more than might be expected. It’s nice having the ceiling open but does that mean the internal walls are supporting? Just asking since I agree with you that in a compact property like this the hall is taking too much space.
smg0158 thanked Emily
smg0158
Original Author
5 years ago
Some great ideas again - and all very different!

There is a narrow passageway down the front of the property past the living room windows which gives external access to the garden. As it is only approx 3feet wide, it might be a bit too narrow for a bay window - but it's a nice idea.

We would need to investigate whether any internal walls are load bearing before considering options to remove any - so good advice, thanks.

Appearing on a TV production would be something we would need to ponder more thoroughly!

We are getting lots of ideas and opinions which is very helpful - so many thanks to all who have posted suggestions.
PRO
Automated Project Solutions
5 years ago
I think taking out a bathroom could reduce your future selling price however if you were to keep the larger bathroom toilet and sink but remove the bath and put a false wall in.
The bath area would be absorbed into the kitchen giving more space.
I would then block the dirt up into the hallway giving room for a large storage cupboard into the Hall. Remove the wall between the kitchen and living making open plan.
smg0158 thanked Automated Project Solutions
A B
5 years ago
I had a little play around earlier. I think I'd look at the possibility of moving a bathroom into the middle of the house. It gives you so much more space for rooms, and less of a hallway. Not sure I like the flow any better in this example, but just something to consider
smg0158 thanked A B
Jonathan
5 years ago
If there is room for any bay windows that would really help.
You should also keep open the possibility of extending into the garden. There are some really tiny garden spaces that have been made private and lush so you may still have enough space for a spectacular garden
smg0158 thanked Jonathan
smg0158
Original Author
5 years ago
Like your plan especially open plan living room,kitchen diner.

Could do bay window from bedroom 2 as it looks out onto communal area. Master bedroom bay window is not possible as property is attached to another property at side apart from where the side window is which is opaque glazed but overlooks next doors garden. The other window looks on to the back narrow walkway, so no room.

We hope to make the tiny garden look something like the photos at a later stage.
Najeebah
5 years ago
Opening up the living-dining-kitchen into one space will help here, if the walls can be removed. Who all lives here, how often do you entertain, and how many people generally?
Najeebah
5 years ago
I like what Jonathan did there ^.
smg0158 thanked Najeebah

Sign Up to Comment

Sponsored

More Discussions

what goes with red and black quarry tile flooring

10

How can I make this wall look less bare?

10

Stairs in living room - Close off with door

6

Too much blue. what other color is right here?

7

What type and colour of driveway?

2

United Kingdom

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.