doors?? and layout out of living room

5 years ago

Hello all
Finally work has started on the extensions...

A couple of things I thought you could help me with. The living room... currently have double doors into the kitchen area. Now that will be living/kitchen/dining area thought it would be nice to block off. What would you do? It’s good for light but it would be nice to close off.

The living room will be entirely new furniture. So I can do whatever I want with the layout. Have wondered about full wall of fully fitted white shelves and storage on the outside wall. With a dark rich coloured wall. Everywhere else in the house will be white, lights and greys.

Living room southeast facing

Thank you in advance.

Featured Answer

PRO

User

5 years ago

You really need a lot more of the dimensions marked ( kitchen island / dining area / etc ).

However, I don't like a few things, and I think this is where ( sorry Architects ), the Architects sometimes fail and where you would be better off with a really good Concept Planner. looking at a plan with a load of lines and squiggles is difficult at the best of times, you need to know how you are going to live in the space, and where furniture is going to be placed, what size it can be, what the view is like from different perspectives etc. A concept planner can really help with all of that.

Things I don't like:-

The doors from the lounge in to the kitchen. The view is of the walkway through the kitchen to the Utility Door. Needs to be moved to the right and give a view of the lounge area and then garden. Radiator on that wall, to near the kitchen and not near enough to the dining area, plus it will be in the way of moving the double doors.

I think the Island may need to go back to the left a bit, as in, reduce it's depth not move it closer to the units. It looks overly large and will probably not facilitate the dining table, thus:_

Dining area, dimensions needed as this is actually a walkway from the Hall to the rest of that room, so placement and size of table needs to be determined.

Skylight over lounge, not central to the room

It will be difficult to place a T.V anywhere in the living area if you keep the window on the right.

Get rid of the window, move the radiator to the 'Utility' wall and have a T.V unit instead.

Place the sofas, one looking at T.V area directly ,and the other facing towards the garden.

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Comments (14)

minnie101
5 years ago
The doors to the kitchen do hinder furniture position in the living room (the other entrance doesn't help either though!). I personally would want the room separate to stop noise, smell, have privacy etc but hard to comment on the light situation. Why not try covering the doors with sheets or something to assess the loss of light? The storage idea sounds good. is there enough depth by the window for wall to wall storage? will you also incorporate a tv if you have one?

Im not sure on the utility position, it seems to have the best view in the house and your kitchen may be dark. Could the utility go where the ensuite is and reposition that?
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hapiak
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you already noted about the skylight. Also moving the washer/dryer to outside wall of utility.

Thinking if not having any doors into the living room. The current doors in the plan are existing but good point on if we were to move but then two doors going into living very close to each other?

The open plan you have designed is great. Want to keep the deep window for view of garden and light. Also want to keep space in there flexible so we can swap dining and living.

Thanks again
PRO
User
5 years ago
I take your point about keeping your options open with regards the dining / living, although I think you'll struggle with the sofa area nearest the kitchen.

Here's a better example with the island moved back in line with the Utility wall, giving you more space for dining and walking.

Plus, I re-instated the window in the living area and swapped the sofa / t.v area over.

I've also moved your initial Lounge door to nearer the front door.
hapiak
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you Minnie .. I have just seen your comment. I was thinking storage units across the nook opposite the kitchen. Hence why no rad there.
The positioning of the utility has been a constant battle. Originally this space was going out 10x5 metres and was approved as such .. but now adding a second extension which has improved the balance.

This position is at the back of the garden - which goes right around the house. We need an outside door to the utility and this causes the least interference. We have made the utility smaller so we can fit a sky light in to light the kitchen.

I’ve blocked the current doors as you’ve described and it’s ok considering it’s quite a dark house .. plus there will be more light once extension complete ...thanks for that tip.
hapiak
Original Author
5 years ago
Secondly I’m thinking of just blocking off the front living room as you have stated Minnie. The single door is in a strange position ... where would you put this? We are replacing all internal doors and replastering so moving it is an option for us.

Thanks again !
Carolina
5 years ago
I'd do it like this (I think), but with glazed double doors leading from hallway to kitchen/diner/living. Think this will optimise furniture layout options in the living room.
PRO
User
5 years ago
I still think a great concept planner would be invaluable:- This is my crude attempt and is pretty much to scale but not perfect.

No lounge doors, and the window up by the bi-folds

Closing off the Hallway and putting in french doors for light:-

Taking out the window to the rear on the right ----------I disagree that you need this for light, as you have a skylight overhead and bi-fold doors............it makes for much better furniture placement.

I also took out the little niche wall that was on the right by the French doors as you come in, it looked weird.
PRO
OnePlan
5 years ago
Tee hee MATH ... your design works beautifully, but only for really skinny people !! Great start though !
hapiak
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you.

I think I will be blocking off the living room. Double glass French doors to the open plan area.

Unfortunately we can’t move the strange little wall as it houses the main pipes
Suzanne C
5 years ago
Would you consider double pocket doors? We ended up with them, we have them open most of the time but it doesn't hinder either room when they are open and when we close them when it's cold or when we need more privacy...
hapiak
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you Suzanne - we were just looking at pocket doors as a possibility

The doors in the property are a strange mix in sizes - some narrow - imperial and metric.

Currently trying to sort the steel work with engineer too so both sides can be flush on extension.
PRO
OnePlan
5 years ago
Just be aware that you may need ( and even if you don’t need -it’s a good idea anyway ) fire doors between the kitchen and any stairs that are used as an exit route from upper floors.
hapiak
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you Oneplan. It’s a bungalow so no need.
Think we have finally got the structural engineer in board with what we want.

doors?? and layout out of living room

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minnie101

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