Layout Advice/Opinions please
So, we are thinking about buying this new build house and we have a reasonable amount of leeway to move internal walls etc before the build starts. Without a sunroom, the total sq foot is 2000sq ft, though we have priced to add a sunroom.
Our dilemma is the layout of the back of the downstairs, where we need kitchen/dining/utility/lounge area. My husband wants ideally wants the sunroom as a lounge area for watching tv but it doesnt necessarily have to be in the sunroom extension area.
(tv placement is a sticking point ie with door/window placement). id like an exit at some point to a small patio area where we would have heaters as the back garden is north/northwest facing.
we would really appreciate opinions on what you would do with what we have please?
i have attached the original floor plan (the one with the separate dining room) and our current proposed plans. thanks.
Comments (31)
Fi Ne
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Kitchen Diner Living Layout Plans - Advice Please
Comments (31)Hi Keswing, I had exactly the same problem with my hubby!!! Haha! The great thing with concept planners is they will pass their trade discounts onto you! We actually used Gina from Create Perfect on here (but she does exactly the same as OnePlan) who I would highly recommend and the fab thing was that even after her fees it saved us money because she passed on all the trade discounts! I highly recommend getting in touch with OnePlan and Create Perfect and getting quotes from both of them. If you ask them both to send you the list of companies they get trade discount with then you can show that to your hubby and knowing you're in the market for some serious spending on a kitchen and presumably a bit of new furniture then you'll be able to show it's cost neutral! :) We saved over £1,500 in our kitchen alone through Create Perfect getting us discounts with our chosen suppliers (probably worth noting that it doesn't limit your choices as the kitchen company we chose from her concept plan she'd never dealt with before but she set up a trade account just for us, the same for our underfloor heating and actual floor) Hope it helps and good luck!...See Morewhich is the best layout, advice /opinions please
Comments (15)Think they're coming back a bit now anyway! I would just want a bigger space for the kitchen than in option 3, which opening it up would give you. Apart from that (and having to carry all the plates from kitchen to dining room and back!) I really like it...See MoreLayout advice please
Comments (34)Hello Steph, I would reduce the size of the stairs and add the extra space gained to the kitchen area. Add some glass doors between the hall and kitchen so that you can see right through when walking through the front door. Similarly use glass internal doors between the living room and the rear seating area. This allows some formality to the living room to be retained. Remove the chimney breast. at the rear. Downstairs showers are rarely used so that front bathroom could be modified to incorporate a small utility room and cloakroom. Washers and dryers can be stacked. My children shared and were happy with that until they were 10 and 8 so allow for that. There seems to be a lot more washing when they are young so a bedroom could be used for drying for a few years. I had one client with teenagers who lived in their bedrooms before work started. she commened after the house was opened up that they were now happy to be downstairs and enjoy the company although whilst still on their laptops....See MoreExtension layout advice please
Comments (4)Jonathan, funny you say this as my first sketches were for sink where hob is and a floor to ceiling window looking out to garden! for the exact reason that sink there is 'traditional' so I totally get what your saying. the reason we changed from that plan was at that point the hob was on the island, when we changed that idea I then wasn't sure about both hob and sink along the run of cabinets, both facing a wall, wondered if we would feel we'd made the kitchen boring and antisocial as would always be facing the away from the room? and lack of pantry we were quite pleased with the extra cupboards it brings. the understair we will be taken out so the garage conversion bathroom will be the only we on ground floor, the bath is a must I'm afraid as we are really missing it and don't want to cramp the upstairs bathroom by putting one in as that's the high use shower. I've always assumed air con would be expensive and ugly? we are going for electric velux sky lights so will be easy to open. thanks for your input, always so helpful to get other perspectives....See MoreFi Ne
5 years agoFi Ne
5 years agoJonathan
5 years agoFi Ne
5 years ago
Rose Williams
5 years agominnie101
5 years agoDo you actually need to extend? I can't read the dimensions, only the starting numbers (!) but could you do something like this with seating to the left of the table (not to scale whatsoever and I forgot the door from utility to garden!) ? Budget for sunroom could go on bifolds across the back or whatever style doors you like?
- PRO
User
5 years agoNot sure about the extension, but could do as Jonathan suggests. However, I would also change the utility and w.c to where the dining room is and have one large room across the back with or without your extension.
Double the doors, opening outwards and not inwards and add more kitchen
Fi Ne
5 years agoThank you for your advice/opinions.
The full width of that back wall on to the garden would be 9.9m without extension.
we dont really have to extend yet as only 1 baby and a dog at the minute, but just thought we would do it now instead of having to potentially do it in a few years time. Financially adding on the sunroom to the back as per our developer is 15k, so not going to make a huge difference to mortgage/budget if we do or dont.
Im not sure why our developer is saying to the side extension would be an issue when a site 2 houses along is attaching a granny flat to theirs?!? we live in Northern Ireland and cant see anywhere in planning permission rules and regs where ours would even require planning permission never mind not be approved.
I think my main issue is the ackward shape of the site.
- PRO
User
5 years agoI don't think it needs an extension at all, it just needs the re-jig of where the toilet and utility are. The one big back room is a lot better for a young family, it's a great sociable area, the kids can play while you cook, or you could put a door from that room, back in to the second reception room and use it as a playroom in the future. In years to come, the kids get one reception and the adults get the other etc
minnie101
5 years agoI've just added to my previous drawing but I think essentially Hugh and I are suggesting the same. I personally would have the wc and utility swapped though so guests don't traipse through your utility plus you have outside access for drying washing and maybe the dog come in this way when it's wet outside to avoid dirty paw marks elsewhere
Rose Williams
5 years ago- PRO
User
5 years agoI'm sure there are many variations on this plan. This one with the kitchen swapped over, access to the utility from the Kitchen and driveway for muddy boots / buggies etc ( always handy ), plus leaving the area to the right for a future extension, which is the best place for it.
I personally feel the above is the best plan for easy access to all areas.
Jonathan
5 years agoJonathan
5 years agoMATH- just to be clear the builder will be building the reverse image of the main plan -which side do you think is the best for extension?
- PRO
User
5 years ago Jonathan
5 years agominnie101
5 years agoFi Ne
5 years agoFi Ne
5 years agoSo, he has come back with his ideas which bring nothing to the party as still just has the sunroom added on to the middle of the back of the house.
I did however, remember that he had sent us another house type along time ago which we had ruled out then.
ive attached his original sketches and then my very very basic and rough ideas of ehat we could do. Have added the bay window to the smaller reception room as its the exact same size as pur current living room (same builder) and gives it a tiny bit more space than just the normal flat windows.
- PRO
User
5 years ago Jonathan
5 years agoWhether or not you put the sun room on later or now it is worth checking you have a layout that works. If it were me I would have a small utility open to the kitchen anticipating later building a utility/bootroom link to an extended garage. In fact lots of young families would need this more than the sunroom.
Fi Ne
5 years agoyeah, so he wasnt too keen to change house type and has gave us this suggested layout, which we are generally happy with if we can get the ackward corners squared off in top left of kitchen/dining/living space.
Jonathan
5 years agoYes I like it too. But I don’t think that corner is awkward - in fact it is holding up the main house so difficult to do without.
Fi Ne
5 years ago- PRO
User
5 years ago 
PROOnePlan
5 years agoJonathan
5 years ago
Jonathan