skip to main content

Renovating Bathrooms Kitchens

First home - layout advice, please?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Hello all,

I am new to Houzz having just bought my first home (which has been a looonng time coming). It needs an awful lot doing to it from rewiring, new heating system/boiler and a more suitable layout. As I haven't done anything like this before I would be grateful for any advice from those who have, especially in terms of optimising space.

I have uploaded the general floor plan, along with select pics to show the current status. There is also a (newly built) garage on the side of (and accessed through ) the utility. It extends beyond the utility into the garden - maybe by 0.5-1 m). There is plenty of dead space in front of the garage right up to the front garden.

We would like to knock through the toilet/bathroom and also the kitchen/dining room and pull down the utility (this is a bit of a disaster of an out-house, and is attached to the garage).

The grand plan would eventually be to extend the garage along the side of the house to create a utility and storage and to extend the kitchen out into the garden.

Our dilemma is trying to modernise and update as much as we can do (for as little as possible) that will set the foundations for future improvements. We're hoping to spend 20K but can stretch to 30K.

The dining room is 4.57m x 3.66m; the kitchen is 2.44m x 2.44m)

What we would like is:

1. An open plan kitchen/diner for cooking and entertaining. If possible I would like an island.

2. A bathroom that feels spacious/luxurious. One idea was to steal some of the space from the bathroom and create an ensuite for the second bedroom (which we could use as the master). I get this is terms of resale, but don't want to create a cramped bathroom in doing so?

Sorry for the long post - any advice appreciated!!! Thanks.

External (showing space for garage move)

Dining room

Kitchen

Kitchen (look at that boiler?!!)

Utility

Bathroom

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Jonathan
5 years ago
Is the £30k to do everything? I think you should split the budget like this:
Rewiring £5000
New boiler installation £4500
New bathroom installed £6000
dining room wall removal £1600
Bathroom wall removal £400
Some replastering £700
opening between kitchen and utility £2000
Glass doors from utility to garden £900
Clearing out utility and improving insulation. £2500
Light fittings for the house £500
Flooring - £3500
Window treatments £1500
Second hand kitchen £6000
Kitchen installation £2500
DIY Redecorating £1000
Contingency -£4000
As you can see the total goes above £40k.
Separately -There isn’t enough room for an island but you could have a peninsula.
There might be enough room for an ensuite but in my opinion there are things further up the list to be done.
Since you are moving the boiler consider where else it could go- personally I would put it in the bathroom cupboard.
Although not the same quality as the main house it is likely more cost effective to improve it than knock it down.
Jonathan
5 years ago
Suggested kitchen layout to get a peninsula
Related Discussions
My first home-advice desperately needed!
Q
Comments (11)
Hi. Yes, to maximise the height of a room you would take the curtain pole close to the ceiling however I am struggling to visualise this with this pelmet as I'm not convinced it would give the same effect but it's too late to sketch it out! I think I would take the curtains (same colour as couch and maybe with a grey pattern or trim) to the ceiling and have a pelmet made that also covers the wood. .What is on the lounge floor at present? It look like marble in the pic. I don't think I would carpet it. I'd have a big glass coffee table with a silver rim sat on a light grey patterned rug. I'd add grey cushions to the sofa and add a silver/chrome floor lamp and large mirror over the sofa. The colours are neutral so add cushions maybe in a duck egg or colour of your choice. Finally a statement ceiling light and some art on the wall. Bedroom: I'd add silvery grey curtains to match your feature wall, again with a fabric pelmet. Add a large pale silver rug that sits under the bed and covers some of the floor to lighten the room. Dress the bed in the same 3 colours or introduce a shade of purple for cushions, throw etc. it looks a great house!
...See More
House renovation - Advice on layout
Q
Comments (21)
This isn't intending to make much change up stairs. I would suggest (1) adding a wood and brick porch (2) move the kitchen to the back, creating a n open kitchen family space and put a formal living/ reception space at the front (3) depending on the ceiling height moving stairs on the side just after the toilet will make a mini u shape, which means the stairs will start with a landing by the end of the toilet and you might end up loosing what seems to be a master bathroom cause of the stairs height restriction ( someone will needd to visit the house and take measurements to get a full picture). The best option will be to have an extension of a minimum 1.5m; this will allow you to move the master to the back of the house with ensuite on the wall udjucent to the stairs. Another option you might want to consider is removing the downstairs toilet, put stairs about two metres or so from the front door and then put the toilet under the stairs. this will allow you to have the whole left side of the house to do whatever you want to do with. Good luck.
...See More
First house , need advice for room & living room
Q
Comments (3)
Just look through Houzz to decide what style you want to go for. Also, make sure your furniture is the right size and there is space for it.
...See More
Kitchen layout.. any advice to improve a first attempt?!
Q
Comments (10)
Thanks for all the comments so far. It's a small 2 bedroom "house", approx 700sqft. -Fridge: yes this is one of my concerns too, just unsure how to fit in a full size. -Microwave: I never knew there were corner versions! That could change things! -Glazed doors: very good point, I had thought it might make the kitchen feel bigger and less claustrophic, but actually as you say, could look dated and less tidy. And agreed, sounds good going for one clean style of cupboard doors styles. -Angled cupboard: was thinking of making the most of the storage, but actually gives very little extra, and as you say will look dated, so good point! -Free standing counter: I think that would be a push, but it's food for thought, and potentially a small mobile butchers block might fit.. my main concern is that the front door is right there, so would be a bit hectic/cramped with people coming in and out if there was something in the middle. @Jonathan I think it probably would fit, and I like the idea, but we'd lose the dishwasher, I definitely have a think about rejigging the layout a bit, thanks.
...See More
kjsher77
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for your input Jonathan - much appreciated. It’s great to have some ballpark regarding costs.

I’m under no illusion that the budget won’t cover all we wish to do - it’s a long term project that we will need to do over time. As you rightly say, there has to be a priority list - wiring/heating at the top and getting a useable kitchen and bathroom. I just don’t want to spend money in the plan now to have to redo stuff in the future.

I like your idea of the kitchen at the back - it’s one we haven’t thought of and something to consider. I’m a bit reluctant as it would mean there would be no access (not yet extended) garage and so we might have to move the gas/plumbing again. Although that could be the cheapest option, all things considered.

We do want to move the boiler - ideally in the utility in the (yet to be extended) garage, but someone suggested moving it in to the loft. No idea how much extra that would cost.
PRO
Open Volume Studio
4 years ago
Hi Kjsher77,

Just as I am passing through, (and realising that this is a very old post) I would still advise moving the boiler to the loft so you can, in the future install an extra water tank or Megaflow for increased pressure and hot water. This way the boiler doesn't have to heat water downstairs, pump it to the top for it to come down again. It is also safer for the potentially toxic gases (VERY UNLIKELY) that can come from boilers like Carbon Monoxide as the flue goes straight out the roof. If you install the boiler and tank as close as possible to the front eaves of the house then you are also future proofing for any potential loft extension you may want to do (without having to redo pipework). I know you haven't mentioned this but its worth considering just in case.

Otherwise, I agree with Jonathan's breakdown of costs and would concentrate on upgrading insulation, and making sure all the electrics, gas and plumbing are up to scratch before doing cosmetic or architectural work. It may be worth simply replacing the kitchen with a new cheap one whilst you save more money to do the full project.

Good luck!

Sponsored

More Discussions

What type and colour of driveway?

5

plaster ceiling roses - to do or not to do?

1

Living room colour scheme - please help!

2

Dining room colour Scheme

1

Help to finish TV wall

4

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’.