Help with layout for my new home
Hi, we're beginning to think about what we could do with our new detached home (built in 1996). We've got two young children so having a great family space is paramount. We're thinking we'll do some decorating upstairs this summer, including redoing the small bathroom, and get an unvented cylinder. Would love to make the bathroom and smallest bedroom a bit larger.
Downstairs we want to convert the garage into another room, that can act as a guest room when needed. In terms of the rest of the downstairs we are thinking opening it up and possibly an extension at the rear. Would love doors across the back and potentially moving the kitchen to the rear. A separate utility would also be good.
The front of the house is south facing so we could make better use of that light (or add some windows into the sides of the house).
Any bright ideas? Budget for downstairs (including converting garage is about £65k.
Comments (13)
PROUser
5 years agoJust a quick option as pushed for time. I don't think making the bedroom and bathroom bigger upstairs is an option without a real lot of messing about affecting other rooms. So, bigger bedroom yes, move bathroom over, yes.
Plus an option for downstairs so that it doesn't compromise too much garden, plus gives you a separate study, downstairs guest room with en-suite
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Help - Design, layout help on a new extension
Comments (21)I agree with Hugh re supervision plus by the time the extension is built your son will be nearing an age where he understands a little more. You may also want him in there to cook with you soon. I'm sure the kitchen can be designed from a safety aspect too if that's the only thing holding you back. I think the advantage of using OnePlan is that Karen can look at the whole house spatially etc and you're not tied to a particular kitchen company (I'm not on commission!). Click on her profile for reviews etc. I second Hugh's comments re karndean too! I like the heringbone parquet! If you did want to hire an interior designer (designers tend to be qualified in planning too I think as opposed to an interior decorator although many of those could be qualified by experience) then you could find you save as much as you spend. Some of them will offer you their trade discount which if doing the whole house could add up to an awful lot. They may also make you save from any mistakes and I've made a few of those! I'd go on houzz and search for pros and look at their reviews and previous work. I think you need to meet people yourself though as it's important to have a good working relationship and make sure they understand you...See MoreNeed help for my new home
Comments (4)I completely agree with you, large spaces are slightly intimating to decorate but it can definitely be done. I would first suggest you think of a colour palette to stick with before looking at furniture. This makes it so much easier than jumping backwards and forwards between complete different colours. It can get a bit confusing after a while. I would suggest making the dining room/reception room one whole dining room. You could have the dining table closer to the patio doors with long, draped curtains around the patio doors. Tall lamps, modern book shelves filled with minimal home décor pieces and ideas like that can fill in the corners and give it that homely touch. For the lounge you could have a long corner sofa in the left corner and the TV by the window area. Colour palette wise, I would think about perhaps taupe, mocha brown, black, white with your carpet colour. If you want something brighter than teal/navy would also be a nice finishing colour. It all depends on the style you would like for the room as well....See Morehelp: our house needs a new layout
Comments (39)for upstairs it could look like this then, plus parents in the attic for downstairs im not so good at visualizing. we need a kitchen, a dining area, a livingroom, a small bathroom, space for coats shoes and stuff and maybe a utility room if it fits. my husband doesnt want to miss his fireplace. @ jonathan: can you maybe visualize my drawing from earlier?...See MoreNew house has long living room, need help with layout and design.
Comments (10)Hello! Wow! Thank you very much for your advice. So, there is a radiator on the right hand wall. That is where current owners put their tv. Not sure it will fit, will measure up soon hopefully. The TV could go on a smaller unit to be honest, and will make sure radiator is turned down! Just worried that there isn't enough room for a corner sofa there with the door to the hallway..(see photos on rightmove) I LOVE the idea of large mirrors either side of fireplace. Pinching that! ;) My current living room is decorated in shades of greys and lots of gold. Thinking of going navy and gold but not too sure. Sofa colours argh! Huge thanks I'm very grateful. Katie...See More
rinked
5 years agoRob
5 years agoWow thanks for all the responses.
We have the space to extend to the front (I had thought about at least squaring off the front where the kitchen is).
Would the garage door be the principal elevation? Meaning we could extend to that line with permitted development?- PRO
User
5 years agoExcellent idea! Weirdly enough, if you pick up the guest bedroom and en-suite and bring it in line with the garage it fits perfectly and makes a more square kitchen / diner / lounge.
Also, I used that side for the guests because it's actually smaller than the garage, so the study will be better use for every day, being that little bit larger. Although the garage is 8'9" and the kitchen 8'11", that's at it's widest point, so the most part of the kitchen is actually smaller than the garage. ( hope that makes sense ).
rinked
5 years ago- PRO
User
5 years agoI think the study being just slightly bigger than the other side of the house lends itself to all sorts where it is. It can be a play room, a teenage den, and adult retreat, but close enough to the living area to be of great use.
With the kitchen moved at least you get away from the 'long narrow room thing'.........not a massive fan of those.
I personally think that the biggest problems you have are the very tiny bedroom upstairs, and the fact that it's quite a large capacity house with no separate Utility. Making a guest room downstairs albeit with an En-Suite is not necessarily the way to go.
You have no storage downstairs, and thus, instead of another bedroom I would err on the side of storage and a Utility.
This is a better layout and would suit more people.
Rob thanked User Rob
5 years ago- PRO
User
5 years agoMain reasons for not going straight across at the back with an extension is the size of the garden. It's quite small, for the size of the house. You may be in danger of over extending.
Secondly, the garage is larger than the opposite side of the house so is better for all round use.
In my second render where i put the utility in and then use the Garage as a study, it utilises the current kitchen area better. The current kitchen is very narrow for the size of the house.
Using the Garage as a study / guest room is good, but it has no good access to a toilet.
So, I hear what you're saying about the sunshine, but the house does not lend itself to a kitchen / diner at the front, as the rooms are too small. Plus trying to put the Utility at the rear just won't work in my opinion as it then cuts the space in half and makes the kitchen / diner dark, plus you now can't see the garden from the kitchen / diner.
I agree with Jonathan, if there are multiple uses going on, then you would be wise to invest in a concept planner to discuss all options, as you could discuss this till the cows come home, as they say.
You need basically to decide how you want to use the house and what you actually need versus what you would like, and then see how it can be achieved.Rob thanked User Rob
5 years ago- PRO
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5 years ago 
PROOnePlan
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4 years ago
Jonathan