Hi Jonathan, sorry life got very busy there for a while! We actually already have glass doors opposite the front door into the kitchen and intend to add a sizeable rooflight in the study so perhaps we will be reasonably catered for in terms of light despite any porch addition. A fresh thought on layout came to but I've had zero time to get acquainted with floorplanner or an alternate piece of software to draw it out. I will endeavour to manage this soon. It basically involves reducing the size of the existing utility so the small hall becomes twice as wide. Then closing off the hallway at this end so this is in effect a galley off the kitchen with pantry style units leading to a door at the study end allowing ease of access from kitchen to garage conversion. Hard to explain fully and it's benefits as we see them without a drawing so I'll work on that!

If you are in a wheelchair, the garage might not be the most accessible place to spend time. Whether its the floor that makes it difficult to get around on, or nothing is at the right height. Here are some simple things you can do to make it fully accessible and a nice place to be. Decluttering Clearing the garage can make space so that you can drive straight into the garage. Easier access to the home (via an integral door), space to get in and out of the car, room to get walking aids or wheelchairs out (obviously depending on the garage size). And safety is a key issue: if there is a home for everything and everything has a home nothing will be left lying about to impede the way. Workbenches Could a workbench be put on wall units so it is lower to the ground? A workbench can be on lower legs by cutting down timbers and it can be any height to suit. Storage accessories These can be placed at the correct height to access them, particularly useful for those in a wheelchair as items can be placed where they can reach them. And with our FlexiPanel accessories you can move any item at any time without the need for tools. So items can always be easily accessible. Flooring Ramp edges provide a smooth entry into garage. Would we recommend smooth or raised disk, or would it not matter? It wouldn’t matter which tiles as both are good for grip and maneuverability. And choose the colour that suits. Garage Doors Having a garage door with an automatic opener will make it easier to get in and out of your garage And Roller shutter doors are so well insulated these days that you don’t get a draught and you don’t get a lot of overhead rails in the garage. Slopes Try to ensure that you don’t have any steps into the house and have handrails where they would be helpful. Adding in slopes where necessary is a good option if you do have to go up or down. Heaters If you are planning to use the garage for exercise then have a simple heater with a thermostat and time control. Good lighting Keep the garage well lit with appropriate lighting so that can see where you are going and what you are doing. Wide doors If there are side doors into the house or garden make them wide enough to get through. We hope this has been of use. Of course a lot of this is common sense but sometimes it is just good to have a reminder.

Thank you to all! I’m very impressed with this site and hugely grateful for all this immediate input but can’t see how to reply to each individual. I hope this works: Mark Gee: Thank you so much for your response. Everything you write makes good sense. I think we can fit a single wall of kitchen where it and a bit of the bathroom is now and a “breakfast bar” type of counter top as an accessible divider between the living area and the kitchen area I agree that moving the internal cupboards would allow for a wider opening into the living area, maybe even just a square archway without doors if that’s permissible. Also, it could allow a little extra space to be added to the smallest bedroom. We don’t need such a large wetroom - only a shower area, toilet and wash basin so that 2nd bedroom/bathroom doesn't need to have a bath as shown in the plan. The turning space from the bedroom into the bathroom might be limited left as is, but maybe it would be feasible to go straight through from the bedroom somehow, but we would still need a door from the hallway for staff to use the bathroom at night. I really hate to lose Bedroom 2 as it is a better shape and size for staff quarters, but moving the bathroom to the smallest bedroom, number 3, doesn’t seem practical because of plumbing and drainage issues, having to channel under the living room and the fireplace, and ending in the middle of the house, as it were, and probably needing to add drainage at the front. JEN: Thank you for your tip! We are actually on the waiting list for an OT visit but may not have enough time to wait! Covid etc. is delaying everything and it could take weeks or months! I keep trying though. MINNIE 101: Thank you very much. Yes, that’s a good idea too. I think that whole wall you mention would suffice as the working kitchen area and would allow for turning. Ideally any doors should line up opposite each other, you’re correct there, and I’d like to find a way of turning into the ”new” wetroom from the bedroom, if possible without having to have two doors - one from the main bedroom and one from the hallway for staff. I didn’t realise there were regulations for hallways, but the builders seem to know about that. It evidently has to be inspected at various stages to check compliance. I will look for OnePlan and see what they say. And ring the OT again! His current wetroom is very much smaller in a property rented through our council‘s disabled housing accommodation, so I’m sure that bigger new wetroom would be adequate. Thank you also for the link! Many thanks again!

Logicaly it would be easier to have the double at the top and the study at the bottom, no issue with hatch, chimney or access. If you have a double at the bottom where will have to be a corridor to get to the study (unless its off the new master or you could keep the master but smaller with a study attached?) I'd be more inclined to make an ensuit for the master then a study which could be put elsewhere perhaps