Improved layout with minimum changes
Hi, our house had an extension added years ago that we wish never happened. See the plan attached. A study was added, and the kitchen was extended alongside (previously it had been aligned with the dining room).
Clearly, I hate having the fridge in the hall behind the door and also the dark corridor to the study room.
Initially we wanted to rebuild the extension but we would need to wait for years until we had enough funds. Now we'd like to get away with minimum changes as the new kitchen is an expensive project on its own.
Below is how we think it could work for us. But there's as small problem, the kitchen door again. Wherever it opens, it blocks something. I wonder how it would have been originally, as we are planning to move it back to its old place.
Any ideas and suggestions? We do not want to connect the kitchen with the dining room or the utility room. Not sure if we can use the storage room space, as some of it might be under stairs.
Thank you for your time and advice!
And yes, we have that old-fasioned serving hatch and we might choose to keep it.
Comments (14)
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improving a living space layout
Comments (17)Of course you had to guess the size of the bay window, so the best advice is to measure, measure and measure again when you see furniture you like. Make sure it fits in the space by using that cardboard boxes/paper/tape method. I chose to put in a cabinet that goes along the entire wall, because it makes the room look wider. (Check IKEA or other furniture brands that do ‘modular’ furniture. A patterned rug can trick the eye too. It kind of distracts your mind from the boundaries because your eyes follow the pattern. Doesn’t have to be a zigzag. Can be anything. And notice that the chair has very sleek lines, no arm rests even. Looks lighter. Light coloured furniture, at least for the larger pieces, also helps to make the space seem larger....See MoreSuggestions to improve our house layout
Comments (7)Hi! Sounds like a fun project. I love a good farmhouse. Man about the house has given you some excellent suggestions for adding a shower in. It definitely seems to be just about moving the door into the bathroom and reconfiguring that space to be able to fit a shower in there as well. For the ground floor I'm wondering if moving the entrance to the side might be possible - just in front of the stairs and creating a hall that takes a slice off the back of the living room and joins up with your existing hall - so you basically get a bigger hall that includes the stair and the main entrance. That could then fit some bootroom type space in and coat hanging so it becomes a really useful space. Then I'm thinking you could make the porch element much wider, basically a single storey extension to the front, so that your living room pushes forward into the front garden. You will be able to get a lot more light in to the living room and will be able to just have the one door in from the hall so it becomes a much more usable living room. This would need planning permission and extensions to the front are more difficult to get approval, but this seems like a logical approach to improving the space for you. I have a free checklist with support emails to help with getting your project off to a good start and making the right decisions for you. You can get a copy from my website: www.i-architect.co.uk I hope this has been helpful, Jane :)...See MoreAdvice please on improving layout with minimum changes
Comments (9)I think the budget is too tight to do the job justice. If you're moving cabinets, you may need new flooring, you have to change the plumbing and wiring and may also need extra units. On top of that you have the structural work. I can't tell from the plan, but it's possible that the wall going from dining room to kitchen is load bearing, thus you would need and RSJ if you turn the existing door way to full open plan. You could do this, which is kind of what you're describing:- However, this would be better, but I don't think you'll do it on the money. Bi-fold doors alone could cost £3K...See MoreCould this layout be improved?
Comments (13)Personally I think if you got rid of the island and instead had a peninsula between the kitchen and dining room it would be far more successful. Firstly the space between the current island and the sink is too tight, bending to the cupboard under the hob will be difficult as will emptying the dishwasher. Additionally I’m not keen on the island being a barrier as you enter. I don’t like having to walk around the island to get to the fridge. There is also not a lot of space for food preparation. Plus lots of small and curved units are impractical and add to the cost. I agree that having the bin and dishwasher either sides of the sink is easier to work with. Personally I would firstly try to move the utility room door so that you can have a U shape of units to include the oven. Alternative if you can’t move that door fit tall units in an L shape to include the utility room wall....See More
7 years agoWhat about this? Keep the understairs storage in the hallway but square it off and then put a sliding or pocket door we’re the blue line is?
If a pocket door could still put something useful in that corner of the kitchen have a sliding door with glass to allow more light into the hallway?
Alternatively if you don’t need the shower then could see about putting a toilet in the understairs storage area and have a larger utility room
grazule thanked Gabby Wong
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago- 7 years ago
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They do have walls on both sides.. I wouldn't make the door into the kitchen any narrower than you have to.. I think that 800mm is standard for a door, and carrying in bags etc, it'll be awkward, or if anyone's ever in a wheelchair or on crutches etc..
I'd thought you could put units or larder units in like this.. or rotated 90 degrees potentially (depending on fixings) so you still painted extra storage space in the kitchen.
If you are thinking you may wanna knock through to the dining room in the future, maybe tall units with fridge/freezer would be better on the utility side and having lower units on the dining room side so less needs to be changed in the kitchen if you do knock through?
grazule thanked Gabby Wong 
PRO7 years ago
Maths Wife