Side extension advice
Hi,
I am looking for opinions and advice on our proposed two storey side extension. we have the upstairs all sorted but I’m still not sure about the downstairs .
i can’t help but feel we’re not utilising the space we’re going to have to it’s full potential.
I have attached the plans for the extension and would love some feedback. Thank you
Comments (15)
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Side return extension with side access dilemma
Comments (7)Hello James, Just a thought here and a very quick one!... If you have a galley arrangement you don't cut the room in half. You could then have a different kind of island/eating area. I love the island that morphs into dining if there is not a degree of separation to have two separate entities.. . The room spatially will feel more open, but of course it must be something you're happy with. For the seating area consider a chaise longue as if two don't sit, one can recline and gaze into the garden! If you were to make the side return ie follow along from the external wall (Living room) you could move the kitchen back in line with this. It's not a massive extension possibly 70 or 80 wide ie the doorway width approx.. It allows the access way to be left alone and thus you can still walk down past your kitchen.. There's no courtyard but you have a better flow through from front to back.. It's simpler perhaps but sometimes this is the best solution to a problem.. The living room could possibly have the angled wall removed to open up the living and kitchen area.. RSJ or some structural addition if the wall is load bearing and you'd need consent most probably.. Structural engineers, but the architect can advise you.. if you liked the idea.. It means you lose the door to the alleyway from the living room but I don't feel this is a gr8 loss.... You could move (or rather extend backwards to the new rear wall) the loo to my suggested new "rear" wall position boxed in from either side of course and with pocket doors and a small (read tiny) cloakroom in front accessed from hall side... so the door isn't opening directly into hall/kitchen/living but has two doors. So the end of the living room is squared off and forms one side of the new loo position. It's a minimal move. You increase the flow through from the living room by opening this out more and even a smaller amount would benefit. and then you can start the run (Kitchen) from back of downstairs loo with larder cupboard for example so there is again a degree of separation from downstairs loo and what is going to be kitchen units.. I also like to plan large monoliths like double height fridge freezers or larders in corners, which doesn't impede the view! Sliding or concertina doors at the back or my specific favourite .... Bring the outdoors in and visa vera! It's rather a more simplified design but I think it creates flow which I like the idea of in a home such as yours. You could put in wooden french doors if you wanted to separate front living from rear living but still keep them with the aesthetic feel of one room.. Don't lose the fireplaces if they're lovely they might be worth keeping! The other alternative is to square off the loo, do the small side extension as mentioned above and then you have two walk ways into kitchen from hall side and from kitchen side.. Then you'd have the FF or larder in the middle on the Loo wall .. This arrangement isn't open like my first idea.. but it would save you moving the loo in question.. : )) These are on a huge scale I know but they're to give you some inspiration about how to handle the door from kitchen to garden! Think garage style pulley system.. This kind of solution makes for a spectacular entrance to your garden and beyond!...See MoreFitting all my requirements into a single side extension! Help!
Comments (20)Hello Jodie, Most welcome, I hope you saw my extension visuals too which give you a range of ideas and I like the transparency and style of the frames which lend to a feeling of open space.... The day beds are really gr8 in a room where it needs to be versatile so gr8 minds!.. The cream daybed is from ikea.. if you mean the second whiteish one with bolsters.. Something similar can be found at Loaf.. I do really like the Ikea one though as it's woven which is very nice texturally and has a really good aesthetic. and the last one which is my other favourite.. .. I think it would be rather good to have a shower element and so if not the wet room idea, you can still have something fantastic as a shower enclosure if you choose the enclosure wisely. Also you may be able to incorporate the architecture of the space in that you may be able to add a screen or something if the size fits for a walk in or other enclosed shower with single screen.. With regard to the extension you have.. you may be able to adapt it architecturally but if you like the idea of more glass then it might be better to replace altogether but of course dependent on what you choose and decide on an architectural level with the plans etc.. Budget a consideration etc.. You could though take out the existing windows and replace them with doors or bifold or sliding panels.. The arches internally are quite easy to convert to a squared off finish ie where they are situated such as the windows and doorways.. : ))...See MoreDownstairs Side and Rear Extension - Looking for some advice please
Comments (7)Hi. I have to agree and disagree with Jonathan on kitchen layout. Unfortunately, it is a common mistake to leave the layout as the last thing to consider. Your kitchen will be the center of your house, space between the dining area and living room. Your family and friends will spend most of the time rather around the kitchen table, chatting, having a drink, coffee, breakfast (add a lot of more) than around dining table or on the sofa. To properly establish the layout may be the most important choice you will have to make. How you cook, how you will move around the kitchen, how do you prepare meals and hundreds of more questions to be answered. Therefore the position of the fridge, what kind of extractor will you choose (island build in, ceiling extractor or maybe skylift by Faber) can be vital to rest of the works. Nicely pointed by Jonathan the position of the soil stack, another very important for layout and positioning of the sink. All those may be easily resolved if you ask for help professional designer who spends with your family couple of hours and helps you to make correct choices. I hope my post will make an impact and you will show us awesome pictures of your home next year. Good luck!...See MoreSide Double Storey extension advice
Comments (3)That’s a good shout actually. The bathroom would go along the side of bedroom 2 as well. Could have a wet room style shower in that thin bit....See Morevlevans44
4 years agovlevans44
4 years agovlevans44
4 years agoSo I’ve had a bit of a play around with the layout, do you think this is any better?
please excuse the drawing ive had to use my iPhone
arc3d
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoHi V,
Sorry I haven't had time to do the plans properly, just a quick sketch.
If your conservatory has a solid roof and the office is at the back then it will let very little light in from the windows so your kitchen diner will always be gloomy. Especially with a house that's 12m deep!
With a house this large it should, I think, have some grandeur. Your entrance is no bigger than one in a 2 bed terrace, so I would increase its size significantly. I would have double doors (pocket or swinging) that open up to the living space.
I also think with such a substantial renovation you could really do something creative that would leave your mark on the house.
I would combine the back of the house to create a great room. The office I would turn into a curved feature breakfast room with panoramic views of the garden. Much of the wall with garden views would be glass.
I would double the size of the stair case and make it a feature of the entrance.
I would get rid of the conservatory and extend the kitchen to create a larger one with a very generous kitchen Island with informal dining.
I would increase the size of the dining area and table to a banqueting table that seats 8 and extends to 10.
As for the design, traditional or contemporary, the possibilities are endless.
Jonathan
4 years agoI agree with earlier comments about giving the house an entrance with the proportions of the rest of the house. I also think that if you have garden to the side you should have some sort of access to it. And of course there is the issue of getting light to the centre of this house.
There are likely lots of ways this could be done, you might even consider moving the stairs- a designer or concept planner could be a great resource but for the time being here’s my suggestion
vlevans44
4 years agovlevans44
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