skip to main content

Design Dilemma Polls

Semi-sunken living room or Kitchen in extension?

3 years ago

We recently bought a small 1916 apartment in the Netherlands (67m2 + 10m2 basement) and are adding a 3.3x3.3m* extension at the garden end. Also, we are breaking down the load-bearing wall in the kitchen and making a few other changes in the floor plan to make space for a decent bathroom :)

Since I’m very concerned about feeling cramped after a while, I was hoping to get some advice on where to put the kitchen and whether or not a kitchen island is a good idea (Although I really want a kitchen island!). I keep hearing that I should leave the kitchen where it is, but I still want to explore my options.

Option #1: Open kitchen with kitchen island in main area + sunken living room in the extension as pictured in the new floor plan.

Option #2: Open kitchen with a long horizontally-placed dining table (no kitchen island) + sunken living room in the extension.

Option #3: Spacious living room with narrow dining table on the right side + kitchen with kitchen island in the extension.

Option #4: Spacious living room + kitchen with round or oval dining table in the extension (no kitchen island).

Option #5: ?

*Note that the length of the extensions can be max 4m, but we prefer not to as we do not want to block too much sunlight from

our neighbors.

Old floor plan

New floor plan

Option #1

Option #3 inspiration

Option #2 inspiration

Sunken living room inspiration

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

PRO
misch_MISCH studio
3 years ago
Hi,

firstly if you like the kitchen island, re-consider the spatial arrangement and centre your design around that. [where there is a will, there is always a way].

Option 1 has a good flow. If you have access to the property, go & tape the layouts up to test how it feels.

Love your design precedents!

Hope that helps a little. Message me if you'd like more advice. mMx
PRO
Sara Slade Interiors
3 years ago
Definitely keep sunken seating - how lovely
Related Discussions
Mid-century living room extension - UK
Q
Comments (17)
Hi Nickyshore - the build started mid September and finished mid-November so it was a pretty quick process. That said there are still elements to finish; the glass for the mezzanine gets fitted in 2 weeks, the final wood flooring isn't down yet and so the skirting boards haven't gone in yet either - but it's a useable space which we're already starting to love. The upheaval was minimal and we lived in the house throughout the build. All of the construction was completed before they knocked through into the kitchen / main house - so really there was only a week when we were in a bit of a mess. Our builders are fantastic and the cleanest / tidiest tradesmen we have ever used!!
...See More
3 bed semi - clever extension ideas pls
Q
Comments (6)
Hi. I'm not sure if you're keeping existing furniture or not. I would do as OnePlan said and swap sofa and table. Have your table against the wall with a banquette or bench to keep a feeling of space. Consider an integrated WM and TD and use the TD space for storage and then flip either one or both storage cupboards in the utility to open into the open plan space for toy storage. If you're buying new sofas I might lose the straight sofa and have a chair in the bottom left corner and have an upholstered footstool for extra seating when needed. You could then have bifolds doors so you can open up the whole space for entertaining. The doors could be glazed to give the feeling of space or not to hide anyway any mess. Out of interest what's the distance between island and sink units as it looks quite tight by eye?
...See More
1930 semi double storey extension - Help!
Q
Comments (3)
What an exciting project! One thing I've seen done is converting the loft - stealing a bit of space from the box bedroom for a return staircase then the remaining space is converted into an en suite for the master. In the loft you can then have a further two bedrooms and bathroom. This would likely be a lot cheaper than doing a two storey extension.
...See More
Kitchen living room extension redesign
Q
Comments (4)
Pillar inside that has the stink pipe running behind it outside-this would be rerouted to the side
...See More

Sponsored

More Discussions

need ideas for living room with stairs and under stairs space

8

How would you extend?

10

Where does the TV go?!

4

Adding character! uPVC french doors

7

Desperate for advice to fix front of house

0

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’.