Open plan layout/extension help

6 years ago

Hi guys,

I’m hoping some of you may be able to help me out with some suggestions of how I could incorporate open plan living/dining into my house. My idea is to knock the wall out between the kitchen and garage, add a small utility room at the front of the house with a window. Then knock out the walls to the rear of the house and extend fully across (removing the current conservatory) and add in bifolds. Depending how much it would increase the project cost I would ideally like it to be a 2 storey extension so extend out the back bedrooms. I would block up the door of bedroom 4 and turn it into a walk in wardrobe accessed via the en-suite connected to bedroom 2.

This is the current floor plan and a very very basic sketch of my thoughts. Hopefully you can input some suggestions for me as I seem to really struggle with creativity in this area! Thanks

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Comments (8)

Rebecca Thurlow
Original Author
6 years ago
Anybody?
Ellie
6 years ago
What budget do you have?
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Hi all, Thank you for your comments; I appreciate them! Natasha - the units you have suggested are very much what I had in mind. We will have a shaker kitchen and the media unit would also be shaker style and would have 4-6 cupboards with the TV in the middle with book shelves either side. Part of the reason we kept a partial wall was to make the space more usable. I can’t envision how the fully open plan room will be able to meet all our needs, but I am open to ideas! I feel that open plan would be more impressive, but potentially less usable. With regards to the doors. I do plan to reverse the doors both into the kitchen and family room part, but couldn’t work out how to do it on the app I used for the floor plan. It is a 1920s house and we have the original doors which we are planning to keep. We are also keeping a lot of floor space as when the table is not extended, we still have young children with lots of Lego and trains etc. I plan for these to be hidden in the cupboards at bedtime. J - we haven’t installed the kitchen but we have ordered it and paid a big deposit. Some of the units are bespoke/irregular sizes and I don’t think we would be willing to change this. I have attached a photo of our rendered kitchen plan. Thanks again for your comments. It is good to have other people’s opinions and ideas.
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I'd vote option 4, 2&3 don't appear safe (also option 5 with emptying things into the sink and just impractical). Using option 1 layout, could you have the kitchen along the length of the left wall moving the sofa forward a little, with a narrower coffee table, (and putting the hob and sink as far from sofa as possible). Put the dining table on the bathroom wall with a bench seat. Put a cupboard in the 500 alcove for a larder. You may have room a small chair next to the tv (one that doesn't visually feel the room). I'd make the opening to the courtyard as large as possible. Not sure how that would work as planning isn't my forte and I would strongly suggest engaging OnePlan or similar. I do agree with the estate agents advice though.
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Hi Norman, May I ask if you have builders in place and if the property is located in South London. As we could assist with what will be the best option for your extension and take care of all aspects for you from the design to the build and finish. If you would like to view some of our previous jobs you can head to https://www.aptrenovation.co.uk/our-projects/ or call us on 0207 223 6417 to organize a free consultation. Hope we can help and that you staying safe in these trying times. Kind regards, APT Renovation Ltd
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Its hard to give a full breakdown of options without studying the full plans, your requirements and budgets. This is something you need to do with your chosen Architect. However, there are many options for adding windows and ways of making light bounce around the house, but if your architect has said you can't add more glazing you should ask why. I would suggest it is because it will start to impact the thermal efficiency of your house. North facing windows get no solar gain so by adding too much you could end up with a house that is difficult to keep warm especially if your house is older. You could upgarde to super energy effiecient glazing but of course that will come at a cost. Having looked at your existing plans it looks like your house has already had extensive work done. Unfortunately it doesn't appear like an architect was involved. A lot of the cost of your renovation will be in correcting previous mistakes and even then you will end up with columns in ever room unless you are willing to pay to have that corrected too. The cost could make the option of moving more viable? Did the previous owners also extend upstairs?
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Rebecca Thurlow
Original Author
6 years ago
Around £30/£35k
Jonathan
6 years ago
Your £30/35k budget is insufficient to be considering a full width extension.
PRO
Kay Moden
6 years ago
Hi Rebecca,

Feel free to get in touch, we can look into this for you.

I have to agree with the comment on budget - Often the kitchen or patio doors alone can cost around 5k, each.

You can still utilise your current space. Simple option is to cut back the garage and lounge, relocate the GF toilet. A good living space is not just defined by square feet but also space perception.

Think about how much time you spend in the lounge & if it's really worth keeping it that big.

Hope this helps.

Andrei
Rebecca Thurlow
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for some good advice. I didn’t really think of cutting down the size of the lounge and garage to help gain internal space, this could definitely work as the lounge would definitely be used less with a more open plan kitchen/diner. I presume bricking up the current conservatory and just making it slightly wider as opposed to a full width extension would help with the overall costs too?
PRO
Kay Moden
6 years ago
Most certainly. I wouldn't make it much wider though. The space where the french doors open to tends to become unused & dull. Right now it still keep the good view from the kitchen and brings more light in, but this can be reviewed in the concept stage.
PRO
The Kitchen Lady UK
6 years ago
I think to make the most of your budget but add to your space is to look at a garage conversion. This would be around £20k+ depending on the spec of kitchen you choose so you'd have spare money to splash out on other renovations.
I think the simplest layout would be similar to your sketch. Put the utility by the garage door, then I like your long kitchen idea with perhaps doors into the garden with then lots of space for a dining area, perhaps island or pantry unit.
I often help with these sort of layout projects if you need any more help. We can bounce some ideas around and work out the best plan for you and your family 😊 Good luck

Open plan layout/extension help

Comments (8)

Rebecca Thurlow
Original Author

Ellie

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Rebecca Thurlow
Original Author

Jonathan

Kay Moden

Rebecca Thurlow
Original Author

Kay Moden

The Kitchen Lady UK

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Open plan layout/extension help

Comments (8)

Rebecca ThurlowOriginal Author

Ellie

Related Discussions

Rebecca ThurlowOriginal Author

Jonathan

Kay Moden

Rebecca ThurlowOriginal Author

Kay Moden

The Kitchen Lady UK

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BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

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Rebecca Thurlow
Original Author

Rebecca Thurlow
Original Author

Rebecca Thurlow
Original Author