Where to start ? Extending 60s Semi Detached. Help Please!!
Hi all,
We are looking into extending our 1960s semi detached house. It's a fairly standard build, but we are struggling for inspiration and finding it hard to work out what is viable for us financially before getting more serious about it. We have up to £130k to work with (including finishes such as kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms) if needed. We've never done this before so are pretty clueless!
Our main goals are:
1. Must - our main living room moved to the rear, facing on to the back garden.
2. Must - We also want a much bigger kitchen and dining area. We are a bit traditional, and are not big fans of the huge open plan spaces which seem to be all the rage these days. We would prefer the flexibility of being able to close the kitchen and dining areas off from the living room when required (so you don't see all the mess and washing up for example!).
3. Must - refurbish the upstairs bathroom and main bedroom.
4. Should - Have a bigger porch/hallway for storage.
5. Should - Create a space for a home office (convert garage?)
6. Should - Maintain storage for lawn mowers, ladders, etc that are currently stored in the garage
7. Could - Build over the garage and extend the tiny third bedroom to make it usable as a guest room.
Our main problem is we don't really know what is possible within our budget to help us refine our thinking and prioritise the must haves against the nice to haves. We also have no idea about what is possible for moving walls and changing layouts, etc.
Here is the "As Is" Ground Floor Plan:
Here is the Front of the house:
Here is the Rear of the house:
Here is the garden:
Here is my initial idea for a revised ground floor plan. What do you think? We like the idea of "broken plan" to give us flexibility:
So.....what are your thoughts or ideas for things that we should look into? Any of your ideas or pointers are welcome. Should we change the layout? Convert the garage? move the stairs? Extend on the garage? aaaargh!! There's a lot of possibilities. Where to start first?
Finally, what are your tips for software we can use to bring our ideas to life before we start paying the professionals to do it?
Thanks so much for any responses!
Comments (6)
PROKay Moden
3 years ago
PROThe Kitchen Lady UK
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Modernizing a 1960's semi-detached bunglow!!!
Comments (7)Hi, What a lovely place you have there. Bags of potential and some outside space too! I am with OnePlan I am afraid - I could do all the interiors bits and happy to make recommendations when needed but it is an architect or interior architect you will be looking for for any building work or planning. You could try the 'planning portal' if you have ideas you want to look into or even call your local planning office who should be able to point you in the right direction. Regarding interiors I would begin by looking at how you want to use the space. Spend a few days living in it and working out where you feel comfortable and like spending your time - what do you like, what don't you like and then start making some lists! All the best, Gina...See MorePossible double-storey extension on a semi detached
Comments (7)Hi Thanks for sharing, You can easily add a rear extensions say 3 meters out and width of the building you would require lawful development application takes 1 or 2 weeks. Rather than having 2 storey, Would suggest why not have a normal hallway at the entrance(meaning move the lounge wall towards the right) with understairs WC where storage area is. Open up the rear wall so the kitchen is kitchen/dining/living open plan, keep the front lounge formal, would suggest add 4 panel bi-folds and rear extension to be flat roof with sky lantern or skylight 1m by 1.5meters, it is very popular to have kitchen island for quick breakfast or socialising. Remodel the first floor and add loft conversion hip to gable(extra good size bathroom and bedroom)? you will gain 1 new bathroom, WC, open plan kitchen/dining/living, formal reception and 1 more bedroom in the loft. You are more likely to get approvals for the suggestion above than 2 storey rear extension. Hope all is helpful. Nuhous Team Couple Designs Below:...See MoreAdvice for Ground Floor Extension on semi-detached 1930s
Comments (26)I do think you need a replan regarding reception room space. When you consider the final square footage of this house and the cost of building it to that size you are in the league of most 4 bedroomed detached houses. I think if you had gone to view a 4 bedroomed house with a living room that is 14’x12 you wouldn’t have bought it because in that context it would seem small. I suspect that having lived in a flat you didn’t have much space to store things so you are trying to plan where to put everything but having a bootroom and laundry space, a pantry and extra hallway cupboard shouldn’t be a higher priority than the principal rooms and I bet if you are honest this living room isn’t any bigger than in the flat. And if you are saying that the back of the house has the best views, the best access to the garden, will be the most impressive space because of the kitchen you are planning then in my opinion the best reception space should be here and any compromises should be to the front room...See MoreDouble story extention on 1950s semi detached
Comments (10)you can extend the bathroom pipes under the floor, its more work and cost but if we're not relocate the 2nd floor bathroom, then one bedroom might have no access to a window or we need a full make over by moving stairs position which will be more expensive since it need total layout change both on 1st floor and 2nd floor, and rather than placed WC on the back of a house on ground floor, I though you will enjoy the view more if it was used for the study...See More
PROBase 2 Roof Construction
3 years ago
Richard L
3 years ago
PRODevyra Atelier
3 months agoidk about the second floor because you didn't upload the floorplan, the first thing you need to do is asking the landlord if there's any foundation wall/gas pipes on the current house, also go to local institution to check the building restriction rule around the area, keep in mind outside of your house which area has the most active traffics, like for example cars street, neighbor windows, which one is south faced as the light will shine all day in this direction, etc to maintain privacy and avoid noise, the lack of window in the front building disturb me as it won't get many natural light
I won't propose too much of different layout from your original plan because it can probably cost more with unconvetional floorplan
1.) The best view are towards your garden so I suggest sliding alumunium glass door for the back, as for the dining the original door could be used again if it has glass to overlook the garden but please add two window and each side so you can appreciate the garden view from the dining & kitchen,
2.) For the interior door between the room, I suggest all room using sliding door to maximize the space, you can have grand double sliding door or single sliding door in the right place
3.) I add windows on the front (only if possible), the WC door shouldn't faced dining area as it's not good so I make a little end corridor which you can place washer and drier lined them/ stacked them, it also possible to build a sink here, and in the opposite side there's wardrobe as storage for coats and shoe rack
4.)You can exchange the dining and kitchen position according oto your family needs
Ellie