Help with house design/ renovation

3 years ago

Considering buying a 1930s semi which would need some updating. It looks like the current kitchen was added on at some point and this has left a slightly disjointed layout downstairs and we’d want to extend and knock through to create a larger open plan kitchen diner at the rear of the house.

Upstairs there are 4 bedrooms but bedroom 3 above the garage is at a different level to the rest of the bedrooms and the 4th bedroom is a bit of a box room.

Is it possible to raise the level of the 3rd bedroom or would this just be ridiculously expensive?

Ideally want to create 4 double bedrooms, a master bedroom with an en-suite and a separate family bathroom. Is this possible or should I not buy this house as it’s just not going to happen?

Thanks in advance

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Comments (2)

Jonathan
3 years ago
Everything you want to do is possible.
Extending the kitchen is a common improvement.
You can also raise the floor in any bedroom but this will just create new problems as I suspect there will be insufficient head height and the window will be too low meaning you will need to change the roof and window- in effect rebuilding the whole room.
Personally I think these different levels are part of the charm of a house like this and if you like it you should go with your gut feeling.
Artistic Interiors
3 years ago
Hi Rachael,

Yes - this is possible (assuming there is enough head height in the bedroom that you want to be on the same level & you can do an upstairs extention over the rest of the existing foot-print of the house). Here is how to get everything you want.

'Lower-level' Bedroom:
- Again - assuming you have enough head-height in that room. You may have to re-jig or enlarge the window opening if it is no longer high enough - which can give you more light in the room and better views.
- Put a false floor in (which you can also engineer to have hidden storage in it - bonus!)
- Board up the current doorway and plaster.
Bedroom 4 = convert into a family bathroom

Current Bathroom = convert into an ensuite for Bedroom 2

Bedroom 2 = make this your master bedroom
- this will now have access into new ensuite (shower, toilet, sink)
- enlarge the window area in this room to make a statement and make the most of your views out into the garden (assuming this is possible with a nice garden and view)
Current w/c - toilet closet = convert this into a hallway which leads to the upstairs extention and also will give you access to the bedroom that you put a false floor into.

Upstairs Extention:
- If you do a 1st floor extension over the rest of the existing groundfloor footprint of the house - this will give you the 4th double bedroom that you want.
- This extention will also allow you to gain access to the false floor bedroom too.
Something to consider:
- Check the height of your loft space. If there is enough room with building regulations for you to do a loft conversion with large dormers or just an extended flat roof (I don't know what your roof-line looks like) - then you can sacrifice a bit of space on the 1st floor for stair access, and gain a whole foot-print which can serve you as a large master suite with ensuite, walk-in closets and great views (if done right). Or you can convert this area into an extra den-playroom area or office or more bedrooms. Lots of possibilities!
Ground Floor:
- By adding the back porch space to your internal foot-print & knocking out the wall between the current kitchen & breakfast area, you can create a large open plan rectangle kitchen-diner space which you can open up with sliding or concertina doors to the back garden.
- You can add a ultility closet in the space opposite the w/c closet & hall. Adding these walls will make the kitchen - diner a perfect rectangle.
- If you also knock down the wall between the breakfast area & the living room, this will give you a large open plan kitchen - diner - lounge space, which takes full advantage of your garden space.
- Lastly, by keeping the current dining room enclosed and separate, this will give you an extra TV snug / grown ups room or reception area where anyone can get away from the hustle & bustle of open plan living.
Hope this helps.

Good luck & best wishes!
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Help with house design/ renovation

Comments (2)

Jonathan

Artistic Interiors

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