Ground floor plan dilemma

3 years ago

Hello, we are in the middle of a renovation project and looking for some help to redesign this ground floor. We have already taken down timber non load bearing partitions and which enclosed the kitchen off the dining room etc. This is the current floor-plan and layout. What would you do with this space to achieve an open plan, yet cosy and comfortable living space?

We have thought of a couple of ideas

1. Leave the living, dining room and kitchen open and close off the hallway door into the kitchen to allow a wall for hanging kitchen units/hob/oven etc.

2. Partition sitting room and dining room, leaving hallway door and an open plan kitchen diner.

Any suggestions will be immensely appreciated

Featured Answer

PRO

The SpaceMaker Interiors

3 years ago

Have you considered internal doors to help create that separation? I would keep the layout open, and get a kitchen well designed to allow for maximum use of the space, while still being able to open it all up for when you have family around, but then keep the living room cosy with doors (sliding or concertina).

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Comments (8)

minipie
3 years ago
option 2 for me!

I would partition off the sitting room but with double doors (pocket maybe) to allow it to be open when you want.

I also wouldn’t want to have to walk all the way through sitting and dining rooms to come into the kitchen every time, you want easy kitchen access from your front door and from upstairs.

It’s true however that the kitchen space is quite limited in option 2 especially with the utility door there too. Would you consider putting the kitchen on the opposite side instead? A wall run and parallel island would work well there. And then have the dining table in the “kitchen” area? Appreciate that may be difficult if plumbing is already in place though. Alternatively, you might be able to make the under stairs space part of your kitchen (create a pantry in there?) to give yourselves more kitchen space.

The utility room doors look likely to cause issues as drawn. I would change all the doors to open the opposite way from currently shown, if you can (so the garden door opens into the garden, not the utility; the door from kitchen opens into the utility not into the kitchen; and the door to the garage opens into the garage, if that works with a car in there). I would also consider whether you really need the door from garage to utility - you won’t be able to fit a lot in there with 3 doorways.
Kwame Osei-Bonsu thanked minipie
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Thanks, I hadn't thought about carrying the corridor on to outside wall & option of a window but it would still limit space in rest of room ( would leave about 2.5 m width). I do like option 1 but just have a couple of concerns about the layout such as the study / bedroom 4 being in an odd location which might be better used as a utility with outdoor access plus I'm worried the new kitchen will be dark with the new utility blocking light from the front window. Plus the new utility won't have outdoor access. Other than that, I'm happy with it but indecisive in case there's a better solution!
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Thanks for your feedback. It’s good to hear from someone with a similar setup. Yes most time is spent in the lounge as it’s near the garden and is the nicest of all the rooms. The current dining room can be a bit shut away and get quite cold. If we were to change it and move the lounge to the front we know this would still be an issue but we would plan on making is cosier with furnishings. There is also an external chimney breast we would reinstate to be able to install a fire. Which as a lounge we would use, but as a dining room not so much. Yes there is a room above unfortunately but we would have two side windows facing west and the large patio doors facing south. Usually once we get to mid morning the sun fills the current lounge and kitchen through most of the day and evening, which is almost too much in the summer! But I guess in the winter that won’t necessarily be the case. Something worth thinking about I guess before deciding.
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Hey Nick, I've just quickly laid out how I think you could get the most out of your kitchen & dining extension. Depending on how much storage you need, you can increase the units on either side of the kitchen area. As shown, you'll have a good amount in the base cabinets, island & potentially around the fridge area (shown next to the understair pantry). The island grounds your kitchen & creates a relaxed vibe throughout. You can choose to wash your dishes on the island or cook your meals, both possibilities come with room for company opposite your task of choice & storage below. We always suggest having your dining table closest to your outside views. Whether you're eating breakfast or hosting a dinner, looking out to a stunning garden is always a plus. I've also marked a little bench with under-seat storage if you fancy a little kitchen reading nook. Green: kitchen + island + fridge Red: dining Yellow: bench Let me know if you need any more help on this, I'd be delighted to assist you in working out your design dilemmas before work starts on your extension. All the best, Rabia from Haru Design
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I think you're right to move the kitchen into the new extension. You can close off the living area with a stud wall or I've seen some half walls with sliding window partitions that allow in light and the ability to open up the space whilst still remaining enclosed. If you want some flexibility, you could design the windows, services, UFH, flooring etc in a way that would allow you to easily add a stud wall to close off the snug/back lounge, if you decide the 'openness' doesn't work for you further down the line. I feel like you could make the middle room (anteroom) work harder by relocating some of the doorways from the hall. If you push back and rotate the toilet, the door wouldn't then open out to the front door and you claw back some breathing room at the immediate front entrance. You'd also have light and an open-able window in the utility/cloak area as well as more wall space for the sofa in the front lounge 1 = 100 x 60 x 200 wardrobe for cloak cupboard 2 = 40 x 60 x 200 cleaning cupboard
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PRO
Eulinea Ltd
3 years ago
If this is a three storey house, you will need a 30min door into the Kitchen, plus a mains operated smoke alarm in the Hallway, in addition to the Heat Detector you need to have in the Kitchen.

It would be nicer if you see the table first thing when you come in, rather than a Kitchen (more appeal), so consider moving the Kitchen on the other side (what seems to be the Party Wall) if possible. Eclisse pocket doors with two way switches that can be used from either side of the pocked doors (for both scenarios - used as open plan or closed off). In this way you get to choose how you use the space. Have done this recently on a project and my client was very happy!
Kwame Osei-Bonsu thanked Eulinea Ltd
Kwame Osei-Bonsu
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks for the comments so far. We're leaning towards using a smaller pocket/sliding/folding door to diving the sitting room from the back of the house. The layout of the back of the ground floor is still a challenge. It would be great to swing the kitchen round but so much of the plumbing is already in place so makes it tricky. Also hoping to put in a bifolding door where the window in the "dining" area is.
PRO
Eulinea Ltd
3 years ago
Difficult to see any plumbing that is already in place from the pictures you've sent, apart from the SVP which seems to be the existing one. Also, I note you have a suspended ground floor, you may be able to bring the new sink connection under the floor to join the SVP if you would prefer to swing the Kitchen on the Party Wall - just a thought.
Kola Alabede
3 years ago
Option 2 with pocket doors would be my preferred solution. Just make sure your kitchen is adjacent to the utility room as these can share travel space and the last thing you want to do is walk through dining space to go outside or into the utility room.
Kwame Osei-Bonsu
Original Author
3 years ago

How would would maximise a design like this in terms of wall units, space etc?
PRO
OnePlan
3 years ago
The distance between sink and hob is too great in the above plan. Imagine walking that long route with a hot pan full of boiled potatoes!

Good design is something that is integral to the whole build process - and like good builders - good designers are booked ahead too ...

... so I can see this is a project that you need attending to instantly - so in this instance your options are going to be about finding someone not booked up to help to design something for you.

But for anyone else starting out on a similar project - a big investment - something you’ll live with for a long time - don’t get a last min design done from the one person who’s not booked up - take your time - work with a designer who has experience, great reviews, and who has your safety as their first concern. You will be living with the result for a long time !

Ground floor plan dilemma

The SpaceMaker Interiors

Comments (8)

minipie

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