Recessed entrance to bungalow - need help with ideas

last month

Recently bought a 1960s bungalow. The entrance is not inviting and looks more like a school /old people's home than a family home. Struggling for ideas. Plan to switch out the doors for a more up to date look. But apart from that I have no idea what to do with it.

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Comments (8)

carocat24
last month
Plants in pots & lighting.

Removing some of the paving to create pockets of planting would so soften things up, but pots would be a quick and easy first step.
delyth price
last month
A different handrail might help, the current one looks very ‘institutional’, maybe a more solid barrier with trellis which you could soften with climbers and greenery?
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Where exactly are you thinking of adding the living/dine-in kitchen? Are you thinking of keeping the existing lounge in the front of the house? I'm not exactly sure what you want done to your house, but by reading your needs I would convert the lounge into a bedroom. Since you do not have a closet, you can buy a wardrobe for the your clothes. I suggest the wardrobes from Ikea since they're inexpensive and attractive. I would leave the kitchen where it is since moving it would be a large unneeded cost. Where the back porch is now, I would extend it to make a nice, spacious living room. By bringing down the wall between the kitchen and porch, this will create an open feel between the kitchen and new living room. The extra bathroom you're thinking of adding could take the place of the smaller portion of the back porch. If you do extend the living room towards the back of the kitchen, this would be a good place for a bathroom (for guests). Another option is to extend the foundation to the back of bedroom 1. This will allow access to this bathroom from the bedroom, turning it into a master suite. This woud add convenience and value to the home. However, I'm not sure how much it bothers you, but I would not like to step into a house and just see a bunch of walls and doors. Another option could be to make the lounge into a living room and make a nice curved archway opening to the kitchen. You could always make your kitchen/dining bigger by expanding it into the back porch. You could extend the house to incorporate the extra bedroom or (if you don't really use your garage), convert your garage and smaller porch area into a large master bedroom with a connecting bathroom. The only other thing I can think of is expanding vertically (perhaps above the garage), which would be great since you don't lose any outdoor space. You could create a master suite above the garage. This would create more privacy for you and a nice retreat from the rest of the house. Again, I'm not completely clear on what you want so I hope this helps a little.
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thanks for comments. Yes I thought of those things too but Render may be too costly but I like the idea of wood if not too much maintence. The bricks are good too so doesnt really need render, except it would look better! I was also wondering about the render that is already there??! replace with the wood? And if we go up, how to place the upstairs window without it just looking out of place. Have not got an architect / surveyor yet!
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Is the downstairs bedroom just for guests or is it the master bedroom? If it's for guests, the you probably don't need it ensuite as long as there's a shower in the main bathroom. Definitely put in a utility, using that left hand side of the kitchen. No need to have a door through from kitchen to utility, just block it off and it's perfect with back door for running to washing line! Run a counter along left hand side with washer and dryer underneath, put in a sink for hand washing etc, and have shelves above for storage. On the right hand side, a bench with shoe storage beneath and coat hooks above. Can also double as a 'mud room' for storing wellies, umbrellas, footballs etc! Then knock the wall between kitchen and dining, but retain wall between kitchen and lounge to provide space for kitchen cabinets. To keep the open plan room sociable my main advice would be, no TV in there! Put the TV in the family room. this house has great potential, good luck!
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Hi Stefania. Is there really no option anywhere else? For instance I've got a big oriental wardrobe in my living room which houses the tv but could just as easily house clothes for what it was meant for:) You can also use wardrobes as room dividers, will find some pics if that's an option. If not, I'd go for slim depth wardrobes, if you google that you'll find some. I know ikea do some and you can always add a little more architectural detailing if liked or it may look better taking them to ceiling height so they look fitted. Either buy or paint them in the wall colour so they recede into the background. You could also have a large mirror/s the other side to make the corridor feel wider. Perhaps post a floor plan though to see if people have some other ideas?
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Sonia
last month
Too much hard landscaping and no plants. Planting can soften any scheme. A few evergreen small shrubs like Skimmia and Azaleas will soften it. I like carocats idea of removing some of the paving to create planting pockets. Less maintenance than pots too.
Kathy Custard
Original Author
last month
Thanks for your comments, really helpful. 😊
Daisy England
last month
I’d be tempted to add a polycarbonate roof and put some garden chairs under it.
mii2
last month
Depending on sun direction, some horizontal beams between both walls with delightful highly fragranced climbers would be a wonderful entrance.
PRO
OnePlan
last month
I power washed a curved pathway onto cobbles to allow planting pot areas in a similar space which broke up the look in a softer way. I used the garden hose laid in the floor to mock it up first . Was for a friends house so don’t have pics I’m afraid.
PRO
R.A Interiors
last month
Hi Kathy, I actually think you've got the potential to have a cute lil nook of an entrance. Of course changing the front door will help dramatically, think about having a pale blue door or other colour to make it lighter and more inviting. I'd change the wall light to a cooler lighter that doesn't create the yellow wash. Also, is that a hand-rail next to the stairs? I'd remove this as it gives the feel of the 'old peoples' home. You could then place some taller plants (possibly ferns) by the stairs to create more of an entrance way. If you're feeling a little magical, why not add some net fairy lights under the canopy (check they're suitable for outdoor use).

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Recessed entrance to bungalow - need help with ideas

Comments (8)

carocat24

delyth price

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Sonia

Kathy CustardOriginal Author

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Kathy Custard
Original Author