Is a side return which decreases floor space worth it?
I'm having my kitchen and bathroom renovated (plumbing moved, electrics, floors, everything!) in the next year. I'm considering using this disruption as a chance to improve the layout and finally make use of the absolutely minuscule "garden" in what is already a small mid-terrace house.
Left is current layout, right is proposed layout. Would anything about the proposed layout put future buyers off? No formal dining room, no windows in bathroom, not enough kitchen surfaces?
What ballpark figure would something like this cost, assuming re-use of all kitchen cabinets/bathroom suite? I am a simple woman and don't need expensive finishes. I plan to stay in this house for at least another 5 years so I think for my home enjoyment, the cost could be justified.
(Red dot is a Thames Water inspection chamber, and what I think is the direction of the pipes. Current kitchen/bathroom area is one-story and will remain that way)
Comments (7)
Van
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Ground floor flat side return and extension
Comments (16)Pete I am North London (Islington borough) and went ahead with mine, finished just over a year ago and it’s changed the flat entirely, so happy I did it. Layout similar to the plans in original post but larger kitchen. If you have an idea of layout you want I’d recommend trying to find a junior architect or go with some sort of basic pack option. Architect fees were way more than I expected and unnecessary for me. I found my original suggestion was the best option anyway and despite agreeing a planned budget it was way over spec’d resulting in tenders out of my reach. I ended up finding a very well priced builder myself using mybuilder.com who still worked to fixed fee contract, came in significantly cheaper than lowest architect tendered builder. Speak to your neighbours before Party Wall letters go out, you are about to disrupt their lives for 3 months or so, worth having them on side :) Try and pick/plan the small things as early as possible - you can’t imagine the ridiculous amount of stress you feel having to pick and order kitchen cupboard handles out of the millions of options there are when the builders are ready for them now! Good luck!...See MoreGround floor flat - side return and rear extension. Why the courtyard?
Comments (11)Courtyard- often the cost of moving drains is prohibitively high and a courtyard does get light in to the center of your home and lots of people don’t like high up window in a bedroom plus they have to be a certain size for regulations that often doesn’t fit the available space. Personally I love them. Separately- do you need to extend? Your stated aim seems to be an extra bathroom. Could you put one under the stairs and move the kitchen access?...See MoreIs a narrow double side extension worth it?
Comments (8)I think it's important to look at the functions you need your home to fulfil for you and then you can start to allocate space to these functions. Are you looking for a 4th bedroom, is this as a bedroom or is it a guest room/office/property value reasons. This will say if 1-2m is enough. Car ports are worth googling, they have been designed for years and are much less expensive than cantelevering but give you that side access. Do you use some of this as a utility room or as the garden shed storage, it's working out the brief that will help work out what work is needed and what can be combined elsewhere. I've just worked with a couple who were resigned to a £50k extension in a few years because their sitting room is too small as the dining table has to go there …rejig of the kitchen and it's a kitchen diner and suddenly the sitting room is twice the size and the extension is now an option and not a requirement. If you'd like any help working out your brief and working out how the new flow of the house can work, feel free to get in touch, you can find out more on my website www.thekitchenladyuk.co.uk Good luck Emily x...See MoreSide return extension layout ideas
Comments (7)Yes, that makes sense, I thought that might be the case. It's a shame the stairs to the cellar are there as it makes it very difficult to have storage here instead which is really useful for any under-stairs space. But I have an unusual idea for a custom rolling storage unit which could roll out to allow access to the cellar storage. It would be possible to make the layout work but bedroom 2 would have to have the original wall with the hall making it smaller. the bathroom could be made a bit smaller to give a bit more space to the bedrooms too. Do you want to have 2 evenly sized bedrooms or 1 larger main bedroom? I hope these notes and ideas are helpful for you! Our services are available if you would like to develop these designs further with us. I would recommend an initial design development session. A 1h phone meeting where we discuss all your requirements and some possible layouts which incorporate your needs/priorities and afterwards I produce several detailed sketches for the ideas/options discussed. If you would like to arrange one of these then please feel free to contact me at: info@phillipbrewerarchitecture.co.uk Then if you choose to proceed further we would produce an accurate and detailed 3D digital model for a planning application and/or set of construction drawings....See MoreVan
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoIt is the only bathroom unfortunately. Due to the way the stairs face, adding a bathroom upstairs (assuming above the kitchen) would mean cutting into a bedroom, and they're just about double-sized rooms already!
For reference, a neighbouring house did this and their second bedroom is now extremely tight
PROKingfisher Designs
3 years agoMaybe somthing like this?
Build the back alcove area where the fridge is into full height cupboard, move the units to the back and then put the table by the new doors. Use a small return to screen the stairs/bathroom from the lounge.
The bathroom shouldn't be an issue if you can do it well, you could use a sun tube /vent to bring in natural light and ensure it gets all the steam out. It would have to be guided out the back but should be doable.
Van thanked Kingfisher DesignsVan
3 years ago
cannonja