Help! Best use of ground floor layout

3 years ago

We are currently having plans drawn up for a side extension on our 1970s semi as part of a full refurbishment of the house, but we are struggling with the layout of the ground floor living space.

We want to make best use of the space, providing a functional living room, and bright and airy kitchen/dinner. Does anyone have any ideas how we can get the most out of the two spaces. Ideally we want to have two rooms, but like the idea of being able to open up the space for entertaining. A downstairs toilet is also a must as there is only one bathroom upstairs, with no space for a second or en-suite.

The current layout and a design idea is:

Any ideas on how to make this space work would be appreciated.

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Comments (4)

PRO
Slow Coach Ltd.
3 years ago
Hi David, see an alternative below- the yellow L shaped kitchen worktop provides good amount of space with sink facing the garden and hob against the perpendicular wall, the grey bit is floor to wall cabinet with fridge freezer. The wonky rectangle is dining table (all red bits are windows) and a downstairs water closet. The garage doors lead up to a small storage area where you can house your wheelie bins and other stuff that require easy access to the outside. Getting rid of the doors while you enter the living room may open up the area a bit more if that’s possible. Clean simple layouts always make a space more flexible in the long term. Hope you achieve the space you are after!
David Reece thanked Slow Coach Ltd.
Jonathan
3 years ago
Personally I think your plan leaves you with a difficult to furnish living room as it has to be a thoroughfare.
So I offer an alternative
David Reece thanked Jonathan
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Can you fit a door to the dining room in between the front door and the stairs? If so then that opens up a lot more options. assuming you can: I would keep the existing side entrance, make the side section into a boot room with lots of hooks etc and a place to keep bikes scooters sports kit shoes etc. This second “muddy” entrance is absolutely invaluable, if I had any way of doing this in my house I would! This boot room/coat corridor then continues around the back of the dining room to lead to the hall. The WC comes off it in the existing location, this is then accessible to guests from the hall rather than via the dining room. Utility I would do as per Jonathan’s layout, with the door opening inwards, or a pocket door if you have enough wall space. I see you are retaining the dividing wall between kitchen and living room, I imagine this is to reduce cost but you could consider putting some glazed panels in to that wall to make it feel more open to each other. I also see you have a level difference between kitchen and the rest of the house, I would recommend raising the kitchen level to match the rest as it’s only one step, allows more flexibility in furniture placement and is generally more practical. Also gives room to lay underfloor heating in the kitchen.
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Ask your self if the kitchen is actually a good kitchen….. if you need a utility room next to the kitchen for additional refrigeration or storage or additional work surface then it’s not a good enough kitchen for you. Ideally the utility should be just a laundry room in which case it’s best near the bedrooms upstairs or at least near the bottom of the stairs.
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David Reece
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you for your helpful suggestions.

Definitely some good ideas to consider, hadn't thought of moving the kitchen to the other side, Will have a good study and think over this.
rinked
3 years ago
Since it's a full house refurb, what does your first floor layout look like?

And will the extension be single storey? Any options of stretching the back of the house as well?

Help! Best use of ground floor layout

Comments (4)

Slow Coach Ltd.

Jonathan

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Help! Best use of ground floor layout

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Jonathan

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