best way to utilise space - utility room and toilet too much?
RenoNewbie
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Hi all,
We’re hoping to reconfigure the dining room and kitchen of our new home to:
- Remove bay window and add glass/patio door to garden
- Remove wall to create a kitchen/diner
- Add a utility and/or toilet
Is this too much for the space, and it replacing a bay with patio doors even possible?
Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (17)
RenoNewbie
2 years agoAlso wondering if adding an office instead would be a better use of space - this design appeals: https://www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/room-tour-a-flexible-layout-maximises-a-modest-extension-stsetivw-vs~153100303
Related Discussions
Layout dilemma - best use of space and rooms? Save me !!
Comments (19)Hi memyshell, Having rooms to let with en-suites is only going to increase the money that you can charge for each room so I think it is something you should try coming round to. (I have been in this sort of accommodation before) I do however having a toilet that is shared would be a massive plus to you as what happens when you or any of your housemates have guests do they use the en-suites? Does't sound practical to me however I have a plan using one of the plans that was already attached to the thread of this posts I will try and explain as best I can. Create a corridor that runs from the front door straight through to the wall at the back that be the wall of the kitchen/living and dining area. On the right of the wall make it a full length glazed screen so that when you walk in you can see straight to the garden but are keeping this a separate communal space. The space that is shown as reception room can be transformed into a small functional toilet (which I think is all you need) this will give guests a room to visit without entering a bedroom. The wall of the kitchen would run 3/4 of the way along the wall creating a opening rather than a door giving the space more of a flow. Make sure the door of the new bathroom is hidden behind the wall (almost in the center of the house) when standing in the kitchen area. If you require any other help don't hesitate to get in touch. May I ask where your project will be taking place as it may be something we may be able to work with yourself on? FMA...See MorePlease help - utility/toilet/office layout?!!!
Comments (17)Hello all, thanks for all the comments! I'll reply one by one...: dundrum16 - thank you, yes that is one concern - do you know how much space ideally should be left either side of the toilet (and is access always needed from both sides?)? lkirk44 - great thank you for your view. If we did have a separate toilet and utility we would not use the utility as an office space (which is one of the drawbacks of this option). If we can make it work with a separate office in this location then we will go with that option! Midcenturylass - cheers for your comment although I wonder if you have misunderstood the drawings? The toilet (in either scenario) will be completely separate from the kitchen/living area - there will be a door to get into the toilet room, and another door to get from the hallway into the kitchen. OnePlan - Thanks for your various comments. Yes you are correct we are putting a walkway through the kitchen but unfortunately unless we completely re-jig the ground floor layout, the only way to avoid this would be to massively eat into the kitchen/dining area with an extended hallway. One good thing is that we have side access outside to get into the garden and back into the dining/living area so when we have quite a few guests that will be the entrance and not through the kitchen. Incidentally, we do also have a large front room which will be the formal sitting room. There will be a sink on the island to serve the hob which does contain that element although I accept the oven is still interrupted by the walkway through to the living area. Yongpei You - Thank you. We would be open to you helping us and us helping you but I suspect it may be difficult as we have just started demolitiion and foundations for the extension are about to be dug, so in terms of the layouts in my query, we need to decide those in the next two weeks or so - would that work for you? temple274 - Thanks for both your comments. I was going to ask if I could have some of what you were having but your second comment clarified matters!!! CreatePerfect - thank you, appreciate your comments and that is exactly why we have come on this board, to get others' opinions on our ideas. The space/dimensions available are all on the drawing so any feedback you have on that basis would be appreciated as we need to decide this soon (the office idea only came about a few nights ago - we were set to go with the first option of a separate utility). I do have the plans to scale but for some reason I can't seem to upload a PDF so had to take a picture of my plans and upload that! Do you know how to upload a PDF? Cheers all, any further comments and suggestions very welcome. Pratik...See MoreUtility room or Not to Utility room?....
Comments (19)In your kitchen plan the space between the wall run and the island is massive - maybe 1.3 or 1.4m? It should be more like 1m otherwise you will find the two surfaces are inconveniently far apart. That also means there is more space for a dining table than it looks like from your plans. Do you have a cellar? If not then the understairs space is available for a WC, you might need to carve a small corner out of the kitchen to add to the understairs space depending on its size. Or if you do have a cellar the wc can go where Jonathan has put it (entrance can be from the understairs area if you have the height, or from the kitchen if not). Is there somewhere upstairs you could put a laundry room/area? In or near a bathroom perhaps?...See MoreWhat would you do with this awkward utility space?
Comments (12)Shauni's suggesged plan is good and allows a view out if you glaze or part glaze each door. I would consider adding a surface mounted sliding door to the loo to make it easier to navigate the space and let more light in. Could the washer and dryer not go upstairs in the cupboards next to your bathroom? Or has this bit changed? Would give you space for a boot room next to the garden which would be a good use of this space....See MoreRenoNewbie
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
Tara Rodrigues
2 years agoHi Renonewbie,
You've got a lovely large space to work with if you remove the wall between dining room and kitchen. I think it depends on what your family lifestyle and priorities, when deciding whether you add a utility, home office or WC? I definitely recommend adding the French doors, this can easily be done, but get a few quotes as it can be costly. Here's a video of how French doors are installed.
I would consider using the bottom nook of the kitchen for a utility room. As this is going to be an open plan kitchen/diner you can add an island and more storage along the top of the kitchen.
RenoNewbie thanked Tara Rodrigues
PROAnn Cope Interior Design
2 years agoRenoNewbie
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoRenoNewbie
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
Julian Cheese
2 years agoRenoNewbie
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoJen
2 years agoRenoNewbie
2 years agoJulian Cheese
2 years agoRenoNewbie
2 years agoJulian Cheese
2 years agoRenoNewbie
2 years ago
Kingfisher Designs