Advise for tapered garden
Hi,
We're in the process of buying this house and two things we dislike the most, 1) small tapered garden 2) Garage is completely blocking access to the back garden and with it sunlight making the back garden dark and uninviting. This has also meant front garden next to garage is completely a wasted space and we'd like to make the most of front garden and wrap it around to make garden size bigger
Please can you help with suggestions as to what can be done in the short run and long run to address both issues. I have a 3 year old girl so the back garden needs to be able to cater to children's need but at the same time me and my husband would like a space where we can unwind and chill. Any advise is truly appreciated.
Comments (17)
rinked
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Best use of L shaped garden advise please
Comments (6)Yes we are definitely keeping the window/access to the bedroom in according to the code. Thanks 'One Plan' we hadn't thought about keeping the door by the bedroom and just run it allow the whole of the side. The double doors would be a great way to keep light into the lounge especially as it is south facing as well. What do you think to bi-folding doors in the lounge or just large bay window? We want to keep it fairly Victorian with some more timely features, so leaning away from bi-folding doors but think it's such a fantastic way to open up the garden space?...See MoreGarden Design Advise Needed
Comments (84)Hi Eve, Well done for taking on a design project. Always an exciting challenge and by the looks of it you've done yourself proud. I know it's a bit late in the day to give any suggestions but perhaps you could put them to one side for a rainy day? Looking at your patio layout I would suggest a slight tweak in order to have some coherence with the circular or rather flowing feel you have tried to create. Notice how in my quick scribble I've taken out the sharp corners of the paving by making a curved edge, which is easily achieved by cutting the stone to suit the site, such as natural sandstone or preferably dark material such as slate. To hide the cut edges you can install edging cobbles or blocks with small low profile led lights interspersed between the edging blocks? Please see attached scribble to see what I mean. Second thing and this is of course completely budget dependent is because you already have a lovely stark white fence you might want to consider contrasting that with a dark material for your hard landscaping such as a nice slate or dark black limestone pavers? The planting looks lovely by the way!...See MoreFloor Plan and Garden layout advise please.
Comments (5)Hi Jonathan, thanks so much for your reply. We will be removing some of the hedge at the front to allow for the new porch. The larger garden gets the sun rise and all day (south-east facing). There is no option to park in front of the existing front door. We have a pretty good view from our living room and smaller garden (South-West facing) and we see the sunset from our living room. The plan is to cut back the overgrowth from the field rear of us to open the view up in the larger garden too. I've attached some more photo's to hopefully show a bit more. The current front door is below the dormer window. Have you any thoughts on the internal layout changes? Thanks again, Claire and Danny....See MoreFull refurbishment advise please
Comments (10)Hi Jonathan, Thanks for all your advise, as usual , worth it's weight in gold I am usually at home only on the weekend and as my day job is rather hectic, combined with an L5 slipped disc, will restrict what I could do physically to help out. I would rather divide the refurbishment jobs into those which are like A) ‘destruction’ or just ripping things out. Versus those which need B) re-construction or as you mentioned, the finishes. I would also divide the available tradesmen into A) Those with no reviews, who can start work at a short notice and are cheaper and B) Those who are expensive, have a web presence/reviews and would take 1-2 months to start a job Using your timeline which you gave me in August, I would list the jobs in the following chronological order Jobs A) to be done by a builder who has no reviews and can be available at a short notice 1) Strip out the house. I would strip out carpets, skirting boards, wall cladding, partition by the stairs, kitchen, unwanted curtains, internal doors and architrave, the fire hearth, I will need a gas engineer too to disconnect the fire and hob. 2)-- Dispose of all the stuff, using 6/7 skips. 3)General builder to take down the wall between the dining room and kitchen. As it’s a non-weight wearing wall, I would persist with my cheaper builder A? 4) My dining room and kitchen ceilings will probably come down at this stage?? Again, persist with my cheaper builder A?. 5) heating engineer and electrician to start rewiring and central heating. —I have shortlisted a couple of electricians, who have excellent reviews and could start work in 2-4 weeks. 6)Consider TV/broadband/alarm at this time for a tidier result—Will have to contact Sky 7) replacement windows and internal doors, will give this to the established builder B- Hopefully by this time, it will be like 4 weeks down the line and he should be available to start work 8) external repairs such as roof tiles and gutters- Again builder B. 9)/ additional insulation to the loft- Builder B 10/ plaster boarding where necessary, coving, plastering. - ** Here I have a query, do I give this job to the good builder? Or try and outsource it to another plasterer? Is plastering more difficult or important than painting? 12/electrician - ceiling lights, second fix sockets. 13/ joiner- new doors, architrave, bannisters, skirtings. If wood floor skirting to be fitted after. 14/ decorator - emulsion ceilings and walls, woodwork primed and finished with eggshell, external decorating as necessary. My tradesmen would do this 15/ floors fitted, radiators hung 16/ kitchen installation Plan to get the raw materials/ design from Wren and then get an independent kitchen fitter to fit it. Unless the independent kitchen comes up with a better alternative. Have emailed a couple Builder B, or the established one, to do all the works as mentioned in the survey, plus the RSJ on the padstone and the conservatory, along with a new roof. I probably leave the plastering to him, including the doors, carpets and new floors Does this sound like a plan? to recap It would leave at least 20-30K worth of jobs to be done by the main builder B I could get some no- interest loan from Wren for their kitchen Use the builder A for stripping and ripping things out, Tradesmen such as electrician and heating to do individual jobs Any advise would be much appreciated Regards Mel ps regarding the conservatory roof, switching over from a glass to an all year round. Do I have to get building reg permission prior to starting work? How long does it usually take? Also, if the original roof is removed, would it not leave the building exposed to rain etc, until the new roof is installed?...See More
selinajoshi
2 years agoselinajoshi
2 years agotamp75
2 years agoS J
2 years agorinked
2 years agoselinajoshi
2 years agoS J
2 years agoS J
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2 years agorinked
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoTwo options, not too detailed but enough to get the idea. Both options leave a meter wide path on the side of the house, I somewhat estimated the usable space. I did not extend the kitchen sideways, as bins can go in the nook outside. And please consult a structural engineer, as I couldn't quite make up which walls are loadbearing.
1. A single storey side extension with bathroom, study and boiler cupboard. Hope the hallway cupboard has enough height for a passageway. And a longer beam in the old back wall would create one large open space for a kitchen diner.
2. Basically a full house side extension (roof included), internally about 2.4m wide. Would that fit on your plot? Downstairs a utility with back door and wc. And a study. Kitchen similar to first floorplan. I kept the staircase, but juggled with the upstairs layout, so a light landing is created, a masted bedroom with walk-in wardrobe, two similar size bedrooms and a decent bathroom. You could even add an attic staircase, but only do so if the height up there is worth it.
Hope you like it. If you have more requests/changes, or just to return a favour paypal.me/rinkeditselinajoshi
2 years agorinked
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
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