Ground floor layout help

last year

Hi, we’re buying a house that’s, as estate agents like to put it, ‘in need of modernisation’, and struggling to decide what to do with the ground floor layout. Currently there is one big reception room that goes from front to back, a small hallway and a small galley kitchen. I’d like more kitchen space and the idea of knocking through the kitchen wall appeals to me, but:

I’m not sure how well having one big open space downstairs will work
In the longer term we’d like to extend into the garden, but won’t have the funds to do that for a while so trying to think of changes we can make in the short term that won’t end up needing to be completely redone when we do extend

Would love to hear your advice/ideas! This is the current floorplan

Featured Answer

thistlejak

last year

Personally I would reinstate the wall in the middle of the house and then take down the kitchen wall. Assuming you have French doors out to the back you could then get rid of the back door in the kitchen - gives you space for an L shaped kitchen and /or an island and seating/ dining as well. You then have a cosy lounge and none of this should need altering if you choose to extend later on.

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Comments (7)

K OB
last year
The only tweak to the suggestion above would be to put glass sliding doors or similar between the front and back rooms so you have the best of both worlds.
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Hey Neil, Hello and thank you for contacting us with your layout reuirements Seems like you already have a few nice ideas... Here's my suggestion (see sketch attached) Coming into the hallway we extended the WC to add a shower area, from this we placed a set of two sliding doors to create a sense of arrival when you go into the lounge and dining area but also to have some privacy from the rest of the house. We extended the kitchen to include some of the walkway space in the form of the island unit with chairs around to serve as entertaining area or breakfast bar as well as serving counter when having dinner parties. This is complimented by full length storage against the far wall leading up to the new bi-fold doors. With the garage broken through you now have a open space that allows for a lounge dining arrangement that could be any side of the fire so you have a bit of freedom to move here. We akso indicated a possible office or utility room on the corner behind the garage which might be something to consider for a future extension. If you need further assistance - please let me know. You can reach out through our site - www.betterspace.co. I'd be happy to help you further. Good luck! Ed
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Yes we did and he is willing to change to what ever we want. From the plan he has managed to design the way he thinks best everything can fit. i am trying to upload my drawings but its in PDF format and it wont accept it over here so trying to figure out how to upload.
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Had another little play around based on your new measurements and forgoing a separate living room. You have such a big kitchen/dining it would be more manageable with some zoning to keep it from feeling like a warehouse! In the hallway, sideboard with shoe storage, space for bench, coat hooks and full mirror maybe. Snug/Tv room / study in place of the small living room. Soft seating in the kitchen/diner instead. You could replace the top left desk in the snug/study for a built in cupboard / wardrobe for winter coats, boots, outdoor wear. Make it the same depth as the chimney breast so it blends in well. Under stairs storage. Utility room is bigger, so you can actually hang dry clothes in there, with hanging rack or those ceiling mounted racks, so long as you get a powerful extractor fan 150mm minimum! None of those 100mm weedy ones :) The weird blob in the kitchen is an indoor plant :-D
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Hi Sarah, You can modify an existing extension, but in your case, as you said, you might need to replace the spanning beam - unless the structural engineer finds a way to extend this, but you will have a column inside the space, which might not be preferable. Full length bifolds, again depends on the structural design. You could probably have them, but not necessarily. There's plenty of design tricks with glazing to ensure it looks great and brings the right purpose. I wouldnt necessarily block the second entrance if I could. Relocating the toilet will be a game changer in my opinion, as it will open up the space even more and allow you to have a living area with dining as well. Also if you are hiring an architect, check with them the option to not extend the current side return, and modify the glazing & layout only, i think there's some potential there too. You can do plenty of awesome things with your space, the key is to have the right people on board. Hope this helps. Cristina.
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Adam CJ
Original Author
last year
Thanks Thistlejak. Getting rid of the kitchen back door to make space for L shape is a great shout. And it does make sense to split off the lounge in some way - I can see the appeal of at least partly reinstating that wall.

Thanks K OB too, that’s a smart idea!
PRO
The Living House
last year
Hi, congratulations on your new home! From taking a look at the floorplan, it looks like an open plan kitchen space would work well and then to make the front room smaller which would be a shape, that layout wise would be better to work with rather than a long rectangular room.

We have written a blog all about open plan spaces which you may find interesting. Here is the link if you would like to take a read - https://www.thelivinghouse.co.uk/blog-interior-design-tips/10-design-mistakes-to-avoid-with-an-open-plan-room
PRO
A Class Kitchens of Bedford
last year
My suggestion would be to add a stud wall in the centre to create your lounge in a more useable shaped space and then open plan the kitchen / diner. We are finding that around 60% of our projects are now kitchen/diners, usually with a bifold door opening into the garden so you can bring the outside space in. Many of our customers are opting for a sofa and tv in the kitchen area, so it’s a living space too, but also it’s nice to have the cosiness of a smaller lounge that can be shut off to watch films etc.

if you are planning to extend at some point in the not too distant future I would get the stud wall in and make the lounge as you’d like it, but wait for any kitchen work until you are ready to extend, or you’ll end up doing it twice.
88wj88
last year
I would consider if budget and plumbing allows. Put the kitchen at the front of the house - using the bay for a dining area. Using the existing kitchen as a utility means no washing machine in the kitchen and perhaps room for a downstairs WC . You can still create a separate snug with the fireplace and perhaps french windows onto the garden. Perhaps move a door or two for better function.
PRO
ECAD
last year
Hi Adam

Hope you're, I agree with what has been said. But I like to put pen to paper to convey my opinion.

If you'll like/allow. I'll like to give you a few draft plan of what you can achieve with the space that you've got.

Thanks

IB

Ground floor layout help

thistlejak

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K OB

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Ground floor layout help

thistlejak

Comments (7)

K OB

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Adam CJOriginal Author

The Living House

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88wj88

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Adam CJ
Original Author