It looks like you have plenty of space for living, dining & kitchen on that floor. I guess it probably won’t be such a grand, spacious entrance to the house but it could definitely work. I don’t actually like the placement of the proposed staircase anyway - you have to walk through everywhere to get to it. Sometime a bit more central might be better?

I personally I think that fewer bigger rooms are better.

Personally I would have a more conventional layout with the stairs in your main hallway- On the next level up I would have a big master bedroom and Ensuite, a modest guest room with Ensuite and a laundry room.

On the top level modest bedrooms and a bathroom

Now you’re talking! This is what I was expecting from our architects - something completely different to what we could come up with ourselves. I’ll show you the other 2 floors (the second floor is the same footprint as this encompassing 3 bedrooms, a master bath and a laundry room (I was keen to have one on the bedroom floor too) such good for thought! Can’t thank you enough 🙌

@tamp75 Yeah, it's an odd one as its an existing staircase we were trying to utilise so to not lose floorspace in the new design but its an expense we just cant afford now.

@Jonathan Now you’re talking! This is what I was expecting from our architects - something completely different to what we could come up with ourselves. I’ll show you the other 2 floors (the second floor is the same footprint as this encompassing 3 bedrooms, a master bath and a laundry room (I was keen to have one on the bedroom floor too) such good for thought! Can’t thank you enough 🙌 The light is all at the back of the building, it wraps round the building but is in the back harden till it sets over the sea so we wanted to live at the back more but this gives them more of an idea of open plan living x

Alternative 1st floor

We all need to reduce our carbon emissions and large open plan spaces are difficult to heat. Small rooms are far more cosy. A lot of accommodation is just for show!!!

John you are a victim of group think or agoraphobic. Small rooms are just smaller than the optimal size. Heating requirements are a function of space and insulation. The only energy saving in heating a small room is from letting the rest of the stay cold.

I am not agoraphobic,nor am I a victim of group think.. just an environmentalist with a scientific background. I agree that heating requirements are a function of space and insulation. The bigger the space the more heating is required and the better the insulation the less heating is required. I stand by what I have said.

@John Butler it’s ridiculous to state that it’s harder to heat one large space versus several smaller spaces. You clearly don’t see that they are exactly the same sized space.

If you are an environmentalist why not present this forum with practical suggestions for insulation, or preventing heat loss, or encouragement to use efficient heating solutions?

Hello,

I am surprised your architect didn't give you more options.

We always try working with the space a client has first and then make a recommendation/options for enlarging the space and why we think that would be better than keeping it as it is.

It's hard to see dimensions on this plan to give a real analysis but there definitely looks like a good size space for what you need from the ground floor. I guess it mostly depends if you need the extra bedroom down there (either for a number of bedrooms, for the ease of it being on a ground floor) and if, for any reason, you would like a separate snug, living area that is given in the architect's proposal - and if you do need them - are they worth the cost of the extension!

Given the cost of an architect, it may be worth looking at a concept planner or interior designer for some layouts, to then go to the architect. We often come on board before people go to an architect, so they just draw up the final plans once you know exactly what you want. It works out more cost-effective and they/we often see interior space differently to an architect.

Best of luck with your project - I look forward to seeing more as you progress - so do keep us posted. Gina

@create perfect thank you! I’m going for a nosy in your page. I was a bit disappointed at what we got back… I wanted a few ideas over what I came up with myself for sure

Well do feel free to get in touch if you like what you see and I would be happy to quote you for the layout package - this gives you three layout options to play with :)

Best of luck

@thelivinghouse Thank you! Loved your blog post!

@Kellee Quinn, we are pleased to hear you liked our blog post! We have a weekly blog always filled with tips. You may be interested in signing up to our newsletter, here is the link (you'll receive a free paint chart download too!) - http://eepurl.com/hqZZQv

@thelivinghouse i'll do that right now. Thanks!

Hi Kellee,

I hope you don’t mind me chipping in.

We are an online pre-architect, allowing you to preview the potential for home at the click of a button, if you would like a second opinion or for us to review your current plan and see about reducing your extension or indeed rejigging your internal layout feel free to get in touch, peekhome.co.uk

We have helped lots of homeowners in a similar situation, it’s big decisions and so important to get it right.

Best of luck, Jaemi

Hi Kellee,

Whilst a modern extension to a house could add an amazing looking and functional space, you definitely don’t need an extension with the amount of space you currently have. The design you currently have looks great for adding lots of storage, but with a bedroom and 2 bathrooms on the ground floor, it doesn’t leave a lot of room for the living spaces even with the extension.

My suggestion would be to re-design the internal layout so that it creates a spacious and practical layout, but also to plan the possible future extension so that the space works well with or without it. If the issue of environmental performance is important to you, I’d suggest adding an extra insulating layer to the inside of the external walls and installing an Air Source Heat Pump to save on heating bills.

Here is a quick design that I came up with. The stairs are moved into the entrance hall and could be made into a feature double height space to help bring in light from above. With plenty of storage added along the wall with the lounge and built under the stairs. The front lounge remains almost the same size and could become a ground-floor bedroom if needed. A small utility room is included with a door to the garden and could also contain a W/C shower room.

The entrance hall opens up to a large open-plan kitchen/dining/living room. There is a dining space at the front that could be partitioned off to create a more formal space. With a kitchen, breakfast bar and family living area at the back. The existing rear windows and doors are combined into 1 with folding or sliding glazed doors into the garden.

Please let me know what you think? I have a few more alternative ideas as well.

And I wish you all the best with your project!!

Phill

@Phillip Brewer Architecture Ltd Love your thinking, this is the sort of idea we assumed we'd be presented with from our architect originally. The sun rises at the front and sets at the back (sun all afternoon until it sets), so we spend most of the time at the back. We cook a lot so a combined kitchen/dining is a must - we spend most of our time in the kitchen.

I have attached some images I sent our architect, these are the windows I want. I was thinking we could just remove the extension and have the same window set up straight onto the back of the building now?

Any way of keeping the downstairs bedroom/en-suite as an office come spare bedroom for older family and just using the existing back 2 bedrooms/kitchen and bathroom for the living/kitchen area?

Yes, you could easily keep the bedroom/office and ensuite where they are at the front, but the Kitchen area would have to be made smaller to allow space for a dining table. Or you could move them to the back (where the utility is) to give the bedroom a view of the back garden too. Does it matter to you if you have a small utility room, or even remove it completely?

What do you think of the entrance hall design? Would you consider creating a new entrance at the front instead? As this could help to give a more balanced layout at the back.

Those windows and doors are ‘Crittall’ style and have become really popular, as they provide minimal frame sight-lines, which would capture as much of that lovely evening sun as possible! They are available as bifold doors or as sets of doors and matching windows.

The orientation of the building is really important too. You would want to design the patio and the possible future extension so that they make the most of the evening sun too.

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.