How can you use redundant space

9 months ago

last modified: 9 months ago

Hi. I've been struggling for years with the layout of the house, as it is highly impractical. I'm used to open-plan kitchens, but unfortunately, I don't have that. I am also annoyed with the space between the kitchen and living/ dining room but have no idea how to use it to the best advantage. For now, it is a shoe/ jacket storage and our dog's chill-out space.

Any ideas of how this space could be used would be highly appreciated.

P.S. I did consider renovating to extend the kitchen or join it with the dining room or even moving it altogether, but I understand that it will involve a lot of structural work and will be very costly. Please see the floor plan

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Amy Martin
Original Author

9 months ago

last modified: 9 months ago

Thank you all for your insights. As I mentioned, I really love your ideas, Bette. You did get me thinking and I now feel that the only way I could proceed would be to transform the garage into a dining room which would give me the open plan kitchen/ diner as I always wanted; and to use current living room as storage / garage instead. I'm not sure if it is a good idea to get rid of the garage, although we don't currently use it for it's intended purpose so maybe?

Thank you all for considering the dog, too :) He seems much happier on the sofa or on bed so I am not overly concerned about him losing his 'chill out' zone :)

Let me know what you think about my new plan? (due to limited choice I could not plan furniture layout, but I would be getting new one anyways, so I'd leave design to professionals).

P.S. Thank you, Kathy for your contribution. However, as it currently stands I cannot use current redundant space as utility room as it is between the kitchen and living/ dining room so I don't believe it would be very practical.

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Comments (14)

Sonia
9 months ago
But where will the dog chill out? 🐶
Bette von Frankenstein
9 months ago
If it were my project I would knock down the wall between the toilet area and the dead space and move it forward as far as possible without impinging upon the corridor to the kitchen. I would take the door for the toilet out of the kitchen, and put it opposite the window of the dead space. The toilet would become a small utility to include the washing machine and also plenty of shelves for dusters, cleaning gear etc somewhere to hang smalls and somewhere to put my broomstick.

If the toilet could be turned so it was under the window of the toilet area, that would be even better.

Some dimensions of the space in question would be handy for Saddos like me who love rejigging other peoples houses into perfection.
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Bette von Frankenstein
9 months ago
The dog. Hmmm... well lets see. (There'll be no collateral damage here) Surely the dog could go anywhere that's not in high traffic areas i.e. a corner in the kitchen or the dining room; however, bearing in mind the door for the toilet has been moved from the kitchen, that could create an additional worktop area with an open space underneath for the dog basket.
Amy Martin
Original Author
9 months ago
Bette, thank you kindly for your contribution. I understand that it may have been easier for you to advise me with dimensions, and apologies for that - I only recently figured out how to draw a plan and was so delighted with the final drawing that I did not consider adding those :)

I really like your idea, but for the below:

- the wall between those spaces is the load-bearing one and I understand that it will be difficult and costly to knock it down,

- I will gain approx. 90 cm in length x 1.8 m in width if I could move the wall - trying to figure out what the space could be used for. Currently, I have washing machine next to toilet, so maybe I could use the additional space for a shower? I do wonder, however as to whether I will have enough space to fit one and apart from getting a shower in (which should certainly pay off as it will increase the property value) I cannot see what else could be done there (I have no need for storage),

- removing the door from the kitchen would surely be ideal, but I will not gain much in terms of wall / floor space as I have furniture on all walls but that one and my dishwasher opens onto the fridge. I suppose I could rearrange the cabinets, but that will add additional cost.

Having said that, it appears that there is not much to do without incurring considerable costs so I will have to put up with it for some more time :)
PRO
Peach Studio
9 months ago
Hi Amy,

If you want to keep all the walls in there current locations then i would suggest using that space as a utility area then the spaces currently used for washing machine etc in your main kitchen /bahroom will be freed up for other things however if you are looking to possibly extend or complete some building work i would be happy to discuss your options with you. The main point is to work out what you want out of your home and what is currently missing from your daily needs.

Let me no if you would like to chat.x

Kind regards,

Kathy Bensusan

Peach Studio

Interior Architecture and Design
Amy Martin thanked Peach Studio
Bette von Frankenstein
9 months ago
Hi Amy Amy, Darn those pesky load bearing walls! Well at least the dog's chill out area has got a reprieve for now and you're fortunate to have a designated shoe and coat area. A space for these practical things is often overlooked, particularly in modern homes. (I would have crowbarred coats and shoes somewhere else ;-)) I hope you post when you decide what your plans for the space will be.
A P
9 months ago
Have you thought about putting the door to the toilet there and then making the kitchen bigger? Would imagine it would only require a lintel and then the "free space" is now thing of the past!
A P
9 months ago
Looks great. I'd also look at putting a door to the dining room by the stairs to help the flow.
Amy Martin thanked A P
Bette von Frankenstein
9 months ago
I love your plan :-) I love the toilet door moved out of the kitchen, the large storage space created at the front; near the door for muddy boots and wet coats etc. and the social kitchen/ diner space. Transforming the garage is a great idea; you're so lucky to have the option.
Amy Martin thanked Bette von Frankenstein
kazzh
8 months ago
Could the coats& shoes find a place in a closet under the stairs? That would make it less of an in between spot. Do you need a desk space? A simple purposeful table there with a view out a window ….
Amy Martin
Original Author
8 months ago
Thanks for the ideas, Kazzh. Unfortunately, I haven't got enough space under the stairs, though I use it for storage, too. I also have an office elsewhere, as the 'redundant' space is just not practical to use for any meaningful purpose due to its location. I did consider having a reading corner there, but again - coats and shoes ... :)
kazzh
8 months ago
If it is the natural coats and shoes spot- you could make it a more deliberate zone with designed storage and hanging rack. If building in a cupboard is too bulky, then a heavy curtain to draw across hanging items to hide from always being in view?
kazzh
8 months ago
Maybe not to the floor, but at least to the length of a bench seat with storage underneath

How can you use redundant space

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