Mission Impossible?
Hello,
We are considering the purchase of a recently developed home - this was a conversion from a workshop to a 3 bedroom home in the Kent greenbelt AONB. it's beautiful, but falls short on storage space. I know from the estate agent speaking frankly that this is why its not selling.
I can tell planning was limited - the footprint, design and layout looks compromised, so I can only imagine planning to extend is nearly impossible. With this in mind, we're looking for some help to understand, worst-case, if a reconfiguration of the upstairs is possible, to achieve what we are looking for - more space for intelligent but practical storage and less of a living space compromise! Some helpful hints on our chances of extending would also be helpful towards our decision on the purchase.
Initially, my thoughts go towards asking a designer / planner, but keen to see if this audience has any guidance or thoughts.
Here is the plan:
I am hoping the first floor can be reconfigured as so:
1) The stairs in the reception room can be removed (this is not load bearing) and there is another stairway.
2) The 1st floor bathrooms can be amended (or one of them removed) as they both impede the bedroom storage.
3) The 1st floor study area, smallest bedroom and secondary bedroom could be changed somehow, given the removal of the reception room stairs, to ensure a nice space that is suitable for an expanding family. Having a child in an isolated room only accessible by going downstairs, then back up another set of stairs seems ridiculous and not very fire friendly. Poor design?
Other points to consider:
Ground floor already has a bathroom that the spare rooms can access
There is another stairway
We'd probably still need space for office work in the main building - the outbuilding will be used for a main office and gym
Generally, I can't see much of the ground floor needing work
Do your best and hopefully you kind folks can see possibilities that we currently can't visualise. Also, any recommendations for prosessionals to look at this and advise would be appreciated. We have owner and estate agent permission to take a planner round to survey.
Thanks in advance!
Scott & Cheryll
Comments (8)
PROCanmore Design
4 months ago
Scott Green
4 months agolast modified: 4 months agoThanks very much for the reply.
The storeroom you refer to is actually a shed and it's not reflected well on this drawing, where it appears to be within the footprint of the house, but is in fact adjoining the outer wall. See below picture:
We wouldn't be looking to change much on ground floor and the kitchen will need to remain where it is.Can you possibly elaborate on extending the eaves? I'm not sure if the ceiling angle / roof space would allow for this. I've attached a bedroom photo for reference below, which shows some minor storage space in the eaves but this is only enough for a medium suitcase:
I'm led to believe that dormers are very difficult to get planning for in an AONB - according to my interpretation of the council documents.Storage as a divider will certainly be necessary in the reception room as that area feels like a suitable play / children's area. I'm not sure storage in the entrance area would work - it's very nicely decorated with Spanish wall tiling, wood and glass:
I'm very grateful for the floorplan design offer, however we're keen to look at options on the 1st floor rather than the ground floor. Bathroom and bedroom reconfiguration options, plus storage solutions for the bedrooms is the biggest key for us.Related Discussions
How do you like your tea?
Comments (31)Hello Tom, I like it green! I never drink tea in the morning, I have coffee until midday, then I switch to tea. Coffee is then forgotten until after dinner if I have an espresso. Mostly I don't. I like green tea with a bit of flavouring- not sure it needs to be salted caramel though?! Twining's latest foray into flavoured green teas! .. I do though love a traditional cup of Earl Grey, Lady Grey, Afternoon Earl Grey, Rose, basically all the floral black teas and I do have them with milk! Also a Vanilla (black) tea at bedtime is nice.. In refined society it was the done thing to add the milk afterwards.. Given that good china was present... It became the norm to later add the milk before because lesser quality china was prone to cracking due to the heat.. people still argue over this though... Also some teas contain more caffeine than coffee and also depending on the leaves and brewing technique, tea can keep you awake if you drink it at night..If no Earl Grey or EG variety then Assam nice and robust- I don't do PG or anything that might turn orange.. Apparently though we Brits or those here in the UK according to recent findings are falling out of love with tea and are drinking herbal brews and green and fruit teas. I read this the other day. As much as I do like my green tea, and I am a new convert in the last year or so.. I still say you can't beat a proper afternoon tea with cakes, egg and cress and cucumber sandwiches and a decent pot and china cups with (saucers which stay on the table unless we are standing!) ... Little lavender or rose biccy or two(enty)! : ))...See MoreKitchen Reno after years of planning
Comments (775)Thanks lovely. We expected it at some point but for half the amount of flats. it seems nigh on impossible for a council to refuse under Permitted Development Rights, have only found a couple of cases. It means that the flats are way below the Nationally Described Space Standards (which gives minimum square footage etc based on dwelling, occupancy), have little parking and a few have no windows at all whereas a number only have one window into the kitchen/living area. Annoyingly the owner was Chairman of his parish council and sat on the DC planning team and objected to so many developments that affected him or his village..... Rant over, sorry! oh it was the mosaic company, I think they're also called zellige tiles. I'm guessing that's where you got yours too as the colours were numbered and I remembered your black tile number...See MoreApril challenge, sat 4th: wallpaper
Comments (23)😂 you may as well take advantage of it and chill! would you consider turning it into a footstool? Maybe with a cushion as deep as the side and keep the wooden sides exposed so it just sits on top (somehow!) ? I know you can get foam cut to whatever shape so it may not be too hard (with Patrina's guidance!! 😂 )...See MoreNon-toxic sofa query
Comments (131)Hi all, I have been corresponding with Arlene Blum the woman who led the efforts to have FR free furniture. She is saying that the UK is currently having a consultation on this topic and to write to your representatives. " Please consider writing to the UK officials and letting them know about your concerns regarding the use of FRs in the UK furniture in order to meet ineffective furniture flammability standards. The UK Office for Product Safety and Standards is holding a consultation on its proposed approach to the fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture and furnishings. The deadline is October 24. You can encourage the UK government to follow a US approach, where the fire safety is protected without the need to add harmful FR to furniture." https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/smarter-regulation-fire-safety-of-domestic-upholstered-furniture https://greensciencepolicy.org/news-events/blog/webinar-recap-purchasing-fire-safe-healthier-furniture Please share widely with your networks and write to have the option to have no chemical fire retardants in our furniture. FIDRA has more information on this topic. Even industry wants to do away with this. https://www.fidra.org.uk/sustainable-fire-safety/mattress-and-furniture-industry-call-to-end-reliance-on-chemical-flame-retardants/...See MoreScott Green
4 months ago
Isla Cherry
4 months ago
PRO
PROCaldicot Kitchen & Bathroom Centre
4 months agoScott Green
2 months ago
Canmore Design