It is a nice layout. Just my thoughts : The snug/diner looks a little tight, how will you use the reception in your plan? Do you also want a tv where you’ve labelled snug. i would just think whether you need drying space for your laundry. There also doesn’t seem to be a coats/hoover cupboard unless just not marked. In practice the bar stools may be better in an L configuration for chatting. Personally I might keep the living room separate re noise so different people can do different things

Hi, thanks Isla and Minnie for your comments. Minnie, you’re right I think the idea of the snug isn’t necessary, we wouldn’t have a tv there because we can use reception 1 for that. Reception 2 will be a playroom and I do think we need more space for drying laundry. Coats etc will be under the stairs. A few more things to think about!

My initial thought is that you side return has now just become a wide, well-lit corridor.. I think it could be used better - will have a ponder.... what about having the kitchen on the return side (under the veluxes) and the table/ dining horizontal where you kitchen now is? Then if you reduce opening to garden slightly you could have utility cupboard to one side, thus giving you more room for hoover cupboard etc where the utility currently is. (also your utility would be next to garden if you want to pop your washing outside!) ....my other suggestion would be to have one entrance into the kitchen (where it currently is) and block up the other one into the reception room. This way you could have lovely big kitchen with peninsula or island (I personally prefer peninsulas for many reasons) and then lovely big eating area - without having to have kitchen all along a wall which might drive you mad. (the eating area would be big enough to have a playroom corner for while your kids are small and you need to see them) and then the reception and living rooms can be used for just that - tele, study, socialising rooms etc.

Yes I agree - friends of mine did this 2 entrance to the kitchen thing and the reception room becomes a corridor and wasted space - better everyone goes in one way and you have 2 proper room at the front

Hey Sharna,

Congratulations on the new home - period properties are my absolute favourite! There have been some great points made, just to add I do think you need to consider the rooms in the front and what you think you will use them for.

It might be worth exploring closing up the walk way between reception and the rest of the kitchen. This will give you more space to make the most of the side extension, meaning you could add some built-in seating along with a dining table to make the most of out of those lovely sky lights. This would free up the end of the new extension area to be a bit more of a snug rather than a couple of sofas and a dining table (that might be a bit tight in the current suggested layout).

I might also add that you could explore having both your hob and your sink on the main back run of your kitchen (as it is 5 metres) you would have enough space and that would leave your island nice and free for prep and homework (if you have children).

I do hope this helps and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jessica x

Studio Smith Interior Design

Thanks for all of these extra ideas, we definitely have plenty to consider.

That's quite the traffic line going through the kitchen.

Is reception 3 a single storey extension?

My first thought was also to block off the route from reception 2 and to move the kitchen to the side return area. The room would feel wider on arrival from the hall and the utility could be bigger then. Personally I would remove the snug/dining area entirely so as to have more light into the kitchen, clear views of the garden and well, more garden! Friends of mine have this house and I find the 2nd reception, which they use as a dining room, very dark. The opening to the side return is quite narrow and the side return will never be flooded with light because of the height of the adjacent house wall. So, if blocking it off as a route through, consider carefully how to maximise light. If you like to entertain, using reception 2 as a dining room could work, especially if the kitchen were on the side return side. But that opening would need careful thought.

Finally, if you have the budget, consider raising the new kitchen floor so it flows from the front part of the house?

I hope these thoughts are helpful. Good luck and please share how you get on!

Rosy

Without adding length (width only):

Since there is a floor height difference, i imagined the soil pipe could be taken all the way towards the Reception 2 wall and turned the 'dark area' into wc and utility. Perhaps a satinated skylight to let in some light from your new kitchen rooflights. Sufficient ventilation to keep your utility dry, so you can hang your laundry in there.

Turned your rec1-rec2 doorway into a cozy sitting niche, could get more creative and add bookcases on each side.

And the kitchen speaks for itself. Plenty work space and storage, coffee corner on the left. Peninsula with shallow units, extra deep countertop on the sink side. Dining table with comfy chairs. Garden doors and full height windows overlooking your lovely garden.

If you really need a snug or playroom, you might extend further out. But you might want to consider an orangerie, so it becomes a place of retreat (as in block out some noise from the kids).