Best use of space for a hard working family area

last month

We currently have a separate kitchen/breakfast room with a little section by the side backdoor for coats/boots (separate utility room off the side of the plan shown). There is currently a connecting doorway through into a room currently used as a playroom/kids lounge/kids craft/formal dining room. There is a separate formal lounge off this room through double doors (or accessed separately via the hall) which we wish to keep separate (with the double doors in place).
Weighing up the benefits of whether to knock through between the kitchen/playroom or not. Any thoughts of layout/plans/best use of space would be appreciated.
I feel we want the space to work hard with a good size kitchen, large dining table that can extend for hosting, small every day dining table table for kids activities/crafts, space for a small sofa/kids play area/kids lounge area and ideally still retaining a some space near the backdoor for muddy coats/shoes.
Any ideal gratefully welcomed

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Comments (4)

Ali
Original Author
last month
0
PRO
Orsetto Interiors
last month
HI, my name is Alessandra, founder of Orsetto Interiors. Every project is unique and it greatly depends on the age of your kids age and your family's dynamics. As I like to say there is no right or wrong. If budget is not an issue, knocking down the wall would give you more flexibility. Meaning that you will be able to use the space as one big space. It would allow you to extend a table for when you have guests and simply accommodate more people together at the same time. You would also be able to watch your children as they play and you are preparing a meal. I often think that too many door into a space actually makes it feel smaller. This is because it reduces the actual usable space/walls in favour of circulation area. For example you can have a kitchen peninsula or island that doubles as a breakfast space/kids activities, area. I hope my advice has made sense. Best of luck! You can contact me through my website Orsetto Interiors
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Hi. We have a back room similar to this and 3 small kids!! here are my thoughts: kids need space! they have friends over and toys. We have rearranged our layout loads and found it’s very helpful to be Able to be flexible So for this reason I prefer the architects design for the location of the kitchen - as it’s to the side and then you can be flexible with the whole other half of the space.( It will also give you much more scope for a future side extension without redoing the whole kitchen). assuming You have full height storage across the whole back wall behind the door you will be able to contain all the kids toys as well as surplus kitchen bits. I would keep any non-day-to-day Crockery, baking bits etc along this back wall and keep only the everyday kitchen bits along the main kitchen wall. You could maybe keep the boiler in this area also so it doesn’t take up space in the kitchen. i would however switch the dining and seating area putting the dining table at the back (squeeze it even running along the storage wall) and keep the whole area By the garden for a sofa and a play area. You will find with small kids this is the area that is used most. When you’re entertaining you just twist the dining table and extend it running towards the garden. And if you don’t like it you have the flexibility to swap the dining and seating area. (We have been known to swap ours with the seasons! If you like entertaining I highly recommend keeping that run free of an island since the island can’t be moved! Hope this makes sense.
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PRO
Black and Milk | Interior Design | London
last month
A more detailed floor plan would be more helpful and the numner of people in your household but based on what you've given you can't ever really go wrong with knocking through. Creating an open plan space is better for light and the flow and gives you more opportunity to adapt the space for different occasions.

I would suggest knocking through and then define the spaces using rugs of you can do what was mentioned already and that is use a glass/door or partitions to create a partial open plan space.
Jonathan
last month
I think people are wary about making big changes because they worry about the cost but often forget that the cost difference between taking out a whole wall and knocking a doorway through are sometimes not that different, particularly if you want fancy doors. Also an open room is easier to furnish and use. Since you first posted about this in October last year I think you I think you need to recruit a designer to look at the whole house layout so show you want is possible, how it could look and help avoid what you have shown in photos which is furniture pushed to each side of the room creating a corridor down the middle.

Best use of space for a hard working family area

Comments (4)

Ali
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Orsetto Interiors

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Best use of space for a hard working family area

Comments (4)

AliOriginal Author

Orsetto Interiors

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Black and Milk | Interior Design | London

Jonathan

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Ali
Original Author