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Design Dilemma Kitchens Living Rooms

Difficult to find suitable layout for long narrow loung

Elaine Crittenden

last month

I am having problems finding a suitable layout for my lounge due to the position of the fireplace (which I am happy to change) and the position of the entry doors to the lounge (I could make these pocket doors) A friend has suggested blocking the doors, removing the fireplace and making the entry to the lounge through newly built bi-fold doors in between the kitchen/family room and the lounge by the dining table. This would give me a nice square at the other end of the lounge to layout a sofa, tv and bioethanol fire and I could put two chairs overlooking the garden in front of the bi-fold doors over looking the garden. I think this would improve the layout of the lounge but would mean I could not access the lounge from the hall only through the kitchen/dining room. Do you think this is a sacrifice worth doing please. I plan to stay in this house a long time but you never know!

. Thanks in anticipation for your feed back.

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Comments (18)

Isla Cherry
last month
i think your friends advice is excellent. The postion of the current doors really compromises the layout. Doors in the middle of walls make a room very difficult for furniture placement. You might not even need double doors from the kitchen. I would keep the glazed style though, but update it as it lets a lot of light in. The only negative I can see is losing some wall space in the kitchen for cabinets.
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Elaine Crittenden thanked Isla Cherry
katlucy
last month
I wonder if you change your current double doors to a single, nearest the window, you would be able to centre a three seater sofa opposite the fireplace and a two seater opposite the door, tv to the right of the fireplace?
Elaine Crittenden thanked katlucy
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Ellie, Jonathan – thank you both for your replies. Apologies in advance for long post! Ellie: Regarding hallway /entrance it feels very narrow with view directly onto stairs rather than any sightline through to rear of house moving the wall is partly aesthetic & partly practicality of dragging bulky items through narrow entrance (appreciate point that things will change as kids grow) perhaps opening up the entrance to front reception room will create more light and feeling of space without moving the wall + redecorating hallway to create lighter / updated space will improve the aesthetic Downstairs WC thanks & what I have been thinking too (wife disagrees & thinks 1st floor loo is sufficient) Alternative is trip upstairs each time (toilet in cellar will be removed entirely as we find it’s not really usable (down steep stairs, at back of utility which is invariably cluttered & pokey space (c. 175cm ceiling height). Would prefer to reclaim the space and create a bike rack on that back wall instead Kids / Parent Bedrooms all on same floor Perhaps we are too relaxed as parents but this doesn’t feel so important to us (at least right now). Use video monitors so hear every squeak and have stair gates fitted Jonathan: Where to start – you have definitely given lot of food for thought & thank you for the drawings! General point about use of rooms changing over time is well taken. Lower level: Like your idea re curving stairs to hall. Only issue I see with that is how to navigate a large bike through 90deg angle – that would put me off Will remove the loo as it’s not usable in our view, recycling the space for bike storage (wall racked) Revised utility position – that space is all currently occupied with boiler / water tanks etc so not practical to move In general looking to spend minimal amount on this space – decorated to OK standard. What is missing is smart storage & better insulation as some damp penetrating from the portion of basement which has not been dug out Ground Floor: Generally like your suggestions and hadn’t thought about putting kids in front room rather than middle room Flexi doors rather than completely blocking front and middle reception rooms could work well while keeps light flowing through / preserves front to back view Flex room concept is interesting but I don’t think it solves long term problem of boot / coat storage & something I am struggling with Another potential solution for boots / coats etc. may be to steal space from kitchen (say 1.5m) and create a storage room on left hand side, while also extending hallway and cellar stair entrance to keep symmetry (which can deliver further shelving / pantry storage in that additional space on right hand side) By doing that we could keep our existing front reception room as is (add flex doors) & use that for tv / quiet time, have kids playroom in middle reception close to kitchen & get long term fix for boots / jackets 1st floor guest bedroom - Point well-made re. stairs for grandparents Master bedroom vs. Formal Reception Depends on what plan we go with downstairs obviously Neighbours have formal reception in this space with small office to rear (where our existing en-suite sits). Certainly worth considering & offers better view than downstairs reception 2nd floor If moving master bedroom would basically look to replicate the existing master on 1st floor but shift it one floor up (L-shaped with walk-in wardrobe space & en-suite beyond) Could turn existing office space into the exercise area (if shifting office a floor down to rear of new formal reception) but eats into master bedroom space or have it in Loft Loft If we want to keep large master (while moving formal reception room) then we will struggle to use this for anything other than bedroom (likely with en-suite) and possibly small exercise area as that would give us 4 beds overall To me, the biggest change from your suggestions would be in moving the master bedroom as has a large knock-on effect. It does offer chance to return that flex room (at some stage) to a formal dining room, keeping reception room on 1st floor and having a separate tv room. Would welcome any view also on the boot room / coat storage /downstairs WC dilemma! Finally a concept planner is next stop once we have had chance to get clearer idea of what we need vs want. Many thanks
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Yes - reduce the utility width but lengthen a little - so the washer dryer could be stacked and storage all along the wall forming the hall. Instead of a swing door to the WC, a pocket door would save having to allow for the swing. The study could be open at the entry area or alternatively be a more of an upside down L shape with pocket doors meeting at the corner, to try and avoid a closed in entry area. In this front area - maybe reconsidering if solid walls are really needed - could it be glazed? or simply a partition of some sort? to try and avoid the hallway with rooms running off as is the usual design. Seeing the other floors, was also thinking the utility & WC could be placed beside the staircase, i line with the other floors - with the WC fitting under the staircase - which could free up the whole rear to being open living and the front to the study/reception. Kitchen could be an L shape in the middle, across from the utility.
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Elaine Crittenden
Original Author
last month
KatLucy - this is the best layout, out of at least 25 suggestions I have had - from friends, furniture shops etc. Thank you
CFS Interiors
last month
It definitely sounds like you’ve thought this through really well, and honestly I think your friend’s suggestion has a lot of merit — especially if you're aiming for a more sociable, modern layout that flows nicely between spaces.

That long narrow lounge can be tricky with the current layout, and from your photos, it does look like opening it up to the kitchen/family space could make the whole area feel much more inviting and usable. Being able to zone the space into a cosy square for the TV and fireplace and then have a garden-facing seating area would definitely elevate how the room functions especially with all that lovely light coming through the rear doors.

The only real consideration is whether you’ll miss having that direct hallway access, and to be honest, if you're planning to stay long term, it’s more about how you live in the house day-to-day than future resale. Lots of newer builds these days are moving toward that kind of layout you come in, hang up your coat, and then pass through a social space rather than a traditional “formal lounge entrance.”

If it gives you the layout that works best for your lifestyle, I’d say it’s a worthwhile move.
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Elaine Crittenden thanked CFS Interiors
Elaine Crittenden
Original Author
last month
That seems very sound advice - thank you.
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Sarah L
last month
Based on katlucy's idea 😀
Elaine Crittenden thanked Sarah L
tab darcy
last month
Unpopular opinion coming- I'd split the long room; one end as downstairs bedroom and other for noisy sociable stuff like music practice, movie watching, sport matches... Your lively new open extension will be very sociable but a separate area might save relationships.

I'd also have the utility entrance from the hall, assuming it is mostly laundry from upstairs, storage for cleaning products / machines, and add a 'drop zone' for bags / coats / shoes in that hallway. That way your kitchen can take up the right hand wall. If your kitchen designer is clever, they could incorporate a bin unit in the kitchen that can be accessed in the utility room to save ever dragging bins or recycling through the social area.
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Elaine Crittenden thanked tab darcy
katlucy
last month
I agree with tab darcy, that the utility, wc and corridor to the side entrance could be enhanced. Can you let us know what you have planned to put into the rooms off the hallway?

Possibly a pantry near the kitchen, and moving the wc to the corridor and the wc to a utility with a central cloaks cupboard next to the wc on the outside wall
Elaine Crittenden thanked katlucy
Elaine Crittenden
Original Author
last month
There is only my husband and I and so we have lots of options for private space. We will use one of the bedrooms as a dressing room and another as a study/snug with sofa bed for guests. We were thinking of using the utility room for a washing machine, sink, storage and do messy things we do not want to use the kitchen for i.e. cleaning boots. Also to have coat hooks for outdoor coats and a place for boots outdoor shoes. The WC is the guest wc. The cupboard for coats. I agree it would be a good idea to be able to enter the utility room through the hall rather than just the outside and the secret door from the kitchen but it would mean another door in the hall way. I will ask the architect about it. What do you think about the idea of not having doors into the lounge and kitchen/dining room and just openings - or does that look like I ran out of money and couldn't afford them! Thank you all for your contributions
Isla Cherry
last month
No doors is a great idea. A well framed opening showing a view of another room is always inviting. I'm a minimal doors person. Sometimes you need them but if you don't I think openings especially in the sociable parts of the house look better.
Elaine Crittenden thanked Isla Cherry
Elaine Crittenden
Original Author
last month
I like the idea but husband not too keen . He is worried about the noise/smells. I think he is overly concerned as we are used to flat living
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Elaine Crittenden
Original Author
24 days ago
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PRO
Bespoke Glazing Design
23 days ago
Pocket doors are such a great idea!
DM us, we’d love to share some thoughts and ideas with you.
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kazzh
19 days ago
Have you considered a ‘secret’ door from hall into utility? One that is flush with the wall so it is not obvious but allows access?
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PRO
Devyra Atelier
12 days ago
Based on experience two access to the living room are unnecessary as there will be many person/child/pets will commute accross the room or many distraction due to multiple access door by physchology this room will make you less relaxed than one access room. Close off the door lead to kitchen to prevent smell is more functional. Even without the second door it still close to access kitchen and you can get space for proper dining table
Elaine Crittenden thanked Devyra Atelier
Elaine Crittenden
Original Author
11 days ago
Thank you for your comment. I am only thinking about moving the door and making the entry to the living room through the kitchen. I will close other (existing door) to enable me to put the sofa at that end and facilitate a better layout. I am having difficulty finding a good layout with the door where it is. The new door would be a pocket door which could be closed to keep out kitchen smells and I will also get a powerful extractor fan.
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PRO
The Living House
10 days ago
Hello, we wrote a blog all about how to design a rectangular living room. You can read it here. We are also happy to help with our design packages if you need more specific advice :).

Becky at The Living House
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Elaine Crittenden thanked The Living House
Elaine Crittenden
Original Author
10 days ago
Thank you.
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