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Design Dilemma Renovating

awkward layout

11 months ago

We are in the middle of purchasing lovely family holiday home. We’re very keen to get a better flow in the downstairs living and maximise the wonderful views at the front of the property. There’s a very large chimney fireplace in the middle between the kitchen and lounge. Looking for ideas.

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Comments (4)

Jonathan
11 months ago
I‘m unclear about a couple of things.

1/ does the large bay window face the front view or is that the side?

2/ how much work are you looking to do? build extensions? knock down walls?

3/ what do you want to acheive? an extra bedroom? a bigger kitchen? A more obvious route to the outside space?

4/ is the large fireplace staying?
nirouzz
Original Author
11 months ago
Yes but the large bay window faces the front view. The house is L shaped. The sunroom is in a really bad condition so we’re looking at potential extending into the sunroom to allow for dining space. The only outside space available is at the front of the house in at the front door and the reception room which we were thinking of turning into media room and keep the lounge somewhere to enjoy the view and fire. It looks like we have to keep the fire because of the structural costs.
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I understand your issues with the outlets for the chandelier and the tv. I suggest that when you look at furniture for the room you consider its scale. Do NOT buy furniture that is oversized or too large for the space. Look at apartment scaled furniture so that I doesn't overwhelm the room. A scaled down couch, a comfortable chair, an ottoman that can serve as a coffee table or extra seating. Neutrals. You can always add color with an area rug that will look nice on your floors and pillows, art, etc. things that you can change out as your taste changes. I am curious if you have any electrical outlets in the center of your floor? It might be possible to float your couch with its back facing the north wall and the dining area, and facing out towards the windows and view. And then you could put your tv between the windows on a media stand and not on the north wall. In any event, one of those arc lights might be nice for this space, too. I like the odd point in your living room! It adds character to the space! Embrace it!
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Hi Claire. This does look tricky! I can't see from the pics how much space you have as you come in through the door on the left. Could you have your tv there and add an l shaped sofa to the right of the fireplace? Maybe then a long cabinet in front of the radiator and a separate sofa or chaise in front of the window. You would need to use rugs, coffee tables etc to try and get some furniture in the middle of the room though. Maybe have a rug in front of the fire with either 2 small chairs or stools or a bench style seat.
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It looks really smart the way you have it now but the tv watching distance is a problem. I love your tv wall by the way. What about sort of dividing the space? Leave the sofa where it is and then have a smaller round snuggler type of sofa much closer to the tv. How many people watch tv? Either a smaller cute sofa, pair of chairs or a snugger? You would now be looking at their backs so use that as a divider with a low bench or console behind the new seating arrangement. Do you just have the single armchair? If so you could move it to form a seating area with the coffee table in front of the glass doors. Landing side is probably better as then it won't block the light.
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Jonathan
11 months ago
i would suggest you can’t look at both the view and the fireplace so wouldn‘t miss the fire. People remove chimneys all the time so although it may look

big downstairs the upstairs plan suggests it may be smaller than you think and could be a £2,500 job which would be less than replacing the sun room. If you remove the fireplace you would gain space in the kitchen but i don't think its necessary and by moving the door you could perhaps make the kitchen big enough for a dining table.

Sunroom- if it is beyond repair consider if its removal would gain you an additional outside space with a view. If you are intent on extending consider if the extension has to be there. putting it behind the kitchen would make tgat a much better room. Extending the second reception to the side would make a super room that would be connected to the view and the outside space and could possibly be the new home for the

kitchen.

Utility- i think you need to consider how valuable this is. It might be that you want somewhere for dogs or to store outside equipment. Equally it might be that you would rarely use a washing machine in this property you could put a washer dryer upstairs and instead of this utility an extra shower room would make the second downstairs reception room a flexible space that could also be a bedroom.
nirouzz
Original Author
11 months ago
Thank you so much for these excellent suggestions. These ideas are definitely worth considering.

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