Definitely get an architect in as soon as possible. Planning permission can take time even if next door has done similar or the same! Structural changes are complex and an architect will rule out an ideas that don't have legs straight away; saving you time. I would definitely go open plan and this is certainly possible for the space. I would even take some of the space from the large entrance hall as you already have an inner hall immediately behind. Also this would allow you to have a more definded and statement entrance at the front. To achieve this you may need to incorporate a pillar or steel beam which is relatively easy to do. It is hard to say if you would need this though as it depends where the load of the roof and evetually the dormer extension would sit. You could move the main bathroom upstairs, have a WC and two bedrooms on the left side of the back of the property - where the bathroom is and the odd hallways configuration which would allow for the living room to be opened up into the back of the property. It all really depends on your budget and time constraints. Congrats on the twins, you must be thrilled (and exhausted!). If you need any help regrding the interior design for this project or room layout and staging of rooms please don't hesitate to get in touch with me on 07570574493.

Given the limited amount of information we all give the best advice possible from our own experience- I’m sorry Jen doesn’t agree. Given we don’t know the house sizes, budget, planning constraints we don’t know with certainty if anything suggested is possible. But if it were my house I would prefer the boiler to be in the utility than in the main entrance (but I concede budget may dictate otherwise). As far as this being a complicated flue some boilers can have horizontal flues of up to 8m long and an extension to the one supplied with the boiler is rarely more than £50 - given the stated aspiration of a loft conversion I felt it was safe to assume this £50 was in budget although Jen is right that moving the boiler may be an expense too far given the work you intend to take on. Equally if you intend reconfiguring the house your existing heating pipework may need to be relocated and moving the boiler may be easily done at the same time. Since this post is mainly to get inspiration for a new layout and I have done my best to give one possibility that delivers the stated aims I don’t feel any defense of my efforts is necessary. In my humble opinion the boiler conversation could pose a different discussion on a different thread as if your end goal is to have three bathrooms you may prefer to get a system boiler with a hot water storage cylinder to better deliver your hot water. In which case you need to put the cylinder somewhere- you could get rid of the side porch to make the proposed utility bigger in order to also accommodate the cylinder.

I think you kinda have to move the kitchen. Firstly an extra bedroom can’t go in the side extension as it’s not wide enough - and if you put it in the rear extension then there is a concern that you will get to it though the lounge. I like the kitchen being through the lounge as it means you can have a kitchen roof lantern and the lounge will borrow some light too. As far as the logistics of moving the kitchen- firstly you were going to have the new space built so the plumbing and electrics can be included with the build. Secondly if you take an existing kitchen and put it in a bigger room it won’t fit. At the very least you may have to buy new worktops. A brand new kitchen might challenge the budget but there are bargains to be had on used kitchen specialist websites.

Hiya, Congrats, that's a very unique purchase indeed. The rear is definitley asking for some spicing up. It's a big project so perhaps you need the help of a pro. Feel free to get in touch, we can offer a free online consultation! Andre