Ground floor redesign: kitchen/ family diner/ flexible living space
nmc_uk
9 years ago
Hi Houzzers,
We are to renovate our ground floor. Currently the living room is separate. The dining room opens into the kitchen and also into the conservatory. A study at the front of the house is separate and closed off.
MY PLAN (proposals in red) is to introduce bi-fold doors between the living room and dining room. This is so we can open the doors for kids parties etc. The TV is to be mounted on the wall with an electric fire beneath it. This is to become an adult space once the kids go to sleep. Decor: clean, crisp whites/ greys, chromes. Splash of colour on curtains/ cushions/ rug. The WC is to be renovated to a high spec with some quirkiness. As we are fortunate to have travelled well, I was thinking a map of the world mural, not sure. For the dining room a large round table for family dinners and the addition of a breakfast bar or an island with an elevated bar in the kitchen. Decor: family orientated, bare brick walls, warmer tones, practical furnishings. The kitchen is 'ok' and I was thinking of just changing the door-fronts to save on cost. Although I'm not sure if that’s a good idea. Décor clean/ crisp/ high spec white/ chrome. The study will no-doubt double as a play room, and I did think it would be good to open this into the kitchen to keep an eye on the kids. The conservatory will double as a play/ arts/ music area. School work on the walls etc. An option would be to swap with windows for bi-fold doors out into the garden. Current doors on the side.
BIGGER plans are to extend the kitchen out to meet the conservatory..... although that blows the budget!
Your thoughts and opinions on the design and decor are much appreciated :)
We are to renovate our ground floor. Currently the living room is separate. The dining room opens into the kitchen and also into the conservatory. A study at the front of the house is separate and closed off.
MY PLAN (proposals in red) is to introduce bi-fold doors between the living room and dining room. This is so we can open the doors for kids parties etc. The TV is to be mounted on the wall with an electric fire beneath it. This is to become an adult space once the kids go to sleep. Decor: clean, crisp whites/ greys, chromes. Splash of colour on curtains/ cushions/ rug. The WC is to be renovated to a high spec with some quirkiness. As we are fortunate to have travelled well, I was thinking a map of the world mural, not sure. For the dining room a large round table for family dinners and the addition of a breakfast bar or an island with an elevated bar in the kitchen. Decor: family orientated, bare brick walls, warmer tones, practical furnishings. The kitchen is 'ok' and I was thinking of just changing the door-fronts to save on cost. Although I'm not sure if that’s a good idea. Décor clean/ crisp/ high spec white/ chrome. The study will no-doubt double as a play room, and I did think it would be good to open this into the kitchen to keep an eye on the kids. The conservatory will double as a play/ arts/ music area. School work on the walls etc. An option would be to swap with windows for bi-fold doors out into the garden. Current doors on the side.
BIGGER plans are to extend the kitchen out to meet the conservatory..... although that blows the budget!
Your thoughts and opinions on the design and decor are much appreciated :)
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Comments (8)
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Comments (8)Thanks for the comments so far. I'm kind of thinking there's a hybrid option that isn't 1 or 2 and will probably cost a fortune, but until I find that solution, option 2 is definitely what I'm pulled towards. Oneplan, to answer your questions specifically: - The house is built on two floors - just three double bedrooms uptstairs. I'll be putting a small bathroom in upstairs as part of the project. - The "lobby" area is a vast overstatement on behalf of the estate agents when they were making the plan. "Pantry" would be a more appropriate word. Our builder mate suggested making the Pantry into a small shower and WC and converting the current downstairs bathroom into a utility room. - My kids are 4 and 5. - I haven't actually measured the porch up yet, although see comment below. - Regarding the question about the extension size. I borrowed the dimensions from a plan already submitted to the council for an exact same sized house (plans submitted before the govt relaxed planning rules). This size works because the garden is not so big. If I make the extension any bigger the garden will be really too small (and I want at least some space for the kids to run around in). Actually, I saw this post earler today https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/how-can-i-bring-this-kitchen-to-life-dsvw-vd~1171087 and I love it. Wonder if I could work with something along these lines....See MoreGround floor redesign - confused by options
Comments (24)Dosia_Konn Perhaps I could answer your query by explaining first what Architects do. The Architect takes the client's brief and instructions, prepares feasibility designs , cost estimates and makes Planning and Building Regulation Applications, negotiates with Planners & Building Control Officers on behalf of the clientdesigns the whole building/extension, specifies the materials to be used in the construction, specifies the quality and method of construction, provides detailed, dimensioned drawings to Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, etc etc, prepares tender documents for the whole project, checks potential contractors, invites tenders, reports and advises on received tenders, prepares Contract documents, administers the Building Contract, issues Certificates for Payments at appropriate times, inspects the work as it proceeds to ensure it conforms with the Contract, agrees Final Accounts with Contractors and issues Final Certificates to clients etc for payment, makes six month inspections, issues instructions to contractors to make good defects etc etc Interior Designers are sometimes, but not invariably, engaged as part of the Professional Team to advise on the design of the interiors of buildings, including colour schemes, fabrics, fittings and furniture, estimating costs, sourcing fittings, furniture and fabrics including floor and wall coverings. They specialise in these aspects of the building project but do not offer the extent and quality of services as offered by Architects who are normally regarded as the leaders of any design team and who are required to have considerably more training, qualifications and expertise in all aspects of building projects than Interior Designers have or need. I am unaware of the minimum qualification necessary to call oneself an 'Interior Designer' and would be interested to learn that. Some Interior Designers offer more than the normal service as mentioned above and if a client prefers to take that option that is their right to do so. Some draughtsmen do the same but I wouldn't recommend that course of action in this specific instance unless the particular Interior Designer/Draughtsmen shows himself/herself well equipped, experienced and qualified to do the job as well as an Architect....See MoreOpen plan kitchen/diner/living room layout
Comments (7)I would say first and foremost that as this is a large project, you can't do without a concept planner or someone that can draw up your plans in 3D so that you can 'vitually' walk around what you have in mind. You need to pay attention to your access doorways, they aren't marked on either plan. You will need to have the kitchen on the left and access both the pantry and utility from there. Therefore you will negate the whole of that wall for access to those two rooms. Placement of furniture that you would like / need has to be thought about along with the build. It's just as important. The 1st floor doesn't seem to work as there is no access to the Family Bathroom on the plan. Obviously you know the actual shape of the stairs and there are no dimensions which makes it difficult. However, you may need to create a landing and thus you would, if you use the layout given have to sacrifice one of the bedrooms or change the plan. A planner is essential, one that can give you the rooms sizes that you want and utilise the space available....See MoreKitchen / Diner / Living Room layout help!
Comments (29)I have a probably unpopular suggestion... unless you're happy with an end design.. could you either do it in stages (I appreciate living in a building site is Never ideal) So knock out the chimneys and open up the space, but not pull out the kitchen etc. Give you a bit of time to see the space and be able to move your sofa/dining table around to try and work out what would work best in reality? Or postpone the project slightly to give yourselves the time to finalise a layout you're truly happy with +/- using OnePlan? I agree tho, realistically with that layout its stools or the sofa! Also I wondered whether the outside store space off the lean to, could be made accessible from the hallway? And then could that be the utility cupboard? Then you could use that bottom bit in your kitchen for tall units/larder cupboard/pantry/FF etc...See More
PRONeil Norton Design
9 years agoLoose the built in cabinets and wall attached along the back of the kitchen, replace with tall appliances oven, fridge, larder this will leave enough space to have a big island with sink and hob plus seating.
neil
nmc_uk thanked Neil Norton Designnmc_uk
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago@ Vivienne, a window seat/ reading nook would be nice in the living room bay. Although I'm torn between that impacting the adult space ambiance. Maybe an Eames lounger chair with footstool. Will also consider a rectangular table as we do entertain a lot.
@OnePlan, the room sizes are in the image I uploaded (4.67m x 3.38m). Interested to hear your further comments.
@Open Plan Designs, good suggestions, I also added a door to the kitchen from the hall way on my design. See image. Can you better this?
@Ibfunke, ref opening the study to the kitchen. A door with glass panels might work, although I love the idea of a bookcase door.
PROOnePlan
9 years agonmc_uk
9 years ago
OnePlan