4 Ways to Get a Dream Home Feature on a Budget
Not sure you can stretch to an extension or fit in a utility room? Try these tricks for size
Extension, pantry, utility room, snug… Which of these perennial renovation wish-list items do you have saved in your ideabooks? If the fantasy is some distance from becoming a reality, though, whether due to cost or lack of space, take heart – next to each of the big ideas below there’s a smaller, more achievable version to spark ideas for your own home.
The achievable fantasy: a conservatory
Would, in fact, a little more room be enough to give you the breathing space you crave? The benefits of the modestly proportioned addition seen here are a window seat, an enhanced connection to the garden, additional storage and great views. It’s also beautifully in keeping with the style and period of the house.
Would, in fact, a little more room be enough to give you the breathing space you crave? The benefits of the modestly proportioned addition seen here are a window seat, an enhanced connection to the garden, additional storage and great views. It’s also beautifully in keeping with the style and period of the house.
The big dream: a walk-in pantry
Oh for a larder you could lose yourself in, right? Although this one isn’t quite that, it’s still a storage spot you can stand inside, with endless shelves for all those packets currently piled on top of each other in your bulging kitchen cabinets. The sense of order is quite mesmerising.
Oh for a larder you could lose yourself in, right? Although this one isn’t quite that, it’s still a storage spot you can stand inside, with endless shelves for all those packets currently piled on top of each other in your bulging kitchen cabinets. The sense of order is quite mesmerising.
The achievable fantasy: a pull-out pantry
There are so many clever things a skilled cabinet-maker or kitchen designer can do in a small space. In this kitchen, using the full height of the room (always a top tip for maximising space) has allowed for this slim but surprisingly roomy pull-out pantry.
The entire unit, of which this is a part, also houses an integrated fridge-freezer and further storage behind a top-hung sliding door (see more in the next photo).
Browse cabinet makers in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
There are so many clever things a skilled cabinet-maker or kitchen designer can do in a small space. In this kitchen, using the full height of the room (always a top tip for maximising space) has allowed for this slim but surprisingly roomy pull-out pantry.
The entire unit, of which this is a part, also houses an integrated fridge-freezer and further storage behind a top-hung sliding door (see more in the next photo).
Browse cabinet makers in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
The compact unit also has masses of storage behind the siding door, as seen here.
The big dream: a spacious utility room
There’s something very appealing about the idea of keeping all your cleaning kit, laundry and big washing appliances in one place. And if there’s room for shoe storage and a spare sink for cutting flowers or rinsing the dog after a muddy walk, so much the better. A set-up like this, though, takes a whole room. Or does it…
There’s something very appealing about the idea of keeping all your cleaning kit, laundry and big washing appliances in one place. And if there’s room for shoe storage and a spare sink for cutting flowers or rinsing the dog after a muddy walk, so much the better. A set-up like this, though, takes a whole room. Or does it…
The achievable fantasy: a utility room in a cupboard
With the help of a savvy architect, tuned in to spotting space around your home that could be made to work much harder, you could well have room for a utility cupboard in a bathroom, on a landing, in an airing cupboard, or under the stairs.
This arrangement of two relatively small cupboards side by side holds a washing machine, tumble dryer, water softener, sink and storage for laundry and cleaning products. Holes in the doors mean they can be closed even when the machines are in use.
It’s possible to buy stacked washer and dryer combos with a pull-out shelf between them for resting clothes on, and a rail or rack instead of the top shelf in this set-up would mean you could air clothes not suitable for the tumble dryer out of sight.
Discover how to squeeze a utility area into any size home
With the help of a savvy architect, tuned in to spotting space around your home that could be made to work much harder, you could well have room for a utility cupboard in a bathroom, on a landing, in an airing cupboard, or under the stairs.
This arrangement of two relatively small cupboards side by side holds a washing machine, tumble dryer, water softener, sink and storage for laundry and cleaning products. Holes in the doors mean they can be closed even when the machines are in use.
It’s possible to buy stacked washer and dryer combos with a pull-out shelf between them for resting clothes on, and a rail or rack instead of the top shelf in this set-up would mean you could air clothes not suitable for the tumble dryer out of sight.
Discover how to squeeze a utility area into any size home
The big dream: a standalone snug
If you’re doing a big extension downstairs, and particularly if you’re in a Victorian terrace, you’ll probably be gifted a room like this – part of a double living space at the front of your house.
If your new extension includes a comfy seating area, this frees up at least one half of the area that used to be your sitting or dining room and allows you to use the space luxuriously as a snug, like this one.
What is a snug? It’s a cosy spot, ideally with some with squishy cushions, which is filled with things that relax the inhabitants of the house – whether that involves family film time or a spot of afternoon reading.
If you’re doing a big extension downstairs, and particularly if you’re in a Victorian terrace, you’ll probably be gifted a room like this – part of a double living space at the front of your house.
If your new extension includes a comfy seating area, this frees up at least one half of the area that used to be your sitting or dining room and allows you to use the space luxuriously as a snug, like this one.
What is a snug? It’s a cosy spot, ideally with some with squishy cushions, which is filled with things that relax the inhabitants of the house – whether that involves family film time or a spot of afternoon reading.
The achievable fantasy: a snug on the landing
Who says you need a whole room? Snugs are meant to be cosy – so, arguably, a smaller space is a positive bonus.
If you have some landing space to spare, or a boxroom, make more of it. With good cabinetry, you can achieve an entire mini library, or have your TV mounted discreetly in just the right spot. Throw a mattress on the floor or squeeze in a daybed if there’s room (and it’s needed for guests to sleep on occasionally) – et voila! Snug as a bug…
Tell us…
Are you tempted by any of these projects? Or do you have another dream feature in mind? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who says you need a whole room? Snugs are meant to be cosy – so, arguably, a smaller space is a positive bonus.
If you have some landing space to spare, or a boxroom, make more of it. With good cabinetry, you can achieve an entire mini library, or have your TV mounted discreetly in just the right spot. Throw a mattress on the floor or squeeze in a daybed if there’s room (and it’s needed for guests to sleep on occasionally) – et voila! Snug as a bug…
Tell us…
Are you tempted by any of these projects? Or do you have another dream feature in mind? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
A large, open space, daylight-enhancing rooflights, big glass doors to bring the outside in… Yes, the benefits of going all-out on an extension are plentiful.
However, this is a big ticket addition to any home. Not only that, your house or garden may not lend themselves to such a reconfiguration. But it’s possible to scale this idea down…