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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want a house with this floor plan (pic included)

231 replies

Raymond1989 · 27/06/2017 10:20

In the area I want and with my budget I'm only going to get a terraced house. All the terraced houses I've seen a tiny and I feel like I'm in a prison cell.

I've found a house that's within budget and I love it! Feels spacious and is end terrace with a big park next to it. I love the area.

It feels cosy and there's still a yard for own use eventhough it's small. It's big enough to have a washing line and an outdoor table and chairs. I'm moving from a semi detached house with front and back garden but it's worth it to live in a better location.

My issue is the floor plan (see pic)

An extension has been added but to preserve some yard space it's been added in a long rectangle. This then leaves a large dining room but another lounge with no use to it!

My friend has th exact same floor plan and her living room is redundant!

I only have my daughter and I but family stay a lot so I could make the 'lounge' into a multi use room with a guest bed,computer desk etc.

Would this floor plan put you off? Is it a disaster?

Any ideas on how to make it work?

To not want a house with this floor plan (pic included)
OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
plumtreelane · 27/06/2017 10:49

This thread is lol

GloriaV · 27/06/2017 10:49

Make dining room kitchen diner and kitchen utility, then TVs goes in lounge (which has bed setee for guests)

grasspigeons · 27/06/2017 10:49

Maybe look on houzz or pinterest for ideas oh how to decorate it and lay it out. It looks right next to the kitchen so it's close enough to not be awkward,

Think about what else you'd do in the space - homework? Crafts? Storage etc and plan that in.
My friend has a house where you have to go outside to access the dining room as there is no internal door!

Eeeeek2 · 27/06/2017 10:49

Playroom? So all the toys have somewhere to be stored thrown

Coddiwomple · 27/06/2017 10:50

Just a dining room on its own, I'd just not know how to make that work.

I am sorry, I am very confused. Just as a.. dining room? With a dining table, possibly a dresser of some kind to put your dishes? I personally hate kitchen/diner, I don't like the noise of various machines and the mess when I am having diner.
My kids use the table to do their homework sometimes (instead of using their own desks in their own bedroom, but that's another debate). If you feel it's empty, just put some music in it.

This is a dining room? Ignore the style, first thing that came up on Pinterest, just look at the use of the space? I really don't understand the issue.

In your own house, you could put your bedroom downstairs, the living room upstairs... not sure why you would , but it's your home, you do what you want in it.

To not want a house with this floor plan (pic included)
Original poster
Raymond1989 · 27/06/2017 10:50

gloriaV I'd love to do that. It sound a lot of work though. All thI plumbing would have to be changed over and moved.

OP posts:
Original poster
Raymond1989 · 27/06/2017 10:51

Yes isn't love a kitchen diner. Much nicer.

OP posts:
GherkinSnatch · 27/06/2017 10:51

I don't see the problem. "Lounge" with TV, a sofa bed for when you have guests, general living room type stuff. Dining room with table and chairs, depending on the size of yours you could probably have an armchair or another small sofa in there for when you want somewhere to sit without the telly, or whatever.

To not want a house with this floor plan (pic included)
RoseVase2010 · 27/06/2017 10:53

Kitchen. Dining/sitting room and then play room or study. Simple.

BandeauSally · 27/06/2017 10:53

I'd just not know how to make that work.

You're being very silly. What on earth is there to make work? You stick a dining table in the room and then you eat at it. That's how it works. You are making this far more complicated than it is.

lanouvelleheloise · 27/06/2017 10:53

"Yes I'm in my 20s. I've literally never seen a separate dining room in my life."

This makes me feel old!! Smile

In older, larger houses it's really standard. It gives you space to have a huge table that can seat 8-10 people, or be used for crafting or organising or whatever. Really practical, really useful. Having the TV out of the room is lovely.

Original poster
Raymond1989 · 27/06/2017 10:54

What it boils down to is I like having a kitchen/diner. I didn't explain that properly in my original post

OP posts:
flumpybear · 27/06/2017 10:54

Personally I'd completely open out the lounge and kitchen area, that front room d keep as an office / playroom for your DD with a sofa bed for guests
ENjoy your new home Smile

MyFavouriteName · 27/06/2017 10:55

Don't buy it if you want a kitchen diner. But as I said I have that layout. The kids are often in the dining room playing when I'm in the kitchen. I can still see them and talk to them.

Our table is against one wall. We have a sideboard on the other side and a play area with toy storage in the room too. Just because it's called a dining room doesn't mean it has to be just a dining room.

kaytee87 · 27/06/2017 10:56

You've never seen a separate dining room Shock

We have a separate dining room, my mum does, loads of people I know do. Also have a table in the kitchen for when we're not entertaining but a separate dining room is great for dinner parties, Christmas Day etc.

I'm honestly not seeing the problem here

BabsGanoush · 27/06/2017 10:56

I think everyone has some issue with their home, and something they would change.

We are in a traditional 3 bed semi, but knocked the rear dining room through into the kitchen. We put a TV in there but actually never watched it as we would chat or have the radio on. In fact during the summer we get the full sun in there and it is nice to go through to the front lounge to watch TV or cool off.

I would keep the layout as it is, and as you only have two bedrooms upstairs I would consider getting a sofabed as a third bed option.

katymac · 27/06/2017 10:57

Move the kitchen into the dining room - make the old kitchen a summer lounge & the existing lounge a winter lounge

lanouvelleheloise · 27/06/2017 10:57

If you can't live without a kitchen/diner, this isn't the house for you! If you can imagine adjusting your life to suit a new space, it will work just fine. People have been living that way for about the last 200 years!

Have you been living in a flat? I think there is a bit of an adjustment that you make when you first move from a flat to a house. For a while, I struggled to find uses for all the space. Now I'm having to extend because everything is full! Grin

DerelictWreck · 27/06/2017 10:57

Why not turn the dining room into a kitchen diner, and turn the kitchen into a downstairs bathroom and big utility room/store room?

You could even knock a whole in the wall between the lounge and the kitchen diner to create through flow and make it more liveable

grasspigeons · 27/06/2017 10:59

I think you'll come round to it.
I had an open plan house before (although it was a lounge diner rather than kitchen diner)
It's so nice having separate spaces now. The front lounge is quiet and toy free.
The dining space is used for eating, homework, making cakes, storing toy.

lanouvelleheloise · 27/06/2017 11:00

Judging by the width of the door compared to the width of the room, the existing kitchen won't make a very comfortable lounge. A side return extension might be a possibility, but then you're talking £££. Probably easier to work with what is there?

KimmySchmidt1 · 27/06/2017 11:02

Am i crazy or do you eat in the dining room and live in the living room? dining room has a table. lounge has a tv.

if you are eating and living in the same room then thats a bit weird.

i dont understand how the lounge is redundant?

Original poster
Raymond1989 · 27/06/2017 11:04

How much wouldn't cost to move the kitchen into the dining room?

OP posts:
AprilLudgateDwyer · 27/06/2017 11:04

We have a lounge and a sort of second one off of the kitchen. Both are heavily used and can only see them being used more when the kids are older and want more space.

hibbledobble · 27/06/2017 11:05

It seems like a pretty standard layout. I really don't see the issue: each room has a defined use. You can redefine their use if it bothers you.