...to ask your opinion on this house dilemma?

[SoupForLunch]

God knows whether anyone will be bothered enough to read (and process) all this….

My DP and I have just bought a house. We plan to knock through from the dining room to the kitchen to create one big family kitchen/diner. However, the two rooms are on different levels. The dining room is two steps higher than the little kitchen. We’re also going to knock the kitchen ceiling out because it has a pitched roof above. The higher part of the pitch is on the dining room side. We’ll put in big Velux windows, creating a nice high, light ceiling.

We’ve had two builders who have both said raising the kitchen floor is the right thing to do, in term of how it will look and how it will be to live in. They say that one level for the whole room makes more sense. We have small children so I can certainly see the practical advantage.

However, my step-sister, who works in something like interior architecture (I’m never altogether sure), likes the idea of the split because the height and light of the kitchen ceiling will add drama / interest. She says we could have the steps at one side and the breakfast bar /slim island straddling the rest of the height difference.

It’s a three-bed semi, so just a modest property.

Things we’re considering:

• If we keep the split level there will be a smaller food preparation area because the island part of the kitchen will only be able to be positioned where the step down is. It will sort of straddle the steps (higher on one side, lower on the other) so people in the kitchen will be a bit lower but able to see into the diner.
• In fact, this smaller food prep area will be the size of a small kitchen… which rather undermines the idea of having a big kitchen / diner…
• If we raise the kitchen floor to the height of the dining room floor, obviously we will lose height on the ceiling. Is this going to make the room that bit less interesting?
• What will future potential buyers prefer? What would you prefer? A step down, slightly dramatic, slight subterranean feeling kitchen or a no-step down big, clear room with a lower ceiling.

I’m not really thinking about cost at this point – just trying to work out what might be better.
I realise this is a funny thing to try to visualise… I just wanted to canvas opinion. Personally, I think the raised floor would be better but I feel sad about diminishing what could be a big feature – that high sloped ceiling with the light coming in.
This has been really fun to write with a crying baby and a nuts three-year-old hanging off me…. ha.

Yes - Keep the split
No - Get rid of the split

Same level. Practicality over ‘interest’. If it was a super big house might be a different answer.

This is so helpful. Thank you! Maybe I could consult MumsNet on every decision I make from now on...

Looks like most people say raise the floor...

One level, even more so if having split means the kitchen is small.
Viewed a house once with a very similar split level to what you describe. Looked lovely in photos. In the flesh, the space wasn't practical, the kitchen was too small and what should have been a great space for entertaining was just awkward.

We built in a similar sized space but all one level. The space seems huge in comparison, is great for DC, fantastic four entertaining, easier to clean and is really flexible. I'd never entertain spilt level again

Rause floor

“... because the height and light of the kitchen ceiling will add drama / interest.”

Get this but do you need drama and interest or a practical family house? I’d go with all one level.

We have this, my son is five (was 3 when we moved in), it looks good and he hasn’t found the levels a problem.

However my partner has a physical disability and his balance isn’t great, he can’t navigate the step without having something to hold on to. So maybe consider the impact of the step on disabled visitors or older people (including you when you’re older).

I was initially going to say have a step up, but when you said it would interefere with the kitchen layout, I'd say it's a no.

We've done a knock through into what's now the kitchen, and that's up three steps the full width of the opening - we didn't have an architect so had no idea what it would look like, but it was way better than we imagined and also separates the kitchen off from the lounge in a nice way. But you don't want steps that interefer with a kitchen layout.

We viewed a beautiful house with just this dilemma and had to walk away because the costs of putting it right were out of our budget. The kitchen was the same level as the house and the dining area was down some steps 2 metres lower. (Only made sense when we saw that the garden was sloping downwards) We were advised to lower the kitchen a couple of metres and have a bigger head room for the whole area. This would have meant there would be steps going down as soon as you step into the kitchen. Good luck OP

I would much prefer split level and a higher ceiling!

Split level and ditch the island - that sounds really weird.

Raise the floor - we did this when we converted and honestly, I would not have been able for a two step difference in height on my hundred times daily walk between the kitchen and the kitchen table!

@PrincessGraceless

“... because the height and light of the kitchen ceiling will add drama / interest.”

Get this but do you need drama and interest or a practical family house? I’d go with all one level.

I need a bit of both! We've been living in a two-bed flat for four years. Our plans to buy were halted because of Beexit uncertainty, Covid etc. I am going crazy. I am very affected by my environment - something I hadn't really realised before. We don't eat out, we don't buy expensive clothes, we don't go on holiday. Creating a nice home is a real priority for us at the moment.

What’s more important to you - split level to add ‘interest’ or a more useful/functional space that will work well for your family? I’d go for same level, given it’s a small space and functional is more practical than interesting. You can add interest with furnishings/paint colours/art, etc.

All one level certainly won’t put buyers off, it’s a standard three bed semi, not an architect designed house iykwim.

All very well for sil to say it will look better, she is not the one who has to live in it!!!
Don't have steps!!!

Im an older person with a strong interest in interior design. However I would say to raise the floor. In the end you will curse that split level. And potential buyers (when/if you eventually come to sell) will probably be far more interested in the practicalities than drama and interest, You dont want to limit your future market.

I'd go for the split but make it how you wish rather than what you think future buyers would like. You'll have to live in it.

I would make it all one level personally. Never have I walked in to a house and thought hmm the kitchen could really do with some steps. I do have young children though so that probably clouds my view, if I were to view a house like yours now, I would instantly think I need to level that, how much would that cost etc.

Some friends had a kitchen with a step down before they had kids. It did look nice and added interest. Their kids grew up with it so they managed fine.

However, most adult visitors would forget after a couple of drinks and we witnessed several falls over the years.

Flat level floor I wouldn’t buy it with pets or kids if it had steps

We have a really similar issue. Victorian terrace and the kitchen is at the back of the house, it’s two steps down from the dining room. We are getting it all knocked through and a side return extension. We really want everything the same level but the architect said it might not be possible because the kitchen ceiling is also lower (and there’s a bedroom above it). Raising the floor in the kitchen will make the room too small in height. So we are going for a compromise and raising the kitchen by one step I think, he hasn’t finished the drawings yet though.

I would make it all the same level. If necessary, to add "drama and interest" could you raise the level of the roof to gain extra height (and to allow for sufficient space to insulate)?

I think your stepsister has overdosed on Grand Designs. ‘Creating drama and interest’ is all very well, but this isn’t a project to show off her architectural vision - it’s your family home. I can’t help thinking the only ‘drama’ will come from constantly having to remember to call out ‘Mind the step!’ when you have visitors.

Never have I walked in to a house and thought hmm the kitchen could really do with some steps.

That’s it in a nutshell.

Mum and dad have a step down from their diner into the kitchen but couldn't raise the floor due to an very old low slope ceiling. Over the years we have all fallen down the step or up the step and hurt ourselves. Mum and dad have both put their backs out by stepping down while carrying dishes. Mum broke her wrist tripping over the step. They have lived there over 40 years and mum says she wish they had had the sloping roof redone and raised the floor as its been a hazard over the years. Even more so know they are pensioners.

I would keep it split level.

I know you said you were not considering the costs but I think raising the floor could be expensive.

Is there a door to the outside from the kitchen? If so you will have to put in external steps and raise the door. You may also find the any windows will be too low and will need to be positioned higher up.

I like quirky. I deliberately had my utility room built lower to allow greater height for a clothes airer pulley thing. I appreciated you may not one of these in your kitchen.

Another one for raise floor. Practicality over interest, esp in a modest family home.