Extension ideas

[Ilovesugar]

Posting here for more traffic!

On going conversion with DH so hoping to settle a debate.

Picture is current set up, we would like some where to set up a desk and a bigger dining area if possible. No other areas for playroom or office available. Same size extension in each picture (drawings just bad).

A) give us a separate office space
B) bigger dining space
C) bigger dining space and office space but smaller playroom

Playroom is important with three small children. Office space will be used when children at school / nursery.

A / B / C

We can't see what you are suggesting

There is only one diagram and it isn't clear

You can see all of them, think PP cross posted. I'd go for C personally

C but with a wall between dining room and play room

Ah, you cross posted

C
The middle one obviously
I wfh and have DC, teens now but recall what they needed when noisy toddlers with heaps of toys

You will want dining room and playroom/snug to be in same bit

And you want office separate if you can
If that is an option , because you may get private work calls or MS team video chats that ought not be overheard,

And your children will be up and down at the table and playing or chilling, especially as they get older into teenage years
It'll also help with keeping work separate (to secure it) and making great space for teenagers (or you and adult friends) for parties or hang out times x

I would always go for

Kitchen- diner - family room

And separate quiet secure office for work

If you can

I wouldn’t do either, I’d put an extension off the dining room only to make and L shape and leave the playroom as is. New extension can be open plan office to existing dining room which gives more options for extended dining table at Christmas etc. Think you risk it being too dark otherwise

We have gone round in this circle! We are both working from home. Have a 6yo and 3yo. We had builders round to do quotes etc. We briefly got tempted into 2 storey and all sorts. Then came to our senses I think and have done hardly anything just reconfigured! We decided in the end to priorities family space over office. So we've got our preexisting extension as a play room now. It was the office before. We've fit a desk into our living room, and a fold up workstation upstairs in a bedroom. I think you need to work out what your priority is.

@Indecisivelurcher definitely play room and dining room is our priority for sure. So I’m more tempted with B but not sure and OH potential wants an office but he won’t be working from home all the time. So indecisive argh

@Sparticuscaticus sorry it would only let me post 3 pictures at a time 🙂

I@Ilovesugar me too, see my user name!!! In the end we moved all of our furniture how we'd have it in the end and trialled our options. It really helped to work out what we wanted.

I think I'd be tempted to have 2 rooms, one a dining room, one a playroom, and put a work corner in whichever of those makes most sense. And not have a separate office. Or if that's not a goer, I would have a dining room, then a 60/40 playroom/office with a partition wall that you can take down readily in the future.

Also where is your garden access going to be, think that's important with little kids in the summer. Don't want them coming through an office area really.

Playroom is not really worth it imo. We have a 4&6yo and briefly had a playroom. All that happened was it ended up being a perpetual tip and they kept playing elsewhere. Somewhere for decent toy storage is important IMO, but a playroom is a waste. Especially as they will change quickly and want different space. I would say a second lounge/family room is a better option. But also in this wfh nightmare office space is only going to add value.

C - I like the layout and you get a bigger brighter dining room. Kids don't use playrooms they want to play where everyone else is.

I would go with the imbed labelled B but a wall/divide 1/4 way through the room between office and playroom

If you only use the office when the kids are at school/nursery I’d have the office/playroom as a hybrid space. Long desk on the wall furthest from the dinning room area for you to work at, the kids can use for homework or arts/craft stuff. Storage for all the toys and a tidy up rule in place each evening. You can then potentially move the wall to make the dinning room bigger or take out the wall and install a sliding dividing wall for when the dinning space needs to accommodate more people.

I would actually try to combine the snug and office space in C, as they are unlikely to be used at the same time, although most work might be when children are at school/ nursery if children are off sick or on holiday then having office in separate room will be useful. I would look for a fold away desk type set up to encourage dh to pack stuff up at end of the day.

B looks like the best option to me. Keeps the dining room, play area as a flexible space as needs change. Separate office a good idea if wfh and useful for homework/study when kids older too. Agree with the other comments about separate playrooms - ime kids want to be where you are and bring toys with them.

Where is the kitchen? Do you want the children to be able to access outside unsupervised so they can play inside and out?