If I show you the back of a house may I have some suggestions please?

[LaurieFairyCake]

It's hideous. The end of the house is the bathroom next to the kitchen so can't move it without spending 20k to put it upstairs.

We might still do that. But even if we do a side return extension is out of the question as it's too expensive for the road.

If I could afford to move the bathroom upstairs I think the best I can make of it is French doors at the end and have a bigger kitchen?

Anyone got any other ideas?

Photo please!

Please show us for ideas

How could I forget that

Can you look round any of the purges in the street? Or look online for the planning applications?

Houses not purges

Your best bet would be to have a look at what others in similar houses in your area have done - we were able to visit houses in the area with completed projects similar to the ones we wanted to undertake. We even had our architect visit them too. It really helps you to visualise what's possible, and what works. Also have a good look at the info on any for sale round about. It will a) let you see what they've done and b) what value /price premium has resulted.

We have a similar layout but the extension sticky out bit is a utility room with the bathroom upstairs above it. We took the window out of the kitchen diner and put in french doors. It has absolutely changed the room and let bloody love it. Can you do that with your window there (not the one in the bathroom of couse!)

But a coat of paint might help in the short term!

I would replace the window with French doors, paint the whole back of the house in a cream paint and then pull up the hideous slabs in the garden, dig it all over and lay a new path and turf.

Much like the house to the right actually having another look! And a new wooden fence to the left would help too.

Oh goody, ideas

It definitely needs a new fence. Actually the other sides fence, though nice is too short and I don't like it. I'd like my own fence, nice lateral boards ( modern looking) - it's only about 15 foot across so really both sides need to match.

The house is right at the top of the budget so I'd have to wait a while to move the bathroom unfortunately.

Picture of back garden - you can see the fence is a bit low

Garden looks like a green tub party!

Drunk one throwing up by the fence.

Are you buying the house off ebay ?

It's bad and is stupidly expensive at over half a million quid

The tubs look insane.

You might only actually own one fence so wouldn't be able to replace them both.

To be honest, it's not that bad and quite a typical layout for that type of house in the UK. Perhaps it's not the one for you?

Yes, I've had 3 or 4 houses the same - but I've been able to afford a side return extension or moving the bathroom.

Now I really can't do either quickly.

I would build my own fence on the inside of theirs - I think it's worth it to have them matching as they're so close together.

Actually I don't know what to do with the side return at all without doing an extension

Paint the render/pebble dash, replace the wire fence and treat the other one. Smarten up the garden. I have seen far, far worse.

I would build my own fence on the inside of theirs - I think it's worth it to have them matching as they're so close together.

Agreed.

I don't think the house looks bad for its type - the garden makes it look sruffy. Sort that out and house will look much nicer.

I've not put pictures of the inside - it's sooooo bad

The bathroom has a cream bath, an avocado sink, and a white loo - all three mismatched

I don't think you need to do an extension unless you actually need the space right now

1. paint the whole back to tidy it up
2. fences in garden and sort garden
3. nice garden sofa seating corner right next to the bathroom part at back of house.
4. add a few pots with thin but tall plants in in the narrow alley part
5. maybe deck or pave from back door, down alley, and a big area across first 1/4 of garden where the seating area would be

The bathroom has a cream bath, an avocado sink, and a white loo - all three mismatched

Wow. That is quite some style statement. Luckily a nice white bathroom is relatively cheap eh?

I'd put French doors in the end, but instead of flat doors it put an all glass bay in. Thus maximising light and increasing the view of your garden. Which will be beautiful when you have finished!