Layout help please

[househelppls]

We would like to reconfigure our downstairs layout to try and create more living space. We don't have the budget or space to extend so after discussions with a local builder have come up with the new layout attached - we are thinking of converting the garage into a living room, opening up the back to create a open plan kitchen/dining room and will convert the old kitchen into study/playroom as both DH and I work from home a lot.

We have never done anything like this before so I was hoping some wise MNetters could take a look at our plans (have hopefully attached before and after plans) and let me know what you think.

Many thanks in advance

Mixing play space a serious study /office space might not work well - imagine important papers used as drawing paper or with a jug of squash accidentally tipped over then etc etc .

Keep your work space separate and off limits to the children.

As long as you can get plumbing to the kitchen sink - will probably need to be on bottom wall of kitchen - so draining same area as WC basin drains - it could work...

I think that's a great plan.

The only snags I would mention are...

Study combined with play room has failed miserably for our family. The room is always a tip when I need to work. Can't the play zone be moved to the new dining zone with attractive storage?

Also have you worked out what to do with all the stuff stored in the garage? Do you have another space for that kind of thing. Maybe some more attractive storage is needed for the study room?

Thanks for your comments

I need to check with the builder - we were hoping the kitche sink would go under the window, I'll check if that's possible before we go and talk to some kitchen designers

For the study/playroom - I think it would be more toy storage in the the study than actual payroom, we had a playroom previously that never got used because dc didn't like being in a separate room to us!

We will likely have storage in the dining room as suggested - we were also hoping to squeese a sofa/tv in there to make it a family room.

Thanks again for your feedback, it's good to know we could be on the right track

Seems fine.

I would make study just study not playroom. Kids can have a desk in there to draw quietly or to do homework if needed. But TBH if anything like mine will want to do homework on main dining table with you nearby

If you are converting the garage, I would probably have that as the dining room and keep the kitchen where it is. Less disruption for you had the kids.

If you are converting the garage, I would probably have that as the dining room and keep the kitchen where it is. Less disruption for you had the kids

No... don't do this. Less disruption maybe but a much worse outcome!!

The builder drawn plans look like a good use of space and in line with the 'modern' way of living ie a big family room kitchen diner and a separate sitting room.

Are you going to have some decent windows in the new sitting room?

Keep the study just for study as PPs already said.

I'd keep your existing walk through from front door to new kitchen. Makes the house feel bigger than hitting a cupboard when you walk in, also flows better for walking from kitchen to lounge.

Overall it's fine. My 3 thoughts would be:

Don't block the entrance from the hall to the kitchen with a cupboard. You will lose your sight line, make the hallway dark, and regret it every time you have to walk through the dining room with heavy shopping!

Put a shoes and coats cupboard just as you enter the office instead (so move study door nearer front door to make it more likely to be used). -if you have children it still won't be used-

Are you sure you want to keep the downstairs loo in your utility room? I'm guessing if you are used to it you don't mind, but I would hate to have my guests going through my utility for the toilet! Now would be a good time to create a separate entrance from the hallway

Yellodraw.

How is it a much worse outcome?

With the lounge and study at the back of the house, overlooking the garden and without the need to move all the pipework. Would cost less, use extra cash for a conservatory and add value to the house.

Just my view, at the end of the day, it's up to househelp.

Again, agree with keep the door at the end of the hall - do not turn it into a cupboard - it will affect the "flow" of the house and seriously piss you off with heavy shopping.

You could make the study smaller and create a larger utility room where coats/shoes etc can go.

Yes to keeping the door to the kitchen (you could then block the door to the new dining/family area if you wanted to use the wall space.

If you hide the washing machine/utility sink/coats behind full length cupboards, it will keep the utility room tidy if you have guests walking through to the loo.

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Hope this pic works

Absolutely agree with biscuits, and chews. Ditch the cupboard at the end of the passage and reinstate that as the door to the kitchen/diner, and lose the door from the hall into the dining part - just have the one door. It would drive you seriously nuts negotiating that all the time. Also, gives feeling of light and space if you can see into a light kitchen at end of the hall rather than a dark dead end

Where is your access to understairs cupboard - from lounge or dining room?

Thanks everyone for your comments, they have been really helpful and made us really think about how we can use the space best

The layout most of you are suggesting with the door into the new kitchen from the hall was what we had originally come up with as this is similar to what some of the neighbours have done, it was the builder who suggested the alternative as a way to maximise the space in the kitchen but I think you are right and it would flow better. I've updated my design to show this.

The whole downstairs is quite dark so we are having rooflights in the new kitchen/dinig room, possibly a high up window on the dining room side wall and I'm thinking of partially glazed doors throughout to maximise the light. When we do the front of the house we will look at adding rooflights then as well, especially in the hall as it's very dark.

We have thought about moving the door and wall into the study to make the utility room bigger, will look into this in more detail when we do this room.

Househelppls not sure where your supporting walls are, but I'd probably try and skim off a corridor equal depth opposite your stairs and eat into your study, this can have a bench to sit on for putting on shoes and either rack or cupboard for coats. Alternatively is separate utility and toilet with 2 doors. I've recently done all this and know the pain of decisions vs costs and structural / plumbing issues.

Great decision to keep the door to kitchen, you won't regret the line of sight in the house, feel of space vs loss of one cupboard!

I think this looks great. If it was me I would want the utility coming off the kitchen. Also can you dividend so that the downstairs toilet is separate and comes off the hall? Have had a toilet that you had to go through utility before and really didn't like it. Now would be a.good.time to think about this.