I want to extend but which option?

[catlover1987]

Hi all. Looking for some advice from anyone creative as I struggle to have the vision sometimes!

I want to extend my downstairs (current floorplan attached.)
My options are:

1. Convert garage (easiest and cheapest option)
2. Put on sunroom off dining area (would cost a bit more but would still leave me with the garage for storage.)
3. Wait a few years (as would need to save more money/source additional borrowing) and put on full width extension, knocking through from kitchen to create a bigger family/dining/kitchen area.

The house is only 2 years old (new build) and is perfectly fine for the 2 of us at the moment. But we are planning on having a family and I know that when a child comes along, we probably wont have enough living space. It's more about creating extra space rather than extra rooms. What would you do (or feel free to suggest any other ideas I haven't though of!)

Thanks!

I'd do nothing for the time being. Keep saving. I was looking at the plan and although yes the cheapest thing would be to put another room where the garage is, would that flow in a good way. Another sitting room............. would you use it? Maybe wait until you can afford a proper extension out off the kitchen/ diner, to make your main living area more spacious and more solid and permanent. A glass sun room can be both too hot in summer and too cold in winter and it can make the room next to it too cold in the winter. I would only extend if it were an extension up to the standard of the existing kitchen/diner.

If you are happy with your kitchen diner for the long term then I would convert the garage.
An extra room for - toys when they are little, able to leave train track all over the floor set up (when you've spent an hour getting the track just right you end up leaving it out for days and it's just in the way in the main lounge!!) likewise with Lego as they get a bit older. Can also house the computer etc if needed. And when they are teens another lounge for Xbox/friends etc will be useful.

Where do you need more space? It sounds like it's the kitchen/diner? In which case, I am not sure the garage will be your best option. You will probably want to be able to see young kids to keep an eye on them, and you'd be fairly cut off from where they'd be playing if you used the garage room.

Sun rooms/conservatories are miserable - too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter.

Check out timber frame construction - it's cheaper than brick. A single-storey extension out the back may cost less than you think.

If you don't use the garage much could you consider moving the utility and loo into the back half of the garage, keeping the front half for storage. You could then merge the space of the existing utility/loo into the kitchen diner, with the possibility of adding on a sunroom at a later date when you have saved more? If I was you I would also fill in the wall to separate the lounge from the kitchen/diner to keep this a more formal space in future.

Thank you for all the ideas! I knew someone would come up with a better idea than me. Going to have a chat with DH tonight and see what he thinks. No immediate rush but just trying to get finances etc in order.

I certainly wouldn't convert the garage. Best option is to wait and have the bigger extension. IMHO. But it's up to you.

Side note but check your deeds. A lot of new builds I deal with her restrictions in the Lease/transfer to prevent garage conversion. Usually because the council requires X number of parking spaces/garages in the planning permission. It may also restrict extensions or at least require you to get consent.

Yes, moving utility and toilet looks like a good idea.

The layout actually looks quite good. I would wait until you have kids and then decide.

What is that space that the second door off the lounge leads to? Could that be incorporated into the kitchen so you could access the garage directly then it would be quite a useful playroom for younger kids?

How big is the back garden?