Extension plans (with pics)

[GVmama]

We are planning an extension and would love some feedback on the plans, we have no experience of planning anything like this and really want to get it right. We're at the stage that the architect has drawn up plans and we're submitting them to planning soon.
We live in a 3 bed detached farmhouse (not listed) and from the build we hope to gain:
A fourth bedroom with ensuite
A large kitchen diner
A playroom
A 'snug'

We own the land all around the house so can build anywhere except along the current kitchen/ living room exterior wall where there is a public footpath on the other side.

We're worried about natural light in the hall/ stairs/landing but can't see a way around it.

Any feedback or suggestions for improvement would be gratefully received!

I've attached plans showing the current layout and proposed layout.

I am an architect and am seriously confused by the proposed layout! Main entrance /exit via the kitchen would not be compliant with building regulations. It looks like you've got a great opportunity here, I'd definitely get a bit more advice before going with this option.

The utility would be better with just one door rather than the corridor feel it has at the moment. Could the cloakroom fit under the stairs

Sorry, but I'd also be looking at a door of some description in the kitchen or diner onto the garden, but not sure if the orientation of the garden

Pay him what you owe but employ another architect who is up to speed with the latest building regs and has a bit of vision. If a bunch of mumsnetters can do an immediate better job then he’s not the best - no offence to the fabulous mumsnetters obviously!! It has huge potential that I’m sure you want to maximise.

I think we hadn't thought it would considered such a problem for the kitchen to be the main entrance (we've both been to plenty of farms where the most commonly used entrance is the kitchen door, granted they've had more formal front doors elsewhere. Maybe it's a farming thing!). We certainly didn't imagine it would create a problem re building refs, that's obviously a huge concern.

I really don't think an entrance hall where the current utility and loo are will work, it's right around the side of the house and would be very confusing on the approach to the house. I've tried to draw a picture of the area so you can see what I mean, Ive marked the proposed new entrance hall with a *
D: driveway (all around the house)
H: house
S: stables
B: nearby barn conversion (owned by us)
Grey driveway/ gravel parking area. Brownish patio to the RHS of the house/ green fields.
Ignore the blue H in the field, I didn't know how to delete the damned thing!

We could consider a smaller porch on the other side of the house, but not sure if that would be ok with the public footpath running along there. It certainly wouldn't block it. Then the entrance would still be into a reception room rather than an entrance hall though, and the house would still look ugly and side-on from the approach. Argh! More thought needed I think.

Thanks all for your input

Lots of potential I agree. I’m confused though. The pictures of your front elevation look like (and are labelled) the side elevation. Was there previously a different front entrance? Could this be reinstated?

Well spotted, the original front door was on the left side of the house (it was extended in the 90s and the door moved position to the front where cars park). My DH knowing this has always referred to that as the front of the house, so talking with the architect referred to it as such and the architect drew up the plans as such. Apologies for the added confusion

We could reinstate that as the front of the house (public footpath issue permitting) but access would still be into a reception room rather than an entrance hall. It could definitely work though. Might be preferable to the kitchen but the house might still look ugly and side-on from the approach. We were wanting at add a bit of kerb appeal.

Backdoor entering kitchen and that backdoor actually being the main entrance used is common place. However I think there should always be a front door entering into a hallway (or a living room but never a kitchen/utility) for more formal visitors.

I agree with home

What’s going inthe utility room? How will it be used? As a utility room without outside access, without being next to the kitchen, and being a corridor to another room wouldn’t tick my boxes. I think of utility room as a place for washing ergo not the tidiest, but also for storage and perhaps muddy boots/drying racks, another sink. I’d not want that as a route to another room