Which floorplan? Kitchen & w/c

[kitchencurios]

Name Change for this as I've already canvassed most of my friends....

About to do the kitchen.... would you build in a downstairs w/c?

We have two family bathrooms upstairs, but no separate w/c.

It's a 4 double bed family house in London, so I'm thinking hard about resale here too.

I don't want to lose kitchen space - it's not huge, but equally I know a downstairs w/c is on many people's checklist.

Quick vote, yes or no??

Yes means we lose some storage, some depth to breakfast bar, and the nice picture window that connects kitchen to dining area - a quite lovely and unique feature.

Help me decide!

I wouldn’t because I don’t like the idea of a toilet off the kitchen.

I agree about the toilet coming off the kitchen. I couldn't eat and hear someone in the toilet 🤢
But I agree a downstairs toilet is key in a family house. Is there any other options? Could you do it so the door goes into a hallway?

We can possibly do this so the door faces the stairs down into the basement conversion.... but in reality it's still a loo in a kitchen

Sorry with pic

I don't like a toilet off a kitchen. Could you extend the toilet wall and put a door where the current walk way is. A family home needs a downstairs loo

Could you create a utility space with toilet off that - the space you'd be losing in the kitchen would be mostly negated by the washing machine space not being needed?

Ooh I'd do that but with a door (pocketdoor maybe?)

A downstairs loo is not a necessity it’s a nice to have. You already have two toilets to clean why would you want another? How often will three people need the bathroom/ toilet at once?

looking at your plans I see the dining room is next to the kitchen with a door in between? But it looks blocked by the breakfast bar to me. It’s a shame you can’t have a better link with the dining room. Is it a hatch rather than door I’m looking at? Families on the whole do prefer a kitchen diner to separate rooms.

I think we have a similar sized space and managed to fit a toilet under our stairs (a couple of builders said it was impossible but our architect was certain it would work and would fit...which it does!). Is that a possible solution?

(My above comment is with resale in mind)

I really like to have a downstairs toilet as I would rather people didn't traipse upstairs to the bedroom bit of my house, but that's just me.

That said, I think the bigger kitchen is more likely to sell your house.

Move the kitchen door up to separate the loo from the kitchen ( could maybe be a sliding door if not a fire door )

I hate loos in kitchens

Pocket door to create basement lobby??

The kitchen is on a slightly lower level - it's a large pane of glass that looks up into the dining room, not much we could do about that. And the basement staircase prevents an under stairs w/c.....

I hate toilets off kitchens too. Ok for family I suppose but visitors would feel uncomfortable. If you have 4 double bedrooms upstairs is there another space downstairs that you could use?

We don't need more bathrooms upstairs!

Do what humpty suggested. (I had the same idea, but not the drawing!)

Has the added advantage of being able to access your basement from the hall rather than the kitchen.

I thought building regs required that there were two doors between a toilet and a kitchen. I. E. The toilet plus another.

I do think a downstairs loo is a big selling point both for families with young children and for guests but I wouldn't spoil a not huge kitchen with it.

Can you squeeze on in under the stairs?

Yep, can see that @titchy - think that's my preference. That or no w/c though?!

Definitely a downstairs loo!

I don't think building regs allow toilets directly off kitchens. I think you need another door between them.

Sorry - just noticed someone else has said the same thing.

I'd vote for the bigger kitchen in any case.