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 didn’t suggest another loo upstairs! I was asking if there was nowhere else downstairs other than your kitchen as you must have a big floor area if upstairs has 4 double bedrooms and two bathrooms.

I think that building reg changed.

I think you need one but like humpty's layout.

Ah, sorry, no. It's a very efficient stairway, big rooms off small split landings. The lounge/dining room is a big beautiful high ceiling room so
I wouldn't eat into that.

Outside?

Ha! I had thought about the summer house

Check with the council before you decide anything. Here, as far as I am aware don't allow you have a toilet off the kitchen. There has to be two doors between.

It used to be 2 doors between loo and kitchen decades ago. Now it's fine to only have one door so long as you have an electric extractor fan in the loo.

But I wouldn't do either of these plans exactly. Yes you need a downstairs loo. I would add an extra door as per @HumptyNumptyNooNoo suggestion. I would lose the breakfast bar. It will just be wasted space covered in junk and almost never actually used for eating. If you must have a breakfast bar then do it with a 30cm wide strip against the wall so you sit facing the wall (or facing a mirror if you have a reason to want to see the rest of the room)

I think the regs changed so you can now. Although I like the pocket door or the idea above with the door moved forward.

Yes that building reg changed a while ago....

The proposed breakfast bar has seating only on one side, cabinets on the other.

Goddamn this kitchen planning!!! I had it all figured out until DH suggested this!!

If you do go with humpty's turn the breakfast bar round 90 degrees, so the stools face the wall/window. You'd be able to get more base units under the bar that way, and not lose seating space.

Plus you currently have to squeeze past bar-stool one to get to the stool nearest the window.

I've just marked them both out on the floor. It's a heck of a lot of space out of the kitchen and really makes it feel tight walking in down the stairs.... so, it's a no go..... thanks for all the amazing input, you guys are amazing!

But the breakfast bar feedback is very interesting- hadn't thought of that.

Is there room for a loo under the stairs? It can be an effective use of space as you don't need full ceiling clearance above the loo so long as there is headroom enough to stand in front of it?

Sadly not as the basement staircase starts behind/under the hallway staircase

Do you not know any disabled people or have elderly visitors? A downstairs toilet is essential for resale.

I would do what Humpty said - possibly squashing the washer into that space too and making a sort of utility. Keep separate toilet door though as well as door into kitchen.
I would move the kitchen up towards the dining room end, move your french doors onto the left hand wall and have a table at the far end. On the left hand side have a run if tall larder units and FF and no wall units on the right hand side - sink, hob, and just base units.
I have attempted a pathetic diagram.

I agree that the French doors are in an awkward place. They turn the kitchen into a corridor. I’d move them to the left wall where the window is situated and have a u ( or even g !) shaped kitchen. And a nice big window at the end of the kitchen.

I don’t think I’d bother with the loo though if you have 2 upstairs. I’d rather have more kitchen space. Seems like if you had guests in the dining/living areas, it wouldn’t be any less hassle to go up stairs than down to the kitchen area.