Size for an open plan kitchen/diner/living room

[wheretoevenstart]

Hi

Just after some experiences/opinions on measurements required for an all in one kitchen/diner/living room. We will be keeping a separate reception room at the front.

I'm struggling with knowing whether the existing space will be enough when knocked together or whether we'll need to extend. If you've done it I'd love to know what measurements you ended up with and how the space feels. And if anyone wants to share photos I'd be made up!

It is 6m across the back of the house, we have a separate utility with sink washer and dryer etc.

@wheretoevenstart I had originally been recommended that we have the kitchen on the wall that it is shown in the original plans (due to drainage), but I spoke to our builder today and he said we can organise it how we want. I've drawn two possible options roughly (pics not to scale!). Which would be preferable? Anybody got any better solutions? Ideally we want kitchen (would love an island but would settle for peninsula with a few stools), small sofa, table (with benches we can tuck in) and I'd love a small wood burning stove. Not that bothered about a tv as we have a snug and another front room. Any ideas very welcome! Meeting 2 different kitchen designers this weekend and hoping they have good space saving ideas!

The builder didn't cost the kitchen in plans as it really depends on what we want (said 2.5k to fit). We're having a 5.9m x 5.8m extension. Cost for build is approximately 50k plus vat. This includes everything apart from kitchen units , bathroom fittings, flooring and decoration.

Drawings

Do you think it’s possible to have a dining table and sofa space in a 9mx3.3m space? Kitchen takes up about half of that. The sofa space would not be our ‘main’ living room, but it would be the only dining table in the house.

I’d really like this space to work as our main room (me and two kids) for eating and watching tv, keeping the main living room nice/tidy/serene!

Do you have a utility on top of that?

Because if there isn't a separate utility I'd really work on making room for even a small one so that it's separate from the shared space.

This website has some amazing tips on layout:

www.houseplanshelper.com/design-a-room.html

Rules like conversation space, angle of TVs, space around, dining table size etc.

My ILs one is awful. I can't believe they spent 20k to achieve so little.

• Kitchen has breakfast bar taking up too much space, tiny hob for the counter space, v bad 'triangle' of sink, oven, fridge.
• Dining table is titchy 4-6 seater, sitting in front of the TV.
• The 'living' space is a sofa squidged at a right angle to the FAR TOO BIG TV, which is simultaneously too close, too large and at a bad angle, so it blazes your retinas whilst not actually being a good view.

It's actually a good sized space (8x4m), but they've broken all the design rules the site above espouses.

Our is about 7.5 by 7.5 square separate living room and utility. Excuse the mess but pics attached for how we have it laid out. I think it’s a really good space and am really pleased with the layout too

Mummyshark, I prefer the second pic, mostly due to the kitchen layout I think, but I'm not entirely sure about the woodburner a bit into the room, it'd limit you in the future in terms of layout? Hmm, I really don't know!

@Whattodowithaminute I've seen your pics on here before I think! It's gorgeous. Do you know roughly how much space your kitchen takes up?
I'd love a square space but I just don't think it's achievable without some massive knocking about, I think I'm always going to end up with a rectangle with one of the short ends fronting the garden and it's doing my head in trying to figure out how to get everything in.

@Whattodowithaminute I love your room. Bigger dimensions than mine but you seem to have lots of space! I've now drawn out lots of options for mine and think that this one might be one of the best layouts.......

Happe - from where did you get your circular extending table from? Do you have a pic of your room? Ours will be similar dimensions once wall is knocked through

Hi we got our table from Laura Ashley. I’m not sure they sell it anymore. You can get a table made by a furniture maker for a similar price though if you have exact size you need.

@lalafafa, I've a very similar sized space to you on a house I'm currently buying. Did the space work as I'm concerned it's not quite big enough - 9.46x4.59. Not too keen on adding an extension as have a tight budget and a hilly rear garden (but sth facing from the 9.46).