what to do with this downstairs layout?

[Peachi82]

I'm just leaving our current floor plan here (blue boxes are fireplaces), it's a normal 1930s semi-detached house.
I'm not sure if it works for us or not. I'm in two minds with regards to the kitchen. I kind of like that it isn't open plan (it doesn't smell in the other rooms, the door keeps the baby out) and I kind of don't (it's narrow, we're lacking of storage space). I'm just longing for one room to be a bit bigger where we can have family life.
Many houses in the area have the dining room and lounge knocked through, but I'm also not a fan of these long and narrow rooms with even more alcoves. Both dining room and lounge are also still carpeted. We want to have laminate/engineered wood down, but (that seems to the theme) haven't decided what to do with the (gas)fireplaces that we hardly ever use.

Hit me with your ideas :-D

PS The conservatory leaks...................
PPS Moving is not an option.

Were currently in the process of doing what you have proposed with the extension, although our extension is approx 6x6 m. We have been able to do this under permitted development. How big of an extension are you proposing?

We're in the process of buying a house with a very similar layout.

Opting to prioritise our (very small) initial budget to sort the plumbing and electrics. Would like to knock through kitchen to diner but think there is good advice upthread about not doing little bits until you can afford a proper extension. For us I think it would be in the region of £35k and it will be some time until we save that up!

We are doing this with ours (although the kitchen and dining room were already knocked together). We considered having the old kitchen space as utility but I really wanted the sight line from the front door through to the garden doors. Ours is costing £50k + Vat for the build not including kitchen (£10kish) and doors/velux (£7kish) but we are in London.

Ours is also costing 50k plus vat. This includes new extension, creating a utility and downstairs shower room from existing kitchen then a putting up a a wall to create a snug. This cost doesn't include kitchen and flooring. We're in an expensive area so I think this was reasonable.

Ah, so true with blocking the view to the garden if I separate the kitchen into laundry and cloakroom. I love it so much when I open the door and can see through to the garden (the kitchen door is with glass). The hall would then become quite dark as well :-(
Back to the drawing board then...

We’re having a utility cupboard instead but it was a compromise - I had a MN thread about it and everything 😂. I am glad that we are going for this option though.

I don't have much to offer but - we basically have the same layout - the conservatory. Except our dining room and living room are knocked through. I would love to have separate rooms so I could have a dining room/playroom and just have a tiny bit of adult space in the living room!

WorrisomeHeart, your floor plan looks interesting, but I'm not sure if it would work for us. The depth, where you have toilet and utility is for us only 70cm...

I have measured the dining room, kitchen and conservatory at the weekend and made a better floor plan. I will cut out cupboards, toilets and showers and will play around a little bit.

What would be the first step in planning a remodelling/extension? Do I contact an architect?
How disruptive is a remodelling/extension project? We got our bathroom done when the baby was 7 months old and this was fairly OK, but I assume removing walls/etc. won't be done within a week and is a lot more dusty.

Hope you all had a great Easter break!

If you opt to remodel rather than extend, this has some useful ideas blog.making-spaces.net/2015/04/20/before-and-after-the-open-plan-kitchen/#menuopen

TiddleTaddleTat, I think I read this blog already months ago lol

I'm browsing floor plans on pinterest now to see if anyone has THE idea.

For me WorrisomeHeart's layout would be perfect