Loft conversion - what to do?!

[Sunnydaysandholidays]

Decided that a loft conversion is the way to go to get more space. No chance of extending, we’re on a tiny plot.

Found an architect for a great price, friend of friend and we’re ready to start planning. Trouble is, I don’t really know what I want with regard to layout. We’d have a rectangular shape to fit a master bedroom and ensuite in to. Stairs would come up in the middle of the room. Bathroom can either be along a whole gable wall or more tucked away into one corner.
Anyone done this and have any tips?! Where did you get inspiration?

All advice greatfully received!

Try to position your bathroom as close to the soil pipe as possible. If the water has to travel too far horizontally to reach the soil pipe it doesn’t go away effectively.

Does the staircase have to come into the middle of the room? Sounds awkward to work with. If you can have a dormer then do. It adds so much more useable space especially if it is a full length one.

Good tip re the soil pipe.

I think the stairs do need to come up in the center, it’s an easy return on the stairs below without eating in to any of the other bedrooms. The bedroom door can be at the bottom of the stairs to close the room off.

This is your architects job. Tell him/her what you want (en suite, Juliet balcony whatever) and let them figure it out!

Yes, tell your architect what you want to do in/with the space and they should be able to come up with a suitable layout, that's what you're paying them for!

Our loft conversion was done by a specialist company that was recommended to us by a few people and they've done so many they know what works. They drew up a couple of plans based on our requirements and then got the one we chose drawn to by their usual architect.

Assuming you want a decent size bathroom and as much bedroom space as possible, they'll give you a couple options and explain what the issues are. Some loft companies only do one design which would proabbly be fine for you, but an architect can come up with more ideas - we wanted a bathroom, master with balcony, and a small study that could fit a double bed if necessary, loft companies refused, architect said no problem. Builders built it.