Complete refurbishment what is your must have?

[lovelyupnorth]

Just about to buy a 3 bed semi that requires total modernisation.

We will be moving walls etc. If you had a blank piece of paper what would your must haves be. In features or just rooms.

House is about 1100sq ft. And we have a good budget to do what we want

It would be a very long list if I were to include all must-haves, but after refurbing a 3-bed terrace last year, the best advice I have is don't skimp on the rooms you'll use the most. We had our reception room and our kitchen/diner done to the highest spec and both are absolutely gorgeous and a dream to hang out in. It meant having less budget for the bedrooms, but we only sleep in those so it was worth it.

Laundry room - or at least a downstairs loo big enough to hold washing machine and tumble drier

Kitchen diner with access route to garden

If it needs it rewire it now. Put more plug sockets in than you can imagine. Also consider adding cables for networking. Wi-Fi is a thing but a physical cable still has its place

Air conditioning.
Utility room.
Large kitchen with lots of cupboards. 2 double eye level ovens.
Bifold doors into the garden from the kitchen.

A range and an island and a utility... possibly to much for that size though

Thanks. Currently the washing machine is in the downstairs bathroom. But there is a rear porch that would make and excellent utility

Hoping to take some bits of wall out of the kitchen diner area and add french doors or bifold doors but will need a structural engineer to see if we can change some beams about.

Big kitchen island
Large kitchen pantry
Utility room
Master en-suite (and dressing room, if space)
Lots of storage

A proper place for coats and shoes as you enter the building. A laundry area

downstairs toilet. Seperate utility. Two dishwashers. Life changing.

If I had space I'd have washing machine, dryer, ironing board up-stairs.
Most laundry is created up stairs, why cart it down to a machine, to cart it back up?

Yes I hang stuff out in good weather but then you'd only be bringing it up and down weather permitting.

Utility room and pantry. I have a pantry under the stairs and wouldn't be without it although I would love it to be a bit bigger.

Ensuite for the guest bedroom. So much more convenient for visitors.

Definitely spend on a good quality kitchen - and if you cook a lot, eye level ovens, granite (or similar) worktops, pull out drawer storage are all worth considering. Lots of sockets too are useful (as another poster said).

I’d have no carpets downstairs, either good quality wood or tiled floors (or mixture of both). Have a good think about your lighting options as if they’re recessed, will need to be put in during the building stage.

We replaced all the radiators in our home (they were very old and didn’t work properly), plus insulated our roof with Celotex boards. That was a game changer.

We did a huge extension, I'm trying to think what I love the most:

En-suite
Utility room (doesn't have to be big just enough for a washing machine and a sink)
Boiling water tap
Worktop space. We have an island but it doesn't matter how you do it, just make sure there's space
Quartz worktops
If you have noisy neighbours or thin walls, get insulation done

Bi fold doors to garden
Inbuilt coffee machine

Sound proofing around bathrooms and laundry areas ( and any neighbours ) making most of natural elements, like sun rise and sunset so breakfast area in morning sun evening seating in warm glow of evening sun. Making sure tv positioned so sun glare is minimised at the times you watch most.
Lighting/ sockets indoors and outdoors that will accommodate Christmas lights /tree area etc . Outdoor gas line to a bbq and fire pit. Storage in garden for outdoor seating and cushions etc. (Install an extra big electric cable for hot tub or electric sauna in the garden, if that's your thing )
Big family friendly kitchen with pair of integrated FF's and two DW's an Aga , an induction hob and built in grill with a pair of single ovens too at eye level . Big walk in pantry /gadget area where bread maker /rice steamer /juicer and mixer can all be set up to go. 3m long dining table for spacious every day dining and room to host friends or kids parties etc .
Laundry room big enough for ironing board to be set up and small tv to watch while ironing .
Boot room for coats and clobber with a section for each member of the family.
Basement area for wetsuits canoes boating stuff and an area for gym there too.
Second washing machine for horse /garden /muddy stuff with internal hanging rail for drying and polishing tack etc .

Quad bike parking space and parking for family SUV with access to house from basement /garage ( through boot room ).
Log storage in basement and zombie store cupboard for essential supplies Incase of war /brexit /zombies or family invasion !

I think I may have got a bit carried away ! Sorry !

Depends on who’s living there. Our downstairs is open plan which I thought would be good but I wish we had one safe room where I could shut the door to keep the twins safe while I used the loo!

The thing I miss the most is the American fridge freezer with ice dispenser from our last house - we all drank much more water!

can't believe I forgot my walk in pantry. Love it. Amazing storage and it means I don't need any eye level cabinets which makes my kitchen feel much more spacious (and was cheaper as a lot less units)

A kitchen diner with small sofa and separate living room, not all open plan.
Kitchen with access to garden but I don’t want bifolds but French doors would be lovely.
Utility room, small fine -stack washing machine and dryer on top of each other plus sink, space for hoover, op, ironing board.
Pantry somewhere
Downstairs toilet
Storage in hall or porch for shoes, coats and gloves, hats and scarfs.
En-suite
I don’t want a upstairs laundry room.

Those plug holes with USB ports, and more of them than you would think. At least a double plug in every corner, two doubles in the places where you will use them more (eg tv corner, places where you will have a lamp and also want to plug in phone, bedside table, etc).

Light up bathroom cabinet. Sink unit with room at either side to put things (or extra table/cupboard next to the sink).

Utility room with kitchen-style fitted cupboards rather than just washer/dryer etc. Tall cupboard for ironing board and hoover.

Downstairs loo.

Underfloor heating in rooms with tiled/stone floors.

Interior doors in keeping with the house age, with the right handles.

Sort out the garden with shrubs etc so they have time to establish while you get on with the build and will form the basis of a nice garden space once you're done.

I renovated a little house five years ago on a budget and these are the things I wish I had done.

With a good budget, I would have bought a detached house!

Seriously: ensure you get natural light! Think about windows and doors but also roof lights and lanterns. If makes a huge difference to your wellbeing not having dark rooms.

Other than that, a big kitchen with a table and/or comfortable seating, a laundry room, storage for everything! Loads of electric sockets and built in charging points. All wiring to be hidden and think about layers of lighting very early.

Thanks for this

Proper hall is on our list with downstairs loo

Will keep the kitchen/dinner and living room separate.

There’s space for the quad bike and zombie apocalypse area to the side 😂😂

Keep em coming

@BubblesBuddy

So would eye but in the area we are looking you need about 50k more than we have for a decent detached. Prices seem to be going nuts.

This won’t be a forever house as such but should do us for 5+ years hopefully still able to cash in on the upgrades.

Most important thing in my experience is a good modern boiler for powerful showers & efficient heating. If I can’t rinse my hair I’m not happy. Quiet appliances.

USB ports everywhere. And enough charging cables to just leave them plugged in. They're like currency in this house 🙄

Another vote for two dishwashers.

I have a built in floor to ceiling double wardrobe in the hall for coats bags and shoes - love it!