Top tips for kitchen extension

[Theprimroseswereover]

I’m at the very beginning of the journey and feeling a bit daunted. Any advice from those who have done it?

I know a great builder which is one weight off my mind but I’m pretty clueless at this point as to where I start.

I want a kitchen / diner but for the space to include a separate utility / laundry room and a downstairs toilet which I guess would be under the stairs. I’m not sure as to the layout though - is this where an architect would help?

Basically, please tell me your top advice/tips?

Thank you

A good builder/joiner should be able to suggest layouts for you - you don't need an architect unless you're doing structural work. Tell your builder what you need and what's important to you in terms of use of the space, and let him come up with some designs.

Surely if you are building an extension you need an architect's drawings?
We are considering something very similar OP and are preparing for an architect to come and offer advice as a first step (charged at £150ish for the visit and to write up a project brief)
Never done anything like it and we would need to remortgage to do the project, probably 2-3 years off for us

Sorry I clearly missed the 'extension' bit in the title! Yes you will need an architect then. But when I had mine built the architect was responsible for the overall layout and plans, and then the builder / kitchen fitter did the more detailed kitchen plans.

Thanks @TiddleTaddleTat Do you then pay more for the drawings? Are you doing anything else or just kitchen extension? I’m not sure whether to look into / get drawings for loft extension too. But we’re in the same position as you financially (and timescale) so can’t really afford loft atm. But was thinking might be easier to get both the drawings in one go.

I've chatted with the architect by phone about our plans generally - we are scoping out possibly :

• converting the large brick built detached garage into a guest room / additional living room
• loft conversion (many houses on our road have done this)
• kitchen/diner extension resulting in old kitchen becoming a utility and possibly adding a downstairs WC

He said that of the three, the loft conversion probably represented the least value for money because of the changes needed to roof etc.

They come for a flat fee of £150ish inc a project brief, then drawings are on top of that. No idea of their costs yet.

I'm not sure whether it makes sense to get them round soon knowing that we can't pay for the work for some years , or wait and let our ideas materialise while we build up equity and borrowing power.

You don't necessarily need an architect to do the drawings unless you feel you need the creative vision (and bill...) of an architect.
We had our plans drawn up by a Chartered Building Surveyor

Yeah I guess whether you need an architect depends on what you're doing. Can't architectural assistants do the drawings too?