Side return extension - I want, he doesn't!

[Skylucy]

We live in a fairly typical Victorian terrace in a conservation area. We're trying to solve the age-old issues of a dark 'middle' of the ground floor and disjointed living/kitchen/dining areas.

We will open up the dining room and kitchen and hopefully extend the current WC into a utility room (dreamy!)

Of course, every architect is mooting a side return extension. This would give us acres of space , and if glazed well, bags of light.

So I'm pro!

But DH is anti. He's totally in love with our side access! To be fair, he's a keen (and muddy) trail runner and we have 2 DC and a mad dog. We have no parking and our front 'garden' is minute, so can't harbour the bins. So if we lost side access, you'd only be able to get into the garden via the house.

What does everyone do?! It seems nuts to me, to consider forking out for a lot of work or possibly even a 'mini extension' without using all the space we have.

Or, do we just rework the internal space? In which case, we probably don't need an architect, do we?

Argh. Your wisdom please wise MNers!

Oh yes, definitely kitchen-diner as one minipie - I was just being lazy!

We have side access to the garden and a back door but it’s hugely inconvenient so everyone comes in through the ‘front’ door (which is at the side!) and the utility etc is in a ridiculous place too - a back door into a boot room utility with a shower for muddy people and dogs is my dream. Got to save up, though!

Oh I bloody love Mumsnet, thanks everyone!

Yes @minipie, @crumpet and @NoSquirrels - that sounds (and looks, thanks for the diagram!!) great to me. I think the fabulousness of a full width kitchen diner would overcome the annoyance of no direct garden access.

Wow @Yorkshirehillbilly I've just read your suggestion! I love the creativity of it but that's a huuuuuge project that we just don't have the funds for. And yes, that is an enormous chimney in the living and playrooms! The playroom is super handy at the moment (kids are 2 and 3) but of course that will change in the future.

I'd love to push the back of the house waaaay back but again, cost is prohibitive and I'm probably being greedy about space!! Bloomin' love the idea of a massive utility room though...!

Keep the play room, handy to keep all kids toys contained when little, means they can leave the Lego all over the floor/train track laid out with our having to tidy it away everyday. Then as they get old they can have a kids hang out lounge with games consoles, sofa, etc. Then as they get old enough to be going to bed at almost the same time as you it means they can watch their stuff in there and you still get some kid free time I. The other lounge to watch shows with adult themes you don’t really want to watch with them (nothing porn like just murder mystery shows etc with a bit of fire etc or something with lots of swearing)