Integral Garage Conversion - which design?

[sparklesandmoresparkles]

We’re planning on converting our garage as at the moment it holds the washer and dryer and you can’t access the garage from the house. It’s an absolute pain in the arse having to leave the house by the front door, and open the up and over door just to do the washing. As we’re a family of 4, there’s quite a lot!

I’ve a couple of ideas but not sure which option to go with, so would be interested to hear other views if anyone would mind sharing.

Option 1 - split the garage into a small utility and snug, which will double up as a tv room, spare bedroom. We have overnight guests normally about 4/5 times a year (in non Covid times!). We’d have to knock through 2 doors into the garage, which is possible but we may have to take a little bit off the toilet to squeeze it in.

Option 2 - we extend the loo into a shower room, and have the rest as a larger second reception room. We would put the boiler and build in the washer and dryer to cupboards, but style the cupboards more as a bedroom type rather than kitchen, so they can all be hidden away when we have guests. And so it doesn’t look like we’ve just shoved a tv and sofa bed into a large utility!

I’m really torn, but thinking option 2 may be better for future proofing in case of illness/old age etc? We’ve no plans to move ever again anytime soon.

Can you stack the washing machine and dryer to take up less space?

Yes that’s one of the ideas we’ve got but that would work, whichever option we go for

It’s really hard to imagine from your description! Could you draw a little diagram?

So, option 2 would have larger living space but the utilities would also be in there?

Doing your laundry would become tricky if you have guest staying so I'd say just add a door from house ( fire door) and keep it to general storage and utility, your guests can go to an AirBnB or use one child's room if the child bunks in with its sibling.

Can you extend the loo to be a bathroom but include space for the washer/dryer, and then have a second guest room area?

Option two sounds more useful and has the functions of option 1 with guests staying, easier access to washing. Even if the "snug" isn't separate from the utility it's still a separate space that the kids can use to hang out with friends.

As long as it's warm, dry and has access to a toilet I can't see overnight guests minding about there being some utility stuff. Of if they might mind - turf the kids into there and use their rooms for guests. You'll have to make sure you have a carbon monoxide alarm and good ventilation if they will be sleeping with a boiler though - and perhaps invest in sound proofing the cupboard it is is if it's likely to spring to life in the night.

When your styling it maybe look up small studio flats or those tiny Ikea houses/rooms for inspiration so it feels more purposeful, rather than putting the washing machine in a wardrobe! It might be quite nice as a guest to have access to a kettle in the morning for e.g.

Sorry I didn’t mean to disappear! Badly drawn diagrams attached
Yes the utilities would be in the larger snug. I’m not bothered about them being there in terms of guests, as they never stay long enough that I can’t leave the washing for a few days.

I don’t want guests to have to go to a BNB, but the main reason for the snug/guest room is so we have an extra reception room for the kids when they get a bit older so we can have the main tv It just makes sense that we use the room as both on the occasions we actually have guests.

I wasn’t sure if we could put the washer/dryer in the shower room? My initial thoughts were not just to put it in a cupboard, but to have a properly build washing cupboard with the stacked option maybe. It would just be styled more like a bedroom cupboard door rather than a kitchen if that makes sense. With a couple of extra cupboards for cleaning things and occasional use kitchen stuff.

Good point on the boiler though in terms of soundproofing and carbon monoxide. There will be a window for proper ventilation, but we’ve always had one next the boiler, but haven’t got round to putting one up yet (there’s a new boiler in the kitchen but the previous owners put in a much too small combi boiler so it needs replacing anyway).

Option two, all day long. No one needs to do laundry when guests are staying unless they stay for ages.

Definitely option 2! You are giving yourself loads more flexible space.