Get rid of downstairs bathroom for bigger kitchen?

[Plum525]

Hiya, I’ve got a four bed Victorian semi (attic converted to make the fourth bedroom with en suite). There are three bathrooms - one shower room en-suite in attic conversion, one family bathroom on the middle floor and a shower room behind the kitchen.

The kitchen is currently unable to fit a table and chairs. I want to knock the shower room that’s behind the kitchen to create a larger kitchen. This would increase the kitchen size from approx 3x3 metres to 3x6 metres.

Obviously this would mean losing the downstairs bathroom. Would this make the house less desirable?

Ideally would do a side return extension so could have the kitchen/utility/downstairs bathroom of dreams but feel that’s probably over budget!

For what is worth we’re currently no kids but TTC - I like the idea of family meals in a large kitchen diner... but heard that a downstairs loo when potty training is ideal....help!

No. Does anyone actually use a downstairs bathroom?

Having a small kitchen is not ideal for anyone really! Two bathrooms near bedrooms is perfectly ok in many houses.

However, a downstairs loo and basin is vital - so keep at least that. Try and fit in a laundry cupboard into this area. No loo downstairs is a total pain, so keep one.

Can you really not afford the ground floor layout you want? Seems a shame not to try.

Downstairs loo is handy for guests and I would expect one in a 4 bed house. Where do you eat now? Can you keep a small loo when making the kitchen bigger. Potty training with no downstairs loo is grand by the way, its such a short time and using a little potty for it is perfectly fine.

Find a way to keep a loo on the ground floor but yes I'd get rid of the shower room.

Is it the traditional layout of two large square rooms and a kitchen off the back?

I have seen many successful developments where they make the large room into a kitchen diner and then the old kitchen a playroom or dining room or a utility space.

Could you upload a floor plan?

Layout available here: ibb.co/VVz1K66

Yep traditional layout - currently we have a table in the dining room

Yes I think loosing the loo will be very detrimental. The shower. No. But the loo. Yes

It’s the toilet mostly. Can’t you make it so it’s just a toilet and sink. I wouldn’t want guests going upstairs to use the loo.

Or my elderly relatives.

I wouldn’t buy a house without a down stairs toilet if my kids were young either.

@Bluntness100

Yes I think loosing the loo will be very detrimental. The shower. No. But the loo. Yes

Agreed.

Can you fit a saniflo loo under the stairs? That would be a good option?
Ot just push the kitchen wall back into half the bathroom, and keep a loo there? The room can be very small width ways.

I would look at going the other way - knocking the reception room/kitchen into one big room, with a utility/loo at the end.

Alternatively, could you squeeze a loo under the stairs? If you could do that, you could have one big lovely kitchen - could you get some sky lights in at the end in the bit where the utility/bathroom is now?

Ok so looking at the floor plan, it's obvious to me what you need to do. Turn the hall cupboard/ space under stairs into a cloakroom (toilet and sink). Remove downstairs bathroom and turn that whole area into a large kitchen/diner (I'd move or remove the utility, too).
You'll still need cupboard/storage space - especially if you have DC - so I would suggest widening the hallway by making the middle reception room slightly smaller, then you could put cupboards along that wall.

@AnotherEmma

Ok so looking at the floor plan, it's obvious to me what you need to do. Turn the hall cupboard/ space under stairs into a cloakroom (toilet and sink). Remove downstairs bathroom and turn that whole area into a large kitchen/diner (I'd move or remove the utility, too). You'll still need cupboard/storage space - especially if you have DC - so I would suggest widening the hallway by making the middle reception room slightly smaller, then you could put cupboards along that wall.

Thank you - I knew you wise lot would have ideas!

If I did this - would you just keep the washing machine etc in the new larger kitchen? Or try and find a separate utility room somewhere else?

@AnotherEmma

Ok so looking at the floor plan, it's obvious to me what you need to do. Turn the hall cupboard/ space under stairs into a cloakroom (toilet and sink). Remove downstairs bathroom and turn that whole area into a large kitchen/diner (I'd move or remove the utility, too). You'll still need cupboard/storage space - especially if you have DC - so I would suggest widening the hallway by making the middle reception room slightly smaller, then you could put cupboards along that wall.

And finally - had anyone got any rough ideas for how much it would cost to do this (move the toilet to under the stairs and make the kitchen bigger)? Thanks 🙏

I would create a utility cupboard on the first floor! We don't have space in our house but if we did I'd love to do it. From your floor plan it looks as if you might have space on the landing or maybe even in the bathroom.

"had anyone got any rough ideas for how much it would cost to do this (move the toilet to under the stairs and make the kitchen bigger)?"

You'd have to talk to builders. Prices can vary so much depending on your location. There would be a fair bit of plumbing involved though.

Would it be possible to save up for it? That way you’re not working on it twice. Once you have a budget, keep money aside per month until you’ve saved enough to cover the costs? Always keep extra money aside then just the quoted price because you might need it just in case.

The other option is keep utility and shower room.

Block of front reception room and make current dining room abs kitchen all one room by removing corridor - price up both options?

Do you have a nice garden/yard to look onto from where the utility currently is?

We have our washing machine abs TD in a utility cupboard off our kitchen which makes it quieter.

I always think it's a waste to have a utility room and/or a bathroom at the back of the house when you could have a dining room looking out into the garden (assuming you have a garden, which you probably do!)

Haven't had a downstairs loo in any of the family house we've lived in. We are putting one into this one because getting other work done.

But lack of one didn't put us off buying the other 3 houses we've lived in. If one had been there we'd have thought, oh, that's nice. But there hasn't been one.

Guests trot upstairs to use the family bathroom. I do the same when visiting friends.