Architect's opinion or mine, which do you prefer for this downstairs lay out?

[Justthisonce1]

Hi there!

The architect thinks my preference 'doesn't flow'!

A friend of mine says she gets good feedback on here, so I'm hoping the mumsnet magic will work for me, too!

Area labelled 6 in the third pic is a pantry. That amenity would be moved to the left and become just fancy cupboard space in the first two pics.

The little circle and half shaded rectangle are the boiler and water tank in all pics.

Let me know what you all think?!

Thanks

I prefer 1 or 2. In 3, I think you'd be constantly pushing in dining chairs to get past the table.

It depends how you want the space to feel - 1 is quite spacious though you lose the island and there's much less counter space. Is the architect able to provide a 3D render so you can see how the space would look?

3 is too crowded for me. I like 1 the best but it doesn’t give you much cabinet/counter space. I’d choose 2 if you actually cook, 1 if you don’t.

I like 3 the best, then 2.

I don't like 1 because your kitchen area is essentially the walkway to the furthest room. You'd be standing there cooking and kids might be running past you back and forth.

I like 3 the best because you have a safe area to cook and it just looks like you have a dedicated kitchen rather than a corridor with a hob. I also like the pantry and utility in the centre near the kitchen, all at hand. You can be there working without people getting in your way. Still looks spacious.

2 is a little awkward, you have a safe, dedicated cooking space, but it makes everything look smaller. Plus no easy access to pantry and utility.

Will you say which idea is yours and which is he architect's?

1 then 2 and not 3

2 then 1 then 3.

With 3 you'll be edging past furniture all the time.

1 it's like a big corridor. And as a PP said - not much cooking space.

I prefer the kitchen on the RHS like in 3 or 2. 1 feels like one long corridor. 3 seems a little crowded but I honestly don’t know if that is a result of the picture being more zoomed in 😆

I like 3 best, because I really miss having a pantry and because a utility room is very useful.
I don’t like 2 because I loathe breakfast bars. What’s the purpose? When you already have a table and chairs who wants to perch on ridiculous high stools. Such a waste of space!

I prefer the third one- I do like a pantry though. The loo looks easier to use too. You could then make under the stairs storage.

It would all depend on the size of space you are left with though. I’d want to make sure that the 6 seater table had enough room, without being a nuisance.

Don’t like 3 as it seems cramped and will make the space feel tiny. No idea why the pantry is a separate room - what would it be used for?

1 flows beautifully and will have the wow factor but not sure how practical it will be - how much cooking do you do. My preference is 2 only without the armchair in the kitchen/ dining area. That space could be used more practically.

I prefer two, in three it seems like the loo takes up too much space and is too close to the kitchen (unwanted noise, smells). Also two has better storage than one, I don’t think you can have too much storage.

With 1 when you are standing cooking you will have everyone walking behind you additionally opening any cupboard doors blocks the walkway. It doesn't look very cosy.

With 2 when you are cooking you are facing everyone which is nice, can watch the children too. I would go with 2.

Is the kitchen area your only dining area or is '3' a dining area in the main room? if it is then you will be walking stuff around all the time, do you have access from the kitchen for this. If not then when entertaining all the crap will be everywhere when you are eating. If you can incorporate a sink into the pantry then you can dump everything in there or having fully closing cupboards on the back wall.

3, it's nice to be able to chuck things in a utility. Otherwise 1 it seems freer. Def not 2.

1 or 3

I prefer 2. It probably flows the best with the space you have. But how long is that front sitting room? If it’s really long I’d probably steal some space from it for a utility / pantry

I think 2 works the best, the island means you won’t anyways be facing away from other people/the garden/your lovely new extension when you’re cooking.

The person cooking also won’t be in the way of people walking to the sofa area.

I think also having the run of cupboards down the left side will look a bit much though. I get that you need one for the boiler but in plan it makes the kitchen look stretched out to too many different places.

2, then 1. It's a hard no for 3.

Also.....what's area c?

3 - the other two are I’ll defined space to my view. But for goodness sakes don’t have a breakfast bar or stools there ! Or at the most small space for one sitter. No need for all of those stools.

Oh mine aren’t numbered very unclear which is which but I’m calling 3 the one with the peninsula.

1

2 if you like having people over for dinner/takeaway and wine whatever. It's easier to separate the working area and the eating area in it. Separate lighting and a few candles and you have "hidden" the working area. Otherwise you are very much eating in the kitchen.

Yes, I mean the one with the peninsula as well!

3 is a really long corridor through the house before opening up, so no. 1 the kitchen is too much like a long ribbon. It might look lovely but not be nice to use. So number 2 for me.