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

Hmm. I was going to say 2 as I actually love a breakfast bar, however, the utility and pantry in 3 are a massive massive winner. If you want an island couldn’t you have the table to other way and have a small island? Like a hybrid of 2 & 3.

Definitely the second picture
Kitchen is somewhat contained and you have space to prep, involve others, practical work surfaces

I prefer the pantry one because it’s very useful and would get your laundry out of the kitchen. I prefer to not lose the under stair storage to a loo also.
2 is good for the vast worktop space.

1 is good space wise if you don’t cook (or launder)

You are going to live there, not your architect. My friends architect tried to persuade her to sacrifice her child’s bedroom for a vaulted ceiling. It would have been very nice, but on a day to day basis she needed the bedroom.

Options 1 and 3 seem like a lot of wasted space in the kitchen. I don’t understand what you are going to use the areas for that are labelled 2,3 and 8 in the third pic (I’m guessing it’s knocked through living room and previous dining room, and a conservatory?). 3 seating/living room areas also seems like a bad use of space. I’d go for option 2 and ditch the bit stuck on the back of the kitchen in favour of big windows/glass doors to the garden.

If you’re moving in 4 years I wouldn’t do it. People very rarely get back the money they spend on an extension when they sell (unless you’re London). I’m not sure the hassle of building work and expense required would be worth it for just 4 years

I prefer 2.

But it really depends how many people and children are living in the house? Do you really need a snug, 2 living rooms and a dine in kitchen? Or do you need a pantry more because you'll have loads of food you need to store?

I think a big open plan kitchen with a dining, sofas and directly access to garden is really nice. And an island if you can fit it in. I'm not sure you'll need a snug plus all the other rooms.

Agree about maybe holding off if you’re considering moving, unless it’s unliveable now. I would immediately write off any house with a room without a window like your snug. Big downside to side return extensions.

3 for me too

At first I thought 3, mostly because the bathroom appeared bigger (a good bathroom on each floor is an accessibility priority for me) and the furniture bits like the table can be adjusted if that ends up being a pinch point like others were pointing, but seeing that that's actually the water tank and boiler in the bathroom on 3, I still like 3 best for the kitchen space and pantry (though I'm not clear on what 5 is), but I'd wonder if that could be tweaked as I'd worry that having those in the toilet might be awkward.

2 is best. Pantry is nice but there is an odd corridor feeling on the left hand side. 1 has very little kitchen space really and all the units in one long line makes for an industrial feel rather than anything that feels homely.

I wonder if there's a way to combine the best of 2 and 3? I'd lose the chair in the kitchen area (which might help?) You have a nice snug at the end to no benefit from a chair wedged into the kitchen too.

I can't draw what I'm thinking but basically pantry and utility where they are, some units down the left like in 2. Island and some units on the right wall behind it, like in 2 and table turned around, again like in 2. Others might not feel the same but I don't think I'd buy 1. Or if I did I'd reduce by however much a new kitchen costs as I really, really don't like it.

Thanks all!

I'm going to set about combining 2 and 3!

BTW, 1 was my mock up, but like many have said, not ideal because you walk onto the cooking area. I could see my kids zooming through and an accident. Funny thing is lots of the houses around here have it like that. I wanted the kitchen run on the other walk but then, it is true, the kitchen run steals all the light and that wall doesn't allow wall cupboards.

I would definitely have either an island or a peninsula. 1) nicer to cook looking out 2) nice to have the kitchen area separated and 3) easier to cook at two parallel runs rather than one long run.

So on that basis I prefer 2, it also seems to use space more efficiently.

However in 2 I dislike the fact the window to the rear reception is blocked up. That would really put me off as a buyer.

The layout I usually see in this kind of extension is long run down a side wall, island parallel with it. Then dining table or sofa sits along the other side wall parallel to the island and the other one (ie table or sofa) at the end by the garden.

Usually both doors - to the hallway and the rear reception - are left as doorways.

IME, if you block up the door to the rear reception, you lose light and are far less likely to use your reception rooms. I would only block up this door if there is a big level change from your receptions to your kitchen.

I also think walk in pantries are very space inefficient and would rather have a big larder cupboard with drawers for food storage.

There's a whole thread on Islands the concensus from experience is don't unless you have a very big kitchen

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/4274205-Am-I-the-only-person-who-doesn-t-like-kitchen-islands

Definitely 3 but move the table to the left hand side. Would hate to lose my pantry.

1 looks like a space that hasn’t thought about how people live or that they actually have stuff.

2 and 3 are both contenders, but I prefer the larger pantry in 2.

I would try to keep it so you can access the front room directly from the kitchen - otherwise front room can become “dead”. We access front room through some doors (like you could do) with kitchen and it means front room is used much more and it is great for parties!!