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Original poster

Please come critique our plans...

78 replies

cancancan · 04/07/2021 18:41

We are having a single story extension. All with in permitted development. We are terraced so going out 3m.

We have managed to fit in everything we want.... downstairs loo, utility room, living space, dinning area, and a larder. But we are worried the kitchen will be small. Fair enough with the utility and larder the cupboard space isn't an issue but worried about work top space?

Please come critique our plans...
OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Chewbecca · 04/07/2021 18:45

I’d not try to fit the sofa in and put much more kitchen in. The space between the island and sofa is much too small.

korawick12345 · 04/07/2021 18:45

Looks good! Larder is very neat

Original poster
cancancan · 04/07/2021 18:47

The sofa on the plans is huge!! We won't have one that big.

Also yes I agree about island, there is room to move it back a bit.

OP posts:
TolkiensFallow · 04/07/2021 18:48

The kitchen does look a bit compact

Original poster
cancancan · 04/07/2021 18:48

Oh sorry just re read your message, re the space between the island and sofa.... yep def been made tight on the plans!

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Original poster
cancancan · 04/07/2021 18:49

Thanks @korawick12345 think the larder is the the thing I am more excited about!

Where else could we gain more kitchen?

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ApolloandDaphne · 04/07/2021 18:50

Will you have a separate sitting room? If so I would make the extension all about kitchen/dining area and put in a seating area only if space allows and you see it once it is built.

korawick12345 · 04/07/2021 18:50

Although the kitchen is compact that’s the clever thing about the larder you can keep a whole lot of stuff in there so you don’t have to have acres of kitchen cabinetry cluttering up the room

Original poster
cancancan · 04/07/2021 18:51

We do have a separate living area. But whole point was to make a family friendly area where we can all be.
At the moment I'll be cooking whilst DD (5) is in the front room and I can't talk to her/see what she's doing!

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sabrinathemiddleagewitch · 04/07/2021 18:51

A four seater sofa is 180-200cm

By your plans the sofa is 300cm.... which is massive. I know you have said it won't be that big but I would suggest putting the correct size sofa on the plan so you can see the free space.

Si1ver · 04/07/2021 18:52

I wonder if you ran the kitchen right down one side and then had the table turned though 90° by the window and a smaller sofa you might be better off.

It's really not a lot of work surface space and I suspect you'll be disappointed when it's done.

Original poster
cancancan · 04/07/2021 18:53

Washing machine, tumble dryer will be in the utility.

We may be able to fit a freezer in the larder if we put the door to the larder to open outwards.... but we haven't decided what kind of fridge/freezer configuration we want.

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Bobbots · 04/07/2021 18:54

Sorry but I think the kitchen area is too small. No point in spending loads of money on all the work and then struggling for worktop and cupboard space. I would make the kitchen area extend all the way down the left hand side and then put the dining area on the right and remove the seating all together, assuming you have a separate lounge (which I imagine you do, at the front of the house, if you’re in a terrace). If you’re cooking then people can always sit and chat to you from the dining table.

Fieldings15 · 04/07/2021 18:54

It depends how much stuff you're planning to put on your worktop tbh. We're just putting in a new kitchen with probably a similar amount of worktop space, but kettle and toaster are going in a larder cupboard and the microwave is going in the utility. I'm a bit concerned that we won't have enough worktop but the only way to have more would be a random bit the other side of the room which wouldn't be that useful for us. It's so difficult designing something like this!

sandycloud · 04/07/2021 18:54

Could you put utility and downstairs loo in together. I've got some friends who did this. I wouldn't mind it.

Bobbots · 04/07/2021 18:55

Sorry just seen your update. The only way I think you can fit in a kitchen/living/dining is if you get rid of the toilet, larder and possibly the utility too. Have you tried actually marking out the space as you intend it to be used?

Bobbots · 04/07/2021 18:56

Oh and yes we have our loo as part of our utility room, it works well, that might be a Solution.

Original poster
cancancan · 04/07/2021 18:59

I'm not sure how the loo would fit in the utility?

Also running the kitchen down one wall.... because of the dip where the extension starts the units wouldn't run in a smooth line would they? That would bug me....

I did think maybe a L shaped Island would give more worktop?

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korawick12345 · 04/07/2021 18:59

I think it works really well. So many people make the mistake of having an enormous kitchen when actually a smaller well designed kitchen is far more efficient. The sofa is definitely oversized in the plan so that won’t be nearly so imposing. I would try and put the freezer in the larder or utility but other than that i think the space planning is good.

korawick12345 · 04/07/2021 19:00

If you start extending units all down one wall then the whole room becomes just kitchen and all you see is kitchen mess no matter where you are

minipie · 04/07/2021 19:02

It looks quite squeezed tbh.

I would suggest

  • make the loo door open outwards, this means the loo can be much shorter
  • then you can enlarge the pantry space and turn it into the utility
  • then you have much more options for extra kitchen worktops and the kitchen room itself is larger too

Walk in pantries are space inefficient - great if you have a large rambling old house but not worth squeezing in to a standard sized house. A larder cupboard with drawers or a shallow larder dresser will hold the same amount and take up far less space.

Fleurty · 04/07/2021 19:04

I would combine the w/c and utility and then move the larder to next to the utility and use all the wc/larder space as an extra run of cupboards and worktop. The island could then also move further towards the front of the house which would give the dining/living end a more open feel.

Bouledeneige · 04/07/2021 19:05

I'd be very worried about having so little work surface space - it's not just cutting and chopping, it's also places to put pots and pans out if the oven and plating up etc. I think the larder might be a bit of a luxury.

Original poster
cancancan · 04/07/2021 19:05

We don't NEED a massive kitchen, it's only the 3 of us..... plus not sure we could afford it!
Current kitchen isn't huge and we struggle for space but that's because the bottom "cupboards" are taken up with a washing machine, massive rangemaster oven, and American fridge/freezer and under sink crap. Once we put plates/pots/pans in we have no food storage.
But all food will go in the fridge/freezer or larder.
It's just the worktop space we are concerned about.

OP posts:
korawick12345 · 04/07/2021 19:08

@minipie

It looks quite squeezed tbh.

I would suggest

  • make the loo door open outwards, this means the loo can be much shorter
  • then you can enlarge the pantry space and turn it into the utility
  • then you have much more options for extra kitchen worktops and the kitchen room itself is larger too

Walk in pantries are space inefficient - great if you have a large rambling old house but not worth squeezing in to a standard sized house. A larder cupboard with drawers or a shallow larder dresser will hold the same amount and take up far less space.

Totally disagree with this. Pantry spaces hold far far more than larder units and the like.