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Original poster

Thoughts on our proposed new downstairs layout?

116 replies

sunsetandcocktails · 11/10/2021 16:54

Hi
We've just had the initial drawing from our architects...the brief was to create an open plan kitchen/diner/family room with plenty of storage (two small children).
Utility room and downstairs loo.

I'm a bit concerned about the downstairs loo door opening straight onto the kitchen.

This plan also requires us to cut the garage in half, leaving the front half of the garage for storage - bikes, pram, camping gear etc

What are we missing? Anything we should
Mention to our architect when we speak this week?
We're very new to this process!
Thanks!

Thoughts on our proposed new downstairs layout?
OP posts:
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14
Starseeking · 12/10/2021 20:34

I had some more thoughts looking at this again:

  • leave the wall between the lounge and the kitchen diner standing, and don't make the sliding door, as you already have a door in the hallway. This will mean it can remain a standalone room
  • swap the hob and the sink; the windows effectively becomes your splash back, plus I don't think it makes sense to have intense heat by the window. Also if you have a nice garden, you'll appreciate the view when sorting dirty dishes!
  • I'd seal up that little door by the kitchen, and make it into a corner pantry that swings out if you can. You'd be able to store so much of your dry kitchen stuff there!
SoupDragon · 12/10/2021 21:30

I agree about ditching the sliding door between lounge and kitchen/diner. It's pointless.

I think can see why you'd want a small door into the garden as well as the bifolds - is it a pain to open them if you just want to pop in the garden?

Thoughts on our proposed new downstairs layout?
SwedishEdith · 12/10/2021 21:46

What's going on with the chimney breast in this room? I can't work out what size that corner seating set up is meant to be or why it would cover up the likely fireplace.

Thoughts on our proposed new downstairs layout?
Heatherington · 12/10/2021 21:47

I think can see why you'd want a small door into the garden as well as the bifolds - is it a pain to open them if you just want to pop in the garden?

Most bifolds have a door that functions as a normal door.

We’ve just done similar. First bit of the garage is pantry (shelf space, chest freezer), then a loo (sink but no window), then a utility. We were going to keep half the garage as a half-garage but bought a shed instead. Really pleased we did.

Heatherington · 12/10/2021 21:50

Also, take it to a kitchen designer and get them to do a 3D model of the kitchen space. Make sure you can fit the kitchen you want in the available space.

Heatherington · 12/10/2021 22:00

I’d also look at re-orienting your kitchen so you can look at dining area whilst you cook. Put one or both of hob and sink on an island, have tall units along the back wall.

I’ve changed the garage area too. Personally, I’d have door from kitchen through pantry to loo and utility but you could make a case for entry to pantry from kitchen and loo/utility from hall.

Thoughts on our proposed new downstairs layout?
InTheLabyrinth · 12/10/2021 22:12

My comments:
Get rid of the sliding doors between lounge and dining room - as a family of 4, can you all sit in the living room with that sofa possibility?
You need a sink in the loo.
You need to access the loo from not the kitchen. Either from the utility, or from under tte stairs, depending on the headspace.
Do you need a door out of the kitchen? Can you loose that? I'm guessing not, but can you loose/reduce the pillar near the door too?

Pumasonsatsumas · 12/10/2021 22:23

Are the circles on the island seats? Would you not want to turn from the cooker to the island without having to walk about the corner? Maybe think through how you would prep a meal and how you want your surfaces organised. Exciting though!

Yellownotblue · 12/10/2021 22:29

-I’d move the door from the hallway to the living room, so it swings towards the back wall and is closer to the back wall

  • where’s the tv going in the living room?
  • if possible, I’d keep sliding door to dining area, as this may bring a lot of light depending on your orientation, and a nicer flow. A double door could look really good there.
  • agree with @Heatherington on rethinking the kitchen/ utility/ loo/ garage space.
  • Do you really need the garage? It’s a really large space if just for storing a few bikes.
  • remove the chimney breast in the dining room so you gain lots of space and no awkward corners
  • I think you’ve got room for a longer, more functional kitchen island. Your plan seems to show island seating on the kitchen side, that’s quite unusual and would get in the way of food prep. I’d move that to the opposite side.
  • do you really have a 4-seater circular table? If your actual table is a different shape and size, please ask the architect to include it in the drawings so you can see how it fits.
  • do you hang your washing outside? As this would dictate the best place for the utility room. I don’t, so mine is being relocated upstairs where the dirty clothes are.

Overall I’d say the plans need a major rethink and more imagination and attention to detail. It looks a bit thrown together without much thought. I’ve been there myself, so I know the feeling!

GrumpyPanda · 12/10/2021 22:33

You might want to think about pantry space as well, if possible in an unheated room rather than in the kitchen itself. As a PP said, maybe have washer in with garage storage instead?

corblimeygov · 12/10/2021 23:04

No way was this drawn up by an actual architect. Sorry but it's dreadful. No wall space in kitchen for FF or tall ovens, no basin in a loo that opens into a kitchen ? Come on . That's shocking . Ask for a refund.

Heatherington · 12/10/2021 23:06

If you’re not convinced about a pantry, I’d just say it’s a much easier way of storing all your big kitchen stuff without needing to fit it all in kitchen units; big cereal boxes, counter top appliances, shopping bags, lunch boxes, multipacks of beans, preppers stash for brexit/pandemics… You can get away with far less kitchen storage.

WaggleToWarlock · 12/10/2021 23:17

Definitely a few more iterations needed. Some things I haven't seen mentioned yet:

  • do you really need a double front door? It's a lot.more fiddly to use, and you'll lose a lot of heat in winter.
  • the door from the hall to the lounge should be in the corner of the room, and open the other way - enabling the sofa to sit opposite the fireplace
SoupDragon · 13/10/2021 08:06

if possible, I’d keep sliding door to dining area, as this may bring a lot of light depending on your orientation, and a nicer flow. A double door could look really good there.

I have a double door from the living room to the dining room. It is never used and is utterly pointless. It makes placing furniture awkward if I wanted to use it and would make the usable floor space in both rooms smaller.

SoupDragon · 13/10/2021 08:07

do you really need a double front door? It's a lot.more fiddly to use, and you'll lose a lot of heat in winter.

It's a PITA to fit things like a pram through if neither side is the width of a standard door too.

candycane222 · 13/10/2021 08:09

To add to the concerns about the qualifications of the architect: they have drawn the wall between the store space and the loo/utility as very thin. This is an outside wall! It needs insulation! I say outside wal because the garage is effectively outside the house, at least on the drawing it still has the thin garage doors, so basically as cold as outside in there. Building control will not be happy about that.

At the moment there must be an insulated wall at the back of the garage ? (unless your house is pre-1980 or so) The alternative is to enclose the store in an insulated wall/insulated doors instead- which would potentially make the store space more versatile as it could become part of the house in future.

MoltenLasagne · 13/10/2021 09:38

Agree with others that this seems very hodge podge - the need for a sink in a toilet is so basic I'd question if they got a work experience student to do it. Also, compare the size of the 3 seater sofa in the living room with the supposed corner sofa - it's clearly going to be a love seat at best.

Some great feedback here that I'd not have realised- makes me think I'll need to get my plans reviewed by mumsnet if we ever get our extension done!

SoupDragon · 13/10/2021 09:59

compare the size of the 3 seater sofa in the living room with the supposed corner sofa - it's clearly going to be a love seat at best.

That's why I think the sliding door to the living room needs to go.

Original poster
sunsetandcocktails · 14/10/2021 22:11

Oh my god I'm so glad I asked for people's opinions on here, thank you mumsnetters!!

I've fed back my concerns to the person who sent the plans through. I'll wait and see what she comes back with.
I haven't flagged it with the company owner/director yet, but definitely will if there isn't a vast improvement.

The plan lacks both imagination and practicality doesn't it? !

I'm hoping that we haven't made a huge mistake by going with this company ...

OP posts:
Original poster
sunsetandcocktails · 14/10/2021 22:12

Am thinking maybe we should just convert the whole garage whilst we're at it? We've a massive shed in the garden and a large cellar under the house ...

OP posts:
Original poster
sunsetandcocktails · 14/10/2021 22:13

@GlowInThePark
Love that example! Thanks

OP posts:
GlowInThePark · 14/10/2021 22:34

@sunsetandcocktails

Am thinking maybe we should just convert the whole garage whilst we're at it? We've a massive shed in the garden and a large cellar under the house ...
Do you have rear access? Where will you store bikes if not?
CovidCorvid · 15/10/2021 07:15

@sunsetandcocktails

Am thinking maybe we should just convert the whole garage whilst we're at it? We've a massive shed in the garden and a large cellar under the house ...
I would if you could.
SoupDragon · 15/10/2021 07:35

Yes. Provided you have easy access to the storage at the rear I would convert the whole garage.

ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 15/10/2021 07:48

I don’t think the furniture in that plan is to scale. How big is that corner sofa? It looks tiny.

And most of the storage they’ve drawn in is barely big enough to fit a pair of shoes.

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