Page 2 | Which adds more value and which would you prefer?

puffylovett · 2022-08-10T13:27:22+00:00

Hi, just at a turning point with our self build extension and wondering what people would prefer? Bearing in mind this is for us to live in (but I am facing Reno fatigue and want our lives back!) standard 3 bed semi, quite a narrow house. Option 1 (original plan) - good sized kitchen dining living space (8x5m), with separate snug, back door to boot room, walk in pantry and large utility with second downstairs shower (downstairs loo is under the stairs and won’t be moved). option 2 (husbands choice as it dramatically reduces the work he has to do) - large kitvhen with living space and dining room off (in original middle room), smaller utility room with coat storage, no back door in this plan. option 1 is my choice but does make a lot of small rooms, better for me coming back from dog walks with a muddy spaniel but a shedload of work in terms of getting services and drainage to the middle of the house. Most of this is already in place. But, it would be cheaper and so much easier to go with option 2. And would give us more space for the 3 separate functions. we are doing the work ourselves, have been at it 18 months already and I just want my fella back! We both work full time and it dominates his weekend! Teens largely abandoned through the whole process :( torn :(

Calmdown14 · 10/08/2022 22:45

I forgot my diagram

Which adds more value and which would you prefer?

Calmdown14 · 10/08/2022 23:05

And put a big doggie sink in with the shower

stormelf · 11/08/2022 12:11

I would go for option 1. We have a small utility attached to our dining/living/kitchen extension and having the additional door to the outside for the dog/gardening husband/mud covered kids to use is so handy, it gets used all the time. We also put in a shower downstairs about five years after the extension was built (took bit of space from utility to extend WC out a bit) as having the one bathroom upstairs wouldn't be enough for when our three are older. I think you need to go with what works best for your family and what will add more value to your day to day lives.

Walking through boot room to get to the back wouldn't bother me as with our house we have to walk through the living room to get to the back (no hallways in these houses). Do you need to have the boot room closed off from the hall or could it just flow into it?

MaggieFS · 11/08/2022 17:32

You're welcome @puffylovett Yep, I think you need to keep on track!

allboysherebutme · 11/08/2022 17:33

Option 1 don't let him change your mind. X

IrisVersicolor · 11/08/2022 19:44

Both have too many small rooms. Simplify it.

Take option 2 - knock down the wall between dining and snug to make a bigger room with double doors into the hall.

Close off the bottom of the dining room to make a small utility that opens into the kitchen.

Where the small utility is just make that a wall of doors down the right side with storage behind then so that the sight line from the front door through to the garden is clear.

Original poster

puffylovett · 11/08/2022 21:15

stormelf · 11/08/2022 12:11

I would go for option 1. We have a small utility attached to our dining/living/kitchen extension and having the additional door to the outside for the dog/gardening husband/mud covered kids to use is so handy, it gets used all the time. We also put in a shower downstairs about five years after the extension was built (took bit of space from utility to extend WC out a bit) as having the one bathroom upstairs wouldn't be enough for when our three are older. I think you need to go with what works best for your family and what will add more value to your day to day lives.

Walking through boot room to get to the back wouldn't bother me as with our house we have to walk through the living room to get to the back (no hallways in these houses). Do you need to have the boot room closed off from the hall or could it just flow into it?

Thank you. Yes you’re right - I think I’m just letting myself be swayed by the fact there’s an end in sight! We definitely need to go with what works best for us and I think this absolutely will in the long run.

OP posts:

Original poster

puffylovett · 11/08/2022 21:18

stormelf · 11/08/2022 12:11

I would go for option 1. We have a small utility attached to our dining/living/kitchen extension and having the additional door to the outside for the dog/gardening husband/mud covered kids to use is so handy, it gets used all the time. We also put in a shower downstairs about five years after the extension was built (took bit of space from utility to extend WC out a bit) as having the one bathroom upstairs wouldn't be enough for when our three are older. I think you need to go with what works best for your family and what will add more value to your day to day lives.

Walking through boot room to get to the back wouldn't bother me as with our house we have to walk through the living room to get to the back (no hallways in these houses). Do you need to have the boot room closed off from the hall or could it just flow into it?

Oops forgot to say, it will flow. We will take out the door, ultimately do something with the flooring (original Victorian Minton black and white floor - I love it and spent days restoring it, but a lot of the tiles are so damaged :( ) it will be less of a mucky room and more of a nice coat storage space, if that makes sense. I’ll wash the dog and keep the wellies right outside the side door. Kids and husband will be able to come in and walk straight through to utility room shower off after mucky mountain bike rides, too. If they’re ever able to get back out on them!
eyes on the prize I guess!

OP posts:

Original poster

puffylovett · 11/08/2022 21:24

IrisVersicolor · 11/08/2022 19:44

Both have too many small rooms. Simplify it.

Take option 2 - knock down the wall between dining and snug to make a bigger room with double doors into the hall.

Close off the bottom of the dining room to make a small utility that opens into the kitchen.

Where the small utility is just make that a wall of doors down the right side with storage behind then so that the sight line from the front door through to the garden is clear.

This was 100% my first choice! I wanted to make the front room bigger so we could have 2 really decent sized sofas and a proper living room. And also wanted that wall of cupboard doors.

partner won’t hear of it, as we have had historical movement in the house - he is completely convinced it’s still moving and doesn’t want to do structural work like remove that middle wall :(

this is partly why we are stuck with this house. Previous owner didn’t disclose she had underpinning done. So now we legally can’t sell up without disclosing :( luckily we are in a good location with a fab garden, our main reason for moving would be house size (obviously) and to get away from the main road - but it would have to be a special house to pull me from my rear tree views!

OP posts:

IrisVersicolor · 11/08/2022 21:55

All old houses have movement I’ve lived in them all my life. If it’s been underpinned, that’s great it will stop a lot of the movement.

We’re only talking about an RSJ it’s not major work.

Ime houses that are well redesigned with a well thought out layout sell for more and more quickly than ones that are compromises on existing sub-optimal layout. I call them halfway houses.