A floorplan one

[honeynougat]

Hi, any recommendations for someone good at reshuffling floorplans? Sort of a pre full drawings thing, or am I best just to go for a full drawing service from the get go? I wasn't very happy with the company I tried to use previously, lots of mistakes and didn't feel listened to.

In the meantime, for anyone with a knack for these things I have included the plans. I'm stuck how best to use the space.

It's really the back utility corridor and wetroom that are problematic. We don't use them fully because of the awkward shape and the bathroom takes up a lot of floorspace that goes unused. I'd be happy to have just a WC and a larger utility room or add some space into the family room perhaps?

The plans are slightly incorrect in that the fireplace is on the opposite side of the wall (in the other room) and there's an open door double sized space between the dining table and family room.

Everything at the back of the house is an extension the previous owners added, so the wall highlighted is the original external wall.

I'm happy to give the whole of the downstairs a reshuffle if we actually use the space a bit more so big or small ideas welcome (downstairs bedroom is a must).

Thanks!

I would put the bedroom next to the wet room. You then have almost an annexe, so fab for guests or teenagers with a kettle and a microwave in the utility area. The existing bedroom could be knocked through to make a bigger family room.

Do you need all the doors? If I understand the plan right it looks like you have a front door (at the side of the house?), two doors off the back hallway, and french doors onto the garden.

If you could block off one of the doors joining the hallway it would give you a lot more options. Maybe even both unless you want direct outside access to the utility room?

Thanks both. I've thought about moving the bedroom to the back decided against it.

Yes, so many doors! I have no idea why the previous owners planned it the way it is. It was a bedroom and wetroom for disabled access at the back, the main front door is on the side yes. We'd definitely still need some kind of access from the back door into the utility room through to the back door to garden for garden access so I'm unsure we'd be able to remove any external doors.

You could just keep it simple and have a lootility. You could stack appliances. It really depends if you want all the worksurface or just somewhere to put the washing machine.

The problem would be the door into it would clash with the back door. You could have it open into the garden to avoid this - and it would need a thumb turn lock and to be well frosted!

Not sure how wide it is from the plan but you could move the wall a little if necessary.

Or put in a pocket door (especially if you move the wall) to avoid the wasted space.

You may also consider whether the door from the dining room should open the other way to avoid having to walk round it if you just eat into the utility

here is an option. take out the bathroom and close of the door from kitchen to utility.

put a new wall just at the edge of the bathroom window. In the utility, you can have a separate loo (WC) and a stacked washing machine/dryer (W) and still leave space for a clear corridor for stuff to go from the front of the house directly to the garden. i've included a sink (S) near the garden door but that might not be needed. that space could be good for storing coats / boots etc.

in the kitchen, you will gain some useful wall space when you remove the door, so you could have a dresser or more storage.

whether this can work will depend on the location of the sewage pipes - moving loos can be complex. where are the upstairs bathrooms located? If any are near the location of the loo, that makes things much easier.

Also, make sure the new wall has VERY good sound insulation so the people in the living room don't hear the loo or washing machine.

calm down and parietal thanks both, similar ideas to consider to there. This is something I've thought about too. Unsure whether to go for the simplest option or switch things around completely by moving the kitchen to the back.

Thinking about all the possible configurations of the back of the house, is certainly helpful.