Remodelling downstairs layout? (Diagrams included) What do you think?

[gardenwoe]

We are considering changing our downstairs layout, having established it will be too costly and probably pretty pointless to extend the ground floor.
I would like a utility room which is more closed off than our current one, and also has a back door to the garden so I can bring the dirty dog in and leave him there to dry off! I would knock down the current utility walls to open the kitchen up a bit.
I would also like more of a hallway by the front door and am happy to sacrifice some of the living room to do this.
Have attached current layout and a very crude idea of what I think will work.
Would I need an architect to draw up plans for this? Or would it be a structural engineer? I've no idea which walls if any are structural or load baring. We also have the issue of a difference in floor level between the kitchen and dining room (step down just before the cloakroom)
Any advice welcomed!

Just to clarify: are you planning to remove the wall between the kitchen (ex-utility room) area and the dining room? Because it looks like it's still there on the 'after' plan!

If you are planning to remove the wall, then what would your attitude be to having a step down to the dining area? I suspect this would work out much cheaper than attempting to somehow eliminate the difference in level. I'd expect that either lowering the floor in the kitchen or raising the floor in the dining room would be both disruptive and expensive.

Other than this, the only bits of wall you seem to be removing are those in the way of the new hallway. As these aren't much bigger than a doorway, I very much doubt there'll be much of a structural issue to consider. I'd approach an architect or architectural designer to draw up plans, as I suspect their expertise in the use of the space will be more useful here, rather than the whole thing being driven by the structural considerations.

I think what you’ve drawn looks a more sensible layout. I know you haven’t mentioned moving, but I’m looking atm and would much prefer your version. It would be good to have the WC accessible off the hall and not to have to walk through the lounge to the kitchen (pet hate). Utility on the side is less unusual and potentially more aesthetically pleasing / less obtrusive (or at least if future owners knocked through at the back. I like it.

Start with a decent architect and they should have some suggestions, too. They’ll advise if a structural engineer is needed.

Hmm not sure I like it sorry. A lot of effort and you still have a bad kitchen.

Unless your going for an extension I would think of the house as two blocks on left and right. Make one kitchen/ dining.

Or knock it all through and have an L shape kitchen/dining/ day living,

Thanks both for the feedback.
I'm in 2 minds on whether to remove the wall between (new) kitchen and dining room or to leave it with a wall and door. The floor height difference being one issue (although not a massive one) I did think about having an island of kitchen units jutting where that wall would be - but wonder if it might look ridiculous from the dining room as would sit up on the step.

Have attached where the current step is (in red) Once that cloakroom door is sealed off (with access from hall as mentioned) I would raise the level of that bit - approx 1 - 0.8m sq - some entire kitchen on one level and step down into dining area. Current cloakroom is shocking, doesn't even have a sink (we only moved here a few months ago)

Yeah I'm worried about the new kitchen layout, wouldn't be your usual square/rectangle would it?
I don't want to lose either of the living rooms tbh though. So only other option is to open it all up - kitchen and dining room.
Just hate the current 'utility room' being stuck in middle of kitchen

If it was me I'd do this, diagram is a bit blocky but hopefully it makes sense...

I'd really prefer not to loose that front room....

I like your plan. Could you bring the floor level up in the corner of the new kitchen so that you step down into the cloakroom and dining room, and the whole kitchen is on the same level?

I would open up the existing utility to the kitchen which gives a decent size and shape for the kitchen, then add a small extension for utility/boot-room space across the back of the kitchen.

Cloak room would be accessed from new hallway so not an issue, and yes would raise that but of the kitchen so step down into dining room. Although I think there are building regs around a door directly in front of a step?

Yeah that was original plan, extend out across back to same as current utility, but with footings and build costs exorbitant I don't think we can justify it.... hence just knocking down internal walls

You don’t need to have the space at the back where the utility room ‘used to be’ open as you have shown it. Make it into a walk in or just deep pantry with sliding doors so you have an unimpeded flow. ( the outside walls will make it very good for storing wine….)
I don’t see a problem with having an island between kitchen and dining room, just get a facia board to front the side into the dining room so that it hides the height difference. You can do this with MDF and paint it to match the walls.

if it was mine, I’d substitute a ramp for the stair.

@Allthegoodnamesarechosen I like this idea. If it were me I’d knock through the back and keep the two living rooms separate.

I was about to suggest what @SollaSollew said.

You wouldn’t be losing any space though, your back dining room would be your second sitting room? You could still have a couple of armchairs in the bay window if you wanted a third sitting area?

I’d do this, but it does mean your utility is a long way from your kitchen but it is big so you could keep a lot in it, keep all your washing/airers etc and have it as a nice bedroom for the dog.

Sorry for the horrific editing. This is what I would do, treat your house as two halves. Kitchen/diner on the left and lounge on the right with a utility and toilet in the back

@FoxandFeathers I know what you're saying but having a couple of adult kids at home, the LH side is their living room, and the other is ours. So they can watch their TV/Netflix and have friends round independently to us. If they used the current dining room, it would be too close iyswim- there are French doors (glazed) between the two so would offer them no privacy. Plus the current dining room opens onto a lovely patio area so is nice in the summer with the doors open to eat etc.

@Zwicky I like this layout but it would mean running all new plumbing to the other side of the house, plus i would prefer the kitchen and utility close to each other if possible.

@HayleyBean see previous about keeping 2 sitting rooms separate for older kids at home 🤦🏻‍♀️

If it was my house I would knock the right hand rooms into one big kitchen diner family room, keep the front room on the left as is but block the door to the old kitchen, make the current kitchen a utility/boot room and the utility a downstairs shower room.

Within your constraints, I would consider opening up the kitchen/diner with the new utility room on the side. Depending how much of the old dining room you want to use for a kitchen there are options for breaking the space to reduce the impact of the difference in floor level.

We have split out kitchen/dining room (for different reasons) with kitchen height cupboards on one side and a lower level storage cupboards on the other. So the dining room side has cupboards with the top of the cupboards behind them showing above (plainly decorated). It breaks up the two rooms but more importantly gave us extra kitchen space. We also designed it to cover a change in flooring though that did not eventuate.

I'd do one big room across the back as a kitchen/diner with the utility at whichever end works. Loo in the utility, there may be a loo on the floor above to line up plumbing.

Move the wall joining kitchen and lounge in line with the opposite one to make it line up nicely, or move both walls back a bit if the whole point of those rooms is an extra bedroom and they don't need to be big.

Widen entrance as you've done on the first drawing.

So in 5 years, say, will your children have left home? Sorry to ask, they may have special needs etc. If they are planning on moving out could you wait and model the house to suit you then? Or maybe get a garden summerhouse room for them? I get you, I have one left home, one sixth former left. He has his gaming stuff, TV in the kitchen diner so the lounge is already getting middle aged!

I agree with @OneArepa in that your floorplan looks much more sensible than the current set up.

For me, the trickiest bit is the kitchen as you do have a slightly odd shape. Two thoughts:

• get a decent kitchen planner (there's someone on here that's recommended a lot) to scope it out on the basis of your plan. If they can do a 3D render, you'll be able to visualise it from all angles and they'll set it up in the most sensible way. My BIL's kitchen has a slightly similar layout it works fine.
• Alternatively, could you do a mini-extension, just to square off the new kitchen and bring it out in line with the existing utility room?

Oh, and is the ceiling height in your dining room lower than the kitchen too, or could you build up the flooring in there and have a step down in to the living room? I'd prefer not to have a step in to the dining room as someone ok, me would, at some point, fall down it carrying a plate full of food!

I have a similar set up although on smaller scale as it's an old mining cottage. We extended across the back of the house and have a utility room (and bathroom) in the same position you are proposing. The utility room with an outside door is very convenient for mucky dog and even muckier toddlers coming in from the garden. I like the way you have proposed to take the extra space from the living room for the hallway, I really wish we could do this but living room is too narrow and the other reception room on the other side is husband's gym. Our kitchen is open onto dining room and we have an island in between the two. The dining room is at a lower level than the kitchen and not been an issue.