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!

Ok, what about reconfiguring the space around the toilet to create enough space for a combined toilet and compact utility space? It's sensible to future-proof so having a huge utility now at the expense of a decent kitchen layout could be a mistake, as you still have the option to extend in the future.

Do you mean the toilet where it is now? Which is essentially under the stairs and tiny?

@stormelf I'm coming round to the idea of opening the kitchen to the dining room actually so it's good to hear the difference in floor levels isn't an issue, does the island have cupboards dining room side or just kitchen side? Is there scope for a breakfast bar type set up?

Lots of ideas from everyone so thank you all, plenty to think about!

@AtomicRitual I'd be interested to hear of the kitchen planner if you or anyone else can remember the name!

And yes the small extension to square it off would be ideal but not sure financially viable....

Making design compromises based on adult children being with you seems like you could spend a lot and then they move out.

You are only going to do this once (the dust and cost etc) so get it right for how long you will be in the house. So if you only see yourself there for 6 years and the "children" similar then keeping the 2 lounges makes sense. If you want to be there 20+ and they will only be with you for 2 then plan for life without them.

As a bonus them not having a space might help them fly the nest.

Ha I hear what you're saying about the adult children but aside from them, I do really like having the two separate living rooms (it also means DH can bugger off to watch football) So I will do all I can to retain them both

We have cupboards on the kitchen side of the island and seating on the dining room side with the bar stools slotting underneath the island when not on use. Well that is what we used to have, the dining room side of the island has been turned into a Wendy house for the toddlers and bar stools removed as they kept leaping off them.

@gagardenwoe couldn't the kids use the old dining room as their lounge seeing as you wouldn't need a large kitchen/diner and an additional dining room?

I think your original plan sounds fine.

here is my version. First, move the door to the loo so that it comes off the hall. that gives more space for a dresser (D) in the kitchen.

Have the utility at the end with a pocket door in the middle. that will give space for a big fridge & freezer (F F) on one side and a hob with oven under on the other side (H). the sink can stay where the utility sink is. and open up a better door from kitchen to dining room so those two spaces work well together.

I would open up the whole back into a kitchen diner, with the kitchen where you're utility currently is and the dining room stay where it is. I'd move the loo door into the newly created hall from the front door. I'd put in a door from the kitchen to the new hallway that opens up against the living room wall so it can be kept open and out of the way but also closed if needs be. I'd put a utility in where the current kitchen, keeping the window as part of the utility and the current back door have in the kitchen.
(Green is new walls and red is things remove)

I really like the layout @parietal did.
I'd try to keep the separate dinning room. That way it could be used as a study / office / craft room

Do you have a door from the hall into the lounge?

Yes I think in your plan the hall looks great but the kitchen is really compromised. I agree about moving the utility out of the middle but I would definitely try to put the kitchen in one of the bigger reception rooms rather than crammed into an inner hall. If you put the kitchen in the existing dining room could you have a small dining room in the old utility area and/ or sliding doors into the front sitting room so it could be opened up or closed off as you wish?

Too few units in the kitchen for the size of the house. I can't see the value of a smaller living room, just to create a narrow hallway. The layout of the house is square and actually quite decent for a modern home, as it is.

Regardless of the kids OP, I'd do what you're suggesting. My sister has two lounges too close - you can't watch TV in them at the same time. It's a pointless exercise to have two lounges separated by a french door - it basically becomes one large awkward room and I think it might decrease the value of the house as a result. I think you are making the right decision here.

You could keep the sink where it is and have a double width unit on the dining room side with cupboards facing the kitchen end and the dining end. On the internal wall you could have a unit of shallow shelves where the door to the loo is, flush with normal depth units at the dining end down the step.

On reflection I really the plan HarleyBean posted. It gets away from the awkward shape of the kitchen and the restrictive change in floor level with the original suggestion. It also gives a living space at the back overlooking the garden, which is an advantage in my book. The existing layout has both living rooms at the front, which seems unfortunate to me.

I understand the points about wanting the living rooms more separate, so how about closing off the doors between them, upgrading the wall to give more soundproofing, and having the front part as a living room accessed from the hallway and the back as a family room/snug off the kitchen?

Really like. FFS.

It must be Karen from OnePlan. She designed the layout of my downstairs. She is brilliant. Works virtually.