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Original poster

Would you sacrifice a reception room for a utility?

34 replies

Cheeriosaddict · 31/03/2023 15:20

We have bought a 1930s terraced house which has the traditional front living room, back dining room and small kitchen. Ours isn’t quite a galley kitchen, it is a like galley with an end part (L shaped) but too small to eat in.
We can’t knock through the dining room and kitchen. My dilemma is do I make the dining room into a large kitchen (big enough to fit a dining table in) and lose it as another reception room (currently we have a dining table, sofa and tv in there)? We would turn the current kitchen into a utility/home office/storage.
Or do I keep the layout as it is with a smaller separate kitchen and have the other space for watching tv.
We have 2 kids and a dog and we are quite outdoorsy (muddy) so a utility would be great but I also like to watch tv in peace.
please help me decide!

OP posts:
Original poster
Cheeriosaddict · 31/03/2023 20:15

@TheMagicDeckchair that's helpful to know it works well for you.
I don’t think we would want a downstairs wc (very unmumsnet of me I know!) as we have two other toilets.

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ContadoraExplorer · 31/03/2023 20:32

We have a 1930's semi too and our kitchen sounds like yours, not quite a galley there was a slight extension on the back when we bought it.

We stuck with the small kitchen for a bit in favour of saving up enough to build a wrap around extension and we now have a large open plan back family room/diner leading onto the garden with the kitchen now in the space that was the dining room. Where the kitchen was, and slightly extended our the side, is a utility leading to a downstairs shower room. The front room was kept as is so we have a second option to sit in or for working from home.

Would that be a possibility for you to save a bit first? It has made a massive difference to us so was definitely worth our wait.

If not, I think I would move the kitchen to the dining room and have a utility with maybe a pantry/extra storage in the original kitchen to give you a bit more space in the dining room.

Original poster
Cheeriosaddict · 31/03/2023 20:39

@ContadoraExplorer that sounds lovely but we certainly couldn’t afford to do that anytime soon and other parts of the house need attention.
If we put the kitchen in the dining room we would want to put French doors to the garden in which would max our budget for the kitchen. Unfortunately we can’t wait years down the line to put in a kitchen as it desperately needs doing now which is why I need to stop dithering and decide.
The replies have been really helpful. I assumed it would be more divided and people would say I’ll want separate space to watch tv when the kids are older.

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MathsNervous · 31/03/2023 21:23

You will be glad of another reception room as the children get older.

AndiOliversFan · 31/03/2023 22:52

MathsNervous · 31/03/2023 21:23

You will be glad of another reception room as the children get older.

Ha ha ha

Taptap2 · 01/04/2023 07:00

Teenagers watch Netflix on their devices in their rooms. Mine very rarely watch TV. However, mine play instruments so need room for those.

CellophaneFlower · 01/04/2023 07:39

I would definitely do the changes you suggest. I think it would actually make it easier to sell with the new layout, so the fact it works better for you and you're not looking to sell anytime soon is a no brainer.

Have another tv in the kitchen, if possible and with some comfy dining chairs, it can still be a space to retreat to and watch your shows. Or your OH might prefer to watch his football out there if he's anything like mine, as it's closer to the fridge 🙄

imnotthatkindofmum · 01/04/2023 07:58

Cheeriosaddict · 31/03/2023 20:39

@ContadoraExplorer that sounds lovely but we certainly couldn’t afford to do that anytime soon and other parts of the house need attention.
If we put the kitchen in the dining room we would want to put French doors to the garden in which would max our budget for the kitchen. Unfortunately we can’t wait years down the line to put in a kitchen as it desperately needs doing now which is why I need to stop dithering and decide.
The replies have been really helpful. I assumed it would be more divided and people would say I’ll want separate space to watch tv when the kids are older.

Ha you'll be lucky if you see them once they're past 12! My kids watch their own tv on their laptops in their rooms on Netflix or other apps. Living spaces are so much more flexible now due to technology.

Fwiw my plan is to do the same, we also have a dining/sitting room and a galley kitchen. I'm going to make the kitchen a snug/music room and put a kitchen diner in the big room. Mine is a new build, I don't know what the planner was thinking, but it made it a cheaper choice at the time! there's also no utility room but I think with rearranging I can make the ds cloakroom bigger and fit the washing machine in.

I have no funds right now but I have the vision!

Original poster
Cheeriosaddict · 01/04/2023 12:29

@imnotthatkindofmum at least you have the vision! I have neither the funds or the vision.

I occasionally work with teenagers and the overall impression I get is that their phone is their life so it is a fair point that they will be on devices than sit and watch tv downstairs.
Our children are still young enough to want to be around us. For now!

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