Side return plans

[Houseystuff876]

Hi, we are about to get plans drawn up for an extension into the side return. I live in a Victorian terrace with a living room at the front of the house then a dining room which leads onto a small kitchen. At the moment there is an old decaying conservatory in the side return. The idea is to knock it down and knock through to the kitchen and dining room. This will need two steel beams. This will give us one big open plan space in kitchen and dining room.

Where I'm stuck is I would have liked to add a downstairs toilet but can't see where it would go. The architect thought it was a bad idea building it in the kitchen space as the door will go straight into the kitchen. It's not essential but would have been nice.

The second dilemma is there is a chimney breast 2/3rds into the kitchen space. Do I keep it and make a toilet/ utility at the end or knock it down too? If it stays the doors to the garden will need to be in the middle of the rest of the kitchen so not central to the house.

I've never done anything like this and a bit unsure. What do you think? I thought architects would guide it all but it seems like he draws the plans of what I say more.

Any advice would be so helpful!

I've attached a rough plan

“Existing” building, not “exciting” 😂

We did a really similar project to yours. Very similar size and layout.

We put a loo and utility room in the middle of the house, in the old dining room. It was a bit nerve wracking when space was already tight but was a total game changer. That part of the house was the darkest anyway, and having somewhere to bung all the clutter and close the door meant that our other spaces, whilst small, where so much easier to keep clean and tidy. No more toys, scooters, coats, shoes, school bags, etc in our living spaces.

The dining room is the darkest space. I don't really want to cook and prepare food with lights on, if possible.

@BingoFucklinger hey could you PM me a pic of what you did? It would be so helpful

But equally if you don't crack the layout, if you are wanting to sell it could put people off.

You say the space is small, but you are wanting to use it as a kitchen, have a breakfast bar, separate dining table and armchair. Plus have it to store shoes etc. I assume the hoover and ironing board need to go in there? It's a lot.

I don't think having cupboards on the other side of the room would make it a corridor. I do think the breakfast bar would though.

@SquishyGloopyBum fair enough. But what design would work?

The hoover is under the stairs. The dining table is in the middle room.

It was the architect that added the breakfast bar.

I just want a larger kitchen with access to the garden with lots of light.

1.pantry
2.bench dining
3.kitchen units
Not sure of dimensions of the ‘dining room’ but
if it’s 2.6 metre wide you would fit the following with 1 metre walk way

4.washer/dryer stacked cupboard 100-80cm deep
5.small loo and sink pocket door 100-80 cm deep, sliding door
6.storage cupboards for everything 60 cm deep

7 move door to sitting room and consider glazed pocket door for light and view to garden .

Align your sight line and walk way through house to create sense of space and light

8 glazing/window seat / door combo

I can't block off the living room as the main sofa is against that wall. I want it to be a separate room. I can't go any further out on the extension. So couldn't add those windows.

I defo don't want a toilet in the middle of the dining room opening out onto kitchen cupboards via a slide door.

I do like the idea of a window seat and pantry x

@Houseystuff876 Sorry didn't see your reply! Here's our floor plan. We actually ended up extending out the back rather than the side return as it was much cheaper, but side return would have worked even better I reckon.