Downstairs layout

Jul17 · 2023-12-12T13:35:59+00:00

Have just had an offer accepted on a house. current layout attached. unsure whether to keep dining rm and kitchen separate, knock the 2 together for open plan dining kitchen or move wall for a separate small utility/pantry and dining kitchen?? any ideas recommendations? i would be really like a fire place on the left hand wall. x

GOODCAT · 12/12/2023 13:38

I would knock together.

Gassylady · 12/12/2023 13:43

Anyway to squeeze in a small downstairs loo? Think a dining kitchen would be a good use of space as there is still a separate living space so you have a space free from cooking smells and the piles of dishes

LindaDawn · 12/12/2023 13:48

I would remove the wall separating the dinning room and kitchen to open up the area.

ClematisBlue49 · 12/12/2023 13:52

Same here, open it up. I'd probably sacrifice the utility room in order to have a completely open space and retain views from both windows.

My new place has a similar layout except that the wall between the dining room and lounge is also knocked through. I know a lot of people prefer to keep them separate but I love being able to see the garden from the lounge. (If cooking smells become an issue I will look at getting glass doors in one of the openings.)

DoYouSmellCarrots · 12/12/2023 13:56

It really depends on your lifestyle. Do you entertain a lot and don't want to be cut off cooking in the kitchen or have small children you need to keep an eye on?
Maybe you have teenagers who would prefer to hang out with their friends/ gamers in one room and you can relax in the other. My husband loves bashing about in the kitchen. So I'm very glad to have a door to close. My friend hates anyone under her feet when she's cooking so prefers a seperate kitchen. Also its good to close off the mess if you're just exhausted and don't want to be looking at it until you get to tidy up.
I'm not keen on noise or drafts so prefer separate rooms.

Eggmanatee · 12/12/2023 14:17

I wouldn't move any walls, but would create dining kitchen in the dining room with pocket doors through to living room so it can be opened up when need be. Plus doors to garden. Old kitchen becomes an office/snug. And a toilet next to stairs.

JustWimpy · 12/12/2023 15:30

I would definitely open the wall from the kitchen into the dining room. I hate being stuck in a tiny kitchen without a table. It would be more expensive to try to move the plumbing and electrics for the kitchen into a different room.

MaggieFS · 12/12/2023 16:18

Do you have kids? Is there any plumbing along the left hand wall upstairs? Do you think you need a downstairs loo?

Personally I'd want a downstairs loo and utility, but location would depend on answers to the above.

Original poster

Jul17 · 12/12/2023 17:01

MaggieFS · 12/12/2023 16:18

Do you have kids? Is there any plumbing along the left hand wall upstairs? Do you think you need a downstairs loo?

Personally I'd want a downstairs loo and utility, but location would depend on answers to the above.

no plumbing left hand wall upstairs. yes, 3 girls 11, 13 & 16. x

OP posts:

Original poster

Jul17 · 12/12/2023 17:02

Gassylady · 12/12/2023 13:43

Anyway to squeeze in a small downstairs loo? Think a dining kitchen would be a good use of space as there is still a separate living space so you have a space free from cooking smells and the piles of dishes

cupboard under stairs would have been ideal for a wee toilet but electric box and boiler in there! x

OP posts:

Original poster

Jul17 · 12/12/2023 17:04

DoYouSmellCarrots · 12/12/2023 13:56

It really depends on your lifestyle. Do you entertain a lot and don't want to be cut off cooking in the kitchen or have small children you need to keep an eye on?
Maybe you have teenagers who would prefer to hang out with their friends/ gamers in one room and you can relax in the other. My husband loves bashing about in the kitchen. So I'm very glad to have a door to close. My friend hates anyone under her feet when she's cooking so prefers a seperate kitchen. Also its good to close off the mess if you're just exhausted and don't want to be looking at it until you get to tidy up.
I'm not keen on noise or drafts so prefer separate rooms.

quite like idea of kitchen diner family room just not sure it'd be big enough, also just now have pulley in kitchen and hate that clothes smell of cooking...

OP posts:

Original poster

Jul17 · 12/12/2023 17:07

ClematisBlue49 · 12/12/2023 13:52

Same here, open it up. I'd probably sacrifice the utility room in order to have a completely open space and retain views from both windows.

My new place has a similar layout except that the wall between the dining room and lounge is also knocked through. I know a lot of people prefer to keep them separate but I love being able to see the garden from the lounge. (If cooking smells become an issue I will look at getting glass doors in one of the openings.)

yes! like the idea of light coming into the room from two sources. would ideally like to change window in dining rm to bifold doors but that's an expense for another time. that would mean we'd need to initially keep the back/side door from the kitchen initially losing some workspace in kitchen...

OP posts:

ChevyCamaro · 12/12/2023 17:12

I would move the wall for a proper, separate utility room (where the kitchen is now) with one of those Sheila maids hanging in it for proper drying, then make the (now slightly bigger) dining room a dining kitchen.
3 teens= sooo much laundry!
If you can carve out some of the utility space for a little loo then even better.

ChevyCamaro · 12/12/2023 17:14

Actually, strike that, you don't have to move the wall at all. The dining room is already plenty big enough.

Seaside3 · 12/12/2023 20:08

We have a similar layout and have just taken the wall out, it makes for such a great kitchen/diner. We have also under the stairs and our washing ja in the large bathroom upstairs. Means it's not all over the house, which drives me crazy.

Saz12 · 13/12/2023 22:57

Personally, Id save the money by turning the current kitchen into a utility / laundry/pantry/boot room - space for freezer, bigger kitchen appliances, bulk buy stuff, cake tins, the Drawer of Essential Crap, extra fridge space, big BIG sink, the fancy crockery, recycling... basically fill it with all the kitchen things you dont absolutely need to hand. You dont need prep space so can have full-height cupboards for amazing amounts of storage.
Then the dining room becomes a kitchen diner - its a good size, and because you're not knocking walls down you should still be able to fund space efficient kitchen design, windowseat, whatever.