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Original poster

This conversion apartment for a family of 3?

50 replies

Wannabemamas · 18/12/2023 13:56

Found a lovely conversion apartment within budget. It’s in one of our fav streets, very close to good schools, lovely building. I am in love with the living room and the two double bedrooms have a good size but kitchen is tiny and not sure I can get over that :(
What do you think?
(We are in London so please refrain from saying “I’d rather get a 5 bed detached etc etc” as it simply isn’t an option given our area and FTBs budget!)
Share of freehold for 900 years, ground rent is cheap.

This conversion apartment for a family of 3?
This conversion apartment for a family of 3?
This conversion apartment for a family of 3?
This conversion apartment for a family of 3?
This conversion apartment for a family of 3?
OP posts:
JustCosy · 18/12/2023 13:58

You can and should get over the kitchen, it's lovely. The whole place is lovely and perfect for a family of three. We are a family of three, in a lovely bungalow, kitchen similar to that one. Never had an issue about the size of it. It's easier to clean ☺️

weirdoboelady · 18/12/2023 13:58

How old is the third? Two massive bedrooms here. If it's cheap, go for it!

PuttingDownRoots · 18/12/2023 14:01

Have you got a floor plan?

Is it just one Reception room... Will this be eating, lounging and playing, or will you need office space too?

CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair · 18/12/2023 14:01

The house that we live in has a very small kitchen, it was a compromise I was willing to make when we didn’t have children but I wouldn’t do it again. I love my little boy helping to cook but it’s too small for a tower so he has to sit on the worktop and he always chooses when I’m opening the oven to come out and pull at my legs because he wants something. The only other option which I sometimes have to do is shut the door and not let him in when I’m cooking (obviously when he’s with DH!) but it’s unbearably hot so every meal gets off to a frantic and hot and bothered start.

Its a beautiful flat but because of that I’d probably say no.

Daisies12 · 18/12/2023 14:04

What about storage? Lovely place but looks like the current owners have very little stuff.

TiredandLate · 18/12/2023 14:05

Is there a dining room? I've had a tiny kitchen with two bottom cupboards removed and stools to create a tiny eating space. It was miserable and I wouldn't choose it again unless I had no other options.

Original poster
Wannabemamas · 18/12/2023 14:05

It isn't cheap because it's SW London in a very desirable area but it's a good price I reckon, given the local market.

@CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair we also curretly live in a place with a small kitchen like that and I am so fed up and want a bigger space :( However, my current living room isn't as pretty and I am in love with the rest of the space.

@PuttingDownRoots there is a tiny office corner at the back of the living room (not visible in the picture, is't tucked away on the left), current owners have a single desk in there and a laptop, I guess that would be used as the working space the the big room will be for lounging and dining.

OP posts:
CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair · 18/12/2023 14:05

Also on the easy to clean thing, that’s true but it’s also the case that if you’ve had to dash out and not had time to do the breakfast things (for example) you come back to the whole kitchen being a mess and no room to even make a cup of tea. I feel like I spend my life cleaning the kitchen as even the smallest amount of mess is amplified.

Original poster
Wannabemamas · 18/12/2023 14:06

@Daisies12 it's bigger than out current place overall so tbh that would be an upgrade for us😅

OP posts:
Caspianberg · 18/12/2023 14:06

Where are the living room and kitchen, next to each other? Is the dining space only in living room? Could you buy and knock through to make a spacious open plan kitchen/ dining/ living room? It might give a better balance

The bedrooms look a good size so a desk or armchair in both with space to read separately from living room will be fine

LaurieStrode · 18/12/2023 14:07

JustCosy · 18/12/2023 13:58

You can and should get over the kitchen, it's lovely. The whole place is lovely and perfect for a family of three. We are a family of three, in a lovely bungalow, kitchen similar to that one. Never had an issue about the size of it. It's easier to clean ☺️

This. The kitchen looks charming.

Caspianberg · 18/12/2023 14:07

Do you have floor plan?

Original poster
Wannabemamas · 18/12/2023 14:07

@Caspianberg that's what I thought but I was reading that leaseholds and share of freehold places have some limitations on whether you are able to change the layout and need permission to knock down walls etc - this puts me off a bit tbh

OP posts:
idontlikealdi · 18/12/2023 14:08

I'm in a terrace in se London and my kitchen is tiny. We're moving. You can't really have more than one person in there and now Dts are older it's a dance to get in and out

Original poster
Wannabemamas · 18/12/2023 14:09

@Caspianberg here is the layout

This conversion apartment for a family of 3?
OP posts:
ReadyForPumpkins · 18/12/2023 14:09

My first house, not in London, have a kitchen just slightly bigger than that. We started as a family of 2, then two DC arrived before we moved out. If everything else is good, then it shouldn't be a problem.

WavingCatsandDogs · 18/12/2023 14:11

Does the kitchen have a window?

Original poster
Wannabemamas · 18/12/2023 14:15

@WavingCatsandDogs yes, it's on the left - door also bother me as it occupies space! I guess that could be changed

OP posts:
Caspianberg · 18/12/2023 14:15

You should check what the restrictions are for knocking down walls.

i would want to make living room slightly smaller, then merge kitchen into hallway for kitchen diner. If there’s no window also in kitchen just have archway between living room for natural light

It really depends on price. Is there anything else of similar in same area? If not buy and try and adapt

This conversion apartment for a family of 3?
Original poster
Wannabemamas · 18/12/2023 14:20

@Caspianberg this flat is priced at £525K, which is within budget, although max for us would be £530K so not that cheap for us.
Most flats we have seen in this area so far have something to compromise on, either they are:

  • overall smaller and a bit cheaper
  • good size but in ugly buildings
  • good size in nice buildings but with a short-ish lease
  • cheaper but need a lot of work and we cannot afford anything major

Alternative would be to move out and get a house but would imply leaving current area we love with a great commute and DC school etc. It's doable but we are not sure it will be worth it

OP posts:
Pruneaux · 18/12/2023 14:20

I love it - fine for three of you. The windows are gorgeous

Original poster
Wannabemamas · 18/12/2023 14:20

@Caspianberg can these things be discovered before buying? would we need to ask the freedholders permission for that before we agree to buy? not sure how it all works

OP posts:
Caspianberg · 18/12/2023 14:26

@Wannabemamas - I think it would be checking with freeholder yes.

Agree with others, even just removing the kitchen door would help for now to feel more open. And you could add extra kitchen storage for some things not used daily to office nook also. Or a coffee station

Marblessolveeverything · 18/12/2023 15:17

I would go it because location suits and the bedrooms are a fair size..I would doubt permission would be given removing wall seperating kitchen from only fire exit.

But you could widen the opening between kitchen and living area and put in a sliding door to maximise space.

Westfacing · 18/12/2023 15:24

I think it's a lovely flat.

I wouldn't worry about the small kitchen - a friend has a large flat in one of London's 'premier squares' as they say and the kitchen is about the size of this flat. I was surprised at the small kitchen as she's big on cooking and hosting and previously had a large kitchen - for her the rest of the flat and particularly the location were the deciding factors.