I bought my house intending to extend it at the back. Sadly life got in the way and then covid hit and building costs spiralled and now I can afford it.
Currently kitchen is at front of house and pretty knackered. Washing machine and dishwasher are under counters and it annoys me because food gets spilled on them, and I just dislike having them in a food prep area.
I have a very old 70s extension at the back of the house, which has no insulation in the flat roof and failed old upvc windows and a stupidly placed side door that makes the room really impractical because you can't really put any furniture in there so it's a hot in summer waste of space. There is a desk in there with the family computer.
Pic 1 shows current layout (nb. There is no longer a wall between dining and living room)
Regardless of kitchen location I intend to renew and insulate the extension flat roof, and move the garden door to the end of the room, turning the old door location into a window. I will also reinstate the small window in the living room into a garden door, which it was originally and there is still space for.
I am trying to decide whether to move the kitchen into the back room, making a separate study in the front room or leave it at the front and make the updated extension a study come second sitting area.
Pic 2 shows kitchen at back, pic 3 shows kitchen at front.
I have long lists of in depth pros and cons of both layouts, but I think the main ones are:
Kitchen at back - PROS:
Lovely views in kitchen (I'm on a hill and back onto a park)
Laundry in separate room
Lots storage in study/laundry
CONS:
No second sitting area (wouldn't be nice to sit in front study)
Potential costs and headaches in complicated moving of water/drainage front to back - main drain is at front
Back kitchen very open to noise from living area
I worry that study might become a dumping ground
Kitchen at front - PROS:
No need to move drainage
More storage and worktop space in kitchen
Second seating area with lovely views in back room
Can put doors of some sort (maybe sliding/pocket) on both kitchen and back room for noise control/separation
CONS:
Less light in kitchen
Laundry still in kitchen (though stacked in cupboard just inside door)
Kitchen and dining area quite separate
Any thoughts welcome