What would you do (if anything) to the layout of this?

[Udford]

Looking to potentially offer on a 3 bed detached which needs modernisation.

The layout of the ground floor seems a bit clunky (smallish lounge, broken up by the kitchen and then another section of lounge at the back). We can see it’s got potential but we’re mind blank on we would best set this out. It’s already been extended at the back and we could prefer not to remove the original rear load bearing wall due to the cost (steels, foundations etc).

If this was yours, what would you do?

Move the kitchen into the family room, and knock the former kitchen and living room together into a larger living room?

The pic has been cut at the top so I can't see if there's a door along the back wall but I'd do this - knock the remaining (red) wall down between the kitchen and dining room, relocate the kitchen along the back and have a small island (purple). Then the old kitchen area can be the dining area.

Depends on budget, and how you want to live in the house. Initial reaction would be to move the wall between the utility and family room back towards the look to make the utility smaller and turn the new larger family room into the kitchen. Turn existing kitchen into a snug or dining room. Take out that internal window and use the gap for a breakfast bar with the kitchen counter on the other side. or you could take that out all the way down to the floor - it will already have a lintel, so no steel needed, that would open those to rooms up to each other quite substantially if you wanted to be a bit more open plan.

Front room would be a dining room if middle room was a snug, or a lounge if the middle room was the dining room. Add storage for coats and shoes near whichever door is going to be your main entry. Might be tempted to block up the external door on the side unless that's going to be the main entry or you need/like it. furniture layout will be tricky in that room with doors on 3 of the walls.

You could also consider stealing some space from the garage to make a new utility room, for slightly more living space in the house.

Here's what I would do.

I'd move the kitchen to the back of the house. I'd block up the door between the current kitchen and family room and make the internal window a door. I'd push the utility wall back and remove the. wall between utility and loo, making them one space. Then I'd make the small back door into a window. You already have access to rear via kitchen.

I'd put kitchen units to the left, and a nice wide island in, probably with some searing. On the kitchen side of utility wall you could have more units if required.

The old kitchen becomes a dining room. I'd also put a cupboard under the stairs as the entrance space looks small and you will need a.place for coats etc.

Amazing pic attached

Not relevant, but are there really two external doors into the entrance hall or is that a mistake on the drawing? One of those wants bricking up - add coat hooks.

I would make the kitchen and family room one big open kitchen and dining area

I have done what a pp suggested, steal the back of the garage and make it in to a utility. We also did away with access to the garage from the house and it made it so much warmer.

@Viewfrommyhouse if you click on ops pic you get the full thing including the back wall.

I wouldn't change anything to the layout. I like having a completely separate reception room plus a big kitchen / family space. Is there really room in the kitchen for it to be a diner too?

I'd make the garage into a room and then choose a room you can make into a dining room.
I hate the current trend for kitchen/diners: when we have people for dinner I don't want to sit in all the cooking mess.

Personally I would have the kitchen/diner/family room at the back of the house, with no folding doors on to the garden, possible a 2/3 metre extension with roof lights, the lounge to remain where it is, and the garage a formal dining room/office/homework/project room

I'd swap the kitchen and family room over, so that kitchen is at the back. I'd absorb the utility into the kitchen by removing that wall between them. You'd get loads more useable space with the kitchen back there, than in the middle as it currently is.

What type of garage is it? Is it an integral garage and do you plan to put a car in it?

This would influence my decisions. At the moment it's all a bit corridor like because you have to walk through every room to get to the others.

If you could gain some additional width for a hallway, it would seem like a much bigger house.

But not all garages are alike in terms of conversation potential.

That's what I would do too.
Leave the kitchen in the middle and make the back open to the kitchen so it's a nice kitchen diner, and the front room is a nice separate snug lounge.