Extension ideas

[Meredithwho]

Hello! We are looking at an extension on this property in place of the conservatory but are a bit unsure where to put everything. We think the kitchen needs to be near the utility ideally but can’t figure out how to lay everything out and access the rooms. We’d like the extension to be a kitchen, dining and family room. The top left boxes are big sliding glass doors. We aren’t fixed on that idea though if someone has a better plan.

I’ve added the floor plan as it is now and then the extension we think we will do. We don’t want to extend fully across the back as there is a sun trap patio and side access behind and to the side of the utility.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Out of interest do you have land behind the garage and next to the utility room? Could that work as a place to extend the kitchen/ utility room instead?

Yes we do, but it is currently a patio area and side access which I’d be reluctant to cut off. The side boundary kind of goes diagonally across the back of the garage.

Oh I see I just thought if you extended there it may take up less space in your garden?

Definitely a good suggestion! We’ll take a look at the layout again and see what’s workable. The garden is relatively substantial so I’m not too concerned about the space though ☺️

Ah ok makes sense if you have a big garden. Keep us all posted on what you decide!

My first thought is to knock down the wall between the kitchen and dining room and create a large kitchen diner. If you don't like the conservatory, just get rid of it and deck/patio the space, perhaps with an awning to bring the outside inside? Extending in that space will make your patio outside the kitchen/utility rather dark and enclosed. Otherwise, I'd say, turn the current kitchen into a snug, study or drying, coat and boot room, and make the extension marked out the kitchen diner. I don't think it matters if the utility is not next to the kitchen.

Is money an issue? If so you'd ideally keep the kitchen roughly where it is to avoid having to reroute plumbing and cooker cables.
I wouldn't make that big room. It's too cavernous and square. I'd replace the conservatory with a slightly larger footprint, so the room is a generous L shape. Have the kitchen layout roughly the same, with a peninsula.

We did think about just knocking through and getting rid of the conservatory but I want somewhere to chill out in there as we do a lot of hosting. Good idea about keeping the current kitchen separate as a different room though.

I agree, it does look big looking at it like that! I think I quite like the idea of either a larger L shape room or like suggested above, keeping the current kitchen as a different room and using the dining room plus extension as a new kitchen/dining/living space.

I think the extension would work really well. Big island and dining table, kitchen units across the wall on the right - maybe as an L or even a U if you have the space. If you can add a pitched roof with velux windows or a latern to let more light in. Underfloor heating too. You won’t regret the space especially as you’ve said you like entertaining
I’d make part of the garage into a snug, it’ll give you more space and balance the front of the house out