Another kitchen renovation one…

[mullettraitor]

So we’re finally in a position to be able to refurb our kitchen. I have attached a floor plan. We want to knock the existing wall between the kitchen and utility down and create a much bigger space.

what you can’t see from the plan is that we currently have a brick shed connected to the back of the house and it’s pretty knackered and blocks out the light. DH wants to put the kitchen at the back of the house (so where the utility is now), put in a big window and turn what is now a sort of pantry (but unused and full of crap) for appliances and put in a small bathroom (only have 1 which works but we could def do with another loo).

I’m not keen on this, my neighbour has something similar and I always think having a bathroom stuck on back of the house feels really exposed and a bit weird.

My idea would be to put doors at the back of the house and use the under stairs cupboard for an extra loo. Still thinking of where to put appliances etc but the kitchen is so dark and direct access and more light to the garden makes much more sense to me.

Any experience or advice would be greatly appreciated. TY

I would go for a light and bright kitchen every time. Even if it meant a slightly more awkward space.

We have the whole of one wall in the kitchen as glass and everyone gravitates towards it. Even the kids bring toys from the playroom to play on the tiles by the glass.

There’s something innate in humans to want light I think.

Thank you, that sounds lovely. I’ve lived with this dark kitchen for 8 years and really Want doors that open into the garden. Also spending money rebuilding a shed which is just filled with crap seems like a huge waste.

Anyone se have any ideas?

I would definitely have the toilet using the under stairs area providing the existing bathroom is in close proximity to it on the floor above. Putting it somewhere where you'd have to do major drainage/sewage works is expensive

Thank you.

I think your idea is a good one. Large french windows into the garden. Block up the existing door into the side return and have a short run of tall cabinets along that wall and a dining table in the bay window. Downstairs loo in the cupboard under the stairs.

Alternatively, you could extend the hall into the first few feet of the kitchen, have a loo on your left as you enter and a cupboard on the other side for washer/dryer and the kitchen "starts" at the bay window. This will depend on you having a metre or so of space before the corner of the bay window but it frees up the cupboard under the stairs for storage. Do get rid of the utility room which blocks the rear though.

Where are your toilet waste pipes upstairs? I assume this is a terrace? An under stairs loo might end up having to be a macerator toilet and those are truly awful inventions, noisy and you need to call out a plumber to unblock it every time anyone accidentally flushes a tampon.

I personally like a separate utility even if just for laundry drying purposes but I can't see an easy way to have one except where it is now.

Is there a bit beyond the current utility or is that just where the brick shed thing is which will be knocked down?

Is there anywhere upstairs to put a utility space or cupboard?

Thank you.

no room upstairs and yes the shed is at the back.

Thank you - this is definitely more what I had in mind. Everyone I know who has the bathroom at the back just seems to use at as a dumping ground.

Are you not planing to do the side return? I would make the side return, and then put the kitchen diner on the sunniest side of the house- front of house or back.
Living room in the less bright end of the house- either front room or onto garden .

a block with utility and wc can go in the central darkest part of house.

I can't afford it and also where I am they don't tend to get planning due to close proximity to neighbours.

I’d assume that where the utility is was originally the outside loo. Very common in Victorian terraces. Our layout is the same. So there’s probably pipes and drainage there for a loo already. Something to think about.

I would add doors at the back directly onto the garden and fit a loo under the stairs. I'd have a utility cupboard in the kitchen next to the loo with stacked machines. Or a larger cupboard in that location that could also double as a pantry.
I'd close off the side door in the kitchen as you won't need that, but keep a window there
If it was in budget, I'd also knock down the walls between dining room, kitchen and hall and make it a larger space. And I'd change the doors in the dining room area to a large picture window, possibly on an angle to meet the point of the bay.

Then think about which is sunniest in day side of house, and make that you say room (ie kitchen diner) and leave the other room for the living room. And as you suggest, put the WC utility under.

Thank you - great ideas.