Ideas to improve layout please

[Richtea67]

Hi all,

We have what feels like a very boxy house, and I would really like some ideas to improve the flow of the downstairs. The upstairs rooms are very small, but we have made our peace with this and have good storage which helps.

I am thinking of opening the space between the kitchen and dining area, and possible extending the dining area out to the righthand side. DH has ideas about moving the staircase, which sounds like a huge job, and not sure how the upstairs space would work with this. Healthy budget (I think) of £100k max, but if we could get away with spending less the more the better, as there is a ceiling price for 4 beds in our area. The downstairs bedroom is currently used as a spare bedroom/snug/playroom, so it would be good to keep this as a separate space.

I'dmove the door into your kitchen, ad currently ypu have to walk via lounge and dining room. Put it straight in front of the front door. Move kitchen to the other end of this room.
Block current door off in dining room to give more useable wall space if needed and install french doors if not got any in dining room.
Take wall between kitchen and dining room down.
Move current door for spare room to allow more wall space in lounge. I forgot to draw it, but move down towards front of house.

I would absolutely move the stairs. If they are repositioned to be in front of the door as you enter the house, they can land in the existing landing space upstairs, you'll gain a bit of room in the 2 main bedrooms.
Make a lovely spacious hallway with a door into the kitchen and a door to the lounge, and I think I would knock the dining room and kitchen together. I think I'd probably close off the door between dining room and lounge, or go the other way and make it larger with double doors.