New Build Bungalow

[Garamousalata]

DH died nearly a year ago and I would now like to move into a bungalow. I love a new build. I’ve been looking but I can’t find anything I like. My main problem is the open plan kitchen, dining, living area they all seem to have. I just don’t want to sit in my kitchen in the evening watching TV. It just doesn’t work for me.

Is this what people want? Am I out of step?

I’ve noticed that too. I like an open plan kitchen diner, but I want a separate living room.

How many bedrooms are there in what you’ve seen? Could one be a sitting room?

I don't like open plan either.
If you've budget and don't mind getting builders in it's actually very easy to pop up some walls.
Or you can use furniture and screens to separate areas.

The new build bungalows we have seen are inline with the 1930s style bungalows which have smallish rooms. By open planning your living space and bigger windows the space feels bigger which for downsizers who have families but don’t need bedrooms it’s great.

We will be moving to one of these next time, and it will mean completely new furniture for the living space, we have seen a place where it all matches and is very very comfortable (sofa, table and chairs, and two bar stools).

im looking forward to basically moving into a new home with our existing clothes, the dog and all her possessions/toys, and the kitchen stuff. The rest of it eBay, charity or bin!!

Seen examples of both when looking for new build bungalows. What county and what budget?

Yes I’ve been hoping & hoping that one of the EIGHTEEN new developments in our area would have a bungalow but nope! Partly because of my disability but mostly because none of the existing bungalows in my massive town are available and when they are, they’re snapped up before they even hit the market as they’re apparently ‘all the rage’ now which is infuriating as it’s reducing availability for those of us who need them, darn it!

New build bungalows on my estate have separate sitting rooms, and small kitchens separated from dining room by a wall. I was v interested in one but I’d have to spend thousands to rip out a brand new kitchen and demolish a wall. Developer wouldn’t build without the wall. And all the appliances- oven, hob, fridge freezer are on that dividing wall. Who lives like that now? Separate sitting room definitely, but kitchen diner also a must for me. That’s why I ended up in a family home when I live alone. Without that wall I’d have bought in a heartbeat.

I agree I'm going to need to move to a bungalow (currently have to live downstairs) in a couple of years (just waiting on dc3 to finish school). All the bungalows around here either are open plan, they build a couple on a new build site so snapped up fast or have a massive plot of land (which due to disability, I wouldn't be able to maintain).
I saw an article a few weeks ago basically saying part of the issue with housing stock is developers have massively reduced the amount of bungalows they are developing over the last 20 years which means 1. People aren't moving home, staying in larger homes than they need and 2. The cost of a bungalow is rising disproportionately due to lack of stock.
My parents bought a modern coach house so its all on one level and put a stairs lift in, it has a balcony to sit out on, it was the compromise they had to make in order to have the one level living, not all open plan and within budget.
A ground floor flat would be my other option but even in my northern town the charges are madness and unpredictable rises would worry me.

I’m all for an open plan kitchen diner but I like a separate living room. Older bungalows often have a small kitchen and a living dining area or a separate dining room, which I definitely don’t want. The other thing I’ve noticed is that older bungalows often have the bedrooms at the back, whereas I like my living area to overlook the garden.

I agree.. I have open plan kitchen diner with sliding doors to the living room works perfectly!

There are both types around as new builds, open plan kitchen diner, open plan kitchen, diner, living and also separate rooms. I personally have the completely open plan kitchen/living/diner which I thought I would struggle with but 2 years on I actually love it. The only draw back to me is timing the washing machine so it doesn't disrupt my relaxation 😅 I like the sociability of doing things in the kitchen and still in the same room as my husband, but he has disabilities so this works more for us than maybe for others. I hope you find your happy home 😊

I had an older bungalow with the small kitchen, living room. dining area and two bedroom at the back set up and I wanted what you do OP.

I made the larger bedroom into my sitting room and had French doors put in so that I could open it up to the garden. Then I took a wall out of the kitchen and made a big kitchen, dining, living room which I used in the day for cooking, eating, reading, craft and entertaining. I put a sofa bed there for guests. There was so much room for storage in the big room it meant the little back sitting room (which got the evening light) was an uncluttered little retreat. I loved it.

My other bug bear with these bungalows is that the bathrooms have no separate shower so as I can't get in a bath I'd have to rip a brand new bathroom out. I'd assume most people wanting a bungalow have or are predicting having mobility issues at some point hence buying one. Its ok if theres a seperate shower room but the ones that have come up recently are just 1 bathroom. Same with the older bungalows that have been refurbished brand new bathroom with no separate shower.

Yes totally agree. We had to rip the bath out because of my husband's mobility issues, gone for a full wet room.