Help with floor plan

[WhatToDoWhatNotToDo]

Hello Mumsnetters,

I'm planning an extension (in green) on my property and need some help with the layout of the ground floor.

I've attached 2 options from my architect, neither I'm entirely happy with.
I prefer the layout of the second plan which has only kitchen and pantry on the left side ...really do not like the positioning of bathroom; or is it just me? It seems rather odd in the middle of the room.

The first plan I like because the plumbing will all remains on one side but the pantry facing the garden ? Wouldn't it be better having the sink there underneath a window with pantry on the other far end ?

Any ideas for a better layout much appreciated.

I see why you're not completely happy with either.

In the first the majority of the space seems to simply become a giant hallway to the back doors with all the usable space pushed to the sides. But the downstairs bathroom seems to be in a sensible location.

In the second the kitchen, pantry and dining layout feels much better but the bathroom being straight off the snug feels a little too close for comfort.

It looks a big space so I'm sure there must be a third option somewhere that would be better.

Playroom looks too small
Where is the utility room?
Do you need a walk in pantry?
Where do the stairs from the snug go to?

I don’t like either of them. Do you definitely need a separate playroom and snug?

I would be inclined to have the playroom/snug as the same space. Bear in mind that it wont get much light with the big extension on.

I much prefer the second. Having the bathroom central means it’s not ages away from any particular living space. It’s fairly close to them all. Having it in the entryway would be weird to me. Like ‘oh, hello, here’s the toilet’ whenever anyone comes round. The first plan has loads of dead empty space too.

On the flip side, do you want a bathroom off the main kitchen space? I would prefer it out of the way

There are some various ways to play around with it but these are some initial thoughts:

Playroom (Pink) - internal wall to be knocked down in the middle. Can widen the window to increase natural light.

Bathroom(orange) - My issue with the snug space is the lack of natural light so by putting the rooms that don’t require light into that space makes sense. However this does lose the fireplace (I hope it’s not one you are specially attached to). Access is via stairs from hall (if I have understood this layout correctly)

Pantry (Blue) - again, does not require natural light, access via the kitchen area however door could be moved to the left hand side if want more wall space for kitchen units or fridge.

kitchen and island (red)

dining area (purple)

Personally yes, I find it a pain when cooking etc to have to go to the loo all the way across the house. I find I worry and so have to turn hobs off etc

on your plan, the playroom and pantry are both taking up too much space for the amount of use they get. do you really need them? In my experience, playrooms are often not used for play but just end up as a massive toy cupboard and then the kids grow out of them quickly.

here is a possible plan.

K = kitchen - bigger with better windows for the sink
P = pantry - make sure it has a sliding door to maximise the space
S = shallow storage cupboards in the hall - will give lots of space for things like plates you only use for special occasions, or flower vases etc.

D = dining table - I've drawn 6 chairs but you could probably have a decent 8 seat table with good views of the garden

TC = 2 massive toy storage cupboards - one open to the dining room for crafts / board games that need a table. The other open to the snug for lego / dress up / whatever kids play with in the snug. This is instead of a playroom and should keep things tidy. And you already have a separate living room for a proper adult space.

S - snug as before because a cosy space with the fire is good. you might consider having a proper door that closes so if one person is cooking with music, someone else can watch different TV or do something different in the snug.

On first look, unless the extension is single-storey with a roof lantern or skylights, there is a lot of light to the two (now smaller) front rooms with bay windows and comparatively little light to the whole back of the house. Also (as pp said) the extension just gives a very wide “corridor” to the back doors. Squint at the plan and it’s easy to spot! Why can’t you just come straight through the front door to double doors in front of you which opens up to the back, then no door on the right, so
open to the two front rooms and stairs? The bathroom doesn’t need natural light (but good ventilation) and it would be worth having a door to the garden directly from the utility room.

Wow.

Such elegant solutions.

Yes I think this is better - kitchen on the right and utility and bathroom and pantry where the snug was. Then all open at the back and the playroom where the other window is.

I find the rooms blocking the windows in the first plan really odd tbh and the room is all open plan so what is the point of the snug?

mine isn’t as wide as yours but I have kitchen/bathroom/utility on the left and all the living space on the right and between kitchen and garden doors

we have a separate lounge at the front which we use for formal/tv/piano or a bit of space away from others!!

Also why do you want the separate playroom

I would want the toilet door to be moved to the right hand wall so opens on the inner hall. Then where you have blocked up the current toilet door could be huge storage for coats and shoes etc. If I was in the middle of cooking (plus younger kids around) then it would annoy me to keep having to go through 2 doors almost back on myself just for a wee! Apart from that I like @parietal solution

Thank you everyone for your responses and suggestion. @MouldyandScully those stairs go up to the first floor and door leads to an understair cupboard where the electric and gas meters currently are so the bathroom would some kind of. I like the kitchen on right, on issue is it requres having to move all the plumbing over as well. @IAmKerplunk completely agree; i was thinking that myself as well - thnk you. @parietal your suggested layout really seems to work and you make a great point about the playroom not really being used but rather ending up as storage. The idea with the cupboards is really great; won't take up much space and create a nice partition between the snug and the dining area and the bigger kitchen is definitely a big plus. I should hire you instead of my architect! Thank you very much; really appreciate your input.

Agree. Think children don’t play in a playroom as they like to be near their parents. It becomes just an expensive toy room.

The only advantage of the playroom is when they are teens and it can become gaming/hang out space but I certainly wouldn’t be prioritising the position so it blocked the open plan family space being at the garden end of that room

They're both pretty terrible. Parietal's suggestion is good, alternatively, depending on plumbing etc, could the bathroom and/or plant room go under the stairs? That way they'd be hidden away in the middle of the house (also the darkest part), opening up the back for actual living space.

In plan one

id just swap the pantry from the outer end to butt up against the shower room - literally swap from from one end to the other but same outer wall

in Plan 2 putting the bathroom in the middle of the room/space

means at a letter date if you wanted to take the playroom out - it’s a lot more difficult and you’re left without downstairs shower room/loo

wheteas taking down 2/3 partition walls is a lot simpler or indeed extending playroom

I have edited image 2. Bathroom door opens into the entrance hall, so totally separate from living area. No rooms added to right side, so there is room for a sofa that leads to play area, instead of snug, to keep the toys out of the way. I woukd also add a door to the main living room to access the stairs, otherwise it is a long walk round.

Sorry but having to go through 3 doors with the grocery shopping would really not be for me

would it pass fire regulations?