Would only 2 downstairs rooms put you off a 4 bed house?

[StripyFrogs]

Downstairs, we have a kitchen, separate dining room, large living room and downstairs toilet.

We are thinking of knocking through between the kitchen and dining room to make a large kitchen diner and there is a large alcove that we could put a stud wall up to make a utility room.

But then we’d only have 2 main rooms downstairs. The current kitchen has a breakfast bar but isn’t big enough for a table. The living room has a fire right in the middle of the room and I can’t see a way to separate it in to two smaller rooms.

Upstairs we have 3 decent size doubles and a big single which we use as a study. Master bedroom has an en-suite and there is a family bathroom.

Would only 2 downstairs rooms put you off
buying a house? Our DC are young adults so we are past the stage of playroom and friends round.

Our previous house had a kitchen diner which worked really well for us, but we had 2 other rooms downstairs

We aren’t planning on moving for a long time, but I don’t want to make the house unappealing for when we do.

As long as you have a separate utility (HATE sound of washing machine etc running in big open plans!) and the rooms are decent sized downstairs that sounds fine - would the newly enlarged kitchen diner be big enough for a sofa to make it a family room space?

I would need to see a floorplan tbh

I would always prefer a separate kitchen personally, unless it's really tiny. It does help to contain the cooking smells somewhat and I also don't always like cooking in full view of guests. There's also the issue of the washing machine basically being in the dining room. And there's not much scope to have a cheeky sherry when cooking the Christmas dinner!

Sorry, I should have added a floor plan. The plan is to block the existing kitchen door up and make that space a utility with a door in the middle from the kitchen.

I think it would fine tbh

Yes. The kitchen looks a decent size so I'd rejig that rather than knocking through. I like having a sitting room, play room for toys and utilities separate. And I hate cooking smells going all through the house.

I would do it, in fact I did do it. A big open kitchen dining space is lovely.

As long as you have a separate cosy living room, which you will.

@Pugglywuggly If we kept the existing layout, we wouldn’t have space to put a utility in. And we don’t need a play room as DC are older.

It would put me off but only because my kids are still tiny and so we have lots of years left where I prefer to have a playroom. I think for families with older kids or just adults it wouldn’t be much difference though!

We’re about to do just that do we have a large kitchen diner. I hate being stuck in the kitchen cooking while guests have a conversation in the dining room. Equally I hate having people getting my way in the kitchen hence when I’m cooking. Large kitchen diner solves both problems

Only if the kitchen diner would have space for eg a sofa and tv too.

We don't have 4 beds, but did knock through the kitchen and dining room. We would never have used the dining room without doing that. It is a much better space now. I wasn't keen on the idea before we did it.

Most (not all of course) families prefer big open rooms now. Go for it.

It would put me off. My down stairs is the same layout, the dining room is a playroom/second living room. The noise from machines going on in the kitchen would drive me batshit. But I'm not a fan of open plan anyway.

It would definitely put me off. We’re in the process of moving and have viewed dozens of houses. Most of the time we don’t even bother to look at properties thar haven’t got at least two separate living / dining rooms. We’ve seen a few houses with kitchen/diners, but we wouldn’t have considered buying anywhere without a separate dining room as well.

I’m not keen on open plan so it would put me off but equally I’m sure lots of people would hate my house with separate downstairs rooms so you need to do whatever is right for your family now and not worry too much about what others think.

@StripyFrogs I would do what you suggest and in the dining area, I would have doors to the outside. This would make taking food outside a lot better in terms of flow. A utility room is so useful! Your kitchen has a lot of wasted space and does the breakfast bar face the wall? Not very attractive in my view. A 20x12 ft kitchen diner is great and versatile. No need for sofas in my view and you can zone the lounge with your furniture. Looks like a good plan to me.

Would be fine for me!! I hate wasted wide hallways when the house needs to cope with 3+ bedrooms.

Thanks for all the responses. It’s not a resounding no, so I think we’ll do it!

To all those saying keep them separate because of washing machine noise - the only way I can see to fit a utility room in is to knock through and then block up the existing kitchen door and use that space at the back for a utility.

There won’t be room for a sofa and tv, but I think I can fit in an island to sit at and a dining table.

Honestly looks fine OP!

Fine with me if utility is separate and ideally a casual reading chair at least or ideally sofa in the dining area.

@CombatBarbie the hallway is needlessly big! And it currently has no storage at all. Not even a hook! The plan there is to build floor to ceiling shoe storage under the stairs, and then put a coat cupboard in where the existing kitchen door is.

Nope i would rather have 2 nice big rooms if you’ve got a good sized lounge and you have- I don’t have kids at home anymore so wouldn’t want playrooms etc - and happy to use spare bedrooms as offices etc . Where I wouldn’t buy a house myself is when they’ve made it all kitchen and only left themselves a tiny snug/lounge

@MeetMeOnTheCorner yes, the breakfast bar is directly in front of the washing machine! It really cuts the room in half and we only really use the space in front of the breakfast bar. There is also a door to the side of the house just in front of the breakfast bar.

We will definitely be putting doors in the dining room side as we currently have to access to the back from the house.