Extension Options

[fatjac]

Hi I wonder if I could have some opinions please.

We live in a 3 bed Victorian Semi with 2 children age 11 and 4. Large sitting room smaller dining room which you have to go through to get to kitchen which is average size.

Would you rather have a 2 storey extension comprising family room off the kitchen with stairs leading to two rooms. Possible a seperate TV room and a spare bedroom. There is also a utility room with wc on the ground floor. In this scenario the new kitchen stays in the original location.

Or would you rather have a single extension with vaulted ceiling and skylights where the new kitchen would go. The old kitchen would have glass fitted along one wall with access onto a large deck and be turned into a sunroom/sitting room. There would be 3 steps from this room leading down into new kitchen/dining space. The utility room stays as planned

In both options old dining room becomes a study.

Personally I'd rather have an extra bedroom.

We've got 2 DC and live in a 3 bed semi and I'd LOVE another bedroom for guests. Just think with kids the extra bedroom would win out every time for me.

Although I have to say, your single extension idea does sound bloomin gorgeous

We have permission to go for the 2 storey option but I'm just not sure. Most of our family and friends live nearby. When we do have overnight guests either DH and I or they sleep on an Aerobed in the sitting room. Not ideal but OK for short periods. As for the upstairs TV room, I dont think we would get much use out of that though I suppose it could come in handy when the boys are older.

The architect thought it would be better to go for as many extra rooms as possible as doing 2 storeys doesn't cost you double the amount. However I am worried that this option isn't going to give me the kitchen of my dreams

It depends how much you need the extra bedroom. The two storey option sounds a bit awkward - I would sooner have a better flow and rooms that I use than space that I'm not sure I need in a slightly clumsy layout. I suppose the two-storey option would future-proof your home a bit - would your children use the TV room in a few years' time? Are they likely to want friends to stay over?

Also would the two-storey room not need a bathroom upstairs with the spare bedroom otherwise, from the way I understand it, the guests would have to come downstairs, walk through the ground floor and up the main stairs if they want to brush their teeth?

Thanks for the responses.

The spare bedroom would use the facilities in the shower room that we are putting into the utility so just one flight of stairs thought there would be room to have an ensuite too I guess.

I think I am leaning towards the single storey option as I have always wanted a large kitchen and I think that the extra ceiling height will give it some WOW factor. Though I wont be putting WOW on the wall like Ms Alsopp.

Am SO it does sound gorgoeus. If you don't need the spare bedroom, then the kitchen of dreams, with loads of light and space sounds like a much more stylish option. Oh...time for another Good luck with it all!!

If you don't need the bedroom go for the vaulted kitchen you will love it every time you walk into it on a sunny day