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Original poster

Changing our v small galley kitchen into a utility and downstairs loo

28 replies

GreatTT · 19/04/2010 21:22

and thinking about having Jack and Jill doors - one set off the hall, and the other set at the other end going into the study. What do you think. I know it is odd, but is it THAT odd?
I have googled, but can't come up with any images to help me out

OP posts:

HerHonesty · 19/04/2010 21:24

a little odd, but depends on the age of your house. in a modern house it would be weird, in a old house, quirky

cyb · 19/04/2010 21:24

what are jack and jil doors?

Original poster

GreatTT · 19/04/2010 21:27

jack and jill doors are just two doors in one room. They are usually used when two bedrooms share a bathroom which sits in between them iyswim?

HH - house is neither modern nor old. Bog standard mid-wars semi...

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Original poster

GreatTT · 19/04/2010 21:45

thanks btw cyb and HH .
any more for any more?

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tootootired · 19/04/2010 23:02

How will the locks work? Mightn't you be frustrated by people (guests?) forgetting to lock/unlock the 2nd door. can see it working in any room except a toilet.

Original poster

GreatTT · 20/04/2010 10:18

Hi ttt (I know the feeling...)

Well, both doors would open outwards - the first door into the hall, but it would stay shut when not in use, like most under-the-stairs loo doors do. The second door would also stay shut, and really only be used when we want to be able to open up the room to use as a 'corridor' ie to be able to have a straight path from our back door to our front door. I guess it would stay locked 95% of the time, so people would only need to remember to lock the first door (the one they came into) as they would in a normal arrangement.

I suppose I am asking on here because I am wondering if you came into a house with a room like this, would you think, 'yuck that is daft', or 'hmm, clever idea?'

OP posts:

DaisymooSteiner · 20/04/2010 10:43

I'd think it was a bit weird and annoying. I wouldn't particularly want to use a loo as a corridor either.

DaisymooSteiner · 20/04/2010 10:44

BUT - are you planning on moving in the near future? I always think you should have your house as you want it as far as possible. I don't imagine blocking up a door would be a big deal anyway if and when you move.

Original poster

GreatTT · 20/04/2010 10:54

Hi dms, thanks for your input
No, we aren't planning on moving at all. It is more that visitors will think it is wierd that is all. I think it will work, but because I can't find any examples to look at, I am hoping other people might be able to point out any pitfalls etc. At the moment, the room is a kitchen, so has doors at either end anyway. It is more that the room will change into a loo/utility with two doors that is unusual.

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cassell · 20/04/2010 13:53

Can't visualise your layout at all so having difficulties with this one - is the "room" essentially a wide corridor which you're putting doors at both end of? So if you're going in to use the loo you would have to lock the door at the end to the study and the door from the hall (aside from them both being double doors so actually 4 doors to check )? If you need it as a corridor is it really suitable as a loo/utility anyway? Could you not partition off part of it separately for the loo?

Original poster

GreatTT · 20/04/2010 14:02

Hi cassell

the room is currently our galley kitchen - leads from the hall to the back garden. we are planning on extending the house at the back, where the new study will be. The galley kitchen will simply have a change of use to a utility and loo - it isn't quite wide enough to have a separate loo. we have changed plans loads and this is the only logical place for a loo or utility. does that help? the door from the utility/loo room into the study will be closed/locked most of the time, and only opened when we need to use the room as a corridor (we are a semi, but no side access bizarrly, so garden waste etc has to come through the house). the other door from the hall will be closed as you tend to with any downstairs loo.

like I said, it is a novel arrangement - I am hoping not too wierd...

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ConnorTraceptive · 20/04/2010 14:02

We changed our galley kitchen into a playroom with a self contained toilet and a small utility at the end. However there was no room at the other end to get to just the door to the back garden.

I think it coulkd work fine but if you can partition of the loo that would be better

ConnorTraceptive · 20/04/2010 14:05

Also I think if you are not planning on moving then you have to make your home space work for you. After all you live there! BUT if you can, try and make it versatile so it can be changed in the future if you did sell.

Original poster

GreatTT · 20/04/2010 14:06

hi connor

our utility/loo would be in the middle of the house rather than at the end near the garden as in your design. gosh this is hard to get down on paper isn't it?!
re 4 doors - no, only two (single) doors.

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ConnorTraceptive · 20/04/2010 14:07

Ok just seen your last post. Could the toilet/utility not be at the back in the new extension and the studdy where the old kitchen is? I know from a practile point all you pipework is already in place in the kitchen area so it's cheaper and easir to put the utility there.

ConnorTraceptive · 20/04/2010 14:08

God those typo's are shocking sorry!

Original poster

GreatTT · 20/04/2010 14:11

we have considered that idea connor, but we wanted the study to open onto the garden, plus the room in the middle will be quite dark, so more suited to utility/loo than living space iyswim?
ta for suggestions - all welcome

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ConnorTraceptive · 20/04/2010 14:15

Like I said you have to live there so the space needs to suit you best. I wouldn't worry to much what visitors think!!

cassell · 20/04/2010 20:11

Ok I think I have a clearer image now. I agree better to use the extension for living space if you're limited for space. However I'm still not sure about the idea of the loo in a corridor which is the sort of impression I'm getting (even if the doors are kept closed most of the time).

Are you sure it isn't wide enough for a self contained loo? When I was investigating possibilities for downstairs loo in our house I was surprised by how compact some of the loos you can get are so even allowing leg room either side you wouldn't need it to be that wide and do think that it would make the layout work better. Also think it would be more practical - i.e. dirty stuff/laundry/junk etc in the utility (or maybe that's just my utility room ) and easier to keep the loo clean!

But then as others have said, your house so as long as you're happy with it!

ConnorTraceptive · 21/04/2010 15:40

Just to say about the loo, ours was self contained and very tiny/slim but it worked fine. We also used a bi-fold door to save space too

Original poster

GreatTT · 21/04/2010 16:28

thanks again. I am now thinking about sectioning off the loo so it is a separate room. It would fit. The downside is that we wouldn't be able to have the two door arrangement with the utility section as three doors in the space is just too tight. Thus the utility space would also be the corridor, which makes a messy area open iyswim. Hmm!

OP posts:

ConnorTraceptive · 21/04/2010 16:37

Could you use bi-fold doors in each of the door way to free up space?

Original poster

GreatTT · 21/04/2010 16:39

i don't know . tell me more about bi fold doors

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ConnorTraceptive · 21/04/2010 16:53

Well they're the same width as a normal door but rather than push the door away from you or pull it towards you to open it they fold in the middle so kind of consertina (sp?) up to the door frame if that makes sense? You can get them from b&q so not a specialist item.

I'm crap at links but if you look at b&q web site you should find them

ConnorTraceptive · 21/04/2010 16:54

It just means that you don't have to allow so much space for the door opening up into the room. In fact you don't really need to allow for any space for them to open

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