House re-design - best use of rooms?

Male30something

Hi,

In the image attached, I have a proposed change to the layout of my house. At present, I have a room, that I don't know what to do with it (Called Spare in the image).

My plan is:

1. Extend kitchen into breakfast room.
2. Create an opening into spare room.
3. Convert Spare room to dinning room.
4. Break sitting room into two rooms, diving the room using furniture.

Anyone have any suggestions, feedback on this approach? I'm finding the two narrow rooms are difficult to design. I don't want to build a wall in the sitting room as this would create two box rooms.



Thanks in advance...

jcsmum

I suppose the new design depends on how many people live in your house, if you have kids (need a playroom etc...). My preference would be to have your kitchen running along the back of the house, maybe use the little spare part to the left as a utility room/wc and the right hand side as a dining area, leading into your living area at the front. As you don't want a wall in the living room, what about an arch or accordian type doors or double doors which can be left open/closed as you wish. I think I would have the room on the left hand side as another living room, maybe a more formal one, this could be used as a playroom, second sitting room or office perhaps... I think it is nice to have 1 room not interconnected and just cut off from the others for privacy. Could be used as a spare bedroom for guests if you put a sofabed in there.
Lots of possibilities, it looks like a good space.

JuliusCaesar

I'Ve often wondered about the actual use of dining rooms....do people with dining rooms use them regularly? In anyone's house I've been to, they sit around unused except for major events. Useless rooms, I've always thought.

icbarros

Hi,
It is crucial that you tell the forum where is the "North".
Any major conversion should consider the solar path.

Male30something

Yeah, I know what you mean about the dinning room... not sure what else to use the space with really. It's only me in the house and I like dinner parties

Regarding where's north... interesting, I didn't think that would affect things much, but here it is:

icbarros

Firstly, I am struggling to understand what kind of step you have from the kitchen to the spare area. Is this a phisical change on the levels? Is the kitchen higher or the spare space? Do you plan to have everything at same level in your proposal? Is this possible? (There is a window/door? to West...)
Secondly, do you have any budget to change the kitchen or you really need to keep it as it is?
Thirdly, closing the living room door is a huge mistake and it will ruin the already bad overall circulation.

I think your proposal is not going to improve the house at all. I think you should look at the bigger picture and consider the following:
1. It is possible to open window/s to South?
2. What kind of views do you have to West and East?
3. Is there a toilet downstairs? (not shown in drawing) If not, you should definitely include one in your new layout.
4. Your living room is a very dark space. You should try to capture as much light as possible for this room. Sunlight is very important for our health and general well-being.
5. Where is your utility going to be?
6. Looking at your drawing it looks like there is some wasted area in your hall. Could this be used to improve the overall layout and circulation?? (which means knocking down the wall to the living room...)
And I am sure there are many other issues that are not coming to my mind right now...

Also, someone already mention it and I'll stress it again. It would be important to know the dynamic of your family. Do you have kids? Do you need a play room?; Do you like to exercise? Do you need a gym?; What meals do you have at home? Do you like to cook? Do you like to entertain? How private do you need your desk to be? Etc, etc.

I know it seems a lot but it's your house, your home. And you are probably going to spend there a good few years of your life. And even if that is not the case the next family that will buy it/rent it will be happy to buy/rent a house that is fully functional.

Just to finish, I wouldn't spend one euro with the changes you are proposing to do. If you want to spend money, spend it wisely, look at the big picture and remember that any improvements that you make to your house will increase its value in the future.

If you can't afford to do a major conversion right now, get a plan, get professional advice and it may be possible to have the works done by stages that you can afford to pay (although I wouldn't recommend that...).

All the best.

JuliusCaesar

Male30something wrote: »

Yeah, I know what you mean about the dinning room... not sure what else to use the space with really. It's only me in the house and I like dinner parties

Regarding where's north... interesting, I didn't think that would affect things much, but here it is:

In that case, open the kitchen to dining room. If it's just you, you don't want to get left out of the conversation while you ready the next course in the kitchen.

Doesn't rally matter where north is, because most of your dinner parties will be in the evening, so sunshine won't matter.

adrob

could you tell me what floor plan package you used as i need to re design the layout of my house and seeing it laid out like that makes it a bit easier.
thanks
adrob

Male30something

I used a graphics package called Gimp (see www.gimp.org). But you could use MS Paint too. It's not to scale or anything, I just drew it quickly for illustrative purposes.