To knock through or not?

clairehi

We have a large 4 bedroom house with medium size kitchen (13 x 9) and separate utility room. we eat in the kitchen but it is a bit cramped, I am thinking of knocking through the two rooms to make one large kitchen/diner, this would add an extra 6 feet to the length of the kitchen.

however would this put off future buyers who expect a utility room in this type of house? would also mean having the washing machine, muddy wellies etc in the kitchen - its nice to have the utility room for all the messy stuff.

we do have a separate dining room which is hardly used as it is nowhere near the kitchen - waste of space really.

Mr_Warren_2

I have knocked through our 4 bed semi many years ago to make one large kitchen of a utility room and small kitchen. Have not regretted doing it as kitchen is now a central point in the house when we have guests. Go for it !

affordmylife

We knocked our small kitchen and small dining room through last week and what a difference it has made. So much better. Luckily we still have a small utility room which still houses the washing machine, dog bed and wellies!

ka7e

I must admit i would hate to live without my utility room! Mine houses my washing machine, tumble dryer, 2 freezers, recycling boxes, dog food bin, ironing board and 3 cats.
Would it be possible to have a small extension built on the back of a garage?

Mr_Warren_2

Apparently using your utility room as a place for junk......Washing machine, dish washer are part of the kitchen hidden behind door units.

ormus

if youre staying put for ever, then do it.
but if you intend to sell on in the future, then dont.
most buyers prefer more rooms. eg the thro lounge concept of the 70s, has long gone.
if the new buyer wants to knock a wall down then let him do it.

Mr_Warren_2

Ob the other hand new buyers might be put off by having to do the job themselves. Ourdays, kitchens are convevial places and therefore need to be large and ope. Knock it down !

MRSMCAWBER

I would opt for knocking it through, I would think that a large cooking/dining area will make more of an impact than an average sized one and an extra place for white goods..
We have a place with a tiny kitchen eeekkk...its only about 10X8 and as i virtually live in the kitchen, as soon as we move in- in about 5 years, when hubby has finished in the army - the wall between that and the "dining room" will be coming down to make an L shaped area....the dining room is about 12X12 so it will be perfect, the window is coming out and french windows are going in, and the chimney breast is being opened up so i can sink a stove in...ooooh cant wait :-)

Annando

From experience I would do it. People live differently nowadays and the kitchen has become somehow the hub of the house, large kitchens sell houses! Could you make some kind of opening into the garden? Patio doors etc?
Also consider the roof space, if you can install a large velux do so, we did so in ours and it made the world of difference!

Also have you considered hiding your freezer, washing machine, dryer, whatever behind cupboard doors? They don't need to be built in, we have free standing ones with doors at the front and a countertop above. Storage space is very important to prospective buyers, knock down the wall but give them the option of more storage, wellies can be cleaned and hidden behind doors.

Storage possibilities are endless!

I'm a designer, PM me some rough plans and measurements if you want me to tell you how to get the best out of the space planning wise.

ormus

also ask the local estate agents their view, they will know the current trends in your area.
and i still think that leaving well alone is the best idea if you wish to sell on in the future.
we love our utility room.

adandem

I haven't missed our utility at all since we moved into our current house so I would knock through.