Knock 2 reception rooms into 1 or leave as is ?

Shelldean

I'd either keep separate or I'd move the dining room into lounge two and make a big lounge from lounge one and the current dining room.

No need to move stairs then.

Kim_kim

Shelldean wrote: »

I'd either keep separate or I'd move the dining room into lounge two and make a big lounge from lounge one and the current dining room.

No need to move stairs then.

I can see why the OP is going for the large kitchen diner.
They are very much on this wish list of most buyers.
Big family kitchens where everything can be done.
But I would def go front to back.
If nothing else it keeps options open for future knocking - without moving stairs.

GoldenShadow

I hate open plan. I hate lounge diners. It would take something massive for me to buy either.

lincroft1710

Do whatever suits your lifestyle, you are the one living there at the moment.

teddysmum

If you join the two lounges, removing the stairs, wouldn't the layout be odd with the entrance in the centre of the new room (unless you plan to move the entrance, too)?


I'd prefer two separate rooms, especially if there were children. A family room and a quiet room with the bonus of somewhere to take a visitor for privacy.

Hoploz

bikingbarney wrote: »

Here is a picture showing the current layout ......


Both lounges are big enough to fit a 3/4 seater sofa and also the larger room also comfortably fits another two seater. The wall to the left of the staircase is the original outside wall.

OK you have a remarkably similar layout to my old house! With the kitchen diner across the back knock together, then you could have double glass doors that open into the smaller lounge, and keep the other separate.

I actually had it arranged with kitchen and sitting area across the back, with French doors to access the garden - ideal for sitting overlooking the garden. Then I had the dining table away from the garden, as you tend not to sit at the table looking out! In my case I had an extra room as well but you could have the dining area on the front (in the smaller lounge) either open plan (good for kids art etc while you're getting on with stuff in the kitchen you can keep an eye) or with doors as I suggested earlier so it could be separate.

I would not move the stairs. You could potentially open up one side of the stairs to one of the rooms, that way it is less of a tunnel going up.

Norma_Desmond

I personally loathe open plan.

Doors were invented for a reason. :-)

penguine

I dislike open plan myself and we reinstated the wall between our kitchen and dining room after we bought our house to return them to two rooms (then extended the dining room to make a large kitchen-diner).

A friend who has a similar layout to yours with stairs in the middle of the house, has an L-shaped kitchen, diner, family room at one side and the back of the house, then a separate sitting room at the front of the house.

The disadvantages to open plan are having to heat a larger area, fewer walls to put furniture against and having to keep the entire area tidy because if one area is cluttered it ruins the look of the area.

But really it's down to personal preference and how you envisage the rooms will best work for you and your family.

goodwithsaving

could you knock through but put bifold doors in? that way you can have separate rooms AND open plan. I'm hoping to do that in the new house (if we get it). It looks good, I think

Dave_the_Ginger_Cat

If you want open plan, do it


If you can do it in a way which allows someone else in the future to easily reinstate the walls, then all the better


My house had two bedrooms joined together with an arch when I moved in. Not my cup of tea, so I had it filled in, but nothing structural needed doing, so not expensive