Your opinion on kitchen design, please

Doozergirl

I edited my last post a bit - can't ever post and not edit - you replied quickly!

Just a few measurements on your proposed plan will help, but I strongly suspect that the old lounge could be maintained and the new living extension area accommodate lounging/dining/kitchen.

Your problem is light to the middle of the house, isn't it? I don't know if you're missing a developing trick with so few rooms. What is the target market? The target market looks like you 🙂

vansboy

Thanks

I've put some dimensions on and see what everyone thinks.

https://i.imgsafe.org/1d519863e8.jpg

Existing lounge could have a wall and double doors from new living space, so it could be opened up, if needed. A rooflight wouldn't be difficult to put in, if that would be sufficient.

Plan is to live in it for couple years, then sell and downsize (again)

VB

teneighty

Before you worry about the kitchen you need to sort out the basic footprint and layout. Are you sure you will even get Planning Permission for the extension?

vansboy

Planning doesn't look like an issue, from preliminary discussions and looking at what other proprties have had done, but there is always chance things wont be to the liking of planners, of course.

So thats why i need a plan B....just what is it, though...no idea!!

VB

System

To be honest, it's not really what I would do with a floor plan like that - you have added a lot of expense with big doors/windows onto the back elevation but do you really need 5m wide doors into a kitchen? why not do something more interesting here with openings/ build a window seat to form half your dining area etc? you have created a long living room which will be noticeably darker at one end but no ability to close it off...
I think you could do a lot more with less - just adding an extension to create open plan living but not really looking at how the spaces work together and how you move through the house isn't really that great an idea imo.
What you really need to think about is how you are going to use the house, think about it personally and not in trendy terms

phoebe1989seb

I agree with DG that *most* people I've encountered seem to prefer to retain a separate living area - somewhere for the adults to escape to perhaps - as well as having a large, open plan kitchen/living area, although of course this is not always possible We've restored a few - period - properties (and my DH has worked in the interior design industry for many years) so do have some personal experience.

At our last - Georgian - house, the first architect we consulted regarding a kitchen extension suggested removing virtually every interior wall on the ground floor and was of the opinion that not doing so was terribly unfashionable, leaving us with a "warren of poky rooms" as he put it. We ignored his advice, employed a different architect and the result was a (imho) perfect blend of character and contemporary without losing the period feel of the original house.

Whilst your building has none of the constraints of our - non-listed - property, I would hesitate to make it too 2016 as it may look dated by the time you sell

I would also refrain from having hob and sink in the island......but again that's personal choice. We're just building our fourth kitchen island (we move house a lot, lol!) and have never had hob or sink in them regardless of island size as I prefer it to be a prep surface/somewhere to chill/eat.......

Plenty of deep drawers is the most important thing imho

teneighty

vansboy wrote: »

Planning doesn't look like an issue, from preliminary discussions and looking at what other proprties have had done, but there is always chance things wont be to the liking of planners, of course.

So thats why i need a plan B....just what is it, though...no idea!!

VB

From my rough calculations you are adding about 120 square metres, which is going to cost around £150,000 to £180,000 plus VAT and the layout just doesn't work.

The long corridor from the front entrance will be rather intimidating and not at all inviting and and the back of the living room is likely to be a dark uninviting space. Otherwise I quite like the layout but to make it stack up the whole property will have flow much better.

I would be inclined to go for slightly less new floor space and make better use of the existing footprint.

System

What's the budget for your alterations op? is there anything upstairs? what roof form are you thinking for the extension?

peachyprice

I would prefer a return from where that tall cupboard by the door in the first plan personally, I had an island, i never used it because the kitchen just didn't flow properly. Having a return there as a breakfast bar would make a more definite divide between the living room and kitchen without losing the open plan feel.

If you're cooking there's very little space either side of the hob for taking pots and pans off the hod or trays out of the oven, to take stuff over to the island would be an unnatural flow. There's plenty of space either side of the sink, but again, traipsing across the kitchen with hot pots/trays would be a pain.

vansboy

the_r_sole wrote: »

What's the budget for your alterations op? is there anything upstairs? what roof form are you thinking for the extension?

The roof will continue on the same lines as present and there is a tank in loft space and pipework, which will be removed, but no upstairs as such.

Budget will depend on what I actually end up going for. Architect is back next week, so another reason I'm appreciating input, here.

VB