Help! Ground floor layout options - to knock through or not knock through?

BlueC

We are renovating and need to decide on our ground floor layout.

Two options here: https://imgur.com/a/9b9ksrU

We have been planning to keep the playroom (kids are aged 2-7) but as the time approaches we're more inclined to knock-through and have the bigger family/dining space and lose the playroom.

Which way would you go and why?

Any insights and experiences gratefully received!

grumbler

                               

BlueC

Thanks grumbler, can't seem to edit my original post to add the images now!

RAS

Where are the gas, water,  bathrooms upstairs?

BlueC

RAS said:

Where are the gas, water,  bathrooms upstairs?

Not sure its relevant but the boiler is in utility, water is available wherever by dropping down from upstairs, and there will be a bathroom and shower room upstairs.

GDB2222

I don’t think playrooms work very well. The kids want to be with the parents. Well, ours did. So a family room would work better. YMMV.

thegreenone

I think I'd keep the playroom.  You can close the door on any mess!  But also as the children grow older, it could become a homework room/hangout with mates room/Gaming room.

And later a proper dining room/quiet reading room or have another TV in there.  Jobs may change and WFH could become possible.

My hubby loves TV, the cr*ppier the film the better or sportsportsportsportsportsport and more sport.  Consequently, we have two large'ish TVs, one in the lounge and one in the conservatory.  I'm not saying that you and your partner don't/won't watch the same thing!

Section62

BlueC said:

Which way would you go and why?

Any insights and experiences gratefully received!

We'd need to know -

Budget

Details of the existing layout, plus whether any alterations have been done previously

How much disruption you can put up with while the work is done

BlueC

Section62 said:

BlueC said:

Which way would you go and why?

Any insights and experiences gratefully received!

We'd need to know -

Budget

Details of the existing layout, plus whether any alterations have been done previously

How much disruption you can put up with while the work is done

Sorry I was asking more about the space and layout rather than the practicalities. We have drawings and struct engineer calcs for both ways and could budget to either. So my question is more about the usability and practicality of the spaces for living as a family.

BlueC

thegreenone said:

I think I'd keep the playroom.  You can close the door on any mess!  But also as the children grow older, it could become a homework room/hangout with mates room/Gaming room.

And later a proper dining room/quiet reading room or have another TV in there.  Jobs may change and WFH could become possible.

My hubby loves TV, the cr*ppier the film the better or sportsportsportsportsportsport and more sport.  Consequently, we have two large'ish TVs, one in the lounge and one in the conservatory.  I'm not saying that you and your partner don't/won't watch the same thing!

Yes we thought if keeping the playroom it could become something else as the kids get older, but we fear its so common for "dining rooms" to become dead spaces that nobody ever uses except maybe at Christmas! Also, even with the knock-through option we do still essentially have 2 separate reception rooms (or tv rooms) plus a big family/social space.

Section62

BlueC said:

Sorry I was asking more about the space and layout rather than the practicalities. We have drawings and struct engineer calcs for both ways and could budget to either. So my question is more about the usability and practicality of the spaces for living as a family.

In which case it is very much a case of the personal preferences of yourself and your family, and without knowing you very well there's not much useful input we can make (other than in terms of impact on future sale value).

For example, some people spend a lot of time in the kitchen and may want the kitchen at the rear of the house to keep an eye on the children in the back garden. Others may spend most of their time in the family room and would want that at the back.

Have you shared the plans with friends/family and asked them how they think the two layouts 'fit' with the way your household works?