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

warby68

I think I'd go for Option 1 and use the Sunroom for the toys for the couple of years before they're not all needed downstairs. It would be easier to keep an eye on them from the family room than from a smaller kitchen where you might not have comfortable seating. 

The larger open kitchen/family room would be great as they grow up for socialising, space for their friends (and yours) and everyone to gather together. You still have a living room for grown ups as well. 

This assumes the bedrooms are decent size for growing children with space for homework, hobbies. If not that might change my mind to having the extra reception downstairs although again possibly your sunroom would work for office/den purposes if needed seeing as you will already have the family space with what I assume are bifolds for garden access.

ChasingtheWelshdream

Option 1 would be my ideal layout.

The open plan kitchen/family to hang out, the other reception rooms and sun room when you want independent space.

I’ve found that kids don’t tend to stay in a playroom, it effectively becomes a storage area to house the toys at the end of the day. As the kids grow up, ours have just started staying in their own rooms anyway.

If we had a house with layout 2, I would probably be looking to knock through. The larger space gives a lot more options for kitchen and furniture layout.

Mrs_F_2017

Personally I’d knock through - although you could do double doors between if you wanted to have some element of being able to separate the two. 

That gives more options - you have a large playroom/kitchen/diner and still have 2 closed off spaces - the sunroom and the lounge.

I

Doozergirl

BlueC said:

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.

I think you've answered your own question there.  

If you knock through you still have two closed off rooms, which is fine.  I can't imagine having a small kitchen/diner and three separate rooms.

I want to be able to easily get everything from kitchen to a lovely big dining table for lots of people to enjoy.  

Rosa_Damascena

I like the open plan option and the quiet adult space BUT where would you house your home office? And where would the kids study? Do you really want work to invade your kitchen space, OP?  These are key considerations in making your home fit for the future.

twopenny

Keeping the divide creates more options for family and personal space.
Also heating is better midwinter when you can close doors.

A large space looks good on paper and could make a trendy area but do you want it when you have stroppy teenagers?
Will you or they have somewhere to go when they and their friends want to take over your space?

What is it that makes you want to take on this project? Would you perhaps move the playroom now and use that space for something new?

BlueC

Thanks for the input everyone. Still can't really decide - every time we think we've made a decision we get swayed the other way!

Below are some proposed kitchen layouts for each option...

Option 1 - Knock-through to make open plan area

Option 2 - No Knock-through

twopenny

Will you have thermal windows for that length?
The flag/patio Will act as hot and cold reflector. Does the sun come through? Will they showcase a fabulous garden?

I know someone who has them but with a view across rolling countryside and coast. Outside raised decking and a cross country breeze.

Just trying to play devils advocate 

Quiet place for homework or to get rid of grumpy teens? 

I see it's beautiful but can see no chill out, peaceful area.

BlueC

Good questions!

Not sure about thermal windows. I will enquire. The opening is north-west facing and doesn't get any real direct sunlight until sunset. That area of the house never gets too warm or too cold, but obviously opening everything up will affect the heat retention as someone else has mentioned.

The opening faces onto the patio and then garden which is nice to look at or would be if we had any rain!

Yes quiet places or places to do work, or work from home as someone else mentioned. This is probably our main concern with "losing a room" but to be fair we have decent enough bedrooms - not massive but good enough sizes - and we also retain two separate reception room the sun/garden room and the front lounge. Also we have potential to develop the out-houses into a study/office if needed.

I just have a feeling that doing the knock-through and having that open social/family space will give us a really relaxing and welcoming place to be as a family or with friends that we just wouldn't get with the other layout.

twopenny

"we also retain two separate reception room" that makes a difference.

"opening is north-west facing and doesn't get any real direct sunlight until sunset." so beautiful sunsets as you cook and the garden. You probably don't need thermal. Just stand at that side on a hot then cool day but you could put in blinds later if the occasion was necessary.

I'm going by drawings but in reality you're not overlooked? I'm guessing you would have that sorted already.

I know the buyers of my last house put them in a south facing room that used to get scorching in summer. Made me chuckle as they gave me a miserable time.

But the layout looks very nice and covers all sorts of social events and knowing you have space to retreat to if necessary seems you have everything covered