When the layout is wrong and the budget won't stretch to an extension
The existing downstairs layout doesn't work for this young family.
Even though the house is quite spacious, they are spending most of their time in a corner of the small, dark kitchen, that is isolated from the lounge and dining room and doesn't have access to the garden, making it impossible to keep an eye on the children.
There is no utility room or enough storage, meaning things are spilling out into other rooms.
There isn't a dedicated work space for each parent, both of whom work from home part of the week.
The layout is not making use of the lovely garden views, which are the highlight of the house and one of its strongest selling points.
The hallway is dark and uninviting.
With our redesign we have considered how the family want to spend their time in their home and optimised the usage of space.
We have created a dedicated Office space for both parents where the current Bed/ Dining Room is, taking advantage of the big front windows letting in natural light. We have also suggested replacing the existing door with a glass door, in order to let more light into the dark Hallway, but also to create a line of sight into the existing kitchen, now repurposed as a Play Room, in order for the parents to be able to watch the children while working in the Office. Across the hallway into the existing kitchen - now Play Room - we have suggested double glass doors for the same reasons, as well as adding interest and aesthetics to the previously uninviting Hallway.
By knocking through from the new Play Room into the existing Dining Room, we create a natural extension into the new Lounge, which then also connects to the new Kitchen Diner, improving the flow and interconnectedness of the house.
The garden space at the back of the house, in between the new Kitchen Diner and existing Garage lends itself well for a new Utility Room, easily achievable by installing a glass roof link. Being right behind the Kitchen, the Utility Room would provide a highly practical space for a larder, washer and dryer, ironing, pram and other necessities of family life.
The existing Garage, having been linked to the rest of the house via the new Utility Room, could be converted into a Guest Annexe with Shower Room, or a second Lounge or Office, providing flexibility for the family in the years to come.
The existing Car Port could be closed off at the front to provide additional much needed storage.
And finally, the existing Shower Room at the front of the house could be halved to become a WC only, with the space left over used for coat and shoe storage, and to increase natural light and a welcoming feel upon arrival.
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