Self build layout advice

7 years ago

My partner & I are about to embark on a self build project and I'm interested to hear the opinions of others before we finalise. Let me know what you think!!

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boundsgreener

7 years ago

Hi Vicki. Can you build a proper wall between bedrooms 2 and 4 because it looks like you are dividing the window panes? The same question goes for the ensuite for bedroom 2 and the hallway.

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Comments (15)

Joanna C
7 years ago
It depends on your personal preferences and needs. If I was building, I'd need 2 separate living areas with sofas and a study.
Vickie Bracken
Original Author
7 years ago
Study is going upstairs in one of the bedrooms and there will be a sofa area in the kitchen diner as well as in the separate living room. Hoping to just have lots of multifunctional spaces that we can change the use of in years to come.
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Ok, first of all I think we have very similar tastes because I looked at the pics you tagged in your idea books, but this layout is not efficient at all. your working triangle is non existent and I think there is way too much crowded in one corner. The island is staring out into nothing, and definitely needs to be rotated 90 degrees and I think the shape looks like something you would see in a bar. I am currently doing my own kitchen in two shades of painted cabinetry and will post my drawings and actual images, and then some images that you might like. I think the sink and DW need to be in the island. The fridge needs to be integrated to avoid this much stainless steel since you clearly like a more eclectic, non modern look, and the hood can be more elaborate. I personally think a 48" range with a dramatic hood on that back will with the island turned the correct way will be a nice focal point for your kitchen. You could also do a microwave drawer in your island, that way you only see the range from the front. Also, where is your pantry? Where are you storing food? The second image is a range hood you will probably like The third and fourth are drawings of my kitchen, and the first is a painted on painted kitchen with whimsy you might like. I will attach photos of my project on an additional feed since 4 photos is the limit.
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A few things I would change from experience...instead of a single and double door I would spend the extra money and put in a bifold corner section...would open up the space so much more. as for the kitchen...completely flip your design...put your breakfast bar closer to the window...make it large and multipurpose with the hob in it and then put your main band of cabinets either left, right or behind? We have recently restructured our existing cabinets to this layout and put in new countertops and it works far better than before!
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Sink in island - bear in mind that it could look messy unless you are meticulous. Hob in island - can be social to chat to those seating while you cook. Perhaps think about induction. They are just food for thought - best to discuss with your kitchen design company if you think they might work better for you.
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Hi there, my husband and I are embarking on a self-build and we're in the early stages - have sketches but not formal drawings from our architect. This is going to be a small starting point because we have a small budget, with plans for extension in the 5-10 year range. The site is in a rural part of Wicklow, so there's no traffic as such (I have seen this as a consideration in other posts :). The question I have is around the size of the kitchen, which you can see in the photo below. The house is on a two-level site, so the main entrance will be through a lower level, under the living area, and up through the stairs in the bottom right corner (marked Down). The kitchen is only 2x4m and I'm not even sure it really qualifies as "galley". I am looking for some guidance as to the placement of our appliances. We'd really like to have big fridge/freezer (XX in the drawing) and dishwasher (not currently in the drawing) in there (in addition to your standard hob/oven/sink). There is a dotted line for counter or island against the wall with the stove, but we think we probably won't have space for that in the current dimensions. There is an option to extend the entire house by 0.5-1m out towards the deck (make it "longer" but keep it the same width), and we'd likely give all of those gains to the kitchen - kind of stretch the inside of the house. However, this would really strain the budget and we may not be able to swing it. Do you think we can make do with the kitchen at the current size and have all those appliances? How would you suggest we lay them out? Thanks so much for you advice! Seems like the people on this site really have a wealth of knowledge :).
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Vickie Bracken
Original Author
7 years ago
Well spotted! We will be building proper walls in those spots unsure why they look like window panes!!
PRO
N7 Design Studio Ltd.
7 years ago
Hi Vickie, I think the classic render, cladding and black framing looks great and the form of the buildings exterior is very interesting. I particularly like the floor to ceiling windows.

Is the plan to have a standard ceiling on first floor or a vaulted ceilings. Due to the steep pitch I think it would look quite impressive to have a vaulted ceiling at first floor, expose the roof trusses and give a real feeling of space.

My only real concern is with the stair, I'm not a fan of having a staircase within the open plan space unless it is a feature staircase (e.g solid oak, open tread, glass balustrade, cantilevered treads etc.).

If you relocate the utility to where the stair is currently then this would give you a space to have wrap around staircase within the entrance hall which could perhaps be a double height space. This would give the real wow-factor when entering.

I hope you find this useful.
Vickie Bracken
Original Author
7 years ago
Boundsgreener...
The walls will be all studwalls in that part of the house, and yes they will divide up that part of the full hight windows. The stud walls will amount to roughly 130mm thick so I assume the window frames will have to be that thick although we do not have detailed elevations.
PRO
The Blazing Blacksmith
7 years ago
One thing I would say is that where the doors go from the kitchen to the snug make them as wide and tall as possible. We did this and it means that when they are open the 2 rooms feel more like one space but you can still close the snug up and make it cosy at night. It means the space works really well for parties too. I am also just working at a large house at the moment and the owner has put in standard height double doors between 2 very large rooms and it looks terrible. He has 9 foot ceilings and these nasty little doors. Missed opportunity.
Vickie Bracken
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Blazing Blacksmith there is going to be a large pocket hole door there, so it could potentially be the ceiling height which is 2.4! Thanks for the input
PRO
OnePlan
7 years ago
Another option /take on things for the downstairs area ... ( although I do like what you have come up with so far - but if you are 'messy kitchen people' this might be a way to get around that )

Have an L shape kitchen with large pantry, island and bar seating in the area labelled living space - and use the triple aspect space as a wonderful lounge area.

This means guests won't wander around your kitchen while making their way to the lounge. ( so if the kitchen is messy and you get guests popping in - you simply close the kitchen doors )

You could add a glass veranda to the space outside the new kitchen, to put a dining table under cover for eating alfresco too perhaps ?

The formal dining space can stay where it is.

The space marked pantry can be either a study /office nook,to free up a bedroom, or a wine cellar /drinks station ?! Complete with wine and beer fridge and shelves for glasses etc
minnie101
7 years ago
Hi Vickie. I assume what's outlined in red is the plot? If so what will you do with that narrow strip of land behind the utility and garage? What's also surrounding the plot re having bifolds on the front?
Vickie Bracken
Original Author
7 years ago
minnie101- it's a corner plot with a well established hedge row all the way round it with some council owned tree's in the cut out corner. I'm not sure what the purpose of the narrow strip was, these are just what we were given by the architects!! It is a bit of a waste of space though thinking about it now.
Vickie Bracken
Original Author
7 years ago
OnePlan-Ooo some very interesting ideas that we hadn't considered. This thread is giving us a lot of food for thoughts that's for sure! We thought we were happy with the plans now I'm not so sure!!!
minnie101
7 years ago
Assuming the drains aren't there and there aren't any other issues, plus it's affordable (!) I might build further back. Personally I might then have a look to see what the house would look like with a single garage but flipped the other way (think a car should fit by eye!). Have a utility cupboard in the pantry, lose the front bifolds and just glaze floor to ceiling and have a pantry unit on that wall. That would then leave a large room where the front door is which could be a multifunctional hall/room which if you had wall to wall units on the garage wall could house coats and toys etc to hide any clutter. I might see what it looks like on plan anyway :)
Jonathan
7 years ago
If you are thinking again about the plans it might be worth looking at the ratio of front and back outside space- I worry that the back garden is on the small side and may be shaded due to the trees. It is worth thinking about the direction of the sun, the privacy from other houses, the views, the possibility of outdoor space upstairs, possible benefits of having living space upstairs etc.
Jonathan
7 years ago
I did think that if you built at the side you wouldn't need the living room to intrude into the back garden- I reckon this could give you up to 25% more back garden

Self build layout advice

boundsgreener

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