Dilemma over keepingEntrance to Garden view or an extra bedroom !!

3 years ago

We are in the middle of an extension work and have reached a stage where a decision on the layout has to be made.

We have almost finalized on this below plan till we saw some reality show which showed the effect of a through entrance and how the architects were going on about the through entrance being the trend and the view of garden from entrance is so appealing.

Now it has made us think :)

Original Plan below and why we like it :

Entrance to door is around 16ft /5m

Rear extension is 6m one so its quite big

Gives us the option of a decent size utility and 4th bedroom /office room

Through entrance plan :

1. Entrance to garden view is quite nice ( almost 15m)

2. Makes the layout very simple and modern

3. :( we will loose the 4th bedroom and possibly the utility room which can go into the 4th bedroom area

4. Directly exposes the kitchen island when we open the main door which can be problem esp when kitchen is not very tidy

Is through entrance such an appealing thing ? Has anyone got it done and regret it ? Is it worthy of sacrificing a 4th bedroom ?

Thoughts and Advice please :)

Plan with entrance to Kitchen via Dining

Plan with Thorough entrance to Kitchen

Featured Answer

arc3d

3 years ago

Hi Chandan,

I don't either would work particularly well. In the second one you loose 2 rooms and end up with a long random wall running down the middle of your house. I would instead suggest flipping the whole floor plan. Move the kitchen, utility and bedroom to the other side.

With this design you will have a bigger kitchen, great sight lines from the front door and you get to keep the two rooms. If this is a semi-detached house then the bedroom does loose a window, but that's better than loosing the whole room!

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Comments (19)

Sarah
3 years ago
I accidentally voted on my least preferred option and now am unable to change it. I like the view through to the garden, I think that layout flows better and will create a feeling of space when you enter the property.
PRO
Studio Vonne
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I agree, I think the flow to the kitchen is better in the second option, a much quicker journey to putting your shopping away. Will you use the living space at the front? I wonder could you make that an extra bedroom if required as you already have a seating space in the kitchen dining area. Perhaps just swap the dining and lounge area? Then you could potentially have folding doors to screen the lounge area off if you want a cosier feel. Is there any space upstairs available for your washing machine & tumble dryer? Sometimes I think it's better positioned to where your clothes actually are rather than near the kitchen.
Chandan thanked Studio Vonne
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Chandan
Original Author
3 years ago
@Studio Vonne , Thanks for your inputs.

Yes front room can potentially be used as a bed room. But the room has nice bay window and we kind of like to use it as a snug ( with the option of using it as a bedroom or study/office room depending on the circumstances).

We wanted out lounge to face the garden and hence prefer to keep it where it is. With Island kitchen, we think we will mostly be eating there and Dining is mostly a weekend thing or when guests come over.!

Regarding utility, upstairs we dont have much space as we have 3 double beds and a bathroom . As we are not extending upstairs there isnt much room to play there.
Sonia
3 years ago
My sister recently refurbed her house and it is lovely that you can see straight through to the kitchen/dining/living area out to the garden beyond. She has kept the living room to the left and front of the house as a snug.
Ellie
3 years ago
My front door is glass. When I am standing outside my front door I can see right out of my sliding doors and to the garden. When we bought the house 5 Years ago, it was one of the priorities for when we done the kitchen. It's complete now and we love it. I am not great with layouts bit layout 1, although offers the view, I just don't like it, with the long corridor
Ellie
3 years ago
Sorry, I've not voted as I don't like either floor plan. arc3d has offered a better option
Chandan
Original Author
3 years ago
@arc3d Thanks for your suggestion, this is something I had thought about. However this is a semi-detached house and the place where you are suggesting Utility and Bedroom will be on a shared wall resulting in a no windows to the rooms . I guess thats not something building regs would allow either ?

Also opening up the room near dining room means, the wall needs be removed with a steel column on top , increasing the build cost.

Do you see my original plan ( entering to open plan area via dining) as a complete NO-GO ?
arc3d
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Hi chandlan,

I would double check the building regs. A utility room definitely doesn't need a window and the bedroom needs a means of escape and because the bedroom opens directly into the hallway I think this would be sufficient, but a quick call to your local council would have that confirmed for you.

Adding a steel beam would increase your building cost yes, but it has to be put into context. Either you end up with a house that doesn't meet your needs or you spend an extra amount, not much more than a holiday abroad, and have a house that functions the way you want it to. A holiday will last a week maybe two? But the house could last a lifetime. (Steel beams are really not that expensive compared to the cost of the renovation)

Regarding the original plan. I feel like the flow through the house won't be great and the biggest thing you'll notice when its built is that the dining room is really dark and gloomy. Natural light may be free but its very valuable. In your plan there is window for the utility but none for the dining room? Not the best use of the natural light in my opinion, whereas with my suggestion you'll have a bigger kitchen, much better flow and windows for your dining area, giving you a light filled living area with the sight lines you want all for the extra price of a holiday!
Ellie
3 years ago
If you are doing a renovation and you don't like the thought of the cost of removing an extra wall with steel beam, I would worry about your budget. I think it's more important you get what you want rather than saving yourself what will be a little bit of cash in the grand scheme of things.
bookworm987
3 years ago
My two cents, for what it's worth:

I like your original plan. I presume you spent time thinking about how the layout would work for you in a practical sense. So to throw that out for a trend on tv seems like madness. I don't know many people who can see their back garden from their front door, or who can unload shopping straight from front door to kitchen, and honestly it's not an issue. Far more sensible to keep the extra bedroom and utility, especially in terms of resale value.

I did think, looking at the plan, that it would be nice to have swap diner and living, so table is more easily accessed from kitchen, but I can see why you would want to have the living area near to the garden. So in that case, maybe swap kitchen and living? It would instantly make the living space feel more cosy as its around the corner.
Chandan
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
@arc3d @Studio Vonne @bookworm987 @Ellie after considering your inputs and also talking to the builder about the logistics invovled in moving utility to the current dining area) and creating multiple pockets of small rooms , I am now thinking of a plan like the below.

The idea is to keep the layout simple and let go of a small room for a cleaner layout with big rooms and move the office space to the front snug, which can very easily be converted to a double bedroom ( if needed).

Your thoughts please
Ellie
3 years ago
On your plan you have a wall with door to dining right in middle of your plan, I think that wall us pointless. I think the wall will just make it look like a long corridor. If the walk wasn't there you would see mire of your view when coming in the front door
Ellie
3 years ago
stupid predictive text!
pmasmith3
3 years ago
If that wall is removed as suggested above, then the bathroom would be entered via the dining end of the open plan room. Also could be very costly if it's weight-bearing.

I quite like the wall but maybe you don't need the door into the dining part. It would be a great space for artwork opposite the bathroom and little living room.
Chandan
Original Author
3 years ago
that's exactly my thought as well, entering bath and utility via dining might not be gr8 and it being a load bearing wall, removing it will be quite expensive .

I like your idea of artwork !
Ellie
3 years ago
I see what you mean. I'd perhaps reduce the 4.5 m length wall to half that then? Do away with door to dining.
PRO
OnePlan
3 years ago
Lots to think about - but stay safe - please get your ideas checked by a credible pro before you start renovating, based on a thread from random strangers who may not be fully aware of the whole situation.
Jen Osborne
3 years ago
I like the new layout a lot better.

If it was possible I would also simplify the entry by opening up the stairway and replacing that awkward little entrance room with a closet.

Dilemma over keepingEntrance to Garden view or an extra bedroom !!

arc3d

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