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Design DilemmaBuilding a HomeRenovating
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Design Drawbacks

aliya
2 years ago

Hello everyone, we are in a very difficult situation right now as the initial plans that we had were changed after the input of the structural engineer. The main problem is the entrance/ front living room/ downstairs toilet.
Right now, the toilet is in the downstairs entrance porch. This room will become a living room so I am unsure about where to put the downstairs toilet. I have attached our current floor plan and our proposed floor plan. Please guide me.
Also, as u can see in the original photo, the previous owners knocked down the wall between the living room and entrance hall, to make a bigger living room. We are now thinking of bringing back the original entrance and the wall, and making an extra living room. Do you think this is a good idea??

Featured Answer
  • Jonathan
    2 years ago

    In answer to your question I think there is no problem dividing the space to create a smaller reception room and hallway and I also agree with your suggestion to reinstate the front door in its original position for symmetry.

    But overall I’m not very keen on what the architect has done but it’s possible that you have given them a very specific brief and it might meet that.

    Personally I think they missed the opportunity to increase the width of the house which in turn adds curb appeal by making it more substantial looking despite being similar square footage as building behind. I think they could have future proofed the plan with a clear place to add a staircase to a later loft conversion. And I think lots of buyers would probably want more open plan space at the rear.

    So I offer an alternative.

    Comments (7)

    • rinked
      2 years ago

      What is the list of Wants and Needs you gave the architect?

    • aliya
      Original Author
      2 years ago

      Thanks for all the response, we basically need four bedrooms upstairs with two ensuite.
      We also wants to move stairs as it is opening in main living room which doesn't suit us.
      Having utility room will be added benefit.

    • rinked
      2 years ago
      last modified: 2 years ago

      Have not done much on the kitchen-dining-lounge area (but add some walls for hallway), focussed on the right half of the house and first floor. I did not extend backwards, but sideways, just like Jonathan mentioned. Elongating that roofline would look a lot better than the two smaller gables. Master with ensuite had some tweaks. Four similar bedrooms. Two shared bathrooms. Landing with daylight and optional loft staircase. Downstairs bed+ensuite gained some floorspace, you can now pass the bed, making it more suitable for elderly. Front door in the middle, front to back connection (be it with a corner, did not want to cut into kitchen). On the right a study, toilet and wardrobe, utility, enlarged back porch. Not in drawing: might make back porch the same depth as garage+bedroom with a flat roof or slight pitch, to make it look more like a wrap around. Have left the garage as is. And tried to keep possible loadbearing walls in place as much as I could.



    • rinked
      2 years ago

      Imagine the new rooflines look somewhat like this:

      And when turning that back porch window into a door, there's room for a future kitchen extension as well.

    • rinked
      2 years ago

      Correction on the wrap around. Gave the downstairs bedroom it's own door as well.


    • aliya
      Original Author
      2 years ago

      Thanks for all the response, I will discuss this with my architect and hopefully we will come up with a plan which is cost effective.

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