Loft extension layout dilemma- help please!
Hi, it’s my first time posting. I am hoping for some help working out the best layout for a possible loft conversion.
I live in a double-fronted Edwardian house in SE London, end of terrace. Lots of lofts locally have been extended with a dormer, under permitted development, so that shouldn’t be an issue. The extension should just come in at under 40m3. The house has a hipped roof on one side and I think I’d probably convert that to a gable end. Most people have put a bedroom on either side of the central stairs, with a bathroom in the middle opposite them. I’m hoping to do something slightly different. Ideally one bedroom with a reading nook/possible home office area and a bathroom.
I want it to feel spacious, light and airy and use the space cleverly, so it doesn’t feel like lots of nooks and crannies and wasted space. Possibly a walk in wardrobe?
The main limiting factor (other than budget of course) is that the front of the house has solar panels on most of the roof that I don’t want to have removed. This limits where I can put velux windows, and therefore affects light inside the conversion. Velux windows could only go on the front of the roof in the small new area created by a gable end, or there could be windows on the new flat roof part of the dormer. I could potentially put a window in the new gable end as well, which I’d be quite keen to do as it is south facing.
The main question I am wrestling with is where the bathroom would be best placed to be and reading nook/office, to make use of the light and views. I have attached some drafts of plans from the architect. The architect has suggested moving the staircase to make a large open plan space upstairs but I am not keen as I feel this would significantly increase costs and also compromise 2 bedrooms on the first floor. When the staircase is not moved the study area upstairs becomes very tiny and seems quite disappointing. I wondered about the dormer coming out less than 3.6m and then the space being wider? The alternative would be to have the bathroom where the study area is. I was keen to avoid this as I was hoping to have flexibility to put a stud wall up in future so that the upstairs could be 2 separate bedrooms if desired (not that we will need it for that, trying to future proof!)
I have not put measurements on for the wardrobe/ bathroom, advice on sizes would be helpful, taking into account the sloping roof/ ventilation/windows!
I have attached some photos of what I was thinking of re-the bathroom/ walk in wardrobe.
Really looking forward to hearing your suggestions, particularly with regard to making use of the light and space.
Comments (16)
rinked
2 years ago
salsageorgie
2 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (10)I agree, I think the kitchen units are quite charming. The tiles date it, the top of the dresser and the piece over the window. Agree, would paint the ceiling a soft chalky white. I know they're becoming a little overdone but metro tiles would suit but handmade ones in a soft white unless you just remove the tiles altogether and have a splashback by the oven. Can you afford to update the floor? The dresser offers good storage space, have you considered either just removing the top half or updating the top so changing the architrave and glass panes? The fire itself looks lovely, do you need the heater in front? I also like the brick but the recesses are dating it. I definitely wouldn't paint the brick, if you were to do anything I think it would need plastering over to cover the niches unless you are able to match the brick. Do you have a better pic of the firep? If you are set on painting the kitchen units, I would look at the really dark greys and inky Blues for the base units, as I think they'd suit the style well, with brass cup handles with a very pale grey for ŵall units. Or if you want the same colour units, look at a mid tone grey....See MoreNew house kitchen layout
Comments (12)I see what you mean, It's a good idea in theory, however, practically, I don't think it's going to work, and you will end up ruining the nicest room in the house. There are no walls that remain unbroken by doors or windows, so where are you going to put units and unbroken worktop space. They can't go on the left as there are three doors. There's a door on the right, which although you could put a unit and a bit of worktop back right, it wouldn't be very big, and the biggest run of wall goes straight down to the glass doors, so you probably can't and wouldn't want to go straight up to them. You could move the door into the hallway from the front end to the bottom end by the patio doors and this would give you a better run of wall. If you put an island in the middle, 5' into the room to give yourself room to walk in and gain more worktop, it'll only leave you with around 6' at the other end for a dining space. However, i'd still advise getting a kitchen planner onboard before you start, as i'm not convinced the room is big enough to achieve what you want with the available wall space, and it stands a good chance of spoiling a very nice and elegant entrance to a house. The other big problem is the plumbing, there isn't any currently in that room, so you'll need to dig up the floor for drainage and almost definately that of either the utility or one of the bathrooms! I vote for keeping the house exactly as it is!...See Morehelp with new extension kitchen/living layout
Comments (4)In the main I agree with Patricia. I would move the dining table to the living area, move the living area to the kids room, move the island a little more to the right so it is just a little more over than the width of the entrance walkway, at the moment it is more to the left and almost interrupts the entry flow enough to keep catching your self on the edge, with the table moved it will allow this, plus there may be enough room for more storage on the right hand wall decorative or practical and naturally shallower than standard depth, consider what it would be used for then you can make an informed decision on depth. The island sink and bin are not far from the tall unit pantry and fridge, so no I don't think they are to far away, whatever you get from these places are to be opened probably by the sink or bin, or opened to eat from the packaging. Also why would you have a log burner and an aga in the same room unless your aga is an electric one? They both give of tremendous heat, an aga is constant and unless you have planned for other oven types it will be year round so summer as well, as Patricia mentioned bare in mind how the sun transits your house, where it's position is when you will be in these areas which I'm guessing will be most of the time. I know plenty of people who gave had " improvements revamps etc" to their kitchen dining living spaces with plenty of regrets, loads of glass to bring the outside in, underfloor heating and an aga, the underfloor heating is switched off you can't zone it to where you want it, and the aga gives of to much heat with the glass combined, all the hard surfaces, no acoustics were considered by the so called "architects" sound is a problem too, something else to consider, someone else had to have some of their new kitchen change to make room for an air conditioning unit because of the heat, this is very expensive to run constantly, summers are almost unbearable, these things also affect materials being used such as leather and wood drying out and cracking/splitting. I hope this has been helpful. Kind regards Barbara...See MoreJonathan
2 years agoI think you should decide if the higher ceilings of the first floor make this the better place for the master bedroom.
If you decide to combine two first floor bedrooms in order to have a great master suite the top floor could be two bedrooms in which case the staircase in the middle of the house works.
But if you are set on having your master bedroom upstairs you might consider a new stairs position
salsageorgie
2 years agosalsageorgie
2 years agorinked
2 years agosalsageorgie
2 years agosalsageorgie
2 years agoJonathan
2 years agosalsageorgie
2 years agosalsageorgie
2 years agorinked
2 years agoHope it may inspire. Satinated glass between ensuite and bed, and staircase. Eave storage behind bed. Desk in the dormer. Closet space under the gable. Moved the larger rooflights towards the middle, as there will be plenty light coming in through the windows.
salsageorgie
2 years ago
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