Can this floor plan be improved?

5 years ago

We are currently looking to extend our galley kitchen out to the deck and square out the current L shape room creating a dining area. We currently have access to a side deck which we are looking to remove and extend the walls out to the bottom and right, relocating current external stairs. We are looking to keep the kitchen in the same place to save on pipe relocation, I really wanted to put in a fireplace, next to the kitchen on the new wall in between windows (builder said this was the easiest way) but draftsperson says living area would be too narrow. I would also like a butlers pantry but again, short on space. I do not want to extend into any other rooms which has been a suggestion. Can this plan be improved?, any other ideas, light etc the bottom wall is north west facing. Thanks!

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Comments (5)

Kate
5 years ago
I like a kitchen island. This should give you better storage . Ive moved fridge so easier access for drinks when entertaining outside.
I’ve circled conflict between bifold and external stairs. Are these stairs being moved? If not put in triple stacked sliders, stacking back to stair side.
PRO
Paul Di Stefano Design
5 years ago
there's opportunity for a much more interesting solution that involves lowering the floor level to (a) have a better connection with the natural ground level of the external space and (b) enjoy higher ceilings in the main living zone. Also the U shaped kitchen makes it feel smaller than it should..........It looks like you could push further out to the side as well...it feels unnecessarily squeezed and not maximising the design opportunity available

Good luck! PD :)

www.pauldistefanodesign.com
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we're still waiting for answers to all the question posted from your last post only two days ago??
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I would re-evaluate my brief, my budget and my site. It is another case of trying to squeeze too many rooms into too small a space and compromising the living space. If you draw furniture to scale in your living room then you will see that it is undersized for a four bedroom home. With the best orientation going to the garage door and bedroom 4 I would look at a complete redesign by pushing some of the bedrooms to the rear, and a central courtyard to give you an opportunity for north facing light to a living room. There is nothing nice about the current design and will feel like an apartment with little resale appeal. The designer has shown no flair or imagination in this "gun-barrel" floorplan, and is a variation on a concept that has been around for centuries. But your biggest problem is the number of rooms. Do you really need 4 bedrooms plus a study and 2.5 bathrooms, a long wasteful hallway, and only one modestly sized open plan living area and kitchen on a narrow block? I would start again with a smaller brief and a designer who can challenge your thinking about what good small house design actually means. Small house design is the hardest to do really well, so don't use a large house designer. Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls and Dr Retro Virtual Visits
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as usual the real estate dimensions are inconsistent (and says that the house is about 70sqm bigger than i can calculate) so you need to measure every space including halls, bathroom, toilet, laundry etc ignoring all the biw and cabinets and only use the size of the actual rooms wall to wall not anything that can be removed without changing walls and ceilings ) but, assuming approx dimensions my suggestion would be to use the original living area for a hall and bed 4 and steal space for an ens, move the laundry out the back to enlarge bed 3 and use the refurbished sunroom and bed 4 for a new dining area, laundry and small study and improve the kitchen ...but we need accurate dimensions to be accurate
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differentways
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
siriuskey/differentways

Love those ideas Paul
oklouise
5 years ago
relative to the total cost of your renovation it seems such a waste to sacrifice a more comfortable room including a pantry and fireplace for the minor cost of relocating a sink and a few metres of extra pipe as everything else costs the same...my suggestion has the kitchen relocated and the sitting area looking out to the pool
melissageordie
5 years ago
Thank you for taking the time. @Paul Di Stefano Design I hadn't wanted to introduce internal stairs by moving the room down to garden level although I see the potential. @oklouise we did have the kitchen in the same position as yours originally, I agree it's a better use of space, perhaps we'll revisit costs of pipe work, if it's thousands rather than tens of thousands then great. @Kate good points to consider on stairs and kitchen.

Building work, it's so expensive!

Thanks again.

Can this floor plan be improved?

Comments (5)

Kate

Paul Di Stefano Design

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