California Bungalow Floor Plan Dilema
Hi fellow Houzzers!
We are hoping you could help with some ideas on a floor plan dilemma we are facing with our newly purchased California bungalow within a HCA.
Basic brief is:
- seamless flow from front to back, designed to be able to grow with our young family
- 4 bedrooms minimum
- main bedroom with ensuite (plus walk-in robe if possible)
- main bathroom with bathtub (preferably not bath/shower combo)
- extra living room that could be used as spare room, study or kids retreat
- open plan living out the back with indoor/outdoor flow. We love entertaining so deck and BBQ area is a must as well as a 6x3m minimum swimming pool
- garage would be ideal (maybe brought forward off back fence and a part of the house)
We don't have an unlimited budget, but we are very handy and are prepared to spend the $ needed to make this our forever home but are still hoping to try and keep it single level and use as much of the double brick footprint as possible. The exterior needs a lot of work, and we want to change the colour scheme of the facade and gutters but wanted to focus on the inside first.
We have a sketched a number of ideas but always get stuck with the laundry location and how to fit it in. Original thoughts were to put it towards the back and have a toilet in there so if kids are in the pool they can access it easier with wet feet, but after reading a lot of articles the back is apparently not ideal and will take away the glam from an open floor plan looking over the pool.
Any feedback would be much appreciated.
Comments (16)
11 months agoRelated Discussions
Modernise a 90yr old California Bungalow - Colour Matching
Comments (5)The warm timber original skirtings, architraves and picture rails are a wonderful feature of the home which provide lots of visual warmth and character. Why buy a period home then destroy the character that makes it so special? Once painted it is really difficult to unpaint them. There are thousands of similar houses where somebody has decided to "modernise" by painting over the original timber and after ten years it looks a bit tired and daggy. There are not that many homes where the timber trim all looks in such good condition as yours. There are lots of ways to give a home a more up to date feel rather than destroyng its original character, and getting the balance right between 21st century living standards while preserving what makes your home special. Through my work I see lots of houses where the timber work has been painted. Nobody ever says "wow, look at all those painted skirting boards", but lots of people are complimentary of original stained timber. Please consider lightly cleaning all of your timber before repainting - you may be surprised at how much lighter and better it looks when freshly cleaned. Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls...See MorePorch & entry tiles
Comments (9)I can see by the first photo you posted the tiles have raised the floor level ie; the timber beading which also means the doors have been shortened to for opening to the new level. I agree the pebble crete isn't very attractive and doesn't fit the style of house, perhaps some lovely light coloured stone paving, what is your preference for tiles and style...See MoreModernising a 90yr old California Bungalow WITHOUT losing its charm
Comments (3)Add some skylights in hall to add light. Don’t like the look there are new solar lights that are very discrete that are an alternative. Keep ceilings white to add brightness and avoid dull colours, which sadly are traditional for this age house. Need a floor plan...See MoreCalifornian Bungalow renovation
Comments (12)Budget for at least $600/700K min if you are not doing anything yourself. There are numerous peripherals to factor in including landscaping & services, finishes, furnishings etc - all comes down to what you are wanting. Costs for design professionals will vary depending upon the extent of service - budget approx 10% ballpark to cover design, engineering, surveying, interiors etc. Construction management by the builder typically embedded within the building contract sum. Construction timeframe typically allow ballpark 12 months, but to design and document a project typically will take 12-18 months before being ready to building depending on whether planning permission is required or not. So think 2-3 years from start to finish approx. Good luck PD www.pauldistefanodesign.com...See More- 11 months ago
My first thoughts, you are losing a lot of good building room where the driveway runs along the side of the home. What are the set back requirements for the side of the home? Can you build a double carport at the front of home? Here is a renovated brick California Bungalow which shows how you could incorporate new ensuite, robes, laundry etc on that driveway area. Albeit on a different side to your driveway, but the concept would be the same for your home. Keeping your garage at the back, as a extra living area/pool room.
- 11 months ago
- 11 months ago
If you are not allowed to put your carport in front of the house, perhaps you can rearrange rooms, something like in the drawing below. I then made the larger of the bedrooms the lounge, but it could be any of them. I shifted the laundry to let more light into the dining room.
g_donn thanked Kath 
- 11 months ago
11 months agoI think it is always important to try and keep as much of the original character of the building and work with it
I am late with the following suggestion so a basic sketch which I would be happy to draw with my CAD program.
Keeping the current garage on the boundary and adding a new kitchen forward of it, the new kitchen would be brought up to the same level as the existing kitchen with the old garage space being kept at ground level with the new pool, alfresco and BBQ The roof of both spaces would be the same height with raked ceiling and skylights facing the northern aspect along the boundary
laundry with WC where the old kitchen is which gives great access from the pool , an outdoor shower could be added
If you plan to build a pool remember that it will need to be excavated so allowing access for a Bob Cat is needed.
- 11 months ago
PRO11 months ago
oklouise