Would adore your ideas to improve this floor plan

last month

Hey legends,
Would greatly appreciate some ideas on improving this floor plan! I'm keen to allow the hallway to go straight down to the living area, rather than currently having to go via the sitting room and kitchen.
I'm currently thinking:
- move the laundry and bathroom into the top-left bedroom space, and then make the sitting room a bedroom.
- more the kitchen to where the laundry is
- maybe repurpose the kitchen to a study nook, a walk in pantry, etc?
I'm also keen to know what storage ideas there are for BIR in the larger bedroom, given the orientation of the door and fireplace
Thank you!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
Paul Di Stefano Design
last month
Hey Michael,

You're definitely on track with your thinking

Also totally depends on your available budget - this wouldn't be that cheap of an exercise re-doing all the high cost/m2 areas and relocating and making good floors, walls etc with new passage etc...

Even just the move of shifting the bathroom to the bedroom would make a big difference improvement, and have a separate toilet.

A new robe against the internal wall of the larger front room stopped short of the front wall with the window would probably be your best bet for that room

I'd probably try and keep a laundry still separate rather than include in a bathroom - that move is typically reserved for super tight scenarios, apartments etc - could probably better accommodate as a European laundry in the passage, or consider using existing kitchen space as a decent laundry/utility as these spaces are undervalued for their storage and organsation capacities to keep the rest of the spaces clear of clutter and the like...

Hope this helps

PD
bigreader
last month
As mentioned it depends on your budget. The back of the bathroom looks to be the original exterior wall of the house. Are both the original part and the extension on stumps.? Moving bathrooms also generally needs Council paperwork but depending on your plans for the future may be worth it for the functionality you’d gain.
Related Discussions
Would love to see your reno ideas
Q
Comments (16)
Our house is similar, but we are empty nesters and down sized about 4 years ago, our needs would be a bit different to a growing family, we are currently in the throes of having two smaller rooms made into one area to further open up a previous renovation to give us a bigger open space..we also have an ensuite and a combined laundry / second laundry space. The good thing is that being a brick veneer house the reconfiguring is relatively easy with modern technology and big beams. As above try and have a big open space, we have been out of our home for a month now and still a way to go, add living away from home to your budget or stay with family. I will try and post the plan but here are a couple of journey pics ..the last photo was before trying to show how the two rooms decided the space making the living room very small and a bit dark...the aim of this project is to have space for a bigger gathering than about 4 people before overcrowded. Light is really important, nice big windows essential, the darkness of the living I thought I could live with, but it did get me down, I a, looking forward to having a much lighter space
...See More
I need your HELP with Reno Floor Plan!
Q
Comments (20)
Hi siriuskey I apologise for not replying to you earlier but I have been reviewing your last plan over and over wanting to use the layout of the kitchen but concerned about the other changes. My main concern was the wiw/laundry area and the loss of a room, either the study or bed 4. But the idea gave me food for thought and I have been trying to work out a solution. Where there’s a will there’s a way! I can see exactly what you mean about having the Butler’s Pantry in front of the window which was a major concern of mine even though I thought the servery was a really good idea. Thank-you for taking the time to point this out …and in such depth which would’ve been very time consuming for you! I must admit it was a surprise to see the kitchen placement in your last layout. I would never ever have thought about doing that but loved the idea! I have tweaked the plans a little by simplifying some of the changes and adding a few of my original ideas and I think I have come up with a solution. I will be very interested on your thoughts! I placed the existing furniture (to size) into each of the rooms to see how it works with the new layout. Oh… and I love your suggestion about being able use the dining/family rooms as either! I have also left the wall between the family room and lounge to see how it works before removing it completely but opened it up with double doors allowing entry from the front door to the main area...and a view of the fireplace is always welcoming. It’s a great idea for a toilet and shower to service the pool area under the deck downstairs…I think that would work as there’s no limestone there (and no we’re not in SA) but I’II look at that once I get organised with these plans! Thank-you again for your time and help…your feedback on my ‘tweaking’ would be greatly appreciated!
...See More
Period Home Floor Plan Improvements and Renovations..please help
Q
Comments (25)
Update on this. We have decided to keep upstairs unchanged in terms of layout. We will live in the house for a period before making any layout changes upstairs - 2 Bedrooms will be for our girls, while our son will sleep downstairs in the living room (now bedroom) as this was seldom going to be used. Now we are looking at the kitchen design - photos attached of current kitchen which will be completely refreshed along with the tiling in the kitchen / living area. Looking for any ideas on how to best update the kitchen - notice under the stair case is not currently being utilised but we would like to perhaps have the fridge or pantry under the stairs to include this dead space. From the kitchen window to the stair case is 4950mm x 3200mm approximately depth of the current kitchen. The stair case hangs into the kitchen around 750-800mm. Wondering if it would look silly to have perhaps the fridge built here and this cabinetry would sit proud of the bench space next to it, but we could also install deeper bench space to balance the look... We are planning to have the eye-saw built in fridge space currently in the kitchen removed altogether.
...See More
How can I improve this floor plan to be more open and have more light
Q
Comments (18)
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
...See More
Kate
29 days ago
First thing find out where your sewage lines are under the house. This may impact decisions. I would be inclined to move laundry to kitchen where plumbing is available. And add storage. Move bathoon to the smaller bedroom and include a second toilet at least, preferably with a second shower too. With some left over space for pantry. Kitchen where laundry is. Sitting with its fireplace becomes bedroom. Are they fire places valuable or used as they are taking up space? That will influence where to put BIRs.
oklouise
29 days ago
if you don't mind the laundry in a cupboard my suggestions relocates the kitchen and master bedroom to allow for an ens, wiw and new bathroom while keeping three bedrooms plus a bonus lounge bed 4
PRO
Kitchen and Home Sketch Designs
6 days ago
Hello, Your thinking is good and it would make it much nicer without the bathroom in the middle of the house. Which way is north? I can assist with this as an architectural draftee, I can draw options for you to take to builders for quotes. then you can choose tradesmen based not just on the price but on time frame and communication, etc too. I invite you to look over my website for lots to read, pictures and blogs and contact details too. happy to assist with this plan for you. Cheers Margot
0

Would adore your ideas to improve this floor plan

Comments (5)

Paul Di Stefano Design

bigreader

Related Discussions

Kate

oklouise

Kitchen and Home Sketch Designs

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US