help with planning a kitchen diner living space!

last month

Hi, we currently have 2 big square rooms but looking to reconfigure the house to have a separate (big) playroom, smaller office and then a kitchen dining living space at the back. However I’m useless at planning and can’t figure out how to make the best use of the space to get everything in and make best use of space. Would like a seating area, island and ideally some form of dining space but only small. Storage is also really important to us as we have a lot of sports equipment etc, so was debating trying to add a small locker room type thing between the proposed office, and kitchen (poor attempt at drawing this via the sims on second pic)

I’ve doctored a floor plan to show what we are thinking is best (front room is 6m x 6m and kitchen is 5.5m x 4.6m atm).

Does anyone have any ideas how to best use the space particularly in the back room? Budget is fairly chill, we want to make the absolute best of the space even if it means spending more.

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Comments (11)

PRO
Studio Smith
last month
Hey Katie,

I have a couple of questions - you said playroom so if you don't mind me asking how old are your children?

What sports is it than you have stuff for, just so I can understand how much kit there is?

Could you also post a picture of upstairs just so I know where the stairs come out?

Absolutely love that you did a drawing on the Sims! Jessica
Katie Hills
Original Author
last month
Hey, I was also impressed when my husband showed me - it’s about as technical as we get ha. Kids wise, we just have one, she is 2 so at peak big toy stage - she has kitchen, dolls house, climbing frame and lots of dolls and accessories she loves so keen to have space to keep them out but not live amongst them. From a sports perspective it’s ice hockey, so a smallish space but enclosed
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Had a play with this for you .... No idea of your family size or anything - so truly a generic simple plan with laundry /pet room and space for dining and casual to area etc ... But regular Houzzers probably realise we pick a project occasionally to do a free example with ... And today it was yours ! [ marketing note - this is an example of the basic 3D iPad consult service OnePlan provide... We happily provided this for free to this Houzzer, on this occasion . Normal rates would be £35 p/h. Full CAD images available too, at either an hourly rate or fixed room rate. We are freelance concept planners, selling only design !]
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I meant that you had drawn a run of units that was 20’ long and you could likely get a great kitchen into a smaller space, leaving room for dining. Attaching a dining table to the island is a stylish look and often helps people with insufficient room. Personally though I would prefer the flexibility of a freestanding table that you can extend.
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I think that what you want is achievable with very careful planning. A separate utility room is an absolute godsend and you won't regret it. I would definitely use sliding or folding doors as someone else suggested, otherwise you won't fit washing baskets etc. in there. In the kitchen, you need to plan the layout of units really carefully to make the best use of the space. I've given a suggestion but it depends on your priorities. I'd push the dining table as far against the wall as possible, using a bench to maximise seating. You should manage a couple of seats at the island, although you'll have to sacrifice storage space for them. Then try having the couch at a right angle as shown - I know it might seem strange that it has its back to the door, but I think it makes sense. The children's play area is self contained, with a large rug and maybe a couple of bean bags. The couch itself should be as slimline as possible while still being cosy. A whole wall of storage will help to keep all of the toys and games tidy. The only thing I haven't managed to include is a tv- I think the wall facing the couch is all glass? You could possibly put one in the storage unit but it would be at right angles to the couch, so not the best position. Maybe go without?
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Katie Hills
Original Author
last month
Oh also here is our upstairs - hoping not to change this though we may knock 2 bedrooms into 1. There is potential to change where the stairs go completely but was hoping to avoid this as would take a lot of space off the bedrooms I think
PRO
Piur & Co interior design
last month
Hi Katie,

I would be more than happy to help. I offer complimentary 30-minute Zoom consultations.

Creating the right layout is soo fundamental and my clients always really appreciate all the options I can provide them. If you are interested let me know and I will be happy to schedule a 30-minute chat to go over your plans for free and can give you tips and advice on how to tackle this by yourself, going forward.
rinked
last month
Do you have a bit of front garden/patio or do you directly step onto the sidewalk?
rinked
last month
Some ideas:

Could leave the front entry as is, just imagine not using it. Moved the side entrance forward a bit, created a hallway with wc door and storage. Kept 'light-line' front to rear with glazed doors and sidelight. Kitchen with dining table and again storage! The largest one could be used as laundry cupboard. And no separate playroom, as small kids long to be near their parents anyway. Toy area behind the sofa. (Tried the corner in the staircase, but then found a door should be at least 40cm away from the bottom step, so ended up with a long hallway instead.) The round thing is a log burner, by the way.

There will certainly be other fun and practical ideas, but i'd suggest keeping the lounge opposite the kitchen doorway, straight line, max light.
Katie Hills
Original Author
last month
Hey, thanks for this, we do have a front garden, and I like what you’ve done with this design though we don’t have an option to use the side as a front door as we only have a very narrow passageway between our house and next so I don’t think we’d be able to put it into reality 😩. We are also passionate about having a kitchen diner living space and then a playroom separate, it’s more about having a space without toys to relax than separating her from us - tho that could work on your design anyway as long as we put living space into the kitchen
PRO
Piur & Co interior design
last month
Hi Katie,

do you have a floor plan with dimensions for downstairs?

I only see the upstairs floorplan with dimensions but the floorspace area seems different from to ground floor based on your drawings.
Katie Hills
Original Author
last month
Hi, the floor plan is different, as the people who has the house before us extended heavily, but part of that extension was double story (where bedroom 4 is) and part only single story. This means downstairs is 2 big square rooms and upstairs has the bit jutting out. I’ve just measured as the dimensions I had looked wrong and the living room is pretty much 6mx5.5m and the kitchen is 5m from back door to the entrance to living room and 5.5m wide
rinked
last month
Could you please pinpoint the staircase location (the hole) on the landing? Because when doing a lay-over the real estate floorplan makes no sense.
rinked
last month
The stairs end up in the center of the landing? How wide is that bathroom? Oh my. Before starting on the ground floor, i'd suggest mapping out the structural (are there drawings/reports/applications from previous owners?) and improve the upstairs first. It's not a small house at all, but the use of space is quite chaotic. And yes, there's a chance that moving the staircase (and perhaps front door) will improve both layouts.

help with planning a kitchen diner living space!

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help with planning a kitchen diner living space!

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