House + Plot = Opportunity
So according to the Estate Agent’s brochure our new house is “located on a corner plot, southerly rear aspect, and popular location, a detached family home with two separate reception rooms, breakfast kitchen, utility/playroom, cloakroom/wc, three bedrooms, en-suite shower, family bathroom and separate wc. Scope for extending (subject to planning permission)”. We love where it is, we love the corner plot, we love the southerly aspect and we love the scope for extending. So this is what it looks like …
Here’s the plot from google earth and I have had a go at outlining our plot, the next stage is for Innex to measure and draw this up properly but this will give you the lay of the land.
Here’s the front of the house…
The view from the back, it is now summer here but these are the photos I took back in January when I started the search for an architect, this is “pieced” together from three images to get it all in …
If you look at the front of the house you will see our separate garage to the left, between the house and the garage is this load of dead space which we see as being the main opportunity (BTW we have now cleared it!) …
So that’s the outside. On the inside the floor plan is like this, click to enlarge it …
Now comes the hard part, how to maximise the potential and exploit that “scope for extending” and I’d really like to hear from you, if it was your house what would you do? We want to get a fourth bedroom and we’d like an open plan living, dining, kitchen and Mr L and I need some office / study space – the office is currently squatting in the utility room whilst handy for throwing on a washing load between projects it isn’t ideal!
So whilst you’re thinking about which walls to knock down, add in, let me share what our architect partner Chris from Innex Design came up with after just an hour, its our back of the fag packet, starter for ten. The plans below show the ground floor to the left and the first floor to the right, the current layout is at above the initial suggestions shown underneath. Click to expand…
Its a big project but one which we welcome your thoughts and opinions, as far as we and Chris at Innex Designs are concerned we’re excited about sharing it and hearing what you have to say, the more input, opinions and ideas we can have the better. Would you live in a house like this? How would you change it? Maybe this will be the house that social media built, I hope so, once we’ve got the build design right we have to add technology, decorate it and choose soft furnishings – whoop! Cannot wait to hear your thoughts…
***UPDATE 22nd June 2012 – Thanks for all the feedback a response to comments posted here***
Category: Home Building | Tags: home building, home improvements, house extension, innex designs, The house that social media built, Villa Lancaster 16 comments »
May 28th, 2012 at 9:34 pm
We put a huge extension onto our house and although it was a nightmare at the time, I’m glad it’s done, but with hub being a builder, it cost us a fraction of what it costs to have one done so it was easier to do.
However you end up with it, you’ll love it (once the plaster dust disappears that is)
May 29th, 2012 at 9:06 am
Ok first thoughts are as follows:
Ground floor
If I’m honest I’m not keen on the office being in the middle of the back wall of the house. I would remove that, add a couple of sets of bi-folding doors and open up that whole space. Room for a dining table then?
Also, on the floor plan the playroom looks big. Could you use the front half for the office instead?
If this is your ‘forever’ house I would think more for when the children are older. They won’t be little for long so won’t need such a big space, before you know it the playroom will be a tv room for teenagers and their mates!
First Floor
I would consider keeping the current bathroom and opening it into bedroom 3 & 4 as a Jack & Jill bathroom.
Does the master suite have space for a dressing room??
Can’t wait to read other peoples opinions. I love projects like this. Good luck with it xx
May 29th, 2012 at 9:40 am
I agree with with about the office, I think South facing it will be too hot and also in the middle of “life” by the kitchen etc. There are two lots of bi-folds already in there, apparently we need some bricks to hold the house up which is a shame
The intention is for the play room to become a teen lounge / x-box room etc, its not enormous 15′ x 8′ currently. Upstairs, the current bathroom doesn’t have a soil stack so doesn’t have a toilet in it, that’s why all the bathrooms are moving to the back to accommodate the existing drainage. Hope that helps explain a bit more x
May 29th, 2012 at 10:57 am
First, totally agree with door to the garage, it was on my list with this house, and was one of the things I wish I hadn’t compromised on. Opens up for more scope when using garage in the future.
Secondly, totally into family living, best thing we did here. I would also consider making the kids room smaller and adding the study at the front, quieter and also potential for kids to use in the future for homework etc.
Adult lounge, again, I’m a massive fan of, although ours is now just another place for the kids to wreck.
I think it looks lovely, and doesn’t look like it will eat away from the garden either!
Can’t WAIT to see the pics!
May 31st, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Well, I love it! In my mind that’s everything you want from a house (well a family house) adult only space so important as will be lovely to have a room without toys in. I agree with office not being in right place though, too distracting being so near the kitchen. I’d be constantly ”just doing” ie a tub of washing, prepping dinner etc and not concentrating on the job in hand. Good stuff and so very exciting for you guys. Good luck with all. xxx
June 2nd, 2012 at 6:39 pm
I like what the architect is suggestinfg, the office there is a great idea as it means you can all work but not be too far away fromt he action of the heart space. my only issue would be the shape of bed 3, realistically, that would be an awful space to work with
June 4th, 2012 at 11:44 am
I love it! The top floor is fab, each room has plenty of space, and while bed3 is a different shape, it will be easy to utilise it, storage & shelving for example.
Downstairs I love. The office isn’t miles away so you can still be near the kids, but once their bigger you’re not on top of them. The playroom & adults lounge?! WANT!!! I def think you need to make the garden come ‘into’ the house though (which room is it closest to?) bi-fold doors, or something along those lines o open the space right out.
Of course, you’ve got the guest rooms sorted haven’t you….!
When it comes to interior design I’m going to be sending SO many comments, you’ll want to block me!!!
X
June 9th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
I think it make great use of the dead space between your house and garage. Looks a very exciting project! Looking forward to seeing photos during
June 9th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
I love the idea of using the space between the garage and house (and the glazed roof on the extended adult lounge!). Is there room for a dining table in there somewhere?
The office does look a bit on the small side? Do you do a lot of work in there? I need about an acre of space in my office for all my files.
Rather than make bedroom 3 an odd shape could you just leave the existing bathroom as a semi ensuite for it. Though I’ve just read the comments about soil pipe so strike that thought
Or maybe you could convert the old bathroom space and part of bedroom 3 into an upstairs study and then free up the office space downstairs into more family space?
I’m excited for you
I love designing spaces 
June 14th, 2012 at 8:07 pm
New home – very exciting!
j x
June 14th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Hi there Cheshire Mum!
Although our registered office is Cheadle Hulme we live in Adlington, near the Miner’s Arms so we are very local to you. I love the idea of us all using each other in business / keeping it local! Our company is named after our 5 kids – each one has their initial in it. With 5 kids, space is always at a premium to us (so is hot water…) and we’ve been keen to keep designated areas separate so we can preserve our individual privacies (well, that was the plan) If you want me to give you an idea of cost for solar, just give us a call. Advice is always free. Bye for now, best wishes and good luck!
Rick, Melissa and the JLeaflets x
June 14th, 2012 at 9:21 pm
Ooh, wowsers! Loving the design. I came to suggest space for dining table or would it be going at the back of the adult lounge? Look forward to seeing it all take shape. I only lived with the acrow props for one night last Thursday, so I don’t envy you the huge disruption, but is will all be worth it. Good luck Mrs. x
June 22nd, 2012 at 12:27 pm
[...] House + Plot = Opportunity Blogroll [...]
June 22nd, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Thanks to everyone for your comments so far, they have been amazing, a response from the Architect to all your thoughts has just been published on this blog here: http://www.cheshiremum.co.uk/2012/06/what-the-architect-said/
Very many thanks
Claire x
June 26th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
I’ve had to print out all the plans so I can scribble on them – sometimes only a pen and paper will do! I love the really unique shape the house will have with the new extension. Upstairs looks great to me – bed three is an unusual shape but I think it could work really well if thought out properly in terms of storage etc and I’m already jealous of bed one! Shame you can’t fit in a walk-in wardrobe, eh?
Downstairs I think I would miss having a table to eat around. I wonder if some space can be stolen back from the playroom to accommodate this? Hard to know without a better sense of scale but could you split the playroom into two and put the office there, keeping the space on the plans for an office open-plan instead, and then you could have a dining table there instead next to more bi-fold doors?
July 25th, 2012 at 9:40 pm
[...] call this Plan A as this is the developed scheme from the original outline plans shared back in May. The alternative to this is the Wildcard Property Scheme I posted a couple of [...]