Help with floor plan

Hi all,

My wife and I recently purchased the attached floor plan. We intend for this to be our forever home and as such are keen to look at opportunities to make this layout suit our lifestyle and family needs.

We love to cook and entertain, so the kitchen dining/meals layout is likely the most important part of the house for us, along with how this flow into the outdoor entertaining area. Whilst the kitchen is functional at the moment, we would be keen to make this bigger in the future.

The second change we are looking at, is creating a 4th bedroom. WIth COVID (working from home) and my wife's family all overseas, an additional bedroom/study with be of benefit to us. Our initial thoughts were around converting the "formal lounge" into a bedroom, however we are concerned about the impact on the dining area and natural light at the front of the house.

Neither of us are experienced or any good a layouts, so we would greatly appreciate any suggestions (and they need not be limited to the issues above).

Thanks in advance.

 

I don't believe that would be possible. The garage extension would go almost all the way to the footpath, and would also be out of line with both neighbouring properties, so would imagine problematic through council.

Thanks for the idea though!

 

Only a really rough sketch, if after adding a full
Bedroom as per below, can add a wall from current living and make a new master from the living space even bigger with a WIR and en-suite where the L shaped wing in the house is.
You would likely then want an additional living space so suggest an enclosed Alfresco off the sliding doors. Looks like there’s a few m there that could be used relatively cheaply.

If you are happy with a simple study, scrap the above and save the $, simply add a wall at the L shaped wing in the living in line with the master doorway.
Given it is the width of the shower and a toilet it is likely around 2m or close to it so would be fine for a study but too tight for a realistic bedroom.

 

Great suggestion, will have a chat with one. Certainly seems cost effective, although what would you utilise the garage for given no natural light?

 

Thanks for the suggestion!

My only concern/query with this is, given we entertain a lot, a large dining area is a must. Either the 4th bed or the separate study, take out the current formal dining area.

 

I think I would simply enclose the 3.6 x 4.6 living at the front with double cavity sliders onto the new corridor so that you can have them open when you wish to make it feel less corridory. This will be a great multi purpose room that can be a theatre, study, guest bedroom.

The remaining area above it - not sure what it currently is - I would reserve and use that space for when you do the kitchen renovation and you could use that area as a walk in pantry or scullery etc

 

Obviously would prefer to avoid structural works from a cost perspective, but if a significant improvement can be made with a minor(ish) modification, then its likely to be significantly less costly than upsizing.

That area is currently a formal dining area. The meals area next to the kitchen is really only suitable for a 4seat round table. We would be looking for a 6-8 seat dining table somewhere. We were looking at the "round" area at the back of the living room as a potential for a dining area, but it looks a bit tight.

 

How mature are the trees along the north boundary?

Could you possibly extend out the front of the house to create a Study/4th bedroom?

You have about 4m until you are in line with the garage from what i can assume.

 

Hmm there is no easy wins if you want to keep that formal dining area but if you did pull the kitchen down into that area then the current meals area would be much longer and be able to double as formal and informal. So close off the front lounge into multi purpose room then bring kitchen down to touch the new multipurpose room and increase the current meals area by 1-2m

 

House built in 2003, so still young and should not be protected.

 

What area is the house in?

I think you should live in it for a while before changing it.

 

House is Bayside Melbourne and we absolutely plan to live in for a couple of years before making any changes.

 

Have been thinking something as follows (I understand this may be expensive), but keen to hear some thoughts. I really like the idea of making the formal living room a multipurpose room.

 

- I made the front lounge room smaller but it's suitable for a guest room/study/tv room
- Added a bay window section to open up the corner space where you had butler pantry in above drawing, mimics the windows on the other side and may not need council approval. This space was opened up so that you could have larger dining table.
- This design focuses on entertaining, with long kitchen and island bench opening to expansive family/living areas

 

Here’s an outside the box idea that does not require any structural changes