Extension Layout Ideas
Hi,
We're hoping to start a small rear extension on our property, but are unable to visualise the best layout to use in the space. It feels tricky because it's a small space and we have a wishlist for it to achieve a lot of things - we would need to incorporate a small seperate utility area, or incorporate a utility area into the kitchen (think stacked washing machine/drier, storage for vacuum cleaner, brooms, steamer and detergents) and we'd also like it to contain as much storage as possible for things like christmas decorations and board games. As if this is not enough, we'd also like to have somewhere to eat and a little snug. I am not convinced we could get all of this into our space but because I'm rubbish at visualising things, I don't know if that's really true or not. I would be so grateful for any ideas you may have. I've included a scaled drawing of our space so you can see how small it is for yourselves. This is proving a real challenge and I'm wondering if it's even worth doing it at all.
** The rooms to look at are beyond the first room (where the stairs are).
Comments (7)
mindshift
2 years agoClaire Franks
2 years agoRelated Discussions
layout help in new extension - new dimensions
Comments (2)Yes indeed! I'm thinking of getting a 36" counter depth side by side. There should be a foot between the fridge and the pillar, or I should nix the pantry on that side....See Morewe are struggling with layout of furniture. ideas on different layout
Comments (7)Not a Pro. It's a tight space. I think you did a great job. Maybe just shifting everything a little closer to the fireplace may give you the room needed so you don't feel tight at the kitchen....See MoreChanging First Floor Layout - Oddly Placed Extension
Comments (2)Without a dimensioned floor plan it is kind of hard to say exactly. But I would relocate the vertical wall to make the passthrough room large enough for a dining table. Have your formal living room up front with the bay window and make a smaller family room in the back. If you want to spend big $- move the kitchen to the family room on the left and move secondary family room into the raised area that the kitchen is located....See MoreExtension Ideas Please!
Comments (4)I'm not an architect or designer, so my thoughts are based on my personal preferences. I have a bias towards maintaining off-street parking if at all possible. It reduces the car insurance and allows space for visitors/children's cars when that time comes/changes in how busy the road becomes. I agree that rooms off rooms don't usually work, but you could perhaps extend the living room out so that you create a kitchen/dining/playroom from right to left. You could consider whether you use bi-fold doors to have the play area physically separated from the dining area. The current dining room would then become the new living room. A utility room by the kitchen might not have space for everything you want unless you can relocate the WC, but not sure where. How much drying space do you need? Our utility room is probably about the same size as the space you have and I have created about enough drying space for one load of washing, but usually I'm able to hang it outside. We have a dryer, but it is in one of our outside sheds and gets used about once every couple of years....See Moremindshift
2 years agoHow small is small? I cannot see any dimensions on your plan. Without them I can't begin to partition for closets. I can guess from what you said that your kitchen is L-shaped. Perhaps you use the other half of this space for dining. There is too much I don't know. Consider built in cabinets on the wall opposite the kitchen. You could keep all your dishes and serveware there, freeing up space in the kitchen for pots and pans. Look for pull out storage that fits in hard to get to corner space.
West Vancouver Horizon · More InfoOver the door hangers can add space for food wraps, baking pans or pot lids. Add tiered spice racks to the inside of doors. Finally, a 3-tiered rolling cart can add both storage and work space to a small kitchen.
The big item in your wish list is a stackable washer/dryer. Ideally, you would add a washer/dryer closet as close as possible to the current water supply. It's easier to place them farther away if you have basement or crawlspace access. It's best to have a dryer on an exterior wall so it can vent freely. The farther a vent pipe has to travel the less force the air has at the exhaust. Turns also inhibit air flow, and the result is a build up of lint in the pipe and at the exhaust port.
Moreover, you need to know the amount of space a washer/dryer will take up. There is No Standard Size; stacked washer/dryer units can be as small as 24x24 inches or as large as 34x28. Plus you have to add a minimum of 6" behind for water connection and drainage (so 40x28). Height is also an issue. Standard doors are 78 inches tall with varying widths. Make sure a washer/dryer unit will fit into a particular closet. Note that small washers will not hold as much fabric, so you could end up taking large, thick blankets to a laundry or cleaners. I suggest you visit a store to see what 3.5 cubic feet washing space looks like.
Claire Franks
2 years agomindshift
2 years agoThanks for the sizing. I was able to draw up a nearer to scale layout. Assuming your existing kitchen counters follow the dark blue spaces, the best spot to add a stacked washer/dryer would be at the end of the counter. I would build out the walls (purple) to enclose this closet. This closet is sized to fit the larger size washer/dryer. Opposite that is the new builtin cabinet sized at 18" deep (or 0.457m), and I would extend the short wall at the end to enclose it.
The current opening from the front room to the kitchen is around 1.6 m, and you could extend the rear walls of the kitchen area to match the front walls. There is room to keep a small table in the kitchen that could have a center section added if you expect more diners.
I didn't do anything with the back room, because it's nicely centered on the overhead lantern, but you could add closets along the wall with no windows. Or, you could place the dining table there for more formal dining.
Claire Franks
2 years ago
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