Fun!

Whats the layout like in the basement? Do you need three bedrooms on the main? Our house is similar to your main level. We have an old infinished basement. often think the next major home improvement turns the third bedroom into a kitchen, with master suite + flex room on the main and secondary bedrooms in the walk out basement.

Layout of basement is similar but with two bedrooms (beneath bedrooms 2 & 3). Small laundry and larger bathroom are under bathrooms and bedroom 1. Small wet bar will be under current kitchen. (Basement Man door was removed and large window turned into large slider).

We don’t need 3 bedrooms upstairs. We have 2 teens, one of whom is in college.

I love our old house and all the potential. But i get overwhelmed too. There was very little upkeep on the house when we bought it, so weve been pouring love, tears, and money into it lol!

Would you be willing to give up some common-area space upstairs for the kitchen? If price/plumbing are not an issue, and the wall that hems in your kitchen is not load-bearing (I am not on site nor am I an architect but it looks like prior owners "stopped" at the kitchen wall but could have removed the whole thing), you might run the kitchen along the west wall...but move it "down" to the bottom of your map. Do an L shape, turning the corner to the south wall, or a single-wall with island. Then that gives you some space at side door for a drop zone, and a nice front space to receive visitors at the front.

That would also make it convenient to step out to the back deck for grilling, serving dinner outside in good weather etc.

The daydreaming phase is the best! Have fun!

Is the fireplace negotiable?

I know it may sound like a craxy question, but… Our mid century fireplace was pink and massive and truly nothing architecturally significant. We removed it to free up space for a second bathroom.

@sheloveslayouts well ive wondered if there are more options with its removal. however i think we’d love to keep the fireplace. last year we got it plumbed for a gas insert.

Are you currently using the 24' x 13' area as a dining/living? If so, how is that working out? I was just thinking of that space plan and it's certainly a challenge.

I tried adding a wall back to create an entry that's about 54" from stair to kitchen wall. There's an opening next to the fridge into the kitchen and an island with no seating. I think this layout takes up too much precious space and blocks a lot of natural light.

I'll post what I tested out anyway in case it sparks ideas.

In our small home I tried every thing when planning our whole house remodel; ended up with 16' x 29' for kitchen-dining-living all lined up. Each space was basically planned with absolute minimum dimensions for each space; 12' living + 9' dining + 8' kitchen. The 12' x 16' living room works, but it took me a while to figure out furniture (until I bought a 6' apartment size sofa).

@sheloveslayouts wow! this is so fun to see!

to your previous question, we gave a rectangular dining table on the left side of that large area, a hutch on the SW wall, and a dresser on that northern wall (backside of wall fridge and oven are on) that we use as our “pantry“ 😂

My thought is all windows on north kitchen wall instead of upper cabinets. we have a larger 6’ window 1 foot left of front entry and a 30-ish inch window above sink.

i was thinking no door in wall between kitchen and front door, especi especially if we keep kitchen side door.

And this is where rotating kitchen or bumping out the front &/or back start to get me hot and bothered. if we bumped out, we want to raise the roof and maybe could add skylights? i have no idea and too many all at once!

The doorway was by design because you wouldn't gain much with corner cabinets. by avoiding corner cabinets you have full access and can maximize all-drawer base cabinets (rather than inefficient lazy susan type things).

Could you eliminate the side door and direct traffic through the front door where you could have more of a mudroom hook and boot tray situation? maintaining a traffic path through the public space to the driveway will further limit your space.

I personally think homeowners can plan a remodel just fine with the help of a structural engineer consult and a draftsperson (that's what we did), but if you want to bump out, add on, or raise the roof that's definitely architect territory. As soon to be empty nesters, I'd sacrifice the fireplace to have a kitchen-dining-living and master suite on the main floor that are more proportionate to a 2500 square foot house before I'd add more square footage.

Very good points. We essentially did our basement ourselves. We consulted with an interior designer a few times on layout and review some design choices. Goodness has it been exhausting. We do love the recently vacated Bedroom 3 to useas our offices (still lots of work from home between husband and me).

i just asked my husband about getting rid of fireplace and he says, ”i can be radical but i really want a fireplace.” So no chance that idea will work today. Tomorrow? Its a new day. it is wonderful food for thought.

what about bumping out and enclosing 4 feet wide front porch? We could use it as part of the kitchen OR as a long entry/mudroom? could it be all enclosed with glass like a solarium?

Here are two brainstoms ive sketched. these are old, from when we first moved in. Not 100% sure measurements are correct.

Idea includes a banquette.

Would any of tgese work on front porch if we enclosed it?

Or somthing like these?

Those are pretty.

It may not be feasible at all. I just felt like drawing something up...

A five bedroom, 3 bath house needs more square footage dedicated to kitchen-dining-living-entry than what you have. If you have the space available outside, maybe a kitchen addition to the west is the answer. Here's just one rough idea...

Ooh, that’s an idea! plus we keep the fireplace!

better to add off the side or out back?

We have a lake out the back, view to the southwest. need windows to look out the south & west sides!

Any ideas for enlarging primary bath/closet bedroom suite?