Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 Jul 11, 2020 3:40 pm Hi Guys Hoping to get your thoughts on potential improvements to our house’s floorplan. We’ve bought this house in the Eastern suburb of Melbourne, and will be moving there next year in anticipation of our little one going to primary school in the area. Ideally we’d like to have another bedroom (ensuite optional), and a study. Keen to hear your thoughts on what we can do to improve the floorplan. Also not closing out option for extension if it makes sense to do so financially. FYI the house was built in the 80s, so we will need to do some renovation work nonetheless. Many thanks Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Help with layout improvement/ extension 2Jul 15, 2020 11:42 am would you prefer to include the extra bedroom and study within the existing house or as an extension, what is the width and length of the block and what is the condition of the existing kitchen and bathrooms? Re: Help with layout improvement/ extension 3Jul 16, 2020 2:37 pm oklouise would you prefer to include the extra bedroom and study within the existing house or as an extension, what is the width and length of the block and what is the condition of the existing kitchen and bathrooms? Preference would be to utilise the existing house where practical as much as we can. Otherwise, happy to consider extensions. Renovations will be required on existing kitchen & bathrooms. In fact, I think there’s some wasted space in how the bathrooms are currently laid out. Block size is 19x40, so there’s definitely room to extend. Re: Help with layout improvement/ extension 4Jul 16, 2020 7:06 pm it's usually best to live in a newly bought home for at least a year before making any major changes but initial suggestions would be to make a new kitchen in the family room and a family meals area in the old kitchen and open up to the space behind the garage for closer access to a children's play area and use the formal dining area or unused bedroom for a study ...depending on the distance from the sides of the house to the boundary long term a new master suite and/or study could be located on the eastern side of the living area or use the existing master suite for a rumpus room with access to the rear garden, make a hallway through the shower room to a new master bedroom on the western side using the existing refurbished ensuite and storage room or consider using the garage and carport space for a new master suite and add a new garage at the front but, as always depends on available space and budget..some very rough ideas attached but it looks like it will be a great new home and the block of land is very generous and has lots of possibiliities Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Help with layout improvement/ extension 5Jul 16, 2020 9:48 pm oklouise it's usually best to live in a newly bought home for at least a year before making any major changes but initial suggestions would be to make a new kitchen in the family room and a family meals area in the old kitchen and open up to the space behind the garage for closer access to a children's play area and use the formal dining area or unused bedroom for a study ...depending on the distance from the sides of the house to the boundary long term a new master suite and/or study could be located on the eastern side of the living area or use the existing master suite for a rumpus room with access to the rear garden, make a hallway through the shower room to a new master bedroom on the western side using the existing refurbished ensuite and storage room or consider using the garage and carport space for a new master suite and add a new garage at the front but, as always depends on available space and budget..some very rough ideas attached but it looks like it will be a great new home and the block of land is very generous and has lots of possibiliities Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Absolutely LOVE what you’ve proposed! Can I confirm the reference to WIW relates to walk in robe? Also MPR relates to rumpus? Do you think it might also make sense if I convert the garage into a double, and hence moving the entrance door to the front? Or would this remove natural light from entering the house? Re: Help with layout improvement/ extension 6Jul 16, 2020 11:04 pm WIW is walk in wardrobe and MPR is Multi purpose room..rumpus, guest bedroom etc and pleased you like my ideas but it's easy to make plans "on paper" and there's probably many better ideas but the most important first step is to understand what you already have (ie accurate plans of the house and the block of land with all dimensions checked inside and the distances from outside walls to all the boundaries, what are the floors, walls and roof made out of? a Google Earth photo of the roof will help understand how the building fits together and a survey to confirm the location of boundaries and any slope of the block will probably be needed for any extensions and then check with local Council about any special conditions eg Heritage area, easements, tree preservation, non standard set backs and ask about the local process for applying for approval to alter the house...learning all these facts will highlight the worth of a good local professional when you're ready to make serious plans but, itm, with accurate dimensions you would be able to test some ideas eg changing the existing garage could be useful but that can create other problems (ie darkness that can sometimes be alleviated with skylights or extra windows eg windows and/or glass doors from the old kitchen to the western garden but then can cause problems with overheating from western sun!!) that's why you need to consider the whole property (including garage, driveway, gardens, alfresco, backyard etc) rather than focussing on only one room at time (ideally you make a whole property plan and then can work on sections as budget and other commitments allow.. if you had all the correct dimensions you can be quite realistic eg you would normally need about 12m for a driveway and another garage and/or extension at the front but if neighbouring houses are closer to the front it may be possible for you to do the same thing but, if there's only about 5m from the front of the house to the front fence, it's probably best to forget adding at the front although you might still be able to widen the existing garage and use some of the old carport for a new entry but that depends on the walls, floors and roof but maybe there's enough space between the garage and the side boundary to extend the garage towards the fence?? all depends on the dimensions Re: Help with layout improvement/ extension 8Jul 25, 2020 9:00 pm Great idea! I was contemplating to do a double garage & have the entry at front. My only pet peeve is that I’d prefer to have master bedroom at the back of the house for privacy reasons. Re: Help with layout improvement/ extension 9Jul 26, 2020 9:46 am Ashwoodsale My only pet peeve is that I’d prefer to have master bedroom at the back of the house for privacy reasons. The master can stay where it is. I just thought you wanted another bedroom with an ensuite. Re: Help with layout improvement/ extension 10Jul 27, 2020 12:15 pm d@n Ashwoodsale My only pet peeve is that I’d prefer to have master bedroom at the back of the house for privacy reasons. The master can stay where it is. I just thought you wanted another bedroom with an ensuite. Yes, I like the idea of the bedroom at front as a guest bedroom, which will allow some sort of “separation” from the other bedrooms. I also like what you proposed re Laundry! Tucked in behind the garage and close to the entry will allow it to also function as a mud room. Do you think it makes sense to do a butlers pantry? Really tight at the top of the stairs- how to get furniture into those rooms? Study books - does anyone really use them these days? Large storage closet would be more functional. 2 6882 Hi, Looking to add an ensuite to one of the bedrooms and make it a Master BR. Please see the attached current floorplan. Need suggestions on what's the best way to do… 0 7337 |