Help with redesign of 1950s cottage

Nic B

last year

last modified: last year

Hi everyone, we are fully reconfiguring our 1950s weatherboard cottage.

The horizontal middle wall is load bearing.

Patio out the front faces North.

Any ideas how we can make this a open concept, 2 bedroom home, with bathroom and ensuite.

Not fussed about a laundry, as that is outside seperately.

Any ideas much appreciated, thank you.

Home is approx 80sqm.

This is the original floor plan.

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Comments (4)

PRO
Agency Architecture
last year
Thanks for sharing your floor plan and your goals for reconfiguring your 1950s cottage. It sounds like you're looking for ideas to create an open-concept 2-bedroom home with a bathroom and ensuite.

One possible approach could be to relocate Bed 1 to the Kitchen area, and remove the walls between the dining room and Bed 1 to create a more open floor plan. This would provide you with more space to work with, and you could configure the space to suit your specific needs.

When relocating the Kitchen, it's important to consider the most convenient location and how it fits in with the rest of the floor plan. This could also allow you to define the new open-plan space into well-defined areas for different uses, such as a living area, dining area, and kitchen.

Overall, there are many ways to approach this project, and it ultimately depends on your preferences and needs.

It's always a good idea to consult with a professional designer or architect who can help you create a floor plan that maximizes your available space and suits your lifestyle. Good luck with your project!
User
last year
I'm guessing it is on piles / stumps ( I'm in NZ and we call them piles here ) , which makes it a bit easier . IF it had been on a concrete floor , moving the water and waste and toilet is that much harder .

But I think @Agency Architecture is on the logical thought-train -- I'd probably squeeze the existing bathroom down to an ensuite , have the Bed 1 where the kitchen was , then try and squeeze another bathroom between Bed 1 and Bed 2 . In fact , for a 2 bed place , I'd probably just stick with 1 bathroom and 1 powder room ( seperate toilet ) and have them between the 2 bedrooms , and a little hall/foyer in the middle , by that doorway that is obviouly staying as is .

Then the whole front area could be open plan -- logic would say have the kitchen in that front right corner ( so plumbing etc runs back to the existing plumbing ) , dining ( or even an island and breakfast bar , and maybe eat dinner on the couch or a small cafe table and chairs ( I'm guessing 3 , maybe 4 people ? ) .

It won't be cheap , but depending on your area and resale , possibly change the potential 'next buyer' profile and get your $$$$ back
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Nic B
Original Author
last year

Hi there, the below is what we have been thinking of.

Unsure on kitchen layout or whether we can squeeze in a walk in pantry.

Bed 2 needs work and cupboard would be on ensuite wall, not on entry wall.

Food for thought anyways.

The lounge, dining, kitchen and master all face N.

The robe/ensuite is essentially E sunrise, and where couch is, is sun set to the W.

Builders start in the next couple of weeks and our house is now fully stripped out, but me and hubby! Exciting times ahead.
PRO
Agency Architecture
last year
It's great to see that you have some ideas for the reconfiguration of your cottage. I would highly recommend consulting with an architectural designer to help you refine your plans and ensure that you achieve exactly what you want. A designer can help you with the kitchen layout and determine if you can squeeze in a walk-in pantry, as well as provide solutions for the issues with Bed 2 and cupboard placement. They can also provide advice on maximizing the natural light and orientation of the rooms. With builders starting soon, working with a designer can help you to avoid costly mistakes and ensure that you get the most out of your renovation. Good luck with your exciting project!
Nic B thanked Agency Architecture

Help with redesign of 1950s cottage

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Help with redesign of 1950s cottage

Comments (4)

Agency Architecture

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Nic BOriginal Author

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Nic B
Original Author