Help me design my flat

Gavin Scott · Fri 12 Jun, 2009 17.05

Right, so, subject to offer being accepted, surveys and da-da da-da, I may be picking up the keys on a new flat. Not a moment too soon I might add. This rental is badly needing done up (and a clean), but its hardly wise ploughing money into someone else's place.

This new property needs significant work, as well as a bit of a redesign.

Anyone want to share their creativity on improved kitchen, bathroom and a bit of furniture arranging?

The prize for anyone contributing an idea will be an invite to the flatwarming.

marksi · Fri 12 Jun, 2009 17.18

The obvious instant thought is to get rid of the "kitchenette" and either have that space as a utility room or give the space to the bathroom (you could then have a separate shower and bath). Your kitchen diner is large so put the kitchen in there and get an island that doubles as a dining area.

What's the other boxy cupboardy thing in the corner of the dining room? Get rid of that if you can.

Gavin Scott · Fri 12 Jun, 2009 17.21

marksi wrote:The obvious instant thought is to get rid of the "kitchenette" and either have that space as a utility room or give the space to the bathroom (you could then have a separate shower and bath). Your kitchen diner is large so put the kitchen in there and get an island that doubles as a dining area.

You're on my wavelength there. On my wish list would be a "wet room" shower - although I do like a bath; but it would be sensible to use the kitchenette as a utility room for washer/dryer. Big island in the kitchen would be good too, and I'd lean towards a soft seating area in there rather than a dining table - as it would be largely redundant.

Alexia · Fri 12 Jun, 2009 17.47

Sort of obvious but I would put a flat-screen TV with backlight on the left wall of the lounge, with sofa and/or Friends-style vibro-chairs opposite. A big print of a zebra somewhere would be good too, or zebra-print cushions on a black sofa. If you have books, you appear to have four fantastic alcoves.

The room between the hall and the lounge puzzles me - also why you can't walk from the dining room straight to the lounge also weirds me out. Depending on whether that wall between the dining room and the box room is a supporting wall (Which, looking at the plans, i fear it may be) you may be able to put a door or arch through.

I'd suggest removing the door between the box room and the hall and making it an arch / permanent hole (fire safety issues pertaining of course).

Sput · Fri 12 Jun, 2009 18.21

What length windows do you have there?

marksi · Fri 12 Jun, 2009 18.29

A bit more radically... and therefore expensive (if possible given supporting wall issues)...

Block up the door from "box room" to living room. It'll just annoy your furniture layout. Get rid of the cupboardy thing in the dining room. Put bathroom in the area where the box room and cupboardy thing were. Remove kitchenette. Steal some of old bathroom space for built-in wardrobe (leaving bedroom clearer). Rest of old bathroom and kitchenette added to new kitchen diner.

There. I've come over all Kirsty Thingy. So to speak.

Sput · Fri 12 Jun, 2009 18.31

I was going to say move the kitchen stuff but wouldn't it be a plumbing nightmare?

marksi · Fri 12 Jun, 2009 18.39

Sput wrote:I was going to say move the kitchen stuff but wouldn't it be a plumbing nightmare?

Kitchen plumbing isn't too bad; it's the toilet that's the problem to move as it needs a larger diameter soil pipe.

Sput · Fri 12 Jun, 2009 19.15

Aww it's so politely named. I'd probably call it PooTube.

Alexia · Fri 12 Jun, 2009 19.40

Sput wrote:Aww it's so politely named. I'd probably call it PooTube.

That's a video website for people with very strange sexual tastes, surely.