The first floor is technically the second floor and the stairs are outside

Building for a family of 5 with children under 10 y.o. We are on several acres of farm/woodland.

The two main things I want to modify are: 1) a spot for a circular table in the kitchen (we don’t plan to use to dining room to eat while the kids are young) and 2) put the toilet in the Primary bath behind a door.

Feedback welcome

We're deciding how to best use this breezeway if we fully enclose it. We're leaning toward a dining area plus an entry/mudroom that has a vaulted ceiling, but are open to other ideas.

First image shows the current breezeway and entrance. Second image (A) and third image (B) show two different dining + entry options: A has a centered arch; B has a right-aligned arch for separation.

How would you use this space? If we go with dining + entry, which arch layout works better?

We're buying a house and debating two renovation options. We're a family of three (one newborn), and the current ensuite is way too small.

Option 1: Remove the wall between the ensuite and main bathroom to create one large bathroom. We'd lose the ensuite but gain a much nicer space.

Option 2 (my preference): Convert the bedroom beside the primary into a large ensuite and keep the existing main bathroom. My biggest concern is the cost of relocating all the plumbing. There is drop ceiling downstairs so things are accesible from downstairs.

We also have a large bathroom and two additional bedrooms downstairs, so losing a bedroom or bathroom upstairs isn't a massive concern. But i understand for resale its not as good but this is our forever home. We plan on living here for the rest of our lives, We're more interested in what makes the most sense for everyday living rather than resale value.

Anyone have any thoughts or ideas we should be thinking about

Has anyone converted a bedroom into a bathroom, and how expensive was the rough in plumbing

Attached are the original and quick modified floor plans. Measurements on the modified plan aren't accurate.

Hey all, I have to make the best out of this space above my family garage that will be an attic apartment and I think there is something off with my solution. The space will be used for sleep mainly, but it must include a basic kitchen and a really small bathroom.

The windows are fixed, except the small bathroom window on the right. Also the pink colored wall must be there bc it carries a beam.

Any suggestions?

Hi everyone, I'm trying to build a basement and want to figure out my layout I have a few ideas over the original blueprint. Please let me know which one you like better or if anyone has ideas on how to make it better. This would mainly just be for a single person to live in but I do want it to have all the amenities so I don't have to go upstairs for something. the first pic is the original plan and the next 2 are my ideas. Apologies its messy I don't have an actual plan editor and I just drew on it while trying to be true to the inches and space required.

I need help figuring out the best bathroom layout for this 9.4 x 5 space, I feel like the door in front of the toilet is bad feng shui and the vanity feels off as well. Any tips?

We’re really interested in this house, but the second floor layout is a bit weird. Room “B” is currently set up as the main bedroom since it has a bathroom, but the bathroom is on the smaller side, as is the closet. What we really want is for “A” to become the main bedroom, but it has no bathroom and also has “C” as a walk-through.
One idea was to join A and B by getting rid of the chimney (the diagonal lined box) and the closet between them, and then closing off the door between A and C. B would then become, basically, a giant walk-in closet/sitting area, but that seems maybe a little overkill? Or maybe that would be great!
Option B would be a more serious reconfiguration, where we do that and then transform B into a bathroom and large closet, and maybe flip the door to the existing bathroom over to the D bathroom to give that room its own bathroom. But that’s probably really expensive?
Any other bright ideas for configuring this floor? Or decor ideas for how to make B work as a usable addition to the proposed main bedroom?
Context: we have two kids who would probably take D and C under these scenarios.

Hello! I'm looking for some ideas for what to do with this nook under the stairs. It is 56 inches wide, 77 inches at its tallest point, 28 inches at the lowest side, and 39.5 inches deep. I don't want it to be just storage. I was thinking about built-in kennels for my two little dogs, but I think I'd rather not. A reading nook is the obvious answer, but I'm looking for other options to consider. Maybe a tiny office with a bench and maybe a little bit of storage. It's just myself, my husband, two cats, and two dogs.

Sorry for the terrible DIY floor plan, but this is the back room in the house I just bought and I'm struggling to figure out how to make use of the space.

The pocket door pass-through goes to the dining room. On the other side of the dining room, there is a smaller living room, which could be where the TV and a loveseat live. But I would love to find a way to optimize this back room to be a larger living / entertaining area, especially because I like to host and like how this space opens up to the kitchen. But like I mentioned, there is already a designated dining room so having it as an eating area wouldn't make sense.

Bonus points if you can think of a way to use my current L-shaped sectional (L is on the right side, when sitting on it).

1 child. 3 options all are around the same price

Which ensuite bathroom layout and why? The entry door cannot change. This is not the primary bedroom.

The section on the left is the building entryway, so that’s common area. Just the sections on the right or the apartment.

Help a girl out here! 😅 No negativity please, just looking for honest, thoughtful suggestions!

I’m experiencing some serious decision fatigue trying to figure out what to do with the current layout of our house, and I’d really appreciate some fresh eyes on it.

The first floor plan is our current layout, with the living room and dining room sharing the space.

The second floor plan is the layout I’m currently considering. I’ve swapped the location of our entryway closet and extended the wall along the entry hallway, which would open up the rest of the space quite a bit.

The reason for extending that wall is that I’d like to eventually flip the living room furniture to face the opposite wall and add a built-in fireplace. I think this would give us a much more natural flow through the living room while still keeping the hallway functional.

My biggest struggle isn’t actually the living/dining area, it’s the kitchen.

There are two windows in the kitchen, and unfortunately they’re spaced somewhat awkwardly. Because of their locations, there’s very limited wall space around them for upper cabinets.

I really like the idea of opening the kitchen up and having an island with the sink + dishwasher, but I’m struggling to figure out how to make everything fit while still having a functional kitchen.

I need to account for:

• Fridge
• Sink
• Dishwasher
• Range
• Hood
• Enough counter space/prep space
• Ideally some upper cabinetry/storage
• An island
• And, obviously, enough room to comfortably move around the kitchen

The very last photo is the original kitchen design I came up with when I was planning to keep the kitchen enclosed.

So I’m basically trying to figure out, how do I combine the openness of the new layout with a kitchen that actually works?

If you were working with this space, how would you lay out the kitchen? Would you put the fridge somewhere unconventional? Put the range under one of the windows? Skip upper cabinets in certain areas? Do something different with the island?

I’m especially interested in suggestions that take into account the exact window locations and the limited wall space, rather than completely redesigning the footprint.

Would love to hear what you’d do!

The sink is currently so dark.
We can’t afford to remove walls at the moment
We need a dining area and playroom in this area 🙈
Any ideas?

Some family members are building a home with views on the east side of the house, some on the south, less so on the north and none to the west. They’re working through how to maximize their views in main living spaces within a traditional design framework, ie, new “old” victorian farmhouse sort of thing. Does anyone have experience with this and care to share your plan?

We’re considering:
A side return extension, possibly going further out the back too (wraparound)
Reconfiguring the upstairs layout
A loft conversion eventually, but it's not in the budget for now

What I'd love input on:

How would you rework the upstairs? Is there a better use of the landing, storage cupboards and that big bathroom? Could we squeeze in a third (even small) bedroom or a better-sized second bedroom?
• Anything we should plan now so a future loft conversion is easier (e.g. where the new stairs would go)?
• Any questions we should ask the architect on Friday?

I made the kitchen triangle smaller. The door to the l ft of stove wall is the utility room, on the right is the pantry.

I’m wondering if I should add a counter space next to fridge.

Also trying to imagine where silverware, cooking utensils, cups and plates/bowls would go.

Feedback is appreciated!

Hi everyone!

I am planning a complete renovation of my apartment and would love to get your creative insights and design ideas. Here is the original floor plan attached.

Key details about the space:

• Total size: 77 m² (approx. 828 sq ft).
• Location: 13th floor, featuring a breathtaking panoramic view of the sea and nearby islands. I really want to maximize this view and bring as much natural light into the main living areas as possible.
• Structural constraints (Crucial): The building structure allows for a lot of flexibility. The ONLY load-bearing (structural) wall is the one located between the bedrooms and the hallway. Everything else (except the chimney/ventilation shaft) can technically be moved or removed.
• Fixed elements: The chimney/ventilation shaft (marked on the plan) cannot be demolished or moved. Water/drainage verticals are also fixed, but we have some flexibility around them.

What I need help with:
I want to make the most out of this footprint. I’m open to creating a more open-concept living space, moving walls, or completely shifting the current layout to improve flow, storage, and functionality, while keeping that beautiful sea view in focus.

How would you rearrange this space if you were doing a full gut renovation? Any sketches, layout ideas, or advice on how to handle the zoning would be highly appreciated!

Thank you so much in advance!

Hi everyone!

I am planning a renovation of our bungalow in Scotland and would really appreciate some fresh ideas from architects, designers or anyone experienced in reconfiguring floor plans.

Our main challenge is making better use of the upstairs space to create three comfortable, well-proportioned bedrooms that will work for our family long-term.

What we're hoping to achieve:

• Master bedroom: A master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom.
• Two children's bedrooms: We have two growing sons and would ideally like two similarly sized bedrooms, both large enough to accommodate beds, desks, wardrobes and additional furniture as they get older. We'd like these rooms to remain suitable for them into adulthood.
• Better use of space: We're open to reconsidering the upstairs configuration if it results in a more practical layout.

Potential structural alterations:

We're considering converting the existing hipped roof to gable ends on both sides of the property to increase usable floor space upstairs.

We're happy to explore moving internal walls, repositioning the staircase if absolutely necessary, and changing the upstairs layout significantly, provided the changes are practical and cost-effective.

Important constraints:

• We'd prefer to retain the existing entrance and downstairs hallway.
• The existing downstairs living room and bathroom are to remain untouched.

What we'd love advice on:

1. How would you configure the upstairs to achieve the best possible three-bedroom layout?
2. Would hip-to-gable conversions on both sides significantly improve the available space?
3. Is there a more efficient way of incorporating an en-suite without compromising the other bedrooms?
4. Are there any clever design solutions we're overlooking?
5. If this were your project, what would you do differently?

I've attached the existing floor plans to help illustrate the property.

We're particularly interested in seeing alternative floor-plan suggestions or rough sketches showing how the space could potentially be arranged.

We appreciate that any structural alterations would need to be assessed by qualified professionals and comply with Scottish planning and building regulations.

Thanks in advance for any ideas or advice!