New house layout ideas wanted :)

[Koncho]

Hi all,
Very likely to be buying a small bungalow with the following layout - but it doesn't quite work for us as efficiently as I think it might! Ideas for improvement (versus likely cost) most welcome!

It needs a full redecoration anyway and we will be able do the alterations before before moving in.

To explain, only thinking of modifying the existing main building outlined in green rather than the extensions at the top. Its a traditional brick - block two skinned building with traditional rafter roof supported by props to the internal walls outlined in red.

Basically the issue is there is only me and the wife who will be living in it, and the bedrooms are only just viable as doubles. We think it makes more sense both for us and for resale given most bungalows go to post-family couples, to have a master bedroom a bit bigger than the current one, and at least one second smaller room that can be used as study-office-cum-guest bedroom.

The corridor/hallway we think is largely wasted space so might be able to use some of that.

Our ideas range from minimal (changing the cupboard between top bedroom and reception rooms so we can access it from the top bedroom to give us that little bit of storage) through to the probably lunatic (replacing the original roof with an attic truss which I think means we can take down all the internal walls so we can rejig from scratch and get a useable loft room).

I guess the real issue is we want to do this before moving in rather than after, and we don't really have a clear idea about cost vs utility.

Happy to do pretty well anything non structural myself, I can do stud walls, move radiators, install doors, tile, redecorate etc myself.

Any ideas of the best value ways of making it more useful space?

 

[securespark]

Well, what I like may not be your kettle of fish, but I like the idea of a separate lounge at the front, with a kitchen/ diner at the rear and a patio or bifold open to the garden. One bed at the front and the master at the rear, again looking out over the garden (quiet) with a small ensuite attached.

Looking at that layout, I might pinch a bit off the front bedroom to make the back bedroom more spacious, stretch the room in-between the bedroom and lounge to the front so it's a tad longer. Then block off the door into the lounge and that room becomes your ensuite.
Put the door on the bedroom side in the middle-ish, with a WC under the window, a shower at the opposite end and a basin opposite the new doorway.

I know you're only working inside the green square, but I would be tempted to incorporate the extension bit of the sitting room into the kitchen as part of a dining area?

Or maybe use it as a little alcove for a computer desk, this freeing up the second bedroom for hobbies etc...

If you want to, you could open the lounge to the hallway.

 

[Koncho]

Many thanks! Actually we both really love the idea of the en suite! And as long as there is no modification yes the extension bit of the sitting room can be used however we like.

The bedroom space really feels like that is the sticking point; the plan does not accurately reflect quite how little room there is to move the wall between them back to give extra room to the rear bedroom - you could only do that by about 20cm rather than the 50ish it looks from the estate agent's plans, before interfering with the front bedroom doorway, of course we could move that door back but that's another builder and building regulation task and the cost to add. 20cm is quite a lot when dealing with such small rooms but it wouldn't for instance buy the space for a row of wardrobes in the back bedroom...