To think an extension is not the right move?

[TheBeautifulMoors]

To think extending the house is not a good idea. We live in a detached house, road on two sides and fields on the other two, in a busy town. We have two teens who use the garden for a bit of a kick about and some wildlife projects various corners.

Our kitchen is small - 3.5m x 2.2m.

DH would like to extend it by 2m so we would have 5.5m x 2.2m ( we initially thought 1.5m but decided it’s not worth it).

The problem is the garden (grass area) is appx 9m x 7m, although we do also have a concrete driveway appx 2.5m x 8m with a garage at the end of it. Our garden furniture sits at the end of the driveway on a raised area in front of the garage, so on concrete not grass

My concern is that the garden would be too small so we could just fit out the kitchen as it needs to be done and then build a
conservatory next to the current dining room for some extra space.

Im close to preserving the kitchen sold feedback before I do so.

Aibu - The garden would still be ok if the kitchen i extended

Ainbu - Don’t extend, it’s better to have more garden pace

Need a diagram please OP!

Going from 3.5x2.2 to 5.5x2.2 is a strange choice. It’s going to make a longer kitchen corridor. I don’t think it will improve functionality much. Extending the other dimension somehow would work better.

You need to draw it

Here’s a drawing of our cosy house.

Will this do? It’s pretty rough 🙈

Could you extend by 1-2 meters across the whole back of the house, and knock down the wall between kitchen and dining room to create a more open kitchen/dining space?

Do you need a separate dining room, can you knock down the wall and have one big open plan dining kitchen? Better use of the space and save the extension?

Perfect diagram. Love the dimensions!

The available space looks like the driveway to me. Not many people park cars in garages any more, so call it a shed and sever the link with the front gate, extend sideways up to about a metre from the fence.

Although considering the cost of building work atm, I don't think it's worth doing anything really small. Could you just combine kitchen and dining room to give you some more elbow room?

Am I right in thinking your extension would be into the grass ie as I've outlined in red, not into the driveway as outlined in blue?

If so, what direction is North? Depending on this you might end up putting the furniture area into shade.

I think it would also affect your kids kick about games, if this is where they do it.

I think @SunshineMilla 's suggestion better, but if the blue area is concrete I'd be more inclined to extend that way, although I guess that might not work with the garage.

How much are you struggling for space currently? Could a kitchen refit solve any current issues?

Would an extension affect the wildlife projects. They seem important to me!

This would be DH’s ideal choice tbh. Extend and open up to form a large kitchen/dinner.
I really struggle with the idea of not having a separate kitchen no matter how small.

DH has suggested this too but I’m reluctant to do this. DH (and I) sometimes works from the dining room. I like the idea of any of us being able to go to the kitchen, shut the door and do whatever without feeling like we’re disturbing him ( he’s not bothered btw). And when I’m taking work meetings, I want the rest of the family to be able to do the same. A conservatory would provide a separate working space.

Don’t do a conservatory. Useless clutter space that can never be used and will devalue the house.

Im team DH. Full width extension and big kitchen / diner. Put a desk in the living room and work from there if either of you need to - people don’t need to use that during the day if you have a nice space at the back of the house opening onto the garden.

2m isnt very big. not worth it in my opinion, Everyone is extending; were going to have some seriously screwed up houses soon.

Yeah unless you’re doing what DH is saying, then it’s completely pointless, currently having an extension now. It’s so much hassle. Would be such a waste of effort

Move the garage to the side of the house, utility on the back and kitchen extension.

Knock down the existing garage, build it on the front of the house (red bit), add an extension directly behind it (blue bit). New kitchen/diner is yellow bit.

Turn the garage into a garden office.

Which way is North?

Older dc =more 'get togethers' ime. Small summer house and outdoor cooking area?
Then dc can be a bit more self sufficient!!
If you've managed so far why the need for a bigger kitchen now?

What do you use the garage for? Is it just storage? We knocked down our garage and built a side extension with half garage on the front which has plenty of storage for tools, lawnmower, bikes, vacuum cleaner, et cetera. so a bit like Soontobe60 has suggested but the red section would be half garage and the other half could be utility room or pantry or downstairs loo for example.

There’s a lot of wasted space at the side of the house and the garage is poorly positioned. Most houses have the garage at the side by the front door. You rather have a no man’s land. I’d get rid of the garage and rebuild it much further forward and have a big kitchen behind it. Then re configure the garden. Cost might prohibit this though but house and garage don’t make best use of plot as effectively your drive is very long and takes up too much space.

your drive is very long and takes up too much space.
I thought that originally but if the teens get cars in a few years then it could be useful parking space.

Thank you!

I actually suggested extending outwards to DH. He wasn’t very sure about that idea. I suppose he’s probably not thought about doing it that way. I’ll ask him again to see if we can explore that further.
That bit is the current venue for the kick about, though I’m not sure why they don’t use the grass.
You are right, the garage is just a shed for storage for us, too.

Something along these lines, you don’t need a full sized garage if just for storage and you could always have a small shed as well in the garden for lawnmower if that’s easier.

This is what I was thinking - it's likely the expensive option, but you don't use your garage for anything other than storage. You'll have enough space with half a garage, and if you don't, then you need to declutter! The side extension is a good use of dead space, and makes your garden a much better size and shape. The only thing I'd say is, lose the whole 'sofa in kitchen' (which I really don't like) and put the dining table there. Your dining room then becomes a second lounge or study. A place for people to close the door and have private space for home working or evening relaxation.

Yes, you’re spot on. Our grassed area is north-facing. The side with the 9m dimension is East i.e. Them losing that area is DH’s concern.

Actually I’ve realised I’ve omitted some detail so far. We’ve an area of just about 1.5m currently paving behind the dining area and kitchen as that’s where the tap is.

There’s a mini pond just next to the paved area mentioned above and there a mix of other installations in the top right hand corner for other creepy crawlies/insects and there are many plants there that are loves by birds and bees. For such a small garden, we’re really lucky with the variety do birds we get to see. We’d have to lose the pond.

Yeah, I agree actually - personally, I prefer to have a separate room for a lounge or snug room so I would probably do it how you’ve said