Create an Open Plan Home from Your Old-fashioned House

You are considering making your old-fashioned house open plan. However, you’re unsure if it is possible. The good news is that you can do it. This blog post will tell you how. 

Consult a Professional Before Knocking Down a Wall

Before you start knocking down walls, get some professional advice. It might not seem like a big deal, but it is to an architect or designer. They are the ones who know what will work best in your home. As well, they can guide you about making the space more open. To make sure that these professionals have enough information. As well, to help them give better answers, please gather together: 

• Drawings of how the house was before you made any changes 
• Drawings of where all furniture was
• What areas will you leave with no natural light? 

Rough sketches may also do! You should always include measurements on any drawing so everything can stay proportional. This is important when planning out how much space will be available per room. There should be at least one drawing per room. 

It is essential to make sure that the professional advisor has enough information before they start giving advice. For example, they should look at your drawings and see what rooms are affected by changes in layout. 

Pre-Design the Different “Home Zones” (Kitchen, Bedroom, Living Room, etc.)

The kitchen is a personal zone, so it should be private with its entrance. Kitchen furniture will not need to match other pieces of furniture in the house. They are made for functionality and use more than beauty. 

On the other hand, the bedroom or living room can have matching (or complementary) furnishings that add visual interest. Create your desired atmosphere such as relaxing country living. Designers recommend at least one window in every room. As well, if possible, you will want natural light during waking hours. You can also add your personal touch by getting custom windows that will match your design. It will help you maintain the theme and style of the house. 

Have Enough Money for Additional Costs

If you live in a terraced house, on your property, then it has likely been divided up into lots. It means that if you want to make changes like opening part of your ground floor to create an open plan living area, there may be extra costs associated with buying and demolishing neighbouring properties for new projects to take shape. You will need enough money for all these additional expenses before starting any work. Having insufficient funds could lead to delays or even being unable to carry out the project at all!  

Choosing to make your old-fashioned house open plan can be a lot of work. It’s not something you want to do if the costs are going to outweigh any benefits. To find out whether this is for you, calculate how much it would cost with each change. Next, compare the prices of knocking down walls or swapping furniture around and budget appropriately. Then add in design consultation fees from an interior designer before making a final decision on whether or not this project is viable for you financially.

Adhere to the Party Wall Act

If you plan to knock down a wall or alter your roof, make sure that the Party Wall act is adhered to. It ensures both parties can discuss any changes and agree on their effects before proceeding with construction work. If you do not comply with this law, it could lead to court procedures which will be costly if things go wrong.

The Party wall Act dictates what you can do to a shared boundary, such as moving a wall. If the property is yours, it generally won’t be an issue unless there are laws against it in that area.

If you’re sharing walls with a neighbour:

• Work out who will have responsibility for changing fittings like sockets and switches before knocking down walls 
• Make sure that neighbours agree to the construction method and materials
• Negotiate how you will share, or not share, any parking spaces

Conclusion

A common misconception is that having an open house plan will make it feel more spacious. However, it isn’t always the case because sometimes people do not want to take up their living room with dining, for example, and instead use those rooms as personal zones, which means they need doors. 

Areas such as kitchens or bathrooms can have walls and openings into other areas of the home, so they are still fluid while providing privacy. Before knocking down a wall, homeowners should consider many things, including if there’s enough money for additional costs like construction work and finding out about Party Wall Act requirements first.

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