To sink or not to sink?

11 years ago

We are considering renovating our new home to make our kitchen more central. We are going to make the current living room a kitchen, and turn the the garage into the living room. We have 8' ceilings in the house, which I wish we had made higher. Should we raise the floor of the living room to create a better flow? Or should we create a sunken living room to gain the higher ceiling in this space?

Our house is similar to the attached plan, except our kitchen is moved back into the coffee corner to make a larger kitchen, and our basement stairs start in the main part of the house next to the laundry room. The stairs come into the end of the current kitchen and are surrounded by a rail. I was thinking that the current kitchen would become a sitting area, and the garage would the main living space. I would put a double sided ethanol fireplace between the sitting area and living space.

Featured Answer

User

11 years ago

You need an architect FIRST. That's when the design work occurs. Then, you bid it out to contractors for the best price for the work. Not the fox guarding the henhouse with no advance design work. 200K would be a low budget to accomplish all that's on your list. Do you have a contingency fund?

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Comments (8)

PRO
Kanupriya Pachisia
11 years ago
hi .. 8' is hardly a good height so raising it wont be a good option.I suggest you sink the floor to gain the height you want.
User
11 years ago
You need an architect. There are numerous technical and expensive issues that can prevent you from moving forward this plan. Not to mention the economic hit you would sustain from eliminating a garage. Most garage conversions are badly done, and detract from the home's value.
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
11 years ago
They almost always look like a garage got changed and I agree an architect is needed to make this work.
PRO
LuLu Interiors
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the information. Those are valid points.

Our budget will be $200,000 and we plan to build a detached garage that will have a covered walkway attaching it to the house. I will be speaking to my contractor soon to find out if it is feasible. I definitely do not want to do anything that will detract from the value of the home.

I am pretty certain that if we do it, we will be raising the floor to make one continuous level.
PRO
LuLu Interiors
Original Author
11 years ago
Unfortunately we are a little short on architects in rural Newfoundland.
PRO
Design SI
11 years ago
If it is challenging to find architects where u are, another option is to consider a design build firm. Maybe even consult with professional designer/ architect for space planning only, develop a plan, a few elevations of proposed ideas then work with a local engineer and contractor to help you achieve the technical aspects.
azabik
11 years ago
@housedp.... totally understand the rural NL challenge.... where are you on the island? I know some folks in town who have had good work done on their houses.... PM me if you want more info.