Hello, I suggest you involve an architect as soon as possible with your proposal. For structural changes you really need to seek the advice of a qualified professional, especially as you will be adding a staircase, potentially knocking down walls and another level to your home. If your neighbours have done this without any problems, then the architect will be able to process the drawings through to planning permission easily.

Just a few pointers to help you when you speak to the architect; ideally you want to keep the kitchen in roughly the same area due to the gas and water pipe, same goes for your bathrooms they are always placed against an external wall so you may not be able to move them around too much. You could knock out the sitting room wall creating the living kitchen open plan. If you want to keep the two bedrooms, (new plans permitting) I suggest you keep them as they are.

Hope that helps :)

Rukmini Patel Interior Design

Hi, if the property is based in London, we would be more than happy to quote on your building project. Thanks, Edgar.

www.designandbuildlondon.com

Definitely get an architect in as soon as possible. Planning permission can take time even if next door has done similar or the same! Structural changes are complex and an architect will rule out an ideas that don't have legs straight away; saving you time.

I would definitely go open plan and this is certainly possible for the space. I would even take some of the space from the large entrance hall as you already have an inner hall immediately behind. Also this would allow you to have a more definded and statement entrance at the front.

To achieve this you may need to incorporate a pillar or steel beam which is relatively easy to do. It is hard to say if you would need this though as it depends where the load of the roof and evetually the dormer extension would sit.

You could move the main bathroom upstairs, have a WC and two bedrooms on the left side of the back of the property - where the bathroom is and the odd hallways configuration which would allow for the living room to be opened up into the back of the property.

It all really depends on your budget and time constraints. Congrats on the twins, you must be thrilled (and exhausted!).

If you need any help regrding the interior design for this project or room layout and staging of rooms please don't hesitate to get in touch with me on 07570574493.

Make sure to have a good floorplan ready, especially where the staircase should go. How is your plot? I see your kitchen door is possibly used as main entry? If you have a back garden too (is it behind the house?), consider moving the kitchen-diner to bedroom1 and open up the sitting room towards bedroom1. Add garden doors (porch/back of new kitchen?). Kitchen could become the hall with WC. Stairs could then go where inner hall and current WC is. Quick scetch: