Drawing a Blank

I've sketched a few ideas for new layouts. This first layout aims for minimal change. The third bedroom is now the main bathroom. The kitchen and dining room are swapped. Several internal walls have been removed. I'm not happy with this sketch; the house still feels like a maze.

This second layout puts the living areas on the North and South for better light. The utility areas move to the East and West. The galley kitchen isn't spacious but it is practical. This layout has a much better separation between guest areas and private areas.

This third layout is my favourite. The L-shaped public area includes the kitchen, dining and living rooms. The bedrooms are north-facing and clearly separated from the rest of the house. The major problem with this layout is the amount of change involved; I'd have to completely gut the house & relocate all the plumbing, electrics, and internal framing.

And there's the dilemma in a nutshell... major renovations are difficult and disruptive. I don't have the skill or enthusiasm for renovations so I'm going to have to hire a builder anyway. And no matter how much I rearrange the internal rooms, that won't solve big problems such as orientation on the block.