Advice on best use of awkward spaces

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Hi, I've recently moved into an 80 year old ex-corporation house on Dublin's northside and would like to remodel downstairs and add a single storey extension. The living space is very narrow (9.5 ft wide due to very wide hallway) with a 14th long living room and 11 ft long front room. To optimise natural light I was going to remove the wall b/w these two rooms. The extension would be approx. 14 ft x 14 ft. My concern is that a room 25 ft x 9.5 ft would be very difficult to utilise. I was intending to use it as kitchen/dining room but fear it would be too narrow. Does anyone think it would work as a living room? I'm afraid that all activity would be grouped around the TV and the rest would be effectively dead space? The extension could be easily adapted to either kitchen/diner or living room. Any ideas much appreciated.
 
Have you considered removing the walls to the hallway altogether, US style, making it completely open plan with stairway in the space. I have seen this done in other small co-operation house and I think it looks great.
If you were concerned about drafts from the front door you could build a small porch.
 
jessie175 said:
Have you considered removing the walls to the hallway altogether, US style, making it completely open plan with stairway in the space. I have seen this done in other small co-operation house and I think it looks great.
If you were concerned about drafts from the front door you could build a small porch.
Click to expand...

If you do go with this type of plan do absolutely get a front porch, drafts are an issue but so is lack of privacy every time you open your front door caller has full view of your living area...
 
Thanks for the responses. Jessie, I have considered doing that but I'd be afraid of noise travelling upstairs, not ideal with small children in the house. I couldn't add an external porch due to the style of the house but I could do an internal one. Any complaints re noise from any of the householders where you've seen this done?
 
This style of living is typical in America i.e. front door straight into open plan living area, with stairs to bedrooms. Even in parts of America where the weather is much colder than here. I never really understood why we are so adverse to that style of living here, it makes so much sense in small or awkward spaces.

I have never heard of complaints about noise with this layout and know many families with kids in US with this layout.
 
This is the kindof layout i have but i still have an original door at the top of the stairs. Its great for blocking out the sound from downstairs. I have a narrow long sittingroom and it really depends on the size of your family and way you want to use it. I have a round table and chairs at the front part so it's almost like another dining area - i use it for working on the computer or if i'm working on paperwork etc. the music system and bookshelves in the alcove make it a kindof study area but i've used it for dinners as well. The back bit has smaller/ neat sofas in a L shape facing the Tv and beside the fire- makes it very cosy but perhaps too much so if you have a bigger family.

If you don't mind the kitchen diner being at the front then its probably more useful spacewise to put the kitchen/diner there with kitchen in one par and table and chairs in the other and leave a bigger sitting room
 
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