How do I bathroom / kitchen / extension? etc.

I agree. Had one of these at our old place which I liked, ours was copper but they're much cheaper in black/white/alu:
https://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/product/7110

It's really nice to be able to adjust the light rather than have it fixed in my experience. They do a whole range so might be worth having a browse.
https://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/products?Range=Smooth

I'm a big fan of low lighting which doesn't cause light pollution, so much is way too bright.

I think that in black could be good. We'd have one either side of the door, and light can spill out from the kitchen too. That should be enough for a boozy evening on the deck.

I’m loving your updates btw, after all the hassles you’ve had I’m really rooting for you and I think that’s going to be amazing once done.

Reg lights, we have three different types which all work for different things.

1. Spots like @Fox recommended, with Philips hue bulbs.
   
2. Philips hue pedestal lights (x3) in flower beds.
   
3. Solar powered festoon on pergola on the back.
   
   

The advantage of solar is obvious, they provide automated constant dimmed lighting, enough for evening drinks.
Hue lights have the advantage of being dimmable to reduce any excess light pollution, plus they can be voice controlled and automated.

Cheers. I've been a little afraid to post updates because things still look so agricultural. I'm sure it's normal at this stage, although I'm no expert so have no idea. Architect seems happy enough, and building control do too - with the new bits at least, because they've found no end of problems with the old bits of the house that need fixing.

We've got a couple of solar-powered fairy lights wrapped around the trunk of a cherry tree that will be just past the decking, but I think the builders have destroyed those. They don't cast light really but will help a bit.

Sounds good to me! Chris is right, render's looking good btw.

We also had one of those Smooth lights on a spike for lawn/flowerbed use, like this:
https://www.mr-resistor.co.uk/product/7117

Depends how matchy matchy you'd want to go I guess. Would agree with using Hue either way.

Do you just put Hue bulbs in the outdoor lights, or do you need specific ones? We put a Hue light in new bathroom and it's quite fun messing about changing the colour of the LEDs.

Sounds about right to me!

You can with some.
Our spot like lights were just regular outdoor lights, the outdoor rating obvs came from the mechanical seal around the bulb so I just swapped the bulbs out for hue. The pedestals are full hue units.

Those spots seem to take GU10 bulbs, and Hue do these: https://www.philips-hue.com/en-gb/p/hue-white-ambiance-gu10---smart-spotlight----2-pack-/8719514340121A

So we could on/off them with traditional switch, but dim/brighten them with an app. Or go for the multi-coloured ones for Pink Floyd vibes.

On a lighting note, is there somewhere I can go to look at kitchen lighting? I want the prep side to be bright when required (task lighting?) and the eating side to be warm/cosy.

Smart lights would do it but potentially expensive/faff.

IKEA nymane spots + hey! home smart bulbs + a nice pendant from alasdair express

Yep. Or get a hue dimmer switch. Or get a smart speaker and live the dystopian dream.

No way will a smart speaker ever come into my house. I can just about handle the idea of Hue bulbs.

Cheers all for the recco on bathroom lights. Will have a look at those

What are people's thoughts on the bathroom in a loft conversion being ensuite vs separate? Appreciate ensuite is far more common, but I've seen them done separately as well.

Feels more practical for my purposes to be separate, and also requires less floor/wall area for access. Space for the door seemed a little tight, hence swapping the shower tray size.

Realise it breaks the supposed rule of not having the bog opposite the door (unless there's scope for moving it), but I couldn't care less.

1 Attachment

We went with separate. Much more useful to the household to have two bathrooms available to all.

Ensuite is more bougie, but separate access is more practical.
After writing down the below I'ld go ensuite.

Pros separate:
Also gives the other bedroom access with only a half flight of stairs.
I think it also is better spatially from the two plans; not walking directly into the shower when entering and the door opposite the bed is bad feng-shui I think.

Pros my proposal for the ensuite:
I'ld do a pocket door that slides in where the ensuite door now is planned kinda in the middle where the bed is. Then you get a central access and you could flip the shower 90degrees and make it as wide as the bathroom with a separating wall roughly the width of the tray now planned to get a sort of "side access". I am no fan of glass shower walls with the associated wipe down after every shower.
Could still get a glass door that flips in against the wall with the pocket door but then your not in the shop window for the person possibly needing to pee whilst you shower.
Also bigger shower opens up the opportunity to invite significant others to join. And that is for me the most important argument

Btw if ensuite, why not flip the door to the bedroom so it opens into the landing?
I don't know if something like that is against code on your isles and there is a very small risk of knocking somebody down the stairs.

Another idea; why not put the bed in the dormer? Dunno if you'd have enough head height from the plan and the possible front only access is not ideal but could be real cool with the skylights and become a sleeping nook with starlights..

Thanks both.

I'm not sure the pocket door suggestion would work, don't think there'd be enough space for it to open.

Bed is just where the architect put it. Had considered the possibility of it being in the pediment, and the access issues. Thought it might also be a fine line between cosy and claustrophobic. Definitely don't need to worry about that sort of stuff just yet tho'.

En suite is pretty much just shitting in your wardrobe, although it’s nice for guests to have their own private bathroom.

If en suite 100% pocket door, or jib (hidden).

House we bought has separate and I much prefer it. Layout very similar to your plan (minus the mad bay window thing). Basin is on the party party wall though so toilet is centred under the velux, more headroom and not straight in line with the door. Also leaves room for heated rail.

Be careful to check measurements inc insulation, plaster etc. In our bedroom, bed was clearly designed to go where yours is in the plan, but if it was there, you couldn't fit round the end. I assume someone didn't take into account wall thickness!

1 Attachment

If I was paying 70 grand for a loft which is what they seem to cost these days, id want my shitting quarters to remain private and for my own exclusive use if I am being blunt.

Anyone else can shit using the communal facilities elsewhere.

Username checks out

We're not weathertight yet, but getting there.

1 Attachment