Open Up to Your BISF Home

Open plan living in today’s world is heavily inspired by all manner of media productions, from magazine publications promoting glossy images of an open plan living environment and tv shows that actively promote knocking down internal walls to allow light and space into your home.

Most BISF owners will be aware of the multitude of layout options available to them inside their homes, with the simple removal, or addition of non load bearing stud walls, which can be achieved by a competent DIY enthusiast or builder. The only caveat to the ground floor of the property, is the presence of two upright stanchions, situated along the middle wall of the house. These stanchions are load bearing and should not be removed under any circumstances, as doing so could be catastrophic to the integrity of the structure.

We have seen many open plan layouts and room designs with some choosing to hide the stanchions either by cladding or incorporating them into a new wall structure. Few have left the stanchions freely on view, but we have found one property that has managed to hide one of the stanchions in an existing wall whilst leaving the second stanchion fully exposed in the middle of the room. The Kitchen has been given its own walled area, so whilst not being fully open plan we think this layout works very well.

The property in question was recently marketed by Michael Stevens Estates in Loughton and is currently sold subject to contract. To view the original sales listing please visit Michael Stevens Estates by clicking the banner above.

Outwardly, the property appears to be a typical example of a BISF House, but inside the skillfully designed layout is anything but typical.

Looking at the ground floor plan below, one can see that the Kitchen has been divided into a separate space, so whilst not being 100% open plan, this layout works in reducing noise & cooking odours that may otherwise enter the living space.
We can also see that the hall / living room wall has been removed and a new wall forms part of the staircase, which may also help to reduce heat loss to the upper floors.

bisf open plan — Ground floor layout showing separate kitchen &open plan lounge dining area.

This impressive layout is a credit to the current owners and shows how the standard layout of a BISF home can be transformed with a little imagination. Take a look at the images below to really appreciate the work that has gone into making this a truly inspirational home without any physical extension to the living area.

bisf-open-plan-lliving-room — Wide angle view of living space showing separate kitchen area to left and exposed support stanchion. French door replace the standard dining room window allowing light to wash over the entire area.

In this image the support stanchion and supporting cross beam can be clearly seen. The front door to the far right now opens into the living area but is enclosed by an exterior porch offering privacy. The brick effect wall covering makes for a subtle & interesting feature wall, giving the appearance of texture and solidity.

The kitchen has been well planned and incorporates itself well into the space. It would appear that the boxed stench / waste pipe that normally occupies the outer wall has been removed and placed on the exterior of the house, which allows for greater flexibility with unit layouts.

To further complement the ground floor design, the renovators of this property identified the need for greater washroom facilities on the first floor.

A traditional BISF bathroom can be restrictive in size, particularly when one wants to incorporate a shower cubicle into the room whilst retaining the bath. Many owners choose to remove the bath altogether and replace it with a shower unit but, doing this can seriously affect the value of your property, as a bath is considered to be a necessary staple of a British home. In this instance the owners rightly chose to extend the bathroom slightly by taking a few feet off the rear bedroom space. The existing wall has been removed and a new stud wall erected in the desired location. Care must be taken here not take too much space from the rear room as it is in your financial interest to keep this space as a double bedroom. Using a 3/4 bed in place of a standard double makes the reduced space appear larger than it actually is.

The bathroom now extends into the rear bedroom allowing for the installation of a separate shower and bath in the otherwise limited available space.

The overall effect of increasing the bathroom space allows for all manner of new layout options and in this property, the result and choice of fittings speak for themselves.

The addition of a clever space saving toilet and tiled walls throughout enhances the spacious feel of the bathroom.

There is now room for a purpose built shower area and vanity unit whilst still incorporating the all important bath.

Credit must be given once again to the designers and installers of this excellent interior renovation project and to the level of finish obtained. One of the main benefits of owning a BISF property is the sheer number of different ways that the house can be changed internally and externally to suit personal needs. Whilst the cost of removing standard brick supporting walls in a traditional property can be high, a BISF house contains only non-supporting stud walls that can easily be re-arranged to suit and at a much reduced cost. The results of which, as we see in this excellent example, really can make a dramatic impact on your living space.

If you would like to see the full particulars of this property and images of other rooms not viewed here, please download the full sales particulars Michael Stevens Estates.pdf

Alternatively if you are interested in buying or selling your own BISF property in Loughton, please contact Michael Stevens Estates directly and they will be glad to assist.

Michael Stevens Estates: 110 High Road, Loughton, Essex.IG10 4HJ Tel: 020 8502 1559

Fax: 020 8502 4221
Email:in**@mi*******************.uk

Michael Stevens Estates: 110 High Road, Loughton, Essex.IG10 4HJ Tel: 020 8502 1559

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