u/nostress004

Hi everyone!

I just bought a 52 sqm (approx. 560 sqft) apartment in a 1940s-50s brick building in Budapest. It has a typical "old-school" layout with many small doors and rooms, and I’m looking for ideas to make it more modern and functional for two people.

Key constraints:

• Fixed Walls: The wall between the Kitchen (Konyha) and the Bathroom (Fürdő) is fixed. This is where the main plumbing (stack/strang) and chimneys are located.
• Ventilation/Light: There is a small ventilation window at the North end of the bathroom (above the pantry/kamra area). Also, there is a small "transom" window near the ceiling on the wall between the kitchen and bathroom to let natural light into the bath.
• Flexible Walls: All other interior walls can be moved or removed (pending structural check, but they are mostly non-load-bearing partitions).
• The Goal: A modern, open-feel home for a couple. We’d likely want a master bedroom and a spacious living area. A tiny office if possible, not sure.

Current layout (from left to right):

1. Bedroom (Szoba) - 13.8 sqm
2. Living Room (Szoba) - 19.6 sqm with a small balcony (Erkély)
3. Pantry (Kamra) - 1.6 sqm
4. Bathroom (Fürdő) - 4 sqm
5. Kitchen (Konyha) - 8 sqm
6. Entry Hall (Előszoba)

I've attached the original floorplan and some photos of the current state. I am currently playing around in Sweet Home 3D, but I'd love to see your creative takes on how to open up the space!

Thanks in advance!