Hello everyone,
I would like to share our current house planning and hear/read your ideas.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 436 m² (4700 sq ft)
Slope: no, flat
Site occupancy index: 0.4
Floor area ratio: n/a
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: free on the plot, only 3m (10 ft) distance required
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 2 parking spaces
Number of floors: 2 full stories
Roof shape: anything allowed from 20°
Architectural style: free
Orientation:
Maximum height / limits: 11m (36 ft)
Other requirements
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: classic, gable roof (45°)
Basement, floors: basement, ground floor, upper floor
Number of people, ages: 36, 35, 2.5 (number 2 is planned and desired)
Room requirements on ground and upper floors: see floor plan
Office: family use or home office? Home office (work from home)
Overnight guests per year: approx. 15-20
Open or closed architecture: relatively open
Conservative or modern construction: modern?
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen, no island
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: later
Music / stereo wall:
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: yes, but type unclear. Possibly a single carport to be expanded into a garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: classic tomato and strawberry bed
Other wishes / special features / daily routine: due to home working, spatial separation is essential. My wife sometimes works night shifts, so being able to sleep during the day is necessary.
House Design
Who designed the plan: “off the shelf,” own ideas
What do you like most? The 4 rooms on the upper floor, the open living/dining/kitchen area
What do you dislike? the current upstairs floor plan
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings:
Preferred heating system: currently air-to-water heat pump, but not fixed
If you had to give up details / extensions:
- can give up: garage/carport
- cannot give up: basement, home office, pantry
In our own planning, we have designed the doors to the office and bathroom on the ground floor to be 1m (39 inches) wide to ensure accessibility.
We are still unsure about the large window front in the living room.
For the upper floor, we will shortly receive another floor plan (from a show home) that we like much better.
I am very curious about your feedback on our ground floor planning and whether you have any suggestions for the upper floor.
If you have questions about the notes, just ask.
Best regards,
Robin
I would like to share our current house planning and hear/read your ideas.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 436 m² (4700 sq ft)
Slope: no, flat
Site occupancy index: 0.4
Floor area ratio: n/a
Building envelope, building line, and boundary: free on the plot, only 3m (10 ft) distance required
Edge development
Number of parking spaces: 2 parking spaces
Number of floors: 2 full stories
Roof shape: anything allowed from 20°
Architectural style: free
Orientation:
Maximum height / limits: 11m (36 ft)
Other requirements
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: classic, gable roof (45°)
Basement, floors: basement, ground floor, upper floor
Number of people, ages: 36, 35, 2.5 (number 2 is planned and desired)
Room requirements on ground and upper floors: see floor plan
Office: family use or home office? Home office (work from home)
Overnight guests per year: approx. 15-20
Open or closed architecture: relatively open
Conservative or modern construction: modern?
Open kitchen, kitchen island: open kitchen, no island
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: later
Music / stereo wall:
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: yes, but type unclear. Possibly a single carport to be expanded into a garage
Utility garden, greenhouse: classic tomato and strawberry bed
Other wishes / special features / daily routine: due to home working, spatial separation is essential. My wife sometimes works night shifts, so being able to sleep during the day is necessary.
House Design
Who designed the plan: “off the shelf,” own ideas
What do you like most? The 4 rooms on the upper floor, the open living/dining/kitchen area
What do you dislike? the current upstairs floor plan
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings:
Preferred heating system: currently air-to-water heat pump, but not fixed
If you had to give up details / extensions:
- can give up: garage/carport
- cannot give up: basement, home office, pantry
In our own planning, we have designed the doors to the office and bathroom on the ground floor to be 1m (39 inches) wide to ensure accessibility.
We are still unsure about the large window front in the living room.
For the upper floor, we will shortly receive another floor plan (from a show home) that we like much better.
I am very curious about your feedback on our ground floor planning and whether you have any suggestions for the upper floor.
If you have questions about the notes, just ask.
Best regards,
Robin
Hello,
I have made some adjustments and changes. Unfortunately, after editing, my software no longer allows me to add dimensions automatically, so I added a few manually. I hope this is sufficient for now.
My main concern is the feasibility of the upper floor, especially the bathroom. But I’ll start from the bottom up, beginning with the basement:
We now have three basement windows (I didn’t have the construction specifications and wasn’t sure what was included). The windows measure 62.5 x 100 cm (bracing height 1.52 m (5 feet)). Additionally, the offer includes an increase in ceiling height from 2.25 m to 2.645 m (7 ft 5 in to 8 ft 8 in) clear height.
Furthermore, underfloor heating is planned for the hallway, playroom, and hobby room, while the rest will remain unheated. The section with the workshop and storage room is currently just a rough idea. The utility room will house the heating system and electrical panel, plus a 19-inch rack for network and satellite cabling. Other items, such as a laser printer, might also be placed there.
The toilet in the utility room is still just a tentative idea; for now, we will probably only have the supply and drainage pipes installed.
Next is the ground floor (also attached with the position on the plot and an idea for terrace use):
I haven’t added dimensions here yet, as it would have become too confusing. What I want to mention is that I’ve given a lot of thought to the size of the pantry. It will now be about 1.50–1.55 m (5 ft to 5 ft 1 in) wide by approximately 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) long. The pantry will have a small window (which was originally planned for the guest bathroom) measuring 1.125 x 0.625 m (3 ft 8 in x 2 ft 1 in).
This results in the bathroom having a width of 1.60–1.65 m (5 ft 3 in to 5 ft 5 in). Is that enough space for a shower bathroom?
As for the living room, I initially placed the furniture we currently own; it fits for now and will be supplemented as needed. The outer windows facing the terrace will be fixed panels measuring 1.125 x 2.395 m (3 ft 8 in x 7 ft 10 in). The door in the middle will be a large double door, 2.25 x 2.395 m (7 ft 5 in x 7 ft 10 in). There is another door to the side, the same size as the fixed panels. I think this setup will provide enough natural light for the living room.
We will address the kitchen layout soon and seek detailed professional advice.
The wardrobe niche currently has a depth of 55 cm (22 inches).
Now, moving on to my “challenging” upper floor... we are still planning on having four rooms. I recently saw a layout with only three bedrooms during a viewing, and it didn’t look good at all.
Here is the floor plan—please excuse the unconventional dimensions:
I have drawn the 2-meter (6 ft 7 in) line; does that work for the toilet, or should it be arranged differently? In the original plan, the toilet is directly below the sloped ceiling.
The shower is 1 x 1 meter (3 ft 3 in x 3 ft 3 in).
Another change is that my wife’s room has been reduced in size by about 60 cm (2 ft) in depth. This adjustment created space to move the wall between the bathroom and the bedroom, providing room for a wardrobe behind the door.
I am still open to suggestions. Attached, as mentioned, is also the site plan (there is a curve near the north arrow in the corner). I also included the section drawing (unfortunately without the basement, as it is from a sample contract).
Thanks and best regards,
Robin
I have made some adjustments and changes. Unfortunately, after editing, my software no longer allows me to add dimensions automatically, so I added a few manually. I hope this is sufficient for now.
My main concern is the feasibility of the upper floor, especially the bathroom. But I’ll start from the bottom up, beginning with the basement:
We now have three basement windows (I didn’t have the construction specifications and wasn’t sure what was included). The windows measure 62.5 x 100 cm (bracing height 1.52 m (5 feet)). Additionally, the offer includes an increase in ceiling height from 2.25 m to 2.645 m (7 ft 5 in to 8 ft 8 in) clear height.
Furthermore, underfloor heating is planned for the hallway, playroom, and hobby room, while the rest will remain unheated. The section with the workshop and storage room is currently just a rough idea. The utility room will house the heating system and electrical panel, plus a 19-inch rack for network and satellite cabling. Other items, such as a laser printer, might also be placed there.
The toilet in the utility room is still just a tentative idea; for now, we will probably only have the supply and drainage pipes installed.
Next is the ground floor (also attached with the position on the plot and an idea for terrace use):
I haven’t added dimensions here yet, as it would have become too confusing. What I want to mention is that I’ve given a lot of thought to the size of the pantry. It will now be about 1.50–1.55 m (5 ft to 5 ft 1 in) wide by approximately 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in) long. The pantry will have a small window (which was originally planned for the guest bathroom) measuring 1.125 x 0.625 m (3 ft 8 in x 2 ft 1 in).
This results in the bathroom having a width of 1.60–1.65 m (5 ft 3 in to 5 ft 5 in). Is that enough space for a shower bathroom?
As for the living room, I initially placed the furniture we currently own; it fits for now and will be supplemented as needed. The outer windows facing the terrace will be fixed panels measuring 1.125 x 2.395 m (3 ft 8 in x 7 ft 10 in). The door in the middle will be a large double door, 2.25 x 2.395 m (7 ft 5 in x 7 ft 10 in). There is another door to the side, the same size as the fixed panels. I think this setup will provide enough natural light for the living room.
We will address the kitchen layout soon and seek detailed professional advice.
The wardrobe niche currently has a depth of 55 cm (22 inches).
Now, moving on to my “challenging” upper floor... we are still planning on having four rooms. I recently saw a layout with only three bedrooms during a viewing, and it didn’t look good at all.
Here is the floor plan—please excuse the unconventional dimensions:
I have drawn the 2-meter (6 ft 7 in) line; does that work for the toilet, or should it be arranged differently? In the original plan, the toilet is directly below the sloped ceiling.
The shower is 1 x 1 meter (3 ft 3 in x 3 ft 3 in).
Another change is that my wife’s room has been reduced in size by about 60 cm (2 ft) in depth. This adjustment created space to move the wall between the bathroom and the bedroom, providing room for a wardrobe behind the door.
I am still open to suggestions. Attached, as mentioned, is also the site plan (there is a curve near the north arrow in the corner). I also included the section drawing (unfortunately without the basement, as it is from a sample contract).
Thanks and best regards,
Robin
The staircase looks very short... you should actually expect about 220 cm (7 ft 3 in).
Regarding the layout:
I would place the kitchen where you have planned the living area, and put the living area where the kitchen is now. This way, in the summer evenings, the kitchen is close to the barbecue terrace, and overall the space will feel more open. Right now, you’re basically dividing the large room into small sections, and anyone entering has to first navigate around the sofa.
I would completely do without a pantry, or just plan a small storage space for the vacuum cleaner and mop. Items you need frequently can be stored in a kitchen cupboard, and supplies or bulk goods can be kept in the basement.
Regarding the layout:
I would place the kitchen where you have planned the living area, and put the living area where the kitchen is now. This way, in the summer evenings, the kitchen is close to the barbecue terrace, and overall the space will feel more open. Right now, you’re basically dividing the large room into small sections, and anyone entering has to first navigate around the sofa.
I would completely do without a pantry, or just plan a small storage space for the vacuum cleaner and mop. Items you need frequently can be stored in a kitchen cupboard, and supplies or bulk goods can be kept in the basement.
... and then I just realized that back in March I also made a draft plan.
Exterior dimensions of the house are 20cm (8 inches) narrower, but with a larger bay window. Driveway from the north... currently there is only one garage, but it could also be a double garage. Alternatively, a carport could be built between the house and the garage.
The knee wall height is 140cm (55 inches)... I think yours is a bit lower.
Whether the roof windows are necessary... I just placed them for now.
Entrance from the north.
Please have a look at it.
Exterior dimensions of the house are 20cm (8 inches) narrower, but with a larger bay window. Driveway from the north... currently there is only one garage, but it could also be a double garage. Alternatively, a carport could be built between the house and the garage.
The knee wall height is 140cm (55 inches)... I think yours is a bit lower.
Whether the roof windows are necessary... I just placed them for now.
Entrance from the north.
Please have a look at it.
kbt09 schrieb:
The staircase looks very short... you should plan for about 220 cm (87 inches).The staircase is 2.25 x 2.25 m (7.4 x 7.4 ft)
So that should fit, right?
kbt09 schrieb:
I would put the kitchen where you planned the living area and move the living area to the current kitchen space. That way, in summer evenings, the kitchen is right by the barbecue terrace, and the space will generally feel more open. Right now, you are basically creating small sections within the large room, and anyone entering has to navigate around the sofa first.Noted your suggestion. I keep noticing that the idea of having the kitchen right next to the terrace is very popular here, but none of my friends or family have this setup, and I have never really missed it either. To be honest, we rarely use the balcony attached to the kitchen for outdoor dining; it’s more for sitting outside later in the evening enjoying a drink. And the distances aren’t that long anyway.
Regarding the sofa: it can also be rotated 90°, although that would place the future fireplace planned for the space behind it.
kbt09 schrieb:
I would completely drop the pantry or only plan a small storage space for the vacuum cleaner/mop.There isn’t actually that much to store there:
- Vacuum cleaner
- Freezer (not planned in the kitchen)
- Drinks
- Some smaller food supplies
- Recycling & waste bags
Thanks also for the effort you put into your proposal. What I don’t like about the ground floor plan is the separation of the living area, which somehow feels awkward to me.
I have to say the upper floor has its charm, though it also appears quite labyrinthine.
What I really don’t like is the longer bay window—it reminds me, forgive me, of a trunk.
Well, the previous discussion has clearly had some effect.
I changed the upper floor: the width of the windows was adjusted to allow light under the sloped ceilings. My recommendation: window width of 2 meters (6.5 feet) with a window sill.
Also, the partition wall between the children’s rooms: built-in wardrobes for both and ensuring equal room sizes.
Door stops.
The bathroom will certainly need some modifications as well.
I changed the upper floor: the width of the windows was adjusted to allow light under the sloped ceilings. My recommendation: window width of 2 meters (6.5 feet) with a window sill.
Also, the partition wall between the children’s rooms: built-in wardrobes for both and ensuring equal room sizes.
Door stops.
The bathroom will certainly need some modifications as well.
ypg schrieb:
The bathroom certainly needs improvementThat is indeed the "sore" point.
And the discussion has been quite helpful; of course, it makes you reflect and start taking action and making adjustments.
I have to say, apart from the bathroom, we are actually quite satisfied. In particular, I am grateful for your earlier advice regarding the positioning of the house – we really like it now.
Regarding your idea about the windows: I will bring it up. It’s a good idea, but of course, it will depend on the final cost.
Also, something I forgot to mention about the upper floor: a double casement window will be installed in the hallway to allow natural light in.
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