Hello,
I have been following this forum for some time and have already gathered some useful ideas.
Today, I would like to ask for your feedback on our floor plan.
We are building on a relatively small plot. Therefore, we decided to include a basement, as my wife and I both work from home and need an office.
Since we are planning to have children, we also need space for them.
Here is the completed questionnaire:
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 402sqm (approximately 4329 sq ft)
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see attached image
Boundary development: yes
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: II (2 stories)
Roof type: single-pitched roof max 45°, pitched roof, shed roof max 30°
Architectural style: basically masonry, plaster or wood facades allowed
Maximum heights/limits: ridge height max 9.5m (31 ft), eaves height max 4.5m (15 ft)
Client requirements
Style, roof shape, building type
Basement, floors: basement + 2 floors
Number of occupants, age 2 (30) + 2 children (planned)
Office: home office
Annual overnight guests
Open or closed architectural concept
Conservative or modern design
Open kitchen, kitchen island
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace
No balcony or roof terrace required
Garage or carport depending on cost
House design
Designed by:
- Planner from a construction company
Cost estimate from architect/planner is not yet available
Preferred heating system: probably gas due to cost reasons
If you have to give up, which details/features
- can be given up:
Carport or garage can be added later
- cannot be given up:
Large office, fireplace
Why is the design like it is now?
The plan is based on a house we liked. However, it had to be smaller and include a basement. At first, the stairs were swapped, but we didn’t like that the children always had to pass through the living room.
Additionally, a laundry shaft was added, and the fireplace was moved from the corner where the laundry shaft now is to its current position.
In return, a storage room was added on the upper floor (next to the stairs). We do not like this because it blocks the light in the hallway.
I have been following this forum for some time and have already gathered some useful ideas.
Today, I would like to ask for your feedback on our floor plan.
We are building on a relatively small plot. Therefore, we decided to include a basement, as my wife and I both work from home and need an office.
Since we are planning to have children, we also need space for them.
Here is the completed questionnaire:
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 402sqm (approximately 4329 sq ft)
Site coverage ratio: 0.4
Building envelope, building line and boundary: see attached image
Boundary development: yes
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: II (2 stories)
Roof type: single-pitched roof max 45°, pitched roof, shed roof max 30°
Architectural style: basically masonry, plaster or wood facades allowed
Maximum heights/limits: ridge height max 9.5m (31 ft), eaves height max 4.5m (15 ft)
Client requirements
Style, roof shape, building type
Basement, floors: basement + 2 floors
Number of occupants, age 2 (30) + 2 children (planned)
Office: home office
Annual overnight guests
Open or closed architectural concept
Conservative or modern design
Open kitchen, kitchen island
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace
No balcony or roof terrace required
Garage or carport depending on cost
House design
Designed by:
- Planner from a construction company
Cost estimate from architect/planner is not yet available
Preferred heating system: probably gas due to cost reasons
If you have to give up, which details/features
- can be given up:
Carport or garage can be added later
- cannot be given up:
Large office, fireplace
Why is the design like it is now?
The plan is based on a house we liked. However, it had to be smaller and include a basement. At first, the stairs were swapped, but we didn’t like that the children always had to pass through the living room.
Additionally, a laundry shaft was added, and the fireplace was moved from the corner where the laundry shaft now is to its current position.
In return, a storage room was added on the upper floor (next to the stairs). We do not like this because it blocks the light in the hallway.
Not much to complain about, in my opinion. (Except that my preferences are different ) (Cooking/eating on the terrace, living area more for retreat)
The staircase from the basement now ends in the living room. Would you put a door there? I would recommend it.
Laundry chute: I would position it so that it can be accessed from the upper floor hallway (that should actually be possible and could be extended through to the basement). Then the kids wouldn’t have to use the parents’ dressing room; instead, the laundry chute could be accessible for everyone through the hallway wall to the dressing room.
Regarding the kitchen layout… make sure that the floor-to-ceiling window is positioned so that the distance between the cooking island and the kitchen run does not exceed 120cm (47 inches). In general, the cooking island might be too small, with hardly any counter space around the pots; the room is only 324cm (128 inches) wide… the more I look at it, the more I would position the kitchen differently in the room. Just some brief notes: tall cabinets along the bottom side of the plan, which means no window there; cooking zone on the left side of the plan; sink island in the middle with a bench between the floor-to-ceiling windows on the right. I can sketch this in more detail if needed.
The staircase from the basement now ends in the living room. Would you put a door there? I would recommend it.
Laundry chute: I would position it so that it can be accessed from the upper floor hallway (that should actually be possible and could be extended through to the basement). Then the kids wouldn’t have to use the parents’ dressing room; instead, the laundry chute could be accessible for everyone through the hallway wall to the dressing room.
Regarding the kitchen layout… make sure that the floor-to-ceiling window is positioned so that the distance between the cooking island and the kitchen run does not exceed 120cm (47 inches). In general, the cooking island might be too small, with hardly any counter space around the pots; the room is only 324cm (128 inches) wide… the more I look at it, the more I would position the kitchen differently in the room. Just some brief notes: tall cabinets along the bottom side of the plan, which means no window there; cooking zone on the left side of the plan; sink island in the middle with a bench between the floor-to-ceiling windows on the right. I can sketch this in more detail if needed.
For a house without a basement, I would really like the floor plan.
What I don’t like, however, is the access to the basement through the living room and the gigantic storage room on the ground floor, which would probably be sufficient as a utility/technical room for a house without a basement, but here is completely oversized due to the basement.
These “problems” likely result from transferring the floor plan of a house without a basement to a design that includes one.
What I don’t like, however, is the access to the basement through the living room and the gigantic storage room on the ground floor, which would probably be sufficient as a utility/technical room for a house without a basement, but here is completely oversized due to the basement.
These “problems” likely result from transferring the floor plan of a house without a basement to a design that includes one.
Hi,
thank you very much for the quick responses.
The storage room is actually quite large. Yesterday, we marked it out in our apartment and were a bit surprised. It is too big. And yes, in the reference house, the building services are located there.
Unfortunately, it is already quite narrow. To make it smaller, you would have to enlarge the living room and make the storage room even narrower, right?
Putting the laundry chute into the hallway is definitely a great idea. Later on, I don’t want to walk through all the rooms to collect the laundry, especially if the kids can manage that themselves.
In our reference house, the kitchen is designed differently as well. The stove is along the bottom wall next to the sink, so the kitchen island is more of a breakfast bar. But we are still completely flexible there. A rough sketch would definitely be helpful.
Thanks again.
thank you very much for the quick responses.
The storage room is actually quite large. Yesterday, we marked it out in our apartment and were a bit surprised. It is too big. And yes, in the reference house, the building services are located there.
Unfortunately, it is already quite narrow. To make it smaller, you would have to enlarge the living room and make the storage room even narrower, right?
Putting the laundry chute into the hallway is definitely a great idea. Later on, I don’t want to walk through all the rooms to collect the laundry, especially if the kids can manage that themselves.
In our reference house, the kitchen is designed differently as well. The stove is along the bottom wall next to the sink, so the kitchen island is more of a breakfast bar. But we are still completely flexible there. A rough sketch would definitely be helpful.
Thanks again.
D
Doc.Schnaggls4 Jan 2017 12:42Hello,
overall, a nice floor plan.
However, I would still consider the following points:
Shower in the ground floor bathroom:
Would it make sense to design the niche exactly to fit the shower so that only a glass door in front is needed—instead of a two-sided shower enclosure as shown in the plan?
Storage room on the ground floor:
As mentioned several times, it seems slightly oversized for a house with a basement.
Bathroom in the upper floor:
The distance between the end of the sinks and the 2m (6 ft 7 in) line seems a bit tight—how tall are you? At 190cm (6 ft 3 in) or more, you might easily hit your head when stepping back.
Child’s room 2:
The door is positioned somewhat awkwardly. When opened with force, it hits the roof after just over 90°. To prevent this, you would need to install a door stopper either “in the middle of the room” on the floor (a tripping hazard) or on the roof (which might look unusual).
Bedroom:
Consider whether you really need the wall between the sleeping area and the walk-in closet, or if a floor-to-ceiling fitted wardrobe could serve as the room divider instead. This would save both money and space.
Finally, a question:
Are you considering a photovoltaic system?
As currently planned, your fireplace is on the southern roof slope. If you are thinking about solar panels, it is essential to consider shading and its impact on the overall system’s efficiency.
Best regards,
Dirk
overall, a nice floor plan.
However, I would still consider the following points:
Shower in the ground floor bathroom:
Would it make sense to design the niche exactly to fit the shower so that only a glass door in front is needed—instead of a two-sided shower enclosure as shown in the plan?
Storage room on the ground floor:
As mentioned several times, it seems slightly oversized for a house with a basement.
Bathroom in the upper floor:
The distance between the end of the sinks and the 2m (6 ft 7 in) line seems a bit tight—how tall are you? At 190cm (6 ft 3 in) or more, you might easily hit your head when stepping back.
Child’s room 2:
The door is positioned somewhat awkwardly. When opened with force, it hits the roof after just over 90°. To prevent this, you would need to install a door stopper either “in the middle of the room” on the floor (a tripping hazard) or on the roof (which might look unusual).
Bedroom:
Consider whether you really need the wall between the sleeping area and the walk-in closet, or if a floor-to-ceiling fitted wardrobe could serve as the room divider instead. This would save both money and space.
Finally, a question:
Are you considering a photovoltaic system?
As currently planned, your fireplace is on the southern roof slope. If you are thinking about solar panels, it is essential to consider shading and its impact on the overall system’s efficiency.
Best regards,
Dirk
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