Hello everyone,
my girlfriend and I are about to start building our house and have been working on the floor plan for some time. We created the drawings ourselves so far, without involving an architect, and we are currently at version 2.6. We have already requested almost all the quotes for this floor plan, and once we decide to build, we plan to consult an architect. Regarding structural engineering, we will probably need a steel beam for the large open-plan living and dining area, but that will be decided by the architect.
Right now, we are mainly interested in getting opinions from others who might see things from a different perspective than we do. It’s possible that we are overlooking some aspects while focusing so much on the floor plans.
What we mainly want is a large area for the kitchen (bottom left) and a spacious living and dining area. On the ground floor, there should be a guest room and a bathroom with a shower. In the basement, a separate apartment will be created, and on the upper floor, we want two children’s rooms (not yet existing) and need a large office. My girlfriend definitely wanted a walk-in closet with direct access to the bathroom. We will probably skip a laundry chute since it would end up in the separate apartment.
We would be very grateful for constructive feedback. In the picture showing the plot, a few meters are still missing in front of the garage.
Thank you very much and best regards,
Martin
PS: There is still a door missing between the garage and the entrance, and the windows are not yet in their final positions (for now, they are included just to count their number for the quotes).
my girlfriend and I are about to start building our house and have been working on the floor plan for some time. We created the drawings ourselves so far, without involving an architect, and we are currently at version 2.6. We have already requested almost all the quotes for this floor plan, and once we decide to build, we plan to consult an architect. Regarding structural engineering, we will probably need a steel beam for the large open-plan living and dining area, but that will be decided by the architect.
Right now, we are mainly interested in getting opinions from others who might see things from a different perspective than we do. It’s possible that we are overlooking some aspects while focusing so much on the floor plans.
What we mainly want is a large area for the kitchen (bottom left) and a spacious living and dining area. On the ground floor, there should be a guest room and a bathroom with a shower. In the basement, a separate apartment will be created, and on the upper floor, we want two children’s rooms (not yet existing) and need a large office. My girlfriend definitely wanted a walk-in closet with direct access to the bathroom. We will probably skip a laundry chute since it would end up in the separate apartment.
We would be very grateful for constructive feedback. In the picture showing the plot, a few meters are still missing in front of the garage.
Thank you very much and best regards,
Martin
PS: There is still a door missing between the garage and the entrance, and the windows are not yet in their final positions (for now, they are included just to count their number for the quotes).
Martin-83 schrieb:
The kitchen is important to us, but not in terms of design, rather that it is functional and provides plenty of workspace. I think that can almost always be achieved. That's exactly what I meant: even the right areas in the wrong layout create long distances.
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M
Martin-8328 Mar 2017 22:57I can’t show you the previous plans because I’d only get more criticism...
With the entrance (or if it's not an entrance but just a passage to the garage) next to the garage, a small foyer or short hallway is probably not possible, no matter how small I make the garage. Sometimes I come up with ideas while on the go, but as soon as I try to put them on paper, I quickly realize they were only theoretical.
Unfortunately, I can’t find any floor plans online that have such a passage with a front door. However, I have seen a few new houses nearby with this setup. I’m planning to visit them, ring the bell, and introduce myself. Maybe I’ll be allowed to take a look inside.
Well, it was worth a try. Thanks to those who gave constructive criticism or suggestions.
Take care,
Martin
With the entrance (or if it's not an entrance but just a passage to the garage) next to the garage, a small foyer or short hallway is probably not possible, no matter how small I make the garage. Sometimes I come up with ideas while on the go, but as soon as I try to put them on paper, I quickly realize they were only theoretical.
Unfortunately, I can’t find any floor plans online that have such a passage with a front door. However, I have seen a few new houses nearby with this setup. I’m planning to visit them, ring the bell, and introduce myself. Maybe I’ll be allowed to take a look inside.
Well, it was worth a try. Thanks to those who gave constructive criticism or suggestions.
Take care,
Martin
Martin-83 schrieb:
I can’t show you the previous plans because I’d just get even more criticism…I actually think: even less.
Martin-83 schrieb:
With the entrance (or if it’s not used as an entrance but only as a passage to the garage) next to the garage, a small foyer or short hallway is probably not possible,No, the layout and sizing definitely don’t suffer from a side entrance here.
Martin-83 schrieb:
Sometimes I come up with ideas on the go, but as soon as I try to put them on paper, I quickly realize they were just theoretical. Yes, literally put them on PAPER. Without scale, or else the knot won’t untangle. Think in contexts, not in dimension chains.
Martin-83 schrieb:
Unfortunately, I can’t find any floor plans online that have such a passage with a front door.You don’t need the whole internet right away. This forum alone is enough for me to find, even from this quarter, a draft that immediately reminded me of exactly this detail: https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/eine-villa-für-zwei-Kinder.18543/page-2 (incidentally also because of the similarly awkward dimensions). Then go to page 1 there and compare the jump between version 1.0 and 2.0 with your evolution – does it “click” now?
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https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
S
Schnuckline31 Mar 2017 15:03I find the floor plan somewhat ill-conceived. You definitely need to work on it more, but an architect will tell you the same. Consult one.
Basement:
In your area, you have to pass through the entire storage room to reach the laundry (I assume the washing machine and dryer are located in the utility room). And you’ll be carrying laundry baskets. The route is inconvenient and far too long for a room you use so often. In the granny flat, there is no space to place a wardrobe in the bedroom. The only options are the wall with the window or the adjacent wall to the right, but then you won’t have access to the other side of the bed. Also, where is the kitchen area supposed to be? The living room has such a strange shape that you’re almost forced to place furniture in the walkways, but it could be done.
Ground floor:
The living and dining area is really oversized. I think the kitchen and dining area will look great, but the living area doesn’t work as it is. I assume there will be a TV on the wall opposite the sofa. Since there is a window behind the sofa, it will cause glare constantly. Also, the area is too narrow. It is only about 4.6m (15 feet) wide. If you move the sofa one meter (3 feet) forward, only 3.6m (12 feet) remain. That is too close to the TV wall. Add a small table in front of the sofa, and it will look very cramped. I can’t quite see clearly, but the space for the WC seems very tight. Plan for the toilet width (usually about 40cm (16 inches)) plus at least 25cm (10 inches) clearance on each side. That adds up to almost 90cm (35 inches).
Upper floor:
The walk-in closet is definitely too small. Cabinets for hanging clothes are about 60cm (24 inches) deep and for folded clothes about 40cm (16 inches). Hardly anything will fit, and there won’t be much room to move around. A bathroom of nearly 20 sqm (215 sq ft) is quite large, but I like that. I like big bathrooms. Then just one more thing: for such a spacious house, the children’s rooms are tiny. These will be the most important rooms for the most important people. If I had that much space available, I would make the children’s rooms as large as possible and the rest as small as possible. But of course, that’s up to you.
Basement:
In your area, you have to pass through the entire storage room to reach the laundry (I assume the washing machine and dryer are located in the utility room). And you’ll be carrying laundry baskets. The route is inconvenient and far too long for a room you use so often. In the granny flat, there is no space to place a wardrobe in the bedroom. The only options are the wall with the window or the adjacent wall to the right, but then you won’t have access to the other side of the bed. Also, where is the kitchen area supposed to be? The living room has such a strange shape that you’re almost forced to place furniture in the walkways, but it could be done.
Ground floor:
The living and dining area is really oversized. I think the kitchen and dining area will look great, but the living area doesn’t work as it is. I assume there will be a TV on the wall opposite the sofa. Since there is a window behind the sofa, it will cause glare constantly. Also, the area is too narrow. It is only about 4.6m (15 feet) wide. If you move the sofa one meter (3 feet) forward, only 3.6m (12 feet) remain. That is too close to the TV wall. Add a small table in front of the sofa, and it will look very cramped. I can’t quite see clearly, but the space for the WC seems very tight. Plan for the toilet width (usually about 40cm (16 inches)) plus at least 25cm (10 inches) clearance on each side. That adds up to almost 90cm (35 inches).
Upper floor:
The walk-in closet is definitely too small. Cabinets for hanging clothes are about 60cm (24 inches) deep and for folded clothes about 40cm (16 inches). Hardly anything will fit, and there won’t be much room to move around. A bathroom of nearly 20 sqm (215 sq ft) is quite large, but I like that. I like big bathrooms. Then just one more thing: for such a spacious house, the children’s rooms are tiny. These will be the most important rooms for the most important people. If I had that much space available, I would make the children’s rooms as large as possible and the rest as small as possible. But of course, that’s up to you.
M
Martin-832 Apr 2017 18:59Hello again,
we spent some more time reviewing and experimenting, also taking into account the advice (thanks again to Schnuckline for the helpful tips ) from the post. We also tried placing some furniture throughout the rooms, at least approximate-sized cupboards.
Basement: The point about the washing machine is definitely valid, as it’s quite a long route. However, we are considering whether to find an alternative location for it or move it to the basement on the right side of the stairs. In the open living area, the kitchen has been moved to the top left corner, and the sofa with the TV is now in the center. The bedroom is now next to the bathroom, so you don’t have to walk through the entire apartment under urgent bladder pressure . The storage room is small; it could be made slightly larger or possibly omitted altogether in favor of adding an extra closet. There is no direct access to the utility room, basement, or hallway within the apartment. This is still under clarification with the KfW, as the situation regarding such a door is not yet fully clear...
Ground floor: Overall, the house is now more than 20 square meters smaller. We redesigned the entrance and placed the guest room behind it. Upon entering, the coat rack is on the left and the storage room opposite. I think that should be enough space for a small freezer-refrigerator combo, a small shelf, and cleaning supplies like a vacuum cleaner. The bathroom is larger now, but we’re still not happy with the corner above the bathroom leading into the large open living-dining area. We haven’t come up with the right idea there yet . The windows behind the couch are fixed panes, though we will probably still install patio doors to be able to open them occasionally. These two doors will not be used as walkways, but, for example, allow cleaning the blinds inside if necessary. The right door to the garden is not yet finalized.
Upper floor: We turned the entrance into a balcony, which we really like . Both of us initially thought we didn’t need a balcony upstairs (when would you really use one up there?), but rather than putting a roof on it, we decided to make a balcony instead. The children’s rooms are now almost equal in size, and the office is smaller. However, we believe that even if the children’s rooms were unequal in size, the older child would simply get the larger room. That was the case for us growing up, and I survived without any issues . The walk-in closet is larger than before, while the bathroom is slightly smaller (the overall exterior dimensions of the house have been reduced).
Basically, we still have the following questions:
- There will be no direct access from outside to the garden. One must go either through the house or the garage. We’re still unsure whether this is a good or bad thing .
- We are also uncertain about placing the washing machine upstairs in the bathroom, where most of the laundry is generated. There will be no separate children’s bathroom, as we don’t see that as necessary. A separate laundry room upstairs would be possible, but it’s still unclear where it would best fit.
We’re open to suggestions and criticism (including sharp ones ).
Best regards,
Martin
we spent some more time reviewing and experimenting, also taking into account the advice (thanks again to Schnuckline for the helpful tips ) from the post. We also tried placing some furniture throughout the rooms, at least approximate-sized cupboards.
Basement: The point about the washing machine is definitely valid, as it’s quite a long route. However, we are considering whether to find an alternative location for it or move it to the basement on the right side of the stairs. In the open living area, the kitchen has been moved to the top left corner, and the sofa with the TV is now in the center. The bedroom is now next to the bathroom, so you don’t have to walk through the entire apartment under urgent bladder pressure . The storage room is small; it could be made slightly larger or possibly omitted altogether in favor of adding an extra closet. There is no direct access to the utility room, basement, or hallway within the apartment. This is still under clarification with the KfW, as the situation regarding such a door is not yet fully clear...
Ground floor: Overall, the house is now more than 20 square meters smaller. We redesigned the entrance and placed the guest room behind it. Upon entering, the coat rack is on the left and the storage room opposite. I think that should be enough space for a small freezer-refrigerator combo, a small shelf, and cleaning supplies like a vacuum cleaner. The bathroom is larger now, but we’re still not happy with the corner above the bathroom leading into the large open living-dining area. We haven’t come up with the right idea there yet . The windows behind the couch are fixed panes, though we will probably still install patio doors to be able to open them occasionally. These two doors will not be used as walkways, but, for example, allow cleaning the blinds inside if necessary. The right door to the garden is not yet finalized.
Upper floor: We turned the entrance into a balcony, which we really like . Both of us initially thought we didn’t need a balcony upstairs (when would you really use one up there?), but rather than putting a roof on it, we decided to make a balcony instead. The children’s rooms are now almost equal in size, and the office is smaller. However, we believe that even if the children’s rooms were unequal in size, the older child would simply get the larger room. That was the case for us growing up, and I survived without any issues . The walk-in closet is larger than before, while the bathroom is slightly smaller (the overall exterior dimensions of the house have been reduced).
Basically, we still have the following questions:
- There will be no direct access from outside to the garden. One must go either through the house or the garage. We’re still unsure whether this is a good or bad thing .
- We are also uncertain about placing the washing machine upstairs in the bathroom, where most of the laundry is generated. There will be no separate children’s bathroom, as we don’t see that as necessary. A separate laundry room upstairs would be possible, but it’s still unclear where it would best fit.
We’re open to suggestions and criticism (including sharp ones ).
Best regards,
Martin
I wanted to stay out of this, but I have to point out that the long hallway in the first draft has now been completely ruined. It has turned into a slalom course. I also don’t understand why a guest should have to walk what feels like 12 meters (about 40 feet) just to get to the bathroom.
Overall, the problem arises because you are approaching the planning without a professional. Certainly, you are putting thought into it – it’s not like you’re the only ones with individual wishes for your house and its design – but you’re dealing with the long hallway in a standardized way and with only limited knowledge.* I would suggest scrapping everything and starting over – or, at least, writing down your requirements and taking that list to an architect. Requirements that you have, not those that depend on the plot, because that’s what the architect is for.
I thought you had a planner? Either they are “just” an employee or you gave them the plan you had in mind for them to finalize.
*Example: in your second drawing, for shorter routes, locating the main entrance on the right side next to the stairs would make sense. That would already save you a corner of the zigzag path through the house.
Best regards, Yvonne
Overall, the problem arises because you are approaching the planning without a professional. Certainly, you are putting thought into it – it’s not like you’re the only ones with individual wishes for your house and its design – but you’re dealing with the long hallway in a standardized way and with only limited knowledge.* I would suggest scrapping everything and starting over – or, at least, writing down your requirements and taking that list to an architect. Requirements that you have, not those that depend on the plot, because that’s what the architect is for.
I thought you had a planner? Either they are “just” an employee or you gave them the plan you had in mind for them to finalize.
*Example: in your second drawing, for shorter routes, locating the main entrance on the right side next to the stairs would make sense. That would already save you a corner of the zigzag path through the house.
Best regards, Yvonne
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