ᐅ Preliminary floor plan design for a 220 m² single-family house

Created on: 20 Jun 2017 22:41
R
R.Hotzenplotz
Hello!

We have already gone through several plans with our architect and I think we are almost there, about to start the detailed planning phase. Before that, I’m looking forward to getting feedback from other users.

Development plan/restrictions: §34 – two full stories

Plot size: 1,085m² (1,1679 yd²)

Basement, floors – 2 full stories plus partial basement

Number of people, ages – 3 people (37, 34, 1, second child planned)

Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor – the requirement was that bedrooms and the study should be about 17m² (183 ft²) each; the entire house should be approximately 220m² (2,368 ft²)

Office: family use

Guests per year: 1

Open or closed architecture: closed

Traditional or modern design: modern

Open kitchen, kitchen island – no open kitchen, but yes to a kitchen island

Number of dining seats – 6

Fireplace – yes

Music/stereo wall – TV wall

Balcony, roof terrace – balcony

Garage, carport – large garage

Additional wishes/special features/daily routines, preferably with reasons why certain things should or should not be included – everyone should be able to sleep as undisturbed as possible in their bedrooms, even if other family members are awake. The husband is sometimes up as early as 4 a.m. Otherwise, watching TV in the evening should be possible without disturbing those sleeping upstairs.

House design
Who created the design:
- Architect (freelancer for a general contractor)

What do you like most? Why?
The upper floor with well-sized rooms and the location of the rooms exactly where they should be (only the washroom area we would still like to move to the outer right corner so that you don’t have to pass it every time you use the toilet). On the ground floor, the access through an airlock, the kitchen, and the dining area with the study next to it are especially liked.
Also appreciated is that after adjustments, the study now faces the garden instead of the street.

What don’t you like? Why?
We originally wanted the distance from wall to wall where the sofa and TV stand is to be about 6.40m (21 ft) (large screen & surround system), but so far only 5.69m (19 ft) has been realized.

Laundry room as described.

Kitchen larger in square meters than needed; the approx. 3m² (32 ft²) could theoretically be used well in the living area.

Price estimate according to architect/planner:
720,000 euros (including construction incidentals)

Personal price limit for the house, including equipment:
800,000 euros

Preferred heating technology:
Gas

If you have to give up on something, which details/features can you do without?

- Can do without:
Technical systems like controlled residential ventilation

- Cannot do without:
Space (except for the kitchen)

Why is the design the way it is now? For example:
Is this a standard design from the planner?
The architect has largely implemented our wishes; the only issue is the living room situation.

What makes it particularly good or bad in your opinion?
Patient, quick to implement, has already gotten to know us well.
No negative points.

Do you notice any other points that might not fit or that we should consider, which we might have overlooked?

In the basement, the room currently labeled as home cinema might possibly be used as one medium- to long-term. For the foreseeable future, it will be a storage room.
R
R.Hotzenplotz
27 Aug 2017 23:42
11ant schrieb:
I can put you in touch with a home automation specialist; the actual wiring can then be done by someone who planned only the outlets.

I’m afraid that, budget-wise, only one shutter automation will be possible.

So that would be someone who is paid purely for their consulting service?
11ant27 Aug 2017 23:47
R.Hotzenplotz schrieb:
I’m afraid the budget won’t allow for more than one roller shutter automation.

If you want and are able to afford more later, early planning saves money. It’s easier to lay an additional cable next to the others before the plaster goes on.
R.Hotzenplotz schrieb:
So that would be someone who is paid exclusively for their consulting services?

Planning, advising on procurement, and if necessary, directing or supporting the person responsible for the wiring.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
R
R.Hotzenplotz
28 Aug 2017 09:46
A one-stop solution would also be nice. That way, the planning including everything would be covered.

I think we are now ready to look for a partner for plumbing and one for electrical work.

By the way, demolition work starts today. On this occasion, we noticed again this morning that the kitchen bay window doesn’t actually get much morning sun because a large tree on the neighbor’s property initially blocks it quite a bit.

Still, we will probably leave it as it is. I’m increasingly enthusiastic about the current floor plan and the building as a whole.
Y
ypg
28 Aug 2017 10:41
R.Hotzenplotz schrieb:
...On this occasion, we noticed again this morning that the kitchen bay window doesn't actually catch much morning sun because a large tree on the neighboring property blocks it—at least for the foreseeable future.

...

And none of this showed up in all the visualizations???

This shows that your visualizations can’t replace visiting the plot in person, which you should increasingly do during the planning phase to get a real sense of how things will actually turn out.

Even though you said you spend all day working on the house, I find that confusing.
I gathered that you were given specific figures for things like floor coverings. Have you actually been to stores to look at tiles or parquet flooring yourselves?
Or have you tried working with the numbers yourself? That’s something you should never skip.

Personally, I also find discussions about a 20cm (8 inch) difference here or there in a living room depth of 5.80m or 6.10m (19 ft or 20 ft) a waste of time: usually, the living and dining areas are arranged in a mirrored layout anyway, which changes the apparent depth again. Since the concern is mainly about TV viewing distance—which depends heavily on the TV size and personal preference—this will all change over time anyway!

A bit less theory and a bit more connection to the actual house would be advisable.

I think it’s great that you have a substantial budget for the house. It will definitely be a great home!

But is it really sensible to plan to put every available disposable amount (20,000) annually into the mortgage?
Even if your incomes can _theoretically_ support it—why bind yourselves so tightly?

A bit more flexibility would do the house some good: things always turn out differently than planned anyway.

Regarding the thread: honestly, I already lost track of which plan this is about [emoji28]
Suddenly reading about a completely new house (hip roof instead of flat) is confusing.
Maybe creating a new thread with a link back would be a good idea?
R
R.Hotzenplotz
28 Aug 2017 11:04
ypg schrieb:
And this didn’t come up in all the visualizations???

No, that’s true. Nevertheless, we find the design so perfect that we do not want to eliminate the bay window.
ypg schrieb:
I read somewhere that you were given numbers, for example for the floor coverings. Did you visit any stores yourselves and look at tiles or parquet flooring?

Yes, I visited a specialist dealer, spent 1.5 hours getting advice and exchanging ideas, and then provided a new figure for the calculation.
ypg schrieb:
Since it’s only about the TV distance problem, which depends on the TV size and personal preference, you have to say: that all changes over time!

I wouldn’t say “only.” We also want a very spacious living and dining area. If in the end we had to worry it would only be as big as in our 145m² (1560 sq ft) rental flat, that would be wrong. But now it fits well.
ypg schrieb:
But is it really sensible to include every annual available amount (20,000) in the house financing?

If you don’t want to start over again, there is no other way. However, I also see no problem in commissioning some things later, such as cellar doors, floor coverings in the cellar, etc.—if that is necessary at all. Since we expect annual cash inflows well beyond the repayment requirements, it would be a shame to plan and build something and shortly after say, oh, this and that is missing, we should have done that… Then the liquidity gained until that point would no longer be of use, especially if these are non-deferrable things.
ypg schrieb:
A bit more relaxation would do the house good: things always turn out differently than planned anyway

What do you mean by that?

My wife didn’t want the flat roof, and we both can live very well with the shallow hipped roof. From the front, it suits the house better. From the back, I’d say it’s neutral compared to the flat roof. See attachment.
ypg schrieb:
Maybe a new thread with a link wouldn’t be a bad idea?

When we have the “final version” soon, where furniture, bathrooms, etc. are realistically planned, I can do that. I don’t think it makes sense now, because in two weeks we’d be back to the same starting point as now.

Modern two-story villa with large glass front and garage, white facade, green lawn.


Modern two-story house with brown accent area, glass fronts and lawn.
M
Maria16
28 Aug 2017 17:17
R.Hotzenplotz schrieb:
(...) Since we expect additional cash inflows every year that exceed the required loan repayments by far, it would simply be a waste to plan and build something, only to say shortly after, oh, this or that is missing, we should have chosen that... then the liquidity gained up to that point won’t help anymore when it comes to things that can’t be added later.

With that attitude, you can quickly end up broke. I have no idea what specifications you are currently budgeting with (it’s all a bit too confusing for me here now), but just think about how much more it costs if you pay only 2,000€ more per trade than originally planned – because after all, you only build once.

In my opinion, an extra 2,000€ is not enough, for example, for smooth interior plaster. Nor for various electrical upgrades. Then a few months later, you’ll prefer the more expensive doors... You’ll also need some new furniture, and in the kitchen one upgrade and here a little more... and you could continue like that indefinitely. Unfortunately.