Hello dear members,
Just registered and already have my first question. A brief introduction about us: we are 34 and 30 years old, no children and none planned. We don’t know what the future holds in a few years.
We plan to start building our house, hopefully if the winter weather cooperates, as soon as we finalize the floor plan. Unfortunately, I, Michaela, tend to be a perfectionist (symmetry, etc.). I can’t let it go and want everything to be well thought out and planned, which is starting to annoy me as well.
Since we are building rather small, aiming for about 114 m2 (1227 sq ft) of living space and trying not to compromise on anything at this size, the floor plan design is quite challenging. Among other things, we do not want all rooms to be accessible from the hallway, and we also want to keep a covered terrace. The bungalow will consist of only three rooms. Therefore, we want to keep the option open to convert the attic later if needed. In this context, we are planning space for a future space-saving staircase and the necessary preliminary work; at least that is the goal. The bungalow will have a hip roof, with the roof pitch increased from 30 degrees to 34 degrees, and the hallway correspondingly larger. Ideally, we would like a gable dormer. Since those are too expensive, a skylight window would be a compromise. Of course, a larger bungalow would be the best option but it is too costly. The construction company charges about 700.00 euros per m2. In hindsight, working with an architect might have been more cost-effective, but that is how it is and that is not what this is about.
Maybe you have ideas, suggestions, can give tips, or share what we should pay attention to or consider.
I am of course attaching the floor plan. I hope that something can still be recognized despite the manual changes.
I look forward to reading your replies and wish you a nice weekend.
Best regards,
Michaela
Just registered and already have my first question. A brief introduction about us: we are 34 and 30 years old, no children and none planned. We don’t know what the future holds in a few years.
We plan to start building our house, hopefully if the winter weather cooperates, as soon as we finalize the floor plan. Unfortunately, I, Michaela, tend to be a perfectionist (symmetry, etc.). I can’t let it go and want everything to be well thought out and planned, which is starting to annoy me as well.
Since we are building rather small, aiming for about 114 m2 (1227 sq ft) of living space and trying not to compromise on anything at this size, the floor plan design is quite challenging. Among other things, we do not want all rooms to be accessible from the hallway, and we also want to keep a covered terrace. The bungalow will consist of only three rooms. Therefore, we want to keep the option open to convert the attic later if needed. In this context, we are planning space for a future space-saving staircase and the necessary preliminary work; at least that is the goal. The bungalow will have a hip roof, with the roof pitch increased from 30 degrees to 34 degrees, and the hallway correspondingly larger. Ideally, we would like a gable dormer. Since those are too expensive, a skylight window would be a compromise. Of course, a larger bungalow would be the best option but it is too costly. The construction company charges about 700.00 euros per m2. In hindsight, working with an architect might have been more cost-effective, but that is how it is and that is not what this is about.
Maybe you have ideas, suggestions, can give tips, or share what we should pay attention to or consider.
I am of course attaching the floor plan. I hope that something can still be recognized despite the manual changes.
I look forward to reading your replies and wish you a nice weekend.
Best regards,
Michaela
kbt09 schrieb:
@Michaela1986 .. I don’t just want to complain, but also try to suggest an alternative option.
On the left – my version ... on the right Michaela’s with a possible staircase indicated in the guest room
.
- Kitchen – the existing 390 cm (154 inches) fits, with base cabinets as originally planned, but arranged as a peninsula. Small buffet area, large work surface for baking, etc.
- Utility room is a bit larger, allowing better movement.
- Access to the terrace through a sliding door from the more kitchen-oriented area, terrace corner slightly bigger.
- Sofa area open to the room, but not directly in the sightline from the main entrance.
- Possibility to place a 200 cm (79 inches) long table as shown.
- Space for a spiral space-saving staircase. Initially, you could leave it out and install an attic ladder in the opening instead, closing off the niche with, for example, a metal slatted curtain. This still allows storage space behind it; by pulling back the curtain, the attic ladder can be used. The slatted curtain is therefore more flexible than a small storage closet there.
- If you later install the space-saving staircase, a rough idea is included of how to divide the upper floor.
- Guest bathroom with a 160 x 90 cm (63 x 35 inches) shower, right next to the main bathroom. I could imagine a sliding door between the two bathrooms. If you have guests, you simply lock the door; otherwise, it stays open. This way, you can also switch from your main bathroom to the shower bathroom without having to go through the hallway.
- Closet now serves as the entrance to the private area and with 232 cm (91 inches) a much more usable width than the 193 cm (76 inches) in your plan.
Maybe some ideas here are helpful. By the way, the house has 113.78 sqm (1224 sq ft) of living/useable space. WOW, I really like it
We wouldn’t have thought of that at all...
Thank you very much. I don’t even know what to say.
I still can't believe it... I need to let it sink in first and show it to my partner when he gets home from the late shift...
The staircase is exactly as we envisioned it. I wonder why our planner never even came close to considering this idea. We feel that she didn’t contribute much at all—no suggestions, no alternatives, nothing—and that makes us sad. It seems she mostly just tried to implement things without much input.
@kbt09, you do this professionally, or is it your passion? I’m really impressed....
Michaela1986 schrieb:
I wonder why our planner didn’t even come close to considering it. [...] and that makes us sad. Instead, she just tried to implement everything somehow. On the other hand, I don’t really want to know how frustrating a job as a planner at a homebuilder can be. How many homeowners want pantry sliding doors drawn the other way around and all sorts of similar requests. Eventually, they just get worn out, and unfortunately, this sometimes affects homeowners who are genuinely hoping for creative ideas.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
I also believe that there are plenty of homeowners who choose the options that construction companies already offer as examples.
And on the other hand, it is their job, right? I can definitely understand why planners get frustrated at some point.
And on the other hand, it is their job, right? I can definitely understand why planners get frustrated at some point.