Hello everyone,
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 635 sqm (6,839 sq ft)
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
Site occupancy index: 0.3
Number of parking spaces: 2
Roof style: 35° to 45° pitch, hipped roof or gable roof
Distance to front property boundary (street side): max. 3 m (house must remain in current position)
Homeowner Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: Bungalow, hipped roof, 35° pitch
Basement, floors: no basement, 1 story, possible attic conversion later
Number of occupants, age: 2 persons (40 years old), probably no children, room can be separated if needed
Space requirements: We need one bedroom, bathroom, utility room, living area including kitchen, and a hobby room (gaming and crafting room). Walk-in closet and guest toilet were removed, even though they would be nice, other features took higher priority.
Overnight guests per year: infrequent, can be accommodated as is
Construction style: open and modern, including open kitchen
Fireplace: no
House Design
Designer:
- Designer from a construction company implemented our drawings
What do you like most? Why?
- Large living area, spacious bedroom
What do you dislike? Why?
- Honestly, we like everything
Personal budget for house including fittings: 260,000
Preferred heating system: air heat pump
Why is the design as it is now?
We initially sketched our design on paper, which the designer then realized. Further considerations and discussions with the designer shaped the final result.
Our main goal was a large living space with an open kitchen and a reading nook. Currently (in our present apartment) we have another room with my books (around 1,000) and desk, but I rarely spend time there, as I do everything in the living room. For this reason, we first reduced the number of rooms to enlarge the living area and bedroom (we omitted the walk-in closet to create even more space). The reading nook (located on the west side of the living area) is arranged so it can be separated as a room from the rest of the living room if needed.
We made sure the bedroom faces east to get morning light. We opted out of a guest toilet and instead planned a small storage room for odds and ends (dog supplies like food, leashes, vacuum cleaner, etc.) and made the utility room somewhat larger than the usual 8 sqm (86 sq ft).
Currently, we are still unsure about the following:
- Bathroom layout: I’d like to set back the shower slightly (see current floor plan) to make the bathroom feel more open/bigger. Somehow it still doesn’t feel quite ideal.
- Window arrangement: Does this make sense to you? Will we get enough light in the living area? The floor-to-ceiling windows to the terrace are on the east side, so only the morning sun comes in there. Are the south-facing windows sufficient?
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Is there anything we have overlooked or forgotten? From your perspective, is anything highly unfavorable? Any improvements for the windows? How can the bathroom layout be optimized?
By the way, some time ago I created a thread about a 1.5-storey floor plan on the same plot. At that time, we ultimately decided to build a bungalow – which we are now doing. Hence, this new thread…
Best regards and thanks in advance.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 635 sqm (6,839 sq ft)
Floor area ratio (FAR): 0.4
Site occupancy index: 0.3
Number of parking spaces: 2
Roof style: 35° to 45° pitch, hipped roof or gable roof
Distance to front property boundary (street side): max. 3 m (house must remain in current position)
Homeowner Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: Bungalow, hipped roof, 35° pitch
Basement, floors: no basement, 1 story, possible attic conversion later
Number of occupants, age: 2 persons (40 years old), probably no children, room can be separated if needed
Space requirements: We need one bedroom, bathroom, utility room, living area including kitchen, and a hobby room (gaming and crafting room). Walk-in closet and guest toilet were removed, even though they would be nice, other features took higher priority.
Overnight guests per year: infrequent, can be accommodated as is
Construction style: open and modern, including open kitchen
Fireplace: no
House Design
Designer:
- Designer from a construction company implemented our drawings
What do you like most? Why?
- Large living area, spacious bedroom
What do you dislike? Why?
- Honestly, we like everything
Personal budget for house including fittings: 260,000
Preferred heating system: air heat pump
Why is the design as it is now?
We initially sketched our design on paper, which the designer then realized. Further considerations and discussions with the designer shaped the final result.
Our main goal was a large living space with an open kitchen and a reading nook. Currently (in our present apartment) we have another room with my books (around 1,000) and desk, but I rarely spend time there, as I do everything in the living room. For this reason, we first reduced the number of rooms to enlarge the living area and bedroom (we omitted the walk-in closet to create even more space). The reading nook (located on the west side of the living area) is arranged so it can be separated as a room from the rest of the living room if needed.
We made sure the bedroom faces east to get morning light. We opted out of a guest toilet and instead planned a small storage room for odds and ends (dog supplies like food, leashes, vacuum cleaner, etc.) and made the utility room somewhat larger than the usual 8 sqm (86 sq ft).
Currently, we are still unsure about the following:
- Bathroom layout: I’d like to set back the shower slightly (see current floor plan) to make the bathroom feel more open/bigger. Somehow it still doesn’t feel quite ideal.
- Window arrangement: Does this make sense to you? Will we get enough light in the living area? The floor-to-ceiling windows to the terrace are on the east side, so only the morning sun comes in there. Are the south-facing windows sufficient?
What is the most important/basic question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
Is there anything we have overlooked or forgotten? From your perspective, is anything highly unfavorable? Any improvements for the windows? How can the bathroom layout be optimized?
By the way, some time ago I created a thread about a 1.5-storey floor plan on the same plot. At that time, we ultimately decided to build a bungalow – which we are now doing. Hence, this new thread…
Best regards and thanks in advance.
It’s perfectly fine to have different priorities than others.
We are just two people and cook less often than families. Still, cooking is important to me, so you should consider whether infrequent also means passionless cooking. In terms of space: you still want to have a stove and a dishwasher, plus knives and a coffee machine even if you’re only cooking for yourself. And when the dishwasher is loaded, you still want to spend time in the kitchen. As for the table… yes, we often eat on the sofa, but on weekends during one of the rare nice meals, we set the table properly and also have guests over for dinner, etc.
If the cooking is less passionate, I would plan the kitchen separately and place a table along the wall in the living room that can be pulled out when guests come. This works well even in apartments.
The photo of the gray kitchen shows it’s in a separate kitchen nook, probably an open L-shape with a transition to the dining area and then the living area – well structured.
Here, the gray kitchen would feel out of place in the large room. The space between the hallway and kitchen is uncomfortable for sitting. Yes, as you drew it, it shows very well that “only” the dining area really fits nicely between the reading corner and the living area.
When I saw the bike in the bedroom yesterday, my immediate thought was: but not in the bedroom!
Instead of the 20m² (215 sq ft) bedroom, I would plan a large sports and playroom. At least I would make the two rooms the same size.
We are just two people and cook less often than families. Still, cooking is important to me, so you should consider whether infrequent also means passionless cooking. In terms of space: you still want to have a stove and a dishwasher, plus knives and a coffee machine even if you’re only cooking for yourself. And when the dishwasher is loaded, you still want to spend time in the kitchen. As for the table… yes, we often eat on the sofa, but on weekends during one of the rare nice meals, we set the table properly and also have guests over for dinner, etc.
If the cooking is less passionate, I would plan the kitchen separately and place a table along the wall in the living room that can be pulled out when guests come. This works well even in apartments.
The photo of the gray kitchen shows it’s in a separate kitchen nook, probably an open L-shape with a transition to the dining area and then the living area – well structured.
Here, the gray kitchen would feel out of place in the large room. The space between the hallway and kitchen is uncomfortable for sitting. Yes, as you drew it, it shows very well that “only” the dining area really fits nicely between the reading corner and the living area.
When I saw the bike in the bedroom yesterday, my immediate thought was: but not in the bedroom!
Instead of the 20m² (215 sq ft) bedroom, I would plan a large sports and playroom. At least I would make the two rooms the same size.
R
Reluctance8 Jul 2019 12:48Just a quick note from the office:
No, there is no wood floor planned, but tiles… and I don’t sweat so much during exercise that the whole floor would be soaked.
Currently, in our apartment, I have a separate 20sqm (215 sq ft) room where everything is stored: books, bike, desk, and so on. What do I regularly do? I carry everything into the living room during winter and work out there (in summer, it’s not used and stays in my room – then I exercise outside). When I read, I do so in bed (bedroom), the living room, or outside. For home office, I use my laptop in the living room. Everything that this room was intended for, I never actually do there. It’s basically just a storage room. That’s why in the new floor plan there is an open corner on the west side. That space is for me and all my stuff, and it’s also part of the living room. To me, that sounds perfect.
And yes: Ideally, I’d have everything in one big room. That’s why I chose this loft layout. I would even connect the bedroom with the living area if my partner agreed (but he doesn’t like it that way, so he has a door to his space). The only thing I don’t want in the living room is the bathroom.
Yes, I’ve thought about putting some kind of bar counter to the side – towards the hallway – but that does look a bit like a pub.
I have to look at it more carefully this evening and will try it with the kitchen planner.
Yes, that’s supposed to be the area on the west side… why we’re putting a dining table there now is a good question, probably for the same reason we once got one in our current apartment: What if guests come? Those kinds of questions suddenly come up. The result is: When guests come, the four or six of us just sit in the living room. Bigger “events” tend to happen in summer when it’s possible to be outside. So, in our case, the dining table was removed again or is now used as a desk, which in turn is only really used to hold my laptop… no one actually works at it (which might be different if the table was directly in the living area and not in a separate room).
Yes, it does. That might change, but at the moment it’s mostly uninspired…
Climbee schrieb:
You seriously want to put the treadmill and the bike trainer for winter use into the heated living room?
Lovely!!!
Is a wood floor planned?
That will nicely soak up all the sweat *shudder* – not to mention the smell from heavy use.
For me, that would be an absolute no-go.
No, there is no wood floor planned, but tiles… and I don’t sweat so much during exercise that the whole floor would be soaked.
Climbee schrieb:
He’s getting a luxurious playroom and you admit on page 15 that you exercise a lot and use a treadmill and/or trainer in winter. But I don’t see any space for you anywhere.
ypg schrieb:
When I saw the bike in the bedroom yesterday, my immediate thought was: definitely not in the bedroom!
Instead of a 20sqm (215 sq ft) bedroom, I would plan a large combined sports and playroom. At least I’d make those two rooms the same size.
Currently, in our apartment, I have a separate 20sqm (215 sq ft) room where everything is stored: books, bike, desk, and so on. What do I regularly do? I carry everything into the living room during winter and work out there (in summer, it’s not used and stays in my room – then I exercise outside). When I read, I do so in bed (bedroom), the living room, or outside. For home office, I use my laptop in the living room. Everything that this room was intended for, I never actually do there. It’s basically just a storage room. That’s why in the new floor plan there is an open corner on the west side. That space is for me and all my stuff, and it’s also part of the living room. To me, that sounds perfect.
And yes: Ideally, I’d have everything in one big room. That’s why I chose this loft layout. I would even connect the bedroom with the living area if my partner agreed (but he doesn’t like it that way, so he has a door to his space). The only thing I don’t want in the living room is the bathroom.
haydee schrieb:
Nobody said you need a big kitchen. Just take your plan and turn the G-shaped kitchen into a single line with a peninsula. Then add a coffee machine, soda maker, coffee pot or toaster, or blender for protein shakes. Then it gets tight finding space for food prep.
Okay, no dining table then. That’s understandable. Not everyone who lives alone or as a couple eats on the sofa. Then maybe a bar counter with stools makes sense for you.
But then the sofa won’t fit.
Yes, I’ve thought about putting some kind of bar counter to the side – towards the hallway – but that does look a bit like a pub.
I have to look at it more carefully this evening and will try it with the kitchen planner.
haydee schrieb:
Why do you want a dining table at all? Wouldn’t a reading area with shelves, chair, and desk be better?
Yes, that’s supposed to be the area on the west side… why we’re putting a dining table there now is a good question, probably for the same reason we once got one in our current apartment: What if guests come? Those kinds of questions suddenly come up. The result is: When guests come, the four or six of us just sit in the living room. Bigger “events” tend to happen in summer when it’s possible to be outside. So, in our case, the dining table was removed again or is now used as a desk, which in turn is only really used to hold my laptop… no one actually works at it (which might be different if the table was directly in the living area and not in a separate room).
haydee schrieb:
There are only two of us and we cook less often than families. Still, for me cooking is important, so you should consider if rarely also means uninspired cooking.
Yes, it does. That might change, but at the moment it’s mostly uninspired…
Then place a table/desk in the corner. When you have guests, you can move it out of the way. Ikea offers tables that can be folded out or simple, basic desks like those often used in offices—four legs, tabletop, done.
What do you use the hobby room for? It seems like your hobby mostly takes place in the living area.
What do you use the hobby room for? It seems like your hobby mostly takes place in the living area.
R
Reluctance8 Jul 2019 13:03haydee schrieb:
Then put a table/desk in the corner. Visitors can use it.
Ikea has tables that can be folded out or simple basic tables like those often used in offices, four legs and a top, done. Yes, that’s a good idea.
haydee schrieb:
What do you use the hobby room for?
Your hobby mostly takes place in the living area anyway. It’s for my boyfriend. He has so much model-building stuff that you don’t want lying around—especially since our cats would probably play with it and break it.
would change quite a bit
Kitchen where the reading area is
Living room stays
Kitchen becomes your hobby room and is separated from the living room by a large sliding door.
Currently a quiet reading corner
No exercise equipment visible
In winter, sliding door open with a view of the TV
Kitchen where the reading area is
Living room stays
Kitchen becomes your hobby room and is separated from the living room by a large sliding door.
Currently a quiet reading corner
No exercise equipment visible
In winter, sliding door open with a view of the TV
haydee schrieb:
Kitchen where it says reading area
Living room stays
Kitchen becomes your hobby room, separated from the living room by a large sliding door.
Now a quiet reading corner Since I think I read that, and it’s also nice to have the reading corner facing west, I would
-> swap hobby room and kitchen.
You can fit great tall cabinets and an L-shaped kitchen unit in the niche created by the storage room, with a round 80cm (32 inch) table in front—expandable—or a table placed against the wall next to the storage room.
The man’s gaming room opposite with the angled wall as requested.
Kitchen is, of course, semi-open.
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