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Ypsi aus NI20 May 2021 10:40Hello everyone,
After almost a year’s break, we have resumed our building project and are planning a new floor plan.
We’re stuck when it comes to the open-plan living area, so I would like to hear your opinions!
Our garden faces west, and to the south, the neighboring property begins after three meters (10 feet).
Option 1:
Overall, we like this option best. BUT: Is it possibly too tight? About one meter (3 feet) between the sofa and table—is that too cramped? It’s enough for walking through, but maybe it compromises comfort on the couch? Currently, we have much more space between the couch and table, but not as much room depth as in the planned layout. We are thinking of trying to place the table this close to the sofa in our current apartment to get a feel for it.
Pros: Great window view to the west, a skylight to the south (brings in plenty of light but prevents the neighbor from looking into our house), from the couch you can see the room, the garden, and the TV.
Cons: Is it too narrow in width?
Option 2:
Same setup, only the table is rotated. Basically, a table with a footprint of 1.00 x 2.00 meters (3 x 6.5 feet) requires a total space of 2.00 x 2.00 meters (6.5 x 6.5 feet) to accommodate chairs. In this arrangement, all guests could look out to the garden. In option 1, both the sofa and the kitchen island have visual contact with all guests.
Option 3:
The sofa and the entertainment wall are swapped. The skylight to the south changes to a floor-to-ceiling window, but the window to the west is removed.
Pros: More freedom of movement in the room, sofa hidden behind the fireplace, more coziness.
Cons: No view of the garden from the sofa, loss of a west window, view of the fireplace only from the side.
We have gotten so lost in the planning that we can’t see the forest for the trees right now.
What do you think?
Thanks and best regards,
Ypsi
After almost a year’s break, we have resumed our building project and are planning a new floor plan.
We’re stuck when it comes to the open-plan living area, so I would like to hear your opinions!
Our garden faces west, and to the south, the neighboring property begins after three meters (10 feet).
Option 1:
Overall, we like this option best. BUT: Is it possibly too tight? About one meter (3 feet) between the sofa and table—is that too cramped? It’s enough for walking through, but maybe it compromises comfort on the couch? Currently, we have much more space between the couch and table, but not as much room depth as in the planned layout. We are thinking of trying to place the table this close to the sofa in our current apartment to get a feel for it.
Pros: Great window view to the west, a skylight to the south (brings in plenty of light but prevents the neighbor from looking into our house), from the couch you can see the room, the garden, and the TV.
Cons: Is it too narrow in width?
Option 2:
Same setup, only the table is rotated. Basically, a table with a footprint of 1.00 x 2.00 meters (3 x 6.5 feet) requires a total space of 2.00 x 2.00 meters (6.5 x 6.5 feet) to accommodate chairs. In this arrangement, all guests could look out to the garden. In option 1, both the sofa and the kitchen island have visual contact with all guests.
Option 3:
The sofa and the entertainment wall are swapped. The skylight to the south changes to a floor-to-ceiling window, but the window to the west is removed.
Pros: More freedom of movement in the room, sofa hidden behind the fireplace, more coziness.
Cons: No view of the garden from the sofa, loss of a west window, view of the fireplace only from the side.
We have gotten so lost in the planning that we can’t see the forest for the trees right now.
What do you think?
Thanks and best regards,
Ypsi
M
Myrna_Loy20 May 2021 10:50I prefer option 3 because I’m not a big fan of the open-plan style that resembles a furniture showroom. And the table can be rotated if you really want to entertain guests from the kitchen island.
vonBYnachSH20 May 2021 10:56Is there also a floor plan for the upper floor? Are you still completely flexible regarding the window layout?
With option 3, you keep more possibilities open, including rearranging later on. And what happens with the west-facing window in options 1 and 2 when you’re sitting on the couch with your back to it? That window would be blocked again.
I am generally not a fan of skylights in the living room, so for me, option 3 is clearly the best. I would enlarge the window at the dining area so you have a spacious view of the garden from all sides.
With option 3, you keep more possibilities open, including rearranging later on. And what happens with the west-facing window in options 1 and 2 when you’re sitting on the couch with your back to it? That window would be blocked again.
I am generally not a fan of skylights in the living room, so for me, option 3 is clearly the best. I would enlarge the window at the dining area so you have a spacious view of the garden from all sides.
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pagoni202020 May 2021 10:57Somehow, this feeling seems familiar to me. Hirschhausen once called it "too-much-itis," and I often experience it too.
Is it already built, meaning are the dimensions, windows, etc. fixed?
If so, I would definitely prefer option 2 and then work out the details. I don’t like option 1, option 3 is more to my taste.
With a room width of 9.90m (32.5 feet), I wouldn’t place the table lengthwise as well. We saw that in a show home and found it too cramped. If the house is already built, you can still rearrange later.
I would also pay attention to what is used frequently and what isn’t. Guests don’t need the premium view, as they are rare, and when they are there, you mostly focus on conversation, so the view is secondary.
We have a similar situation, but with more width and less depth. In our case, the TV is completely off to another room. We also don’t have children at home and don’t eat regularly at the large dining table; for that reason, we decided to place our dining table directly next to the kitchen island. That suddenly creates a lot of space in the middle; I could imagine something like that working for you as well.
Maybe you could write more about your situation regarding construction, children, etc.
We are also downsizing significantly, since we currently have 200 sqm (2,150 sq ft) on one level. At first, that’s scary, but then you realize that you previously had a lot of unnecessary walking space and that the new place has different advantages.
Is it already built, meaning are the dimensions, windows, etc. fixed?
If so, I would definitely prefer option 2 and then work out the details. I don’t like option 1, option 3 is more to my taste.
With a room width of 9.90m (32.5 feet), I wouldn’t place the table lengthwise as well. We saw that in a show home and found it too cramped. If the house is already built, you can still rearrange later.
I would also pay attention to what is used frequently and what isn’t. Guests don’t need the premium view, as they are rare, and when they are there, you mostly focus on conversation, so the view is secondary.
We have a similar situation, but with more width and less depth. In our case, the TV is completely off to another room. We also don’t have children at home and don’t eat regularly at the large dining table; for that reason, we decided to place our dining table directly next to the kitchen island. That suddenly creates a lot of space in the middle; I could imagine something like that working for you as well.
Maybe you could write more about your situation regarding construction, children, etc.
We are also downsizing significantly, since we currently have 200 sqm (2,150 sq ft) on one level. At first, that’s scary, but then you realize that you previously had a lot of unnecessary walking space and that the new place has different advantages.
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Ypsi aus NI20 May 2021 11:18vonBYnachSH schrieb:
Is there also a floor plan for the upper floor? Are you still completely flexible regarding the window layout? Yes, we are still completely free in the design, both on the ground floor and the upper floor. The windows on the upper floor could therefore be visually matched to those on the ground floor.
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