Hello 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
askforafriend20 May 2021 14:19vonBYnachSH schrieb:
Honestly, I know everyone is really into these kitchen islands right now – but they take up so much space. You hardly have room left on either side for anything... don’t you want to try a different kitchen layout at least once? @Ypsi aus NI
You know what I mean 😀 That really fit well just now
Y
Ypsi aus NI20 May 2021 14:20askforafriend schrieb:
What use is the majority opinion if it doesn’t reflect your own? How often do people let others influence them, even when it contradicts their gut feeling, thinking “the experts” in the forum must know best. I strongly advise against that. You need to decide for yourself what fits your !individual! habits and routines best. The only objective thing is the distances between things – which, as I understand it, is your main concern. Those can be used. Everything else is personal preference.
If you now say, “Nobody in this forum likes option 1/2,” but your gut feeling tells you otherwise (note: all floor plans involve compromises; there is no perfect one!) and you would actually prefer the other — you know what I mean.
And do you realize how many floor plans get debated endlessly here – and in the end, the original poster ends up even more confused? Your question is really about details and personal taste: everything works functionally. Your reply reassures me even more. If I were truly confident with option 1, I wouldn’t have posted questions in the forum.
I listen closely and read carefully, then try to sort for myself: 'understood, but doesn’t apply to me and my situation' or 'I’ll think about that some more.'
Y
Ypsi aus NI20 May 2021 14:22vonBYnachSH schrieb:
Honestly, I know everyone right now is into these kitchen islands – but they take up so much space. There’s hardly any room left on either side... don’t you want to try a different kitchen layout at least once? I totally get you! My husband is really happy to hear your words!!!
The alternative would be an L-shaped kitchen with the dining table integrated into it. That’s what we have now, very practical. Everything is within easy reach, as it’s all close together. But washing, chopping, and cooking always mean you have your back to the table. I find that a bit unfortunate.
P
pagoni202020 May 2021 14:27Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
Dining table / kitchen / conservatory as the central living area.So why doesn’t the integration of the conservatory really take off? Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
Talk a lot with other parents,Oh dear... I would want MY own lifestyle concept here as well. Kids will get used to it and enjoy it. Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
With an attached conservatory, I have this extra space as an option to fall back on. Or am I thinking about this the wrong way?So far, this still feels like the neglected “old” Sunday room. But as soon as you fully integrate this room into your living concept and adapt access, design, etc., you will have plenty of room for your ideas. Also, you won’t have the entire open area all to yourself anymore. Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
A new sofa is planned, the “living wall” consists of flexible individual parts.Living wall?? 😱 😱 😱 askforafriend schrieb:
What use is the majority opinion to you if it doesn’t reflect your own? How often do people let others influence them, going against their gut feeling but thinking “the experts” on the forum must know best? I strongly advise against that. You have to decide for yourself what fits your !individual! habits and routines best. The only thing that’s objective are the distances between elements – which I understand are your main concern. Those measurements can be taken as is. Everything else is personal preference. If you say, “Nobody on this forum likes option 1 or 2,” but your gut tells you otherwise (note: all floor plans involve compromises, there is no perfect one) and you actually prefer the other option, you know where I’m going with this. And do you know how many floor plans get discussed endlessly here – only to leave the original poster even more confused? Ultimately, your question comes down to details and personal taste: everything works functionally.yep, exactly this!!! Even if you take my objection here as positive, it might look different to someone else. I better won’t tell you how many changes we have planned here, and as long as it’s not built, the discussion goes on every day. The ground floor is finished, the windows and doors are ordered, luckily that can no longer be debated. 😀 In the end, it takes a bit of courage or self-confidence, but here you can get clarity about fundamental functional problem areas.
Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
The alternative would be an L-shaped kitchen...or an open-plan kitchen with a nice sofa in the kitchen area...H
hampshire20 May 2021 14:30Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
But tell me: how can a new piece of furniture help if the window doesn’t have to be moved? If a TV is to be placed there (and we do want to accommodate it in this room), positioning it in front of a window is not ideal. Having a TV in front of a window is problematic when the TV is on and it’s still bright outside. I agree with that. A combination of a compact, straight sofa/recliner and one or two comfortable armchairs gives you much more flexibility. When guests arrive, a space-saving setup with a side table and stool, for example Signet Bono with Charly, works well, and in practice people often just pull a dining chair over as needed. The TV can then be placed on the inner wall without cluttering the windows with seating furniture, allowing you to also occasionally face towards the garden.
Y
Ypsi aus NI20 May 2021 14:30pagoni2020 schrieb:
Oh dear...... I would want MY own lifestyle there too, children get used to it and enjoy it.I almost have to laugh!
How often do you read on the forum: You don’t have children yet! Talk to parents, they will tell you how it goes.
Now we’re getting it wrong again ;-)
That said: you can always ask questions. But when it comes to the answers, you have to choose carefully what you take in!
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