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
askforafriend25 May 2021 10:21I keep wondering why people who defend and like their floor plan even post it here in the first place. Personally, I would never put my individual preferences (which are reflected in the floor plan) up for discussion in a forum filled with complete strangers from all age groups with very different needs.
You have to realize that people look at the floor plan, compare it to their own needs, and then share their opinions accordingly. Whether that really helps the original poster (OP) is unclear to me. You can ask very specific questions that clarify truly objective issues, but intimate things like floor plans? I’m not sure if that is productive. I actually think the OP ends up drifting further and further away from what they originally wanted, eventually ending up with a “perfectly standard” floor plan created by the 5-6 people who actively comment here.
In the floor plan forum, floor plans are posted that, in my view, are neither ergonomic nor efficient in terms of workflow, and are actually a disaster. The people who comment and criticize often have already built their own floor plans and try to put a positive spin on them—I always wonder how that fits when someone gives advice or opinions but has (in my view) built the ugliest house or kitchen ever. I’ve been active here for a few weeks now, and when it comes to floor plans, nothing truly useful has really come out for the people—just the same discussions over and over, and in the end a one-size-fits-all forum opinion develops: “That’s absolutely no good, and if it works, only with a budget of at least 1 million.” Not helpful. What’s most frustrating is that people never answer the actual questions, but immediately question the entire house (even though they probably live in a house the OP would never want to move into).
You have to realize that people look at the floor plan, compare it to their own needs, and then share their opinions accordingly. Whether that really helps the original poster (OP) is unclear to me. You can ask very specific questions that clarify truly objective issues, but intimate things like floor plans? I’m not sure if that is productive. I actually think the OP ends up drifting further and further away from what they originally wanted, eventually ending up with a “perfectly standard” floor plan created by the 5-6 people who actively comment here.
In the floor plan forum, floor plans are posted that, in my view, are neither ergonomic nor efficient in terms of workflow, and are actually a disaster. The people who comment and criticize often have already built their own floor plans and try to put a positive spin on them—I always wonder how that fits when someone gives advice or opinions but has (in my view) built the ugliest house or kitchen ever. I’ve been active here for a few weeks now, and when it comes to floor plans, nothing truly useful has really come out for the people—just the same discussions over and over, and in the end a one-size-fits-all forum opinion develops: “That’s absolutely no good, and if it works, only with a budget of at least 1 million.” Not helpful. What’s most frustrating is that people never answer the actual questions, but immediately question the entire house (even though they probably live in a house the OP would never want to move into).
askforafriend25 May 2021 10:22Myrna_Loy schrieb:
I once drew a walking route from the master bedroom to the children’s rooms upstairs through a large open space. You can do that if you don’t like your children and enjoy bruising your shins. 🙂
I understand the wish to have a floor between you and your teenagers—but that’s still more than 15 years away... What a useless comment – just let the original poster do what they want, and if that suits their way of living, then so be it. Just answer the question (initially).
M
Myrna_Loy25 May 2021 10:34askforafriend schrieb:
What a pointless comment – just let the original poster do what they want, and if that fits their routine, then so be it. Just answer the initial question. Yes, Mr. Supervisor.
No joke, the original poster is planning a house for a family but doesn’t have children yet. There’s a saying: We were perfect parents until we had children. Someone without kids can’t imagine daily life with children and their space needs at all. And the idea that you know how parents behave is a nice thought, but it doesn’t reflect reality. I wouldn’t let someone who already has children interfere with the floor plan. For example, I wouldn’t have expected to spend a lot of time during the day with a newborn in the bedroom. We initially had a small bedroom of 4 x 3.5 m (13 x 11.5 ft) with a large floor-to-ceiling window and then moved with the baby for a year into the 5 x 5 m (16.5 x 16.5 ft) living room.
Y
Ypsi aus NI25 May 2021 10:35askforafriend schrieb:
What a pointless comment – just let the OP do what they want, and if that fits their schedule, then so be it. Just answer the question (initial)The fact is that I would also have the walking route from the home office upstairs. I also don’t find the comment helpful for me.
M
Myrna_Loy25 May 2021 10:37Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
It’s also true that I would have to walk upstairs from the study.
I don’t find that comment helpful for me either. But you wouldn’t do that at three in the morning when you’re woken up by a screaming or vomiting child. Anyway, give it a try. Everyone has to make their own mistakes as parents and home builders.
Y
Ypsi aus NI25 May 2021 10:41Myrna_Loy schrieb:
Absolutely, Officer.
No joke, the original poster is planning a house for a family but does not have children yet. There is a popular saying – “We were perfect parents until we had children.” Someone without kids can’t really imagine the daily life with children and their space needs. Also, the idea that you know how to behave as a parent is a nice thought, but it doesn’t reflect reality. I wouldn’t let someone who already has children interfere with the floor plan. For example, I didn’t expect to spend so much time during the day with an infant in the bedroom. We initially had a small bedroom measuring 4 x 3.5 m (13 x 11.5 ft) with a large floor-to-ceiling window, then spent a year with the bedroom and baby moved into the 5 x 5 m (16.5 x 16.5 ft) living room. I do respect your opinion as a mother. We have talked to many other parents, and our concept was both criticized and praised. So why not take the chance?
There are more opinions and experiences than just yours. Every family, every child is different. We will see how it goes.
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