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
Y
Ypsi aus NI25 May 2021 10:47askforafriend schrieb:
I keep wondering why people who defend and like their floor plans even post them here. Personally, I would never put my individual wishes (which are reflected in the floor plan) up for discussion by complete strangers of all ages with very different needs.
You have to be aware that people look at the floor plan, compare it with their own needs, and then express their opinions accordingly. I’m not sure if that really helps the original poster. You can ask very specific questions that clarify truly objective matters, but such personal things like floor plans? I don’t know if that’s effective. I actually think the original poster ends up moving further away from their goals, ending with a “great” generic floor plan influenced by the 5-6 people who comment the most here.
Sometimes floor plans are posted that are neither ergonomic nor practical in terms of workflow (in my opinion) and can actually be a disaster. The people who comment and criticize often have already built their own floor plans and try to make them look good—in those cases, I always wonder: if someone who gives advice or opinions has built (in my opinion) the ugliest house or kitchen ever, how does that add up? I’ve been around here for a few weeks now, and when it comes to floor plans, nothing really useful has come out for people—just the same discussions over and over again, and in the end, you get a generic forum consensus of “that’s totally unacceptable and only doable with a $1 million budget.” Not helpful. What’s most annoying is that people never answer the actual questions but immediately question the entire house (even though they probably live in a house the original poster would never want to move into themselves). This comment is one of the best I’ve read here!
Exactly, what you describe has happened: the big picture gets questioned instead of addressing the specific question. Anyone can do that, but it just doesn’t help me. My life, our space requirements, our daily routines — it’s all individual and has to fit us.
There will be no generic “one-size-fits-all” result, of that much I’m certain. But I still take the comments seriously. In the end, it’s like a challenge to rethink and review your own floor plan in every possible way.
Y
Ypsi aus NI25 May 2021 10:49Myrna_Loy schrieb:
everyone has to make their own mistakes as parents and homebuilders. For me, such a comment goes too far. It carries a lot of assumptions. I don’t know what you need to work through personally to believe that I would be a bad mother just because we don’t sustainably live on one level.
I believe the main issue is that, in most cases, laypersons are asking questions or sharing their ideas here. This often means there are basic problems that go unrecognized or are present in the designs. As a result, the same points keep coming up. This forum is primarily aimed at non-professionals, where it is easy for some more experienced members to stand out by pointing out obvious mistakes. Once these are understood, the actual work can begin, but in most cases, that work no longer takes place here, and some of the more “resistant to advice” users may not be able or willing to imagine everything or to give up all degrees of freedom.
However, the methodical approach used in this forum works quite well to help laypersons get “on track” to be able to cooperate with or better communicate their needs to a general contractor or similar professional.
People sometimes complain about the tone, but it should be remembered that this is a leisure activity, and if you spend your time helping others, you can also expect to have some input on the unwritten rules.
I find it unfair to speak of a “one-size-fits-all” approach, but most threads do not allow much room for variation. Most homebuilders fit a classic pattern and face many constraints that push them toward the “standard.” If the option of a “parents’ wing on the ground floor,” as discussed in this thread, is already far from the standard, it makes me a bit uneasy... While it may not be very common, it should still work according to the same principles.
However, the methodical approach used in this forum works quite well to help laypersons get “on track” to be able to cooperate with or better communicate their needs to a general contractor or similar professional.
People sometimes complain about the tone, but it should be remembered that this is a leisure activity, and if you spend your time helping others, you can also expect to have some input on the unwritten rules.
I find it unfair to speak of a “one-size-fits-all” approach, but most threads do not allow much room for variation. Most homebuilders fit a classic pattern and face many constraints that push them toward the “standard.” If the option of a “parents’ wing on the ground floor,” as discussed in this thread, is already far from the standard, it makes me a bit uneasy... While it may not be very common, it should still work according to the same principles.
Y
Ypsi aus NI25 May 2021 10:56@borxx
You brought up many good points!
Thank you for that!
Fortunately, it’s not as bad as you described. For example, there is a skylight and natural light coming from the upper floor. Still, with the right lighting, the staircase will be properly highlighted.
For the walk-in closet, I have considered completely removing the window. Light can fade clothes and stir up dust. Both options will have their supporters.
The door size to the open-plan living area is also flexible; maybe a double door will be installed there.
Overall, good points, a great and helpful comment!
Thanks!
You brought up many good points!
Thank you for that!
Fortunately, it’s not as bad as you described. For example, there is a skylight and natural light coming from the upper floor. Still, with the right lighting, the staircase will be properly highlighted.
For the walk-in closet, I have considered completely removing the window. Light can fade clothes and stir up dust. Both options will have their supporters.
The door size to the open-plan living area is also flexible; maybe a double door will be installed there.
Overall, good points, a great and helpful comment!
Thanks!
Myrna_Loy schrieb:
But you wouldn’t do that at three in the morning when you’re woken up by a crying or vomiting child. Well, try it yourself. Everyone has to make their own mistakes as parents and builders. I generally find your advice quite good, but I don’t know—have you actually been through all that? Are these real experiences?
If so, I really feel sorry for you; it must be tough.
But it can be different! In the past 10 years, I haven’t once woken up at 3 or 4 a.m. or any other time due to a vomiting child. From the very beginning, we had a 1.60 meter (5 ft 3 in) bed, and we still do, and yes, our child has found her place there too.
The only reason I ever woke up at night was because I felt the constant need to check if the child was still alive since she never made a sound.
Is that the norm? No, of course not, but the other side of the story doesn’t have to happen to everyone either.
@TE: I think the advice here about different sleeping levels is justified, but you’ve also said you can sleep upstairs later if necessary.
So, please let that point rest now.
M
Myrna_Loy25 May 2021 11:00Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
For me, that kind of comment goes too far. It carries so many assumptions. I don’t know what you have to process yourself to believe that I’m a bad mother just because we don’t sleep all on one floor as part of our sustainable lifestyle. I never said that even once. Every parent can share how they imagined things with a child and how it actually turned out. That’s what I meant by making your own mistakes. You can’t avoid them—they’re just part of it. But never mind.
You wanted to know if it works to enlarge the living area at the expense of the bedroom. Basically, you just want to hear a “yes, it’s okay” here. I would say that such a small bedroom with an inward-opening door is already very tight and tends to be uncomfortable for a couple alone, and definitely not suitable later in life if accessibility is a concern. Or if you’re on crutches for a month after a skiing accident... With a baby or small children, a 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) bed in a 3 m (10 ft) room in a single-family house is unnecessarily cramped. The living area could be enlarged more easily elsewhere to create added value.
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