ᐅ Single-Family Home Floor Plan Nearly Ready for Detailed Design – Requesting Tips and Advice
Created on: 12 Aug 2022 00:10
X
xanthippa
Hello dear forum members,
We are about to start the detailed planning phase for our new house.
When we planned the house last year, we were unable to focus much on the floor plan due to our two small children.
Now that the detailed planning is approaching, we are wondering if and what improvements we could still make to the floor plan.
Therefore, we would like to share our house floor plan for discussion and ask for tips and advice.
The building permit / planning permission has been applied for. Fortunately, we still received confirmation for KFW funding. However, this means we should not change the dimensions of the exterior walls anymore, as otherwise there is a risk of losing the funding.
The ground floor is planned to include a second residential unit, but this will not be built initially (possibly later for our parents).
Since the storage room does not have a window, we want to omit it to create a more spacious feel at the stairway leading to the upper floor. Instead, tall cabinets with pull-out drawers will be placed on the wall between the kitchen and dining area. We might also separate the kitchen with double sliding glass doors.
The kitchen is planned in the upper left area because that is where the main access to the terrace is intended (west/north around the corner of the house).
Thank you very much in advance!
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 1000 sqm (approx. 0.25 acres)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio: aligned with neighboring buildings
Building line: aligned with neighboring buildings
Number of parking spaces: 4
Number of floors: 2 full stories
Roof type: gable roof
Orientation:
Maximum heights/limits: no requirements (no development plan)
Owners’ requirements
Style: simple and straightforward
Basement, floors: basement yes, 2 full stories
Number of occupants, ages: 4 people (2 adults + 2 toddlers)
Space requirements on ground floor: office, shower, large living/dining area
Space requirements on upper floor: small office/storage room, 2 normally sized children’s rooms, large bathroom, bedroom
Office: as we both work from home, we need 2 offices
Guest stays per year: regularly 1 person
Open or closed architecture: ideally the kitchen should be separable by a (sliding) door; the hallway should be separable from the living/dining area
Traditional or modern construction: rather traditional
Open kitchen, kitchen island: no kitchen island, one work island with 2 small seating places
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: planned
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double garage (prefabricated garage), possibly a third prefabricated garage as a tool/bike room
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons why something is or isn’t desired: -
House design
Planned by:
- designer from a construction company
What do you like most? Why?
- large living/dining area, large office with garden access, size of the children’s rooms
What do you not like? Why?
- kitchen layout is difficult despite its size of 16 sqm (172 sq ft)
- layout of the bathroom on the upper floor
- small entrance area
Price estimate according to architect/designer:
- about 600k
Personal budget for house including fittings:
- about 650k
Preferred heating system:
- air source heat pump
If you had to give up something, which details/features
- could give up: smaller bedroom, smaller living/dining area
- cannot give up: 2 offices, size of the children’s rooms
Why did the design turn out this way? E.g.
Standard design from the planner?
- no
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
- office, 2 residential units, 2 bathrooms, size of the children’s rooms
What is the main question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
We would appreciate tips, suggestions for improvement, and general feedback. Thank you very much!
We are about to start the detailed planning phase for our new house.
When we planned the house last year, we were unable to focus much on the floor plan due to our two small children.
Now that the detailed planning is approaching, we are wondering if and what improvements we could still make to the floor plan.
Therefore, we would like to share our house floor plan for discussion and ask for tips and advice.
The building permit / planning permission has been applied for. Fortunately, we still received confirmation for KFW funding. However, this means we should not change the dimensions of the exterior walls anymore, as otherwise there is a risk of losing the funding.
The ground floor is planned to include a second residential unit, but this will not be built initially (possibly later for our parents).
Since the storage room does not have a window, we want to omit it to create a more spacious feel at the stairway leading to the upper floor. Instead, tall cabinets with pull-out drawers will be placed on the wall between the kitchen and dining area. We might also separate the kitchen with double sliding glass doors.
The kitchen is planned in the upper left area because that is where the main access to the terrace is intended (west/north around the corner of the house).
Thank you very much in advance!
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size: 1000 sqm (approx. 0.25 acres)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio: aligned with neighboring buildings
Building line: aligned with neighboring buildings
Number of parking spaces: 4
Number of floors: 2 full stories
Roof type: gable roof
Orientation:
Maximum heights/limits: no requirements (no development plan)
Owners’ requirements
Style: simple and straightforward
Basement, floors: basement yes, 2 full stories
Number of occupants, ages: 4 people (2 adults + 2 toddlers)
Space requirements on ground floor: office, shower, large living/dining area
Space requirements on upper floor: small office/storage room, 2 normally sized children’s rooms, large bathroom, bedroom
Office: as we both work from home, we need 2 offices
Guest stays per year: regularly 1 person
Open or closed architecture: ideally the kitchen should be separable by a (sliding) door; the hallway should be separable from the living/dining area
Traditional or modern construction: rather traditional
Open kitchen, kitchen island: no kitchen island, one work island with 2 small seating places
Number of dining seats: 6
Fireplace: planned
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: double garage (prefabricated garage), possibly a third prefabricated garage as a tool/bike room
Utility garden, greenhouse: no
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons why something is or isn’t desired: -
House design
Planned by:
- designer from a construction company
What do you like most? Why?
- large living/dining area, large office with garden access, size of the children’s rooms
What do you not like? Why?
- kitchen layout is difficult despite its size of 16 sqm (172 sq ft)
- layout of the bathroom on the upper floor
- small entrance area
Price estimate according to architect/designer:
- about 600k
Personal budget for house including fittings:
- about 650k
Preferred heating system:
- air source heat pump
If you had to give up something, which details/features
- could give up: smaller bedroom, smaller living/dining area
- cannot give up: 2 offices, size of the children’s rooms
Why did the design turn out this way? E.g.
Standard design from the planner?
- no
Which wishes were implemented by the architect?
- office, 2 residential units, 2 bathrooms, size of the children’s rooms
What is the main question about the floor plan in 130 characters?
We would appreciate tips, suggestions for improvement, and general feedback. Thank you very much!
X
xanthippa17 Aug 2022 12:21@hanse987 Could you please check, based on the data, if the staircase is okay as it is?
The opening on the upper floor is 3.5 m by 1 m (11.5 ft by 3.3 ft).
Another question regarding the entrance area:
I would like to replace the masonry stair wall with a glass wall to create a more spacious feeling.
Has anyone installed something like this and can share their experience?
How should I address the issue with the hallway door?
And one more question:
Which tool could I use to plan and modify the floor plan and provide a 3D view?
The opening on the upper floor is 3.5 m by 1 m (11.5 ft by 3.3 ft).
Another question regarding the entrance area:
I would like to replace the masonry stair wall with a glass wall to create a more spacious feeling.
Has anyone installed something like this and can share their experience?
How should I address the issue with the hallway door?
And one more question:
Which tool could I use to plan and modify the floor plan and provide a 3D view?
X
xanthippa17 Aug 2022 13:12Würfel* schrieb:
And generally, I would orient the open-plan area towards south-west-north, meaning definitely include the north side as well because that’s where the garden is. For me, a patio door in the kitchen alone wouldn’t be enough. I would probably place the living room facing north (since it’s the most private area and you need the least sun there), the kitchen facing south, and the dining area in between. Hi Würfel, orienting the kitchen to the other side was actually considered but then dismissed. Since I will probably spend most of the time in the kitchen, I want to keep an eye on my two kids when they play in the garden.
It should be noted that the street is a small village road, with a car passing by about every half hour.
X
xanthippa17 Aug 2022 13:23Würfel* schrieb:
Hmm... I would really consider redesigning, even if that means risking losing the grant. I don’t know the building boundaries, but you’ve oriented the house and living spaces toward the southwest, and you’ve placed the house itself just 3 meters (10 feet) from the street on the south side. On the west side, there is only about 8.5 meters (28 feet) of space to the neighbor. Meanwhile, you’re giving up a lot of space on the east side because of the double garage, passageway (?), and extension for the granny flat. Yes, the passageway... That was my husband’s idea; he really wants direct access from the street/driveway straight into the garden.
On the west side, there is only a terrace planned, then an old driveway to the former garage. I will mark it on the plan but can only post it later since I don’t have it at hand.
The neighbor to the west is my husband’s sister, although I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing 🙂 At the moment, we get along well.
The garden to the north is intended for all activities like a sandbox, swing, trampoline, etc.
M
Myrna_Loy17 Aug 2022 13:45xanthippa schrieb:
Hello Würfel, the idea of positioning the kitchen on the other side was actually discussed but then dismissed. Since I will probably spend most of my time in the kitchen, I want to keep an eye on my two kids when they play in the garden.
It should be mentioned that the street is a small village road, with a car passing by about every half hour. Are you planning your house for the next 20 years based on watching your children in the garden from the sink for maybe five years or so? I would rather reconsider my work routine and try to spend my time in the kitchen as efficiently as possible, so I can go out into the garden myself. 😀
Is it even possible to do both? Working in the kitchen and keeping an eye on the kids at the same time? At least, quick assistance must be possible, which means the patio door should be located where you can maintain eye contact. In the west, I see fewer play structures; it would be better to have them in the north with a western exposure.
M
Myrna_Loy17 Aug 2022 13:57ypg schrieb:
Is it even possible to do both? Working in the kitchen while keeping an eye on the kids? At least quick assistance should be possible, which requires the patio door to be located where you can maintain visual contact. I see fewer play structures in the west; north with a western exposure would be better. That only works as long as the children are small enough not to develop creativity and come up with ideas like building the sandbox dam much more efficiently using dad’s tools from the garage. Or realizing it’s much better to ride the ride-on car on the side of the house that’s out of sight. Or watering the little brother with the big watering can because he started splashing water first. That’s my experience with two little rascals.
But apparently, it’s a strong trend to design floor plans around being able to keep an eye on the children, judging by how often this is mentioned here.
Similar topics