Hello,
unfortunately, my post simply disappeared again yesterday, so I’ll try my luck once more.
A brief introduction: I am 48, female, single, and based in northern Baden-Württemberg.
I’m still at the very beginning of my house-building planning but already own a plot of land, for which I will sign the purchase contract in the coming weeks.
I want a small, single-story house without a basement, with a small, low-maintenance garden and nothing fancy.
It is unclear whether another person might move in ever, so I don’t want to plan for that at this point.
Basically, it would depend on the cost what 10-15 m² (100-160 sq ft) more would mean, as my budget is naturally limited.
Room plan
Kitchen + Dining + Living + Work approx. 40 m² (430 sq ft)
Bedroom approx. 14 m² (150 sq ft)
Dressing room -
Work/Guest/Child room approx. 10 m² (110 sq ft) optional
Bathroom + WC approx. 7 m² (75 sq ft)
Hallway approx. 5 m² (55 sq ft)
Utility room approx. 8 m² (85 sq ft)
Guest WC -
Storage room -
Total approx. 75 - 85 m² (810 - 915 sq ft)
Questionnaire regarding the floor plan:
Attached are a section of the development plan and a rough drawing of the house (green), carport (blue) and patio (yellow) on the screenshot from Boris BW.
I have also attached my first attempts at floor plans (once with the entrance in the north and once in the east). I probably used the wrong tool for drafting, but I hope something can still be understood or used.
I look forward to constructive feedback.
Thank you in advance for your time.
unfortunately, my post simply disappeared again yesterday, so I’ll try my luck once more.
A brief introduction: I am 48, female, single, and based in northern Baden-Württemberg.
I’m still at the very beginning of my house-building planning but already own a plot of land, for which I will sign the purchase contract in the coming weeks.
I want a small, single-story house without a basement, with a small, low-maintenance garden and nothing fancy.
It is unclear whether another person might move in ever, so I don’t want to plan for that at this point.
Basically, it would depend on the cost what 10-15 m² (100-160 sq ft) more would mean, as my budget is naturally limited.
Room plan
Kitchen + Dining + Living + Work approx. 40 m² (430 sq ft)
Bedroom approx. 14 m² (150 sq ft)
Dressing room -
Work/Guest/Child room approx. 10 m² (110 sq ft) optional
Bathroom + WC approx. 7 m² (75 sq ft)
Hallway approx. 5 m² (55 sq ft)
Utility room approx. 8 m² (85 sq ft)
Guest WC -
Storage room -
Total approx. 75 - 85 m² (810 - 915 sq ft)
Questionnaire regarding the floor plan:
| Development plan / restrictions | |
| Plot size | 392 m² (4,220 sq ft) |
| Slope | North-south gradient approx. 1.5 m on 21 m (5 ft on 69 ft) |
| Site coverage ratio | 0.4 |
| Floor area ratio | 0.8 |
| Building envelope, building line and boundary | see development plan |
| Edge development | Setbacks according to open construction style |
| Number of parking spaces | 1.5 (rounded up) per dwelling unit, so 2 |
| Number of stories | II (two stories) |
| Roof type | Pitch 38–43°, half-hip roof or double shed roof |
| Architectural style | ? |
| Orientation | East-West |
| Maximum heights / limits | 8.5 m (28 ft) |
| Further requirements | Cistern of 4.5 m³ (160 cu ft) recommended Garage: with gable roof or green flat roof, carports? Filling allowed up to 1.8 m (6 ft) |
| Builder’s requirements | |
| Style, roof form, building type | Exemption from gable roof at 30°? Bungalow |
| Basement, number of floors | One story without basement |
| Number of people, age | see introduction |
| Space requirements on ground and upper floors | Ground floor 75-80 m² (810 - 860 sq ft) |
| Office: family use or home office? | Home office, integrated in living-dining area |
| Number of overnight guests per year | 0–1 |
| Open or closed architecture | ? |
| Traditional or modern construction style | ? |
| Open kitchen, kitchen island | Kitchen island with depth like regular kitchen cabinets, followed by dining table |
| Number of dining seats | max 4 |
| Fireplace | Undecided |
| Music / stereo wall | No |
| Balcony, roof terrace | No |
| Garage, carport | 1 carport, 1 parking space |
| Vegetable garden, greenhouse | No |
| Further wishes / special features / daily routine, including reasons why some things should be included or not | - No separate office for home office because I don’t want to spend most of the day in a smaller room but rather in the living room with a view of the garden - Retractable staircase to the attic (additional storage space) - Wall in bedroom for wardrobe at least 2.75 m (9 ft) long - Wall in living room at least 2.45 m (8 ft) long for lowboard with TV - Bathtub – uncertain if necessary - Larger shower 90 x 120 cm (36 x 47 inches) with tiled partition wall (avoid glass wall) |
| House design | |
| Who designed the plan: | DIY, based on floor plans from Hanse Haus and various other small house providers |
| What do you like? Why? | Open living-dining-working area in the southern part of the house, utility room not directly next to the bedroom (noise from technical equipment) |
| What do you dislike? Why? | Possibly the hallway / entrance area is rather small |
| Cost estimate according to architect / planner: | ? |
| Personal price limit for the house, incl. equipment: | 250,000–270,000 Euros (approx. 270,000–290,000 USD) turnkey, excluding foundation slab, earthworks, secondary building costs, furnishings, and landscaping |
| Preferred heating system: | Not yet decided, possibly underfloor heating |
| Other considerations | Maximum house length 11.5 m (38 ft) because plot width approx. 18 m (59 ft) minus carport 3 m (10 ft) minus setback 2.5 m (8 ft) minus 1 m (3 ft) buffer in case plot is shorter than 18 m (measured on Boris BW) Carport position could also be on the west side To maximize green space and deal with the slope: house with long side parallel to the street No preference yet regarding solid construction or timber frame, KfW 55 or 40 or X standard |
| Outdoor facilities | - Patio approx. 15 m² (160 sq ft) level with the house - Lawn may have slope - Carport with parking space in front |
| Earthworks | Southern boundary: retaining wall needed to manage slope, neighbors (right and left) have done this with 1.4 m (4.5 ft) L-shaped concrete blocks or hollow blocks, rough offer from earthworks company is available (wall, grading, compacting and preparations for foundation slab, foundation slab, patio and carport [= crane location], graveling, drainage, grounding ring, multi-utility lines, site setup etc. all together approx. 60,000 Euros) |
Attached are a section of the development plan and a rough drawing of the house (green), carport (blue) and patio (yellow) on the screenshot from Boris BW.
I have also attached my first attempts at floor plans (once with the entrance in the north and once in the east). I probably used the wrong tool for drafting, but I hope something can still be understood or used.
I look forward to constructive feedback.
Thank you in advance for your time.
Newbee-BW schrieb:
low-maintenance without any frills. That was your opening post!
Your wishes, summarized, would be:
Newbee-BW schrieb:
larger shower 90x120 cm (35x47 inches) with a tiled partition wall (avoiding a glass panel) which requires more space.
Newbee-BW schrieb:
My main priority was to have a large living area facing the garden, so a big living space.
Newbee-BW schrieb:
and that the bedroom is not next to the utility room Even with 80 sqm (860 sq ft), that could become a tricky issue.
Newbee-BW schrieb:
moving in a dog and possibly a cat. The cat is probably no problem, but a dog also requires a special entrance situation compared to a simple apartment floor plan.
Newbee-BW schrieb:
I do my sports on the yoga mat right in the living room with a view outside Okay, again more space needed in the living area.
Newbee-BW schrieb:
I would simply like to be able to grow old in this new home Accessibility or at least reduced barriers must be considered, which also increases space requirements.
Newbee-BW schrieb:
I find it charming that there is already a roof over the terrace, Understood, a nice-to-have, but for a house on a slight slope it also complicates the construction somewhat.
Newbee-BW schrieb:
I would prefer the entrance on the east side by the carport, Wow, that also means more space needed because of access from the short side.
I also read that the workspace would be nicer if it is separated.
All of these things make the required floor area grow from 70 to 85 sqm (750 to 915 sq ft).
I still see this as manageable within the budget, but I wanted to note where these small wishes lead. It is no longer a rectangular floor plan, but rather an L-shaped one. A bookcase takes up relatively less space since walls usually exist.
Is the U-shaped kitchen really preferred, or could it be designed differently?
What concerns me:
Newbee-BW schrieb:
eating or working at the desk during lunchtime. All very relaxed... Whether that would still work with 80 sqm (860 sq ft) is of course questionable That’s not healthy! I don’t know what kind of work you do, but maintaining a healthy distance and taking breaks away from the workspace should not be underestimated—otherwise, reaching 80 years old might be at risk.
N
Newbee-BW8 Dec 2024 15:44@ypg Thank you very much for your detailed feedback – I’ll try to address it.
None of my drawings claim to be perfect; they are collections of ideas that will hopefully eventually lead to my ideal layout. Especially because it’s meant to be a small house, it’s not easy to position everything optimally. I know I will have to make compromises. The option to design it in an L-shape or with a covered terrace or place the hallway to the east near the carport are currently just ideas. If these don’t fit within the budget, that’s perfectly fine for me.
My approach is to get the best value possible within my budget, some things may be doable, others not. That’s what I need to find out. Regarding the size of the living area: for me, 35 square meters (375 square feet) is already quite large. In the floor plans it’s around 40 square meters (430 square feet), which I think is quite decent. I always see the dining area somewhere close to the kitchen, as space-saving as possible.
If the house finally ends up being 80 or 85 square meters (860 or 915 square feet) within my budget, that’s great too. The most important thing is that it stays within what I can afford. And it’s often said that every square meter less reduces the costs.
There’s always room for my yoga mat, so I’m not worried about extra space for that.
It’s really kind of you to be concerned about my work-life balance, but everything is fine. I do some sports or yoga at lunchtime, have a light meal, and spend at least 3 hours outdoors every afternoon/evening. And: my desk is height-adjustable.
Again: thank you very much for taking the time to consider this, every bit of input is helpful to me!
ypg schrieb:I actually made sure that the bathroom is always directly next to the bedroom and that there is another room between the utility room and the bedroom.
it feels like you have to walk through the whole house to get from the bathroom to the bedroom
ypg schrieb:Yes, that’s also one of the things I don’t like about the floor plan.
Then anyone can quietly look over your shoulder from the front door.
ypg schrieb:That’s a pity, I would have liked to see them, just for inspiration.
I admit, I’ve had 3 different designs around 70/75 square meters, but I discarded them again.
None of my drawings claim to be perfect; they are collections of ideas that will hopefully eventually lead to my ideal layout. Especially because it’s meant to be a small house, it’s not easy to position everything optimally. I know I will have to make compromises. The option to design it in an L-shape or with a covered terrace or place the hallway to the east near the carport are currently just ideas. If these don’t fit within the budget, that’s perfectly fine for me.
My approach is to get the best value possible within my budget, some things may be doable, others not. That’s what I need to find out. Regarding the size of the living area: for me, 35 square meters (375 square feet) is already quite large. In the floor plans it’s around 40 square meters (430 square feet), which I think is quite decent. I always see the dining area somewhere close to the kitchen, as space-saving as possible.
If the house finally ends up being 80 or 85 square meters (860 or 915 square feet) within my budget, that’s great too. The most important thing is that it stays within what I can afford. And it’s often said that every square meter less reduces the costs.
ypg schrieb:It can be different. I found the U-shape practical because you can fit all the appliances nicely and place the dining table right next to it, which feels cozy to me. But I’m open to other suggestions.
Is the U-shaped kitchen really what you want, or can it be different?
There’s always room for my yoga mat, so I’m not worried about extra space for that.
It’s really kind of you to be concerned about my work-life balance, but everything is fine. I do some sports or yoga at lunchtime, have a light meal, and spend at least 3 hours outdoors every afternoon/evening. And: my desk is height-adjustable.
Again: thank you very much for taking the time to consider this, every bit of input is helpful to me!
Oh, two of you met just before 4 PM.
I wanted to quickly share the idea I had the day before yesterday; I still had a draft open.
I’m not satisfied with either of them. I overwrote one so that it remains without windows and with the sofa rotated,
But I’ll just post them now so you understand what I mean by the poorly chosen phrase "through the whole house."
I wanted to quickly share the idea I had the day before yesterday; I still had a draft open.
I’m not satisfied with either of them. I overwrote one so that it remains without windows and with the sofa rotated,
But I’ll just post them now so you understand what I mean by the poorly chosen phrase "through the whole house."
N
Newbee-BW8 Dec 2024 16:10Hey wow, thank you. That’s a great idea to place the bedroom and bathroom doors opposite each other. I wouldn’t have thought of that, since I always assumed avoiding a hallway was better because it usually just creates “dead” space. But I really like that concept.
I would only want to flip the couch vertically so that I can have a view outside as well as being next to the TV.
Could you also share the width and length of the room? The plot is only a maximum of 18 meters (59 feet) wide, minus 3 meters (10 feet) for the carport, 2.5 meters (8 feet) setback to the boundary, and a 1-meter (3 feet) buffer, leaving about 11.5 meters (38 feet) for the house. If you can roughly calculate it like that.
I would only want to flip the couch vertically so that I can have a view outside as well as being next to the TV.
Could you also share the width and length of the room? The plot is only a maximum of 18 meters (59 feet) wide, minus 3 meters (10 feet) for the carport, 2.5 meters (8 feet) setback to the boundary, and a 1-meter (3 feet) buffer, leaving about 11.5 meters (38 feet) for the house. If you can roughly calculate it like that.
Newbee-BW schrieb:
because it’s often just "dead" space. But I like it.2 square meters (about 22 square feet), but they add real value.Newbee-BW schrieb:
I would only want to flip the couch vertically so that I could have a view outside as well as the TV.That would work for one, but not for the other. You’d have to keep planning, but I’m not sure I’ll get around to it. That’s why I shared it. And of course, the length of the house works. As for the slope, the question is how much there is, since not all the site data is known. I also don’t want to ask what the circles along the street mean.Slightly modified. But I’ll say right away: personally, I don’t like it. The covered terrace is too small and narrow, and it’s positioned too close to the two-story house on the left side of the plan. I also don’t like the entrance layout or the sofa placed between two doors.
But tastes differ.
Personally, I would probably rotate the house to create an L-shape with the wings facing north and east, so the terrace is placed more openly.
But tastes differ.
Personally, I would probably rotate the house to create an L-shape with the wings facing north and east, so the terrace is placed more openly.
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