ᐅ Optimizing the Floor Plan of a Detached Single-Family Home, 155 sqm
Created on: 1 Jan 2025 23:01
J
JoschNeubau24
Hello everyone,
I would like to share my floor plan here to get some feedback for optimization. We are already quite far along in the planning process and are generally satisfied. However, we can still make minor changes without any problems.
A brief introduction about us: a family with two children (2 and 4 years old). I work full-time without working from home, and my wife is currently not working but plans to return to part-time home office work in 1-2 years.
Mainly, my focus is on the window planning and the layout of the bedroom and bathroom. Regarding the windows, we wonder if there might be too many and whether that has significantly increased the costs.
Children’s rooms:
Do we still need windows facing east/west? This is probably a subjective question, but I’m happy to hear your opinions.
Bedroom:
Are windows facing north or west unnecessary? Alternatively, we could consider moving the partition wall so that the dressing room’s window also provides light to the bedroom.
Bathroom:
I’m wondering if the layout can still be improved, for example, by using a T-shaped design. We also have the issue of an extra window next to the toilet, primarily for ventilation. The window above the bathtub is not ideal for ventilation as it is hard to reach.
Any general comments are also welcome if something looks generally unfavorable.
I would like to share my floor plan here to get some feedback for optimization. We are already quite far along in the planning process and are generally satisfied. However, we can still make minor changes without any problems.
A brief introduction about us: a family with two children (2 and 4 years old). I work full-time without working from home, and my wife is currently not working but plans to return to part-time home office work in 1-2 years.
Mainly, my focus is on the window planning and the layout of the bedroom and bathroom. Regarding the windows, we wonder if there might be too many and whether that has significantly increased the costs.
Children’s rooms:
Do we still need windows facing east/west? This is probably a subjective question, but I’m happy to hear your opinions.
Bedroom:
Are windows facing north or west unnecessary? Alternatively, we could consider moving the partition wall so that the dressing room’s window also provides light to the bedroom.
Bathroom:
I’m wondering if the layout can still be improved, for example, by using a T-shaped design. We also have the issue of an extra window next to the toilet, primarily for ventilation. The window above the bathtub is not ideal for ventilation as it is hard to reach.
Any general comments are also welcome if something looks generally unfavorable.
N
nordanney2 Jan 2025 18:52JoschNeubau24 schrieb:
We actually have KfW 40 standard without a ventilation system. It has already been approved by the energy consultant. Installing a ventilation system would cause approximately €13,000 (about $14,000) in additional costs. Just because it’s approved (regardless of how the ventilation concept according to DIN 1946-6 might look…) doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good.
For me, a mechanical ventilation system is mandatory in a new build. When buying a house without mechanical ventilation, it is a dealbreaker. Skip some unnecessary features inside the house, like window sills with seating areas, and invest in mechanical ventilation instead. Even if it’s only a decentralized system, because building the house is already expensive enough relative to income.
JoschNeubau24 schrieb:
We actually have KfW 40 without a ventilation system. Everything has already been approved by the energy consultant. A ventilation system would have caused additional costs of about €13,000.We also have KfW 40 and luckily chose a controlled residential ventilation system. This was new territory for us, as our previous houses never had one. It wasn’t so bad because those houses were never as airtight as modern standards require. Personally, I wouldn’t want to have to regularly air out the house several times a day for my entire life, and I also don’t really believe that growing children would stick to that routine.The necessary issue of “ventilation” in a new house is definitely something I would reconsider carefully, taking into account my own lifestyle and that of possible future housemates even 10 or more years down the line. Maybe there is a cheaper alternative, but even if not, I would definitely have a controlled residential ventilation system installed—even as someone who was originally skeptical and unfamiliar with it.
The energy consultant approves everything that is legally allowed by calculation, but they don’t live there. I always recommend not to rely solely on the popular calculation values of today, as there are real people with unpredictable habits living in these houses.
JoschNeubau24 schrieb:
The window seat is my wife’s wish and is non-negotiable.…if you can afford that kind of attitude, why not. Of course, besides a window seat, there might be things that could be reduced or left out to implement the necessary (controlled residential ventilation) system.N
nordanney2 Jan 2025 18:54[QUOTE="JoschNeubau24, post: 678981, member: 69524"]
The bay window is my wife’s wish and not up for discussion. In the kitchen, I actually consider it a design disaster. It’s not cozy to have your back to the window while eating, and at other times it’s unsuitable for its intended use as a kitchen bench (not comfortable for lounging). People use it less than you’d expect (from my own experience—I built one in the living room myself).
The bay window is my wife’s wish and not up for discussion. In the kitchen, I actually consider it a design disaster. It’s not cozy to have your back to the window while eating, and at other times it’s unsuitable for its intended use as a kitchen bench (not comfortable for lounging). People use it less than you’d expect (from my own experience—I built one in the living room myself).
nordanney schrieb:
... practically a planning disaster. Not comfortable to sit with the window behind you during dinner, and at other times unsuitable for use as a kitchen bench seat (to lounge on comfortably).
People sit on it much less than expected (personal experience—I built one myself in the living room). That’s usually exactly the case, because the window is cold and hopefully perfectly flat; it’s hard to imagine a less comfortable seat. Surely, the Pinterest pictures have left out the pained expressions of the users.
N
nordanney2 Jan 2025 19:03JoschNeubau24 schrieb:
The seating window is... with a depth of 45cm (18 inches) only suitable for sitting at the table. The typical use as a seating window sill in the evening, illuminated by two spotlights from above, supported on the sides with cushions and a blanket, or with a book and a glass of wine, is not possible. Is this really exactly what your wife intended? If yes, then okay. Just a bit of a shame.
JoschNeubau24 schrieb:
I find it practical in the kitchen when combined as a bench seat for the dining table.I think the combination is actually a very, very, very poor compromise. It’s uncomfortable to sit on without a proper backrest, and if you want to use it as a window seat, you first have to move the table out of the way.Similar topics