Dear house building community,
After much consideration, I have decided to share our preliminary design here. As a longtime passive reader, I would like to give back to the community with this small contribution and perhaps even inspire some readers with our floor plan.
For context: We have completed the preliminary design phase with the architect and are currently gathering quotes. The house will be a prefabricated home with slightly upscale features (KfW-40 standard, Q3 plaster, ventilation system, motorized blinds, etc.) and will cost around 3000 € per square meter (about 280 per square foot). I appreciate any feedback and look forward to many comments. Feel free to critically question the design. One note: we are satisfied with the planning and do not wish to make any changes.
Let’s get started!
Basic data:
Requirements:
I have kept it brief on purpose and do not want to reveal what I like or dislike about the design just yet. Instead, I’m going to relax now and grab some popcorn. If you want to know more, feel free to visit my website (Name + “.de”).
I’m looking forward to your opinions!
After much consideration, I have decided to share our preliminary design here. As a longtime passive reader, I would like to give back to the community with this small contribution and perhaps even inspire some readers with our floor plan.
For context: We have completed the preliminary design phase with the architect and are currently gathering quotes. The house will be a prefabricated home with slightly upscale features (KfW-40 standard, Q3 plaster, ventilation system, motorized blinds, etc.) and will cost around 3000 € per square meter (about 280 per square foot). I appreciate any feedback and look forward to many comments. Feel free to critically question the design. One note: we are satisfied with the planning and do not wish to make any changes.
Let’s get started!
Basic data:
- Plot: approx. 470 m² (about 5050 sq ft) in a new development area with a slight south-facing slope (1 m (3 feet) over plot length, 0.5 m (1.5 feet) over house width)
- Neighboring plot to the north: unattractive, vacant three-story building
- Maximum budget for the construction project excluding land and possibly garden/terrace: 700,000 €
Requirements:
- 3 children’s bedrooms (each 12–14 m² (130–150 sq ft))
- Laundry or utility/laundry room
- Study room with space for double desk and guest bed
- Shower in guest bathroom
- Straight-run staircase
- Living-dining-kitchen area in an L-shape
- Space for hallway furniture
- Double garage
- 2 full stories
- Built on a slab foundation
I have kept it brief on purpose and do not want to reveal what I like or dislike about the design just yet. Instead, I’m going to relax now and grab some popcorn. If you want to know more, feel free to visit my website (Name + “.de”).
I’m looking forward to your opinions!
W
wiltshire2 Feb 2025 19:48kbt09 schrieb:
Definitely for the kitchen, an L-shape with an island. However, it would always be useful to provide a floor plan view with dimensions, not just colorful pictures. I would also appreciate a floor plan with measurements. Between the two designs, I would choose the "U" shape. The island becomes too small, leaving limited workspace. The passage created by the island solution acts as a shortcut, which causes more drawbacks than it adds convenience.
kbt09 schrieb:
I find the sofa placement counterproductive because it encloses the space again. That was also my thought regarding the sofa shown. However, there are definitely furniture pieces that can make such placement look very attractive.
wiltshire schrieb:
My choice between the two designs would be the "U". The island is too small,Well, the room is 436 cm (14 ft 3 in) wide, with a 60 cm (24 in) L-shaped section at the bottom, two 100 cm (39 in) passages, leaving an island width of 170 cm (67 in). Given the total room length of 701 cm (23 ft), the island could easily be 120 cm (47 in) deep. The line on the right side is 60 cm (24 in), with 110 cm (43 in) clearance to the island, and the island itself 120 cm (47 in) deep, leaving about 410 cm (13 ft 5 in) on the left for the dining table. If the table is placed as shown in the floor plan and the sofa isn’t used as a room divider, it results in a well-organized space.For standard cabinet sizes, I would choose four 80 cm (31 in) base cabinets for the island, two on each side. This provides a large work surface, plenty of storage, and keeps everything in the kitchen accessible from two directions.
kbt09 schrieb:
I find the sofa placement counterproductive because it encloses the room again. We agree with that. The planner just drew it like this for now. What we are imagining is more of a chaise longue, but facing away from the room (more like mirrored).
Regarding the kitchen: This is the current plan. The exact dimensions of the island are not yet finalized.
Purple indicates slightly too much space, and green slightly too little. I would reduce the purple space by about 20–30 cm (8–12 inches), to a maximum of 110 cm (43 inches), and increase the green space by about 20–30 cm (8–12 inches), to a minimum of 90 cm (35 inches). In my opinion, the left edge of the island does not need to align exactly with the end of the lower L-shape section. Therefore, I would rather emphasize the lower section more and, for example, change the 90 cm (35 inches) base cabinet to a 100 cm (39 inches) one. Or, since it’s visible anyway, possibly add a 15 cm (6 inches) cabinet with a door to the left of the dishwasher for something like a towel holder. This would also save a panel or support to the left of the dishwasher.
W
wiltshire2 Feb 2025 21:51kbt09 schrieb:
Purple indicates slightly too much space and green a bit too little. I would reduce the purple by about 20 - 30 cm (8 - 12 inches), max 110 cm (43 inches), and increase the green by about 20 - 30 cm (8 - 12 inches), minimum 90 cm (35 inches). In my opinion, the left edge of the island does not need to align exactly with the end of the lower L-leg. I completely agree with the assessment of the distances and the idea of letting go of the imagined alignment—if it is to be the island.
Depending on how you cook, and since cooking is often a shared activity, especially when others are already sitting at the table, I would consider placing the cooktop on the island to allow cooking facing into the room.
I find a 160cm (63 inches) wide island too small. With an 80cm (31.5 inches) or 90cm (35.5 inches) cooktop, there isn’t much space left on either side, which affects the cabinet layout. Nowadays, cooktop extraction systems like Bora are popular in islands, which also reduces the storage space in the base cabinets.
A large island like that is great for baking cookies or pizza, hosting guest buffets, and so on, especially with three children and a family.
A large island like that is great for baking cookies or pizza, hosting guest buffets, and so on, especially with three children and a family.
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