ᐅ Floor plan: Single-family house approximately 170 m² plus a secondary dwelling unit (e.g., in-law suite or granny flat) of about 75 m² in planning

Hello everyone,

My family and I are currently planning our new home and would like to share our current floor plan draft with you.
We are still in the planning phase and welcome honest, constructive feedback – critical comments, suggestions for room layout, or hints on anything we might have overlooked are very much appreciated.
Our goal is a family-friendly, sustainable house with a separate apartment for the parents-in-law, one that suits us long-term and is highly energy-efficient.
Thank you in advance for your assessments and suggestions!

Framework Conditions

Development plan / restrictions:
Section 34 of the Federal Building Code (no classic development plan; neighborhood development is decisive).
Single-family houses with gable or hipped roofs are permitted (currently clarifying if a hipped roof is allowed).
Plot size:
Approx. 1,000 m² (2,710 sq ft) (parcel 440/8).
Slope:
Slight southern slope, elevation difference approx. 0.8 m (2.6 ft).
Planned building height approx. 0.5 m (1.6 ft) above street level (similar to the neighbor). The rest of the garden shall be as level as possible by adding fill.
Site coverage ratio:
Not explicitly specified, compliant with Section 34 – adapted to neighboring buildings (approx. 0.35 realistic).
Floor area ratio (FAR):
Also Section 34-compliant, oriented on neighboring houses with two full stories.
Boundary setbacks:
Distances according to the State Building Code of Baden-Württemberg, minimum 3 m (10 ft). Garage on the boundary allowed.
Number of parking spaces:
2 car parking spaces + double garage (6 × 6 m (20 × 20 ft)) + optional adjacent extension (3 × 3 m (10 × 10 ft)) for bicycles/workshop.
Number of stories:
Ground floor + upper floor (apartment integrated on the ground floor, separate entrance).
Roof style:
Preferred hipped roof. Clarification still pending – hipped roofs exist in the wider area; immediate neighbors currently only have gable roofs.
Architectural style:
Modern interpretation of a classic single-family house – clean lines, warm appearance, plaster facade with wood/stone accents on the upper floor.
Orientation:
Living area facing south/southwest, main terrace facing the garden (south side).
Maximum heights / limits:
Neighboring houses approx. 7.5 – 8.5 m (25 – 28 ft) ridge height → to be aligned accordingly.
Additional requirements:
KfW 40+ standard (aiming for a self-sufficient house).

Owners’ Requirements

Style / roof type / building type:
Single-family house with a separate apartment, hipped or shallow gable roof, modern architecture with a family-friendly character.
Basement / stories:
No basement (due to cost reasons) ☹, two full stories.
Number of occupants / age:
4 persons (parents, 2 children – ages 1 and 5) + 2 persons in the apartment (parents-in-law, 60+).
Room requirements on the ground floor:

• Open living/dining area with direct access to the terrace
• Kitchen with island, pantry (planned as garage extension)
• Guest toilet
• Utility room + technical room
• Apartment approx. 75 m² (807 sq ft) (living/dining area, bedroom, bathroom, storage room, office/guest room)

Room requirements on the upper floor:

• Parents’ bedroom with walk-in closet
• 2 children’s rooms
• Bathroom with shower and bathtub
• Second bathroom with shower
• 2 offices (home offices) – alternatively one could be on the ground floor

Office:
Intended for regular home office use.
Overnight guests per year:
Approximately 2–4 visits.
Architecture:
Open, bright rooms with large windows; focus on family life.
Construction method:
Modern prefabricated construction (timber frame, e.g. Kampa).
Kitchen / dining area:
Open kitchen with island, at least 6 dining seats.
Fireplace:
Would be nice but currently not feasible cost-wise.
Music / TV / multimedia:
TV wall in the living area.
Balcony / roof terrace:
Possibly a small balcony facing south (still open, cost issue – possibly just reserved for now).
Garage / carport:
Double garage with sectional door + technical module (workshop/bicycles).
Utility garden / greenhouse:
No concrete plans yet.
Other wishes / special features / daily routine:

• Parents work a lot from home
• Apartment should be accessible and autonomous
• Large, protected garden area as a shared meeting place

House Design

Designed by:
In-house planning with support from the builder regarding legal requirements.
What do you like most? Why?

• Open, bright living area with nice southwest orientation
• Separation of family and apartment areas without losing overall aesthetic
• Functional floor plan with clear traffic routes and large window fronts

What do you dislike? Why?

• Some room sizes and window arrangements still don’t feel quite right
• Ground floor sometimes feels a bit tight
• No more space for a pantry in the main house, therefore planned in the garage extension
• Upper floor corridor might be a bit long
• Kitchen possibly too open to the living area, too close to the dining area.

Cost estimate according to the builder:
Approx. €800,000 (house including apartment, turnkey, excluding exterior landscaping).
Personal price limit for house including fittings:
Approx. €700,000.
Preferred heating technology:
Air-to-water heat pump with photovoltaic system, battery storage, and heat recovery (energy package), underfloor heating.


If you had to give up …

Could you do without:

• Balcony
• Second shower bathroom on the upper floor
• Basement (already excluded in the planning)
• Straight staircase

Can’t do without:

• Separate apartment
• Open living/dining area with plenty of light
• Sufficient storage space (utility room, pantry, storage rooms) – since no basement
• 2 children’s rooms

Why is the design the way it is?

Many ideas come from catalog homes by Kampa and Luxhaus, supplemented by our own adaptations.
Originally the design was much more elaborate – including more exterior accents (e.g. bay window in the dining room, larger ground floor footprint).
After the initial cost estimate, we simplified the concept to a simple, square floor plan to reach a feasible price range. Now we are waiting for a more precise cost estimate.

Special features:

• Accessible integrated apartment
• Energy-efficient overall concept
• Modern yet cozy design

Conclusion

We really appreciate your feedback – on both functional points (traffic flow, proportions, room sizes, etc.) and design aspects.
Every comment helps us tailor the house even better to our needs.
Thank you in advance for your time and advice!

Best regards,
Sascha & family

Good evening,

Regarding the balcony: When planning, keep in mind the costs of the fall protection. This can quickly add up to 750–900 euros per running meter (approximately 230–275 USD per linear foot), including installation. On top of that, there is the substructure and the surface covering. These are often listed as separate items in the cost estimate. I had the waterproofing, including the parapet and covering, done by the developer/general contractor for warranty reasons.

The roof windows are not shown, or is there a Nosferatu atmosphere in the master bedroom and bathroom? The children have windows.

What is the purpose of the clearance U-shape above in the hallway near the bathroom? Is the heating manifold cabinet going to be installed there?

The window in the utility room for the granny flat can probably be omitted, although I find it a bit odd.

Is there no other way to solve the issue with the huge driveway? Just the materials (stone/subbase/shipping) already cost a small fortune. I wouldn’t want to prepare the concrete for the headrests there. (Even if that will come later)

Delicosa schrieb:

Good evening,

Regarding the balcony: When planning, keep in mind the costs for fall protection. These can quickly add up to 750–900 euros per running meter including installation. In addition, there are the substructure and the surface covering. These items are often listed in the bill of quantities. I had the waterproofing, including the parapet and its cover, done by the developer/general contractor back then because of the warranty.

The roof windows are not shown—are the master bedroom and bathroom meant to be like Nosferatu’s lair? The children have windows.

What is the purpose of the setback U above in the hallway near the bathroom? Is that where the heating manifold cabinet will be installed?

The window in the utility room of the granny flat can probably be omitted, although I find it a bit odd.

Is there no alternative to the large driveway? Just for the material (stone/subbase/shipping) you’re already spending a small fortune. I wouldn’t want to prepare the concrete for the headrests there. (Even if that comes later)

- Yes, the balcony costs are known, unfortunately.
- Sorry, I must have accidentally used an old screenshot without the windows in the upper floor xD I’ll check tomorrow and update it.
- That’s a door in the utility room to allow access from the granny flat as well, since the parents-in-law would also use it as a laundry room.
- So far, no better solution has emerged without compromising other aspects.
- The setback U’s are recesses for shelves/lighting to create a more homely atmosphere.

SaschaG. schrieb:

Sorry, I accidentally used a screenshot of an old version without windows on the upper floor xD I’ll check it tomorrow and update it.

No worries. It’s not critical here.

SaschaG. schrieb:

The clearance U-shape cutouts are for shelves/lighting to create a cozy atmosphere.

I’d leave such details out of the planning for now until there’s a solid overall design. Then you can fine-tune.

SaschaG. schrieb:

That is a door to the utility room, allowing access from the granny flat as well, since the in-laws would also use that space as a laundry/utility room.

What exactly do they plan to do in there?

Anyway, I’ll keep it brief: the staircase is too short, the layout of the upper floor seems random and poorly oriented—no one needs south-facing offices. The children’s rooms would be better placed there, but with thoughtful room sizes. The bedroom width could be improved; as you can see in the walk-in closet, standard wardrobes don’t fit, and doors should be planned to allow usable furniture space too. The hallway is unnecessarily large and simply dark.

On the ground floor, it’s unacceptable for a household of four (with children) that when dressing, you’re basically standing in the kitchen, and in winter, entering the house disturbs the dough left to rise. The pantry as an extension adds nothing—it’s just tacked on. The indicated passage to the kitchen only causes hectic movement and disruptions in the wrong place. What are those super shallow shelves in there? Is that intentional?

The living area has the wrong dimensions: you feel cramped rather than comfortably sitting as a family of four watching TV.

Granny flat: 1.90 meters (6 feet 3 inches) for a bathroom is simply not workable. With the proposed fixtures, it’s impossible. A decent bathtub is 80cm wide (31.5 inches). A washbasin needs a false wall behind it, and the seniors will definitely appreciate a barrier-free, spacious bathroom without obstacles around the sanitary fixtures.

The open plan area layout with the office door right where a TV cabinet might be, and… oh I see: the TV is planned so that from the sofa you look into the hallway and bedroom… no, that’s not desirable, it’s not done like that, it’s just not well thought out.

Also, at 3.40 meters (11 feet 2 inches), the bedroom is rather tight for the age group. For example, the headboard should be on the long side, and avoid placing windows behind the head—it can be uncomfortable for seniors.

Okay, that turned out longer than expected.

Correction: is south at the bottom? That doesn’t change much of what was written. I also think the approach with the long driveway is wrong, as @Delicosa points out.

If the builder is already 100,000 over budget, is there any point in discussing the floor plan here? Make it smaller and start over.