ᐅ Floor Plan Design for a Single-Family Home with Approximately 170 m² of Living Space
Created on: 7 Dec 2025 08:54
F
FlynooMHello,
We have been planning our own home for a long time now and finally see the start of construction at the end of the tunnel. I actually have an urgent question about the bathrooms, but I thought you could also take a look at the rest of the floor plan to make sure we don't overlook any details during the detailed planning phase.
We are building on a family property in a “gap” within a four-sided courtyard.
Unfortunately, I can’t provide all the requested information. If something crucial is missing, I would have to look through the documents again.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: approx. 2000 m2 (0.5 acres)
Slope: slight elevation difference between courtyard and garden (approx. 0.5–1 m (1.5–3 ft)), but the house will be built at courtyard level, and only the passage to the garden will have a rise; the terrace will then be about 0.5 m (1.5 ft) lower than the rest of the garden.
Site coverage ratio (floor area ratio): approx. 157 m2 (1690 sq ft)
Stories: 2.5 (2 full floors plus a raised bed level and attic above the bathroom)
Boundary construction: up to the neighbor (but with a narrow passage to the neighbor’s house); otherwise integrated into the four-sided courtyard
Roof type: gable roof, very flat
Style: farmhouse with brick veneer on the facade
Orientation: north-south
House design
Planner: independent architect
Why does the design look like this?
The final design is the result of many compromises and multiple revisions, with which everyone is satisfied. Unfortunately, due to closing the gap in the courtyard and building regulations aimed at preserving the village’s character, we are somewhat restricted, but most issues could still be resolved satisfactorily.
My main question concerns the bathrooms on the upper floor and basement.
I want a masonry walk-in shower in both bathrooms, with a 1 to 2 cm (0.4–0.8 inch) step down to prevent water from running out. The current design is still incorrect: the sauna and shower on the upper floor were switched for better plumbing layout.
The architects recommend a shower entrance at least 60 cm (24 inches) wide and strongly advise a door to prevent water splashing out.
In the basement bathroom: shower length is 143 cm (56 inches) minus 60 cm (24 inches) entrance = 83 cm (33 inches) wall segment
On the upper floor: shower length is about 153 cm (60 inches) minus 60 cm (24 inches) entrance = 93 cm (37 inches) wall segment
I actually don’t want a door. Is the remaining wall enough to act as a splash guard? Do you have experience with how long such a wall must be at minimum to prevent flooding the bathroom? And how narrow can the entrance be? Is it possible to make the sauna smaller?
And regarding the kitchen: do you think the space will be sufficient? We don’t need a huge kitchen, but it should have room for the usual appliances, like a toaster and kettle, and enough countertop workspace.
Thank you very much for your help!
We have been planning our own home for a long time now and finally see the start of construction at the end of the tunnel. I actually have an urgent question about the bathrooms, but I thought you could also take a look at the rest of the floor plan to make sure we don't overlook any details during the detailed planning phase.
We are building on a family property in a “gap” within a four-sided courtyard.
Unfortunately, I can’t provide all the requested information. If something crucial is missing, I would have to look through the documents again.
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: approx. 2000 m2 (0.5 acres)
Slope: slight elevation difference between courtyard and garden (approx. 0.5–1 m (1.5–3 ft)), but the house will be built at courtyard level, and only the passage to the garden will have a rise; the terrace will then be about 0.5 m (1.5 ft) lower than the rest of the garden.
Site coverage ratio (floor area ratio): approx. 157 m2 (1690 sq ft)
Stories: 2.5 (2 full floors plus a raised bed level and attic above the bathroom)
Boundary construction: up to the neighbor (but with a narrow passage to the neighbor’s house); otherwise integrated into the four-sided courtyard
Roof type: gable roof, very flat
Style: farmhouse with brick veneer on the facade
Orientation: north-south
House design
Planner: independent architect
Why does the design look like this?
The final design is the result of many compromises and multiple revisions, with which everyone is satisfied. Unfortunately, due to closing the gap in the courtyard and building regulations aimed at preserving the village’s character, we are somewhat restricted, but most issues could still be resolved satisfactorily.
My main question concerns the bathrooms on the upper floor and basement.
I want a masonry walk-in shower in both bathrooms, with a 1 to 2 cm (0.4–0.8 inch) step down to prevent water from running out. The current design is still incorrect: the sauna and shower on the upper floor were switched for better plumbing layout.
The architects recommend a shower entrance at least 60 cm (24 inches) wide and strongly advise a door to prevent water splashing out.
In the basement bathroom: shower length is 143 cm (56 inches) minus 60 cm (24 inches) entrance = 83 cm (33 inches) wall segment
On the upper floor: shower length is about 153 cm (60 inches) minus 60 cm (24 inches) entrance = 93 cm (37 inches) wall segment
I actually don’t want a door. Is the remaining wall enough to act as a splash guard? Do you have experience with how long such a wall must be at minimum to prevent flooding the bathroom? And how narrow can the entrance be? Is it possible to make the sauna smaller?
And regarding the kitchen: do you think the space will be sufficient? We don’t need a huge kitchen, but it should have room for the usual appliances, like a toaster and kettle, and enough countertop workspace.
Thank you very much for your help!
FlynooM schrieb:
which everyone was happy with.Who exactly does “everyone” refer to? FlynooM schrieb:
do you think the space is enough?For whom? Five people? There isn’t even a tall cabinet for a refrigerator or oven shown. The architect’s drawing is misleading. But you don’t mention anything about you or the house’s residents.Please fill out the questionnaire. You haven’t said whether you cook at home. If you always eat at your parents’ house, the kitchen might be sufficient.
M
MachsSelbst7 Dec 2025 10:29The idea of bunk beds is nice, but keep in mind that children don’t stay 6 years old forever—they won’t want to sleep in a 90cm (35 inch) wide bunk bed until they are 20. At least not all of them...
If you put in a 1.4m (55 inch) wide bed, it will get very tight and the extra headroom won’t help much anymore.
The kitchen... yes, it is really small, especially if it needs to serve 5 people at times. Very little work surface, extremely (!) few cabinets... from the run of units you need to subtract a dishwasher, an oven, and the base cabinet for the sink. That leaves you with two or three 60cm (24 inch) wide drawer cabinets, that’s it.
Extend the run of units around the corner under the window and omit the pantry. I would reduce the seating area for tall cabinets... you have the dining table right next to it, so you don’t need that corner.
There is hardly any space for cabinets or display units in your living room, very, very little wall surface, at least if the seating arrangement stays as shown in the plan.
It’s obvious that these completely straight stairs consume an enormous amount of space. Out of 170m² (1830 sq ft), almost 35m² (375 sq ft) are used up by corridors.
The utility room, guest toilet, and entrance area have no windows. The living room only has one large window. The corridor only has one window downstairs.
This will be quite a dark cave.
The bedroom has only one window, the bathroom has only one window...
If you put in a 1.4m (55 inch) wide bed, it will get very tight and the extra headroom won’t help much anymore.
The kitchen... yes, it is really small, especially if it needs to serve 5 people at times. Very little work surface, extremely (!) few cabinets... from the run of units you need to subtract a dishwasher, an oven, and the base cabinet for the sink. That leaves you with two or three 60cm (24 inch) wide drawer cabinets, that’s it.
Extend the run of units around the corner under the window and omit the pantry. I would reduce the seating area for tall cabinets... you have the dining table right next to it, so you don’t need that corner.
There is hardly any space for cabinets or display units in your living room, very, very little wall surface, at least if the seating arrangement stays as shown in the plan.
It’s obvious that these completely straight stairs consume an enormous amount of space. Out of 170m² (1830 sq ft), almost 35m² (375 sq ft) are used up by corridors.
The utility room, guest toilet, and entrance area have no windows. The living room only has one large window. The corridor only has one window downstairs.
This will be quite a dark cave.
The bedroom has only one window, the bathroom has only one window...
FlynooM schrieb:
We are building on a family-owned plot in a "gap" within a four-sided courtyard.Ah, then you have a fellow in the same situation here, @karl.jonas.What do the axes A, B, C, 1, 2, 3, 4 represent, and which building materials correspond to the somewhat unusual wall thicknesses?
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
My design is rejected for several reasons.
I'll start somewhat unusually from the top: the second level in the bedrooms might be a nice gimmick, but it’s not practical for everyday use, not even for the bed, and I wouldn’t count that area as official usable space. Who makes the beds, shakes them out, or removes crumbs from the bed? Where does the helping hand of mom or dad stay during illness or while reading aloud?
Children have to pass through the parents’ walk-in closet to get to the bathroom. The walk-in closet is also very small. I would move the chimney one meter (about 3 feet) to the right according to the plan, then place the bedroom door and the closet there inside the bedroom. The bedroom has enough space for a long closet. This would ease the whole bathroom situation by creating more space.
No, it is not enough. Ours is 2.00 meters (about 6.5 feet) with an opening in front, but 1.60 meters (about 5 feet) would be sufficient. I wouldn’t even start with a side entrance under 1.0 meter (about 3 feet), then you would need a door in front. Without a door, from 1.30 to 1.40 meters (about 4.3 to 4.6 feet), at least a water-absorbing mat in front is needed. Passageway from 60 to 70 cm (about 2 to 2.3 feet).
Nothing will flood if the shower floor is designed with a slope towards the drain.
You can also leave it out completely!
So: for five people, all residents should be able to reach the toilet quickly and on a short route. Remove the dressing room, use the gained space differently.
On the ground floor, it looks similar: nice living room, everyday kitchen table. Remove the latter and generate many meters of storage and workspace instead. Otherwise, the kitchen is barely usable. It feels like a 60 m² (about 645 sq ft) rental flat for two people.
A lot of hallway space, expensive and poorly usable storage under the stairs, another entrance area nobody needs... overall, a lot of square meters are wasted for something without meaningful use. What is supposed to happen in the hallway that it is planned so large? Only because of open space?
The layout is logical, with living spaces to the south, narrow hallway to the north. The staircase could benefit from a 90-degree spiral turn to create more options on the ground and upper floors. The open space is not really necessary since openness is created by windows at the staircase on the upper floor.
The windows on the east do not add brightness. The kitchen should therefore be opened with windows to the south. It could also be enlarged with a wide bay window.
I'll start somewhat unusually from the top: the second level in the bedrooms might be a nice gimmick, but it’s not practical for everyday use, not even for the bed, and I wouldn’t count that area as official usable space. Who makes the beds, shakes them out, or removes crumbs from the bed? Where does the helping hand of mom or dad stay during illness or while reading aloud?
Children have to pass through the parents’ walk-in closet to get to the bathroom. The walk-in closet is also very small. I would move the chimney one meter (about 3 feet) to the right according to the plan, then place the bedroom door and the closet there inside the bedroom. The bedroom has enough space for a long closet. This would ease the whole bathroom situation by creating more space.
FlynooM schrieb:
Is the remaining wall enough as a splash guard? Do you have experience with how long such a wall should be at minimum so the bathroom doesn’t get flooded? And how narrow can the entrance be?
No, it is not enough. Ours is 2.00 meters (about 6.5 feet) with an opening in front, but 1.60 meters (about 5 feet) would be sufficient. I wouldn’t even start with a side entrance under 1.0 meter (about 3 feet), then you would need a door in front. Without a door, from 1.30 to 1.40 meters (about 4.3 to 4.6 feet), at least a water-absorbing mat in front is needed. Passageway from 60 to 70 cm (about 2 to 2.3 feet).
Nothing will flood if the shower floor is designed with a slope towards the drain.
FlynooM schrieb:
Can the sauna be made smaller?
You can also leave it out completely!
So: for five people, all residents should be able to reach the toilet quickly and on a short route. Remove the dressing room, use the gained space differently.
On the ground floor, it looks similar: nice living room, everyday kitchen table. Remove the latter and generate many meters of storage and workspace instead. Otherwise, the kitchen is barely usable. It feels like a 60 m² (about 645 sq ft) rental flat for two people.
A lot of hallway space, expensive and poorly usable storage under the stairs, another entrance area nobody needs... overall, a lot of square meters are wasted for something without meaningful use. What is supposed to happen in the hallway that it is planned so large? Only because of open space?
The layout is logical, with living spaces to the south, narrow hallway to the north. The staircase could benefit from a 90-degree spiral turn to create more options on the ground and upper floors. The open space is not really necessary since openness is created by windows at the staircase on the upper floor.
The windows on the east do not add brightness. The kitchen should therefore be opened with windows to the south. It could also be enlarged with a wide bay window.
G
Gerddieter7 Dec 2025 21:01Wow – whenever I see this "rounded corner," my personal worst architect nightmares come back....
This is exactly what we were supposed to get as well....
It might not be fair – maybe it suits you perfectly – sorry!
This is exactly what we were supposed to get as well....
It might not be fair – maybe it suits you perfectly – sorry!
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