ᐅ Single-family house floor plan, approximately 200 sqm without a basement – assessment
Created on: 14 Dec 2014 10:37
S
Slammer0909
Hello everyone,
I have been following this forum for some time now, looking at other threads as well as their floor plans and feedback.
My wife and I are already in contact with a construction company, and the floor plan is roughly finalized. I also contributed to the design of the ground floor.
However, I am not satisfied with the layout of the upper floor because you have to walk through the dressing area to reach the bedroom.
I have been planning and moving walls around for about a year now, and I am starting to get somewhat "blind" to the design.
I would really appreciate any constructive feedback, both positive and negative, on the floor plan.
The rooms are quite large, but we prefer it that way (child’s room about 20sqm (215 sq ft), etc.).
Originally, we wanted a full basement, but due to the groundwater level, this is no longer possible.
That is why the rooms are arranged around the garage, with a large utility room including a cloakroom on the ground floor, and a laundry room on the upper floor.
The site plan including the property boundary is provided just to help visualize the dimensions of the plot.
Attached are the floor plans.
Thank you in advance.
Best regards,
Mathias
I have been following this forum for some time now, looking at other threads as well as their floor plans and feedback.
My wife and I are already in contact with a construction company, and the floor plan is roughly finalized. I also contributed to the design of the ground floor.
However, I am not satisfied with the layout of the upper floor because you have to walk through the dressing area to reach the bedroom.
I have been planning and moving walls around for about a year now, and I am starting to get somewhat "blind" to the design.
I would really appreciate any constructive feedback, both positive and negative, on the floor plan.
The rooms are quite large, but we prefer it that way (child’s room about 20sqm (215 sq ft), etc.).
Originally, we wanted a full basement, but due to the groundwater level, this is no longer possible.
That is why the rooms are arranged around the garage, with a large utility room including a cloakroom on the ground floor, and a laundry room on the upper floor.
The site plan including the property boundary is provided just to help visualize the dimensions of the plot.
Attached are the floor plans.
Thank you in advance.
Best regards,
Mathias
So north is on the left? So south would be on the right and west at the bottom?
What surrounds the property on all sides? Maybe try drawing a sketch.
So the floor plan does not reflect your current planning status. For example, the kitchen. Are you planning to completely do without the fireplace?
If you’re considering moving the bedroom into the guest room, the bedroom dimensions are incorrect. Try placing a double bed with accurate external measurements there. Also, what happens to the upper floor then? What is the reasoning behind having the bedroom on the ground floor?
Have you already been in contact with an architect during the planning process? How is the construction being planned? Design and build, general contractor, or individual contracts—what is intended?
Coming home scenario... you don’t always arrive by car.
Generally, I would orient children’s rooms more towards the south or west rather than the master bedroom. For example, both children’s rooms could be placed facing south on the upper floor. That way, both would have equal balcony access. Also, child 2 would avoid having a dark room.
Are there any elevations or renderings of your design available yet?
What surrounds the property on all sides? Maybe try drawing a sketch.
So the floor plan does not reflect your current planning status. For example, the kitchen. Are you planning to completely do without the fireplace?
If you’re considering moving the bedroom into the guest room, the bedroom dimensions are incorrect. Try placing a double bed with accurate external measurements there. Also, what happens to the upper floor then? What is the reasoning behind having the bedroom on the ground floor?
Have you already been in contact with an architect during the planning process? How is the construction being planned? Design and build, general contractor, or individual contracts—what is intended?
Coming home scenario... you don’t always arrive by car.
Generally, I would orient children’s rooms more towards the south or west rather than the master bedroom. For example, both children’s rooms could be placed facing south on the upper floor. That way, both would have equal balcony access. Also, child 2 would avoid having a dark room.
Are there any elevations or renderings of your design available yet?
S
Slammer090914 Dec 2014 13:52The issue with the children's rooms (one arranged this way and one that way) also bothers us. This simply came from the architect since I only specified the layout for the ground floor.
In the party room, there will be a large slot car track, which I will use with many friends, sometimes late into the evening during the week. For that reason, having a second staircase might make sense, and it keeps that area more separated from the rest of the house. It also doesn't add that much to the overall cost.
However, the other criticism of the ground floor is more important to me. Looking at it from a different perspective, I can understand the objections.
I would make the kitchen island narrower; there will still be at least 80cm (31 inches) of clearance to walk through. Still, the route for bringing in groceries is long, which is true as well.
The exterior door will be at least on the far left side unless the room has to be removed entirely due to the site coverage ratio.
On the east side, there will be standard-height windows instead of floor-to-ceiling ones. Because of the unfortunately narrow plot, we have to place the building close to the eastern boundary.
What I didn’t realize is that if I place the garage on the boundary, I’m not allowed to have a balcony or terrace with a 1m (3.3 ft) setback from the boundary, as the architect suggested. That would be problematic, of course.
Best regards
In the party room, there will be a large slot car track, which I will use with many friends, sometimes late into the evening during the week. For that reason, having a second staircase might make sense, and it keeps that area more separated from the rest of the house. It also doesn't add that much to the overall cost.
However, the other criticism of the ground floor is more important to me. Looking at it from a different perspective, I can understand the objections.
I would make the kitchen island narrower; there will still be at least 80cm (31 inches) of clearance to walk through. Still, the route for bringing in groceries is long, which is true as well.
The exterior door will be at least on the far left side unless the room has to be removed entirely due to the site coverage ratio.
On the east side, there will be standard-height windows instead of floor-to-ceiling ones. Because of the unfortunately narrow plot, we have to place the building close to the eastern boundary.
What I didn’t realize is that if I place the garage on the boundary, I’m not allowed to have a balcony or terrace with a 1m (3.3 ft) setback from the boundary, as the architect suggested. That would be problematic, of course.
Best regards
S
Slammer090914 Dec 2014 14:04Do you have any specific suggestions on how I could improve it? I really like the front door in the northwest corner visually, so I would want to keep it.
The original plan was to have the entrance centrally on the west side with a large gable / Friesian gable. But since we want the living room and kitchen facing south and also want all rooms (including the utility room) to have windows facing outside, none of that worked out.
The garage is quite bulky. As mentioned, the room to the left of the garage might be removed again. Then the garage would no longer be as big as a single-family house, but rather the size of a double garage plus a storage room and a passageway to the house.
The original plan was to have the entrance centrally on the west side with a large gable / Friesian gable. But since we want the living room and kitchen facing south and also want all rooms (including the utility room) to have windows facing outside, none of that worked out.
The garage is quite bulky. As mentioned, the room to the left of the garage might be removed again. Then the garage would no longer be as big as a single-family house, but rather the size of a double garage plus a storage room and a passageway to the house.
Unfortunately, I only see improvements that actually make things worse.
Especially as you get older and mobility becomes more limited, you can’t really place a large double bed in the corner of the room. That’s not a practical solution.
And where is the washing machine supposed to go? In the utility room, right? And then you expect to dry clothes on an uncovered balcony on the first floor?
Are there already occupied properties to your right? How far are the houses roughly from your property boundary?
Have you already received a cost estimate for the construction? There seem to be quite a few cost drivers included.
EDIT:
I would suggest starting from scratch, defining the room requirements clearly, and then redesigning.
Especially as you get older and mobility becomes more limited, you can’t really place a large double bed in the corner of the room. That’s not a practical solution.
And where is the washing machine supposed to go? In the utility room, right? And then you expect to dry clothes on an uncovered balcony on the first floor?
Are there already occupied properties to your right? How far are the houses roughly from your property boundary?
Have you already received a cost estimate for the construction? There seem to be quite a few cost drivers included.
EDIT:
I would suggest starting from scratch, defining the room requirements clearly, and then redesigning.
S
Slammer090914 Dec 2014 14:24I have marked the neighboring houses on the plan. The area is fully built up around us; we are building in a gap between existing buildings.
If we need to move into the ground floor temporarily, the dryer and washing machine will go into the utility room. Laundry will then be hung either in the garden or in the utility room. It won’t necessarily be carried back upstairs.
We have already tried having everything on one level several times... but we never really manage to finish it properly. Now that it’s confirmed there won’t be a basement, this is the architect’s first draft.
I haven’t received any price quotes yet.
Looking at many other floor plans of this size, there is always something missing. Either a larger utility room with space for coats and storage, which also serves as a passageway from the garage, or a study that can be converted into a bedroom, or other features.
If we need to move into the ground floor temporarily, the dryer and washing machine will go into the utility room. Laundry will then be hung either in the garden or in the utility room. It won’t necessarily be carried back upstairs.
We have already tried having everything on one level several times... but we never really manage to finish it properly. Now that it’s confirmed there won’t be a basement, this is the architect’s first draft.
I haven’t received any price quotes yet.
Looking at many other floor plans of this size, there is always something missing. Either a larger utility room with space for coats and storage, which also serves as a passageway from the garage, or a study that can be converted into a bedroom, or other features.
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