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
S
Slammer09091 Feb 2015 20:24I think you could also tell those who want to help me if you notice something. Or directly refer to one or the other design, like saying, no, this or that is actually worse... I just don’t want to pick up the wrong ideas.
But I do think the design from kbt09 and mine are already quite similar. I could also make the living room narrower.
I agree about the 6x6m (20x20 ft) rooms. Let’s drop the topic of whether they should be square or not. A 4m (13 ft) wide, rectangular living room is definitely better.
You like the 339 dining area and also the 384 for the lounge area. Those were exactly like that in my design too, so I’ll translate that as: also good!
And you tend to nitpick every word to throw it back at me. The example about the sink was just that—an example. I can’t always explain everything in great detail.
It’s nicer for a lifetime, with every single view out the window, to look at your own front garden and possibly the side street than at a dead, dark 3m (10 ft) wide strip of boundary. That’s why we decided against such a variant, and why the kitchen should be on the west side.
The pantry should only be on the west side if necessary. But for us, it is necessary. The kitchen kind of “has” to be on the west, and the pantry is right next to the kitchen, so the pantry is on the west as well. In our opinion, that works. Currently, we have a small storage room that we use as a pantry and drink storage; it’s on the west and keeps cool enough. This is based on our direct experience.
Many people have a front door with a carport in front. They also have a second small entrance, like a utility room. On the other side of that is the path into the house or kitchen. For us, it’s exactly the same—only that you enter from the garage. What’s so unusual about that? Besides, we want to store coats and shoes there.
You can interpret everything in a negative or positive way. It’s clear which perspective everyone here takes.
Almost the same aspects are either bad for both of us or good for both of us, I think. For example, with your layout, to enter the pantry, I first have to open the kitchen door. I don’t like that.
As I mentioned, I’m still reviewing the staircase arrangement. If it’s open at the bottom, the hallway will immediately feel more spacious.
Positive about this version: the ground floor bathroom can move to the left, the pantry can move to the left, and there’s more space between the kitchen island and the chairs.
In your kitchen, the chairs are drawn in the extended position, but then I always have the disadvantage of having to squeeze around them. In my design, the only tight spot is between the right side of the kitchen island and the back of the chair—and only if someone is sitting there.
When guests are over, you can place or serve everything on the kitchen island (covering things up if it gets messy). People just need to get up, go through the sliding door, and help themselves to food. That’s something we really like about the kitchen island. This actually works in both of our layouts, don’t get me wrong.
All in all, I’ve played through dozens of scenarios and I’m fine with the floor plan as it is. At least better than with your suggestions. Although it could certainly be better, but that hasn’t happened here yet.
But I do think the design from kbt09 and mine are already quite similar. I could also make the living room narrower.
I agree about the 6x6m (20x20 ft) rooms. Let’s drop the topic of whether they should be square or not. A 4m (13 ft) wide, rectangular living room is definitely better.
You like the 339 dining area and also the 384 for the lounge area. Those were exactly like that in my design too, so I’ll translate that as: also good!
And you tend to nitpick every word to throw it back at me. The example about the sink was just that—an example. I can’t always explain everything in great detail.
It’s nicer for a lifetime, with every single view out the window, to look at your own front garden and possibly the side street than at a dead, dark 3m (10 ft) wide strip of boundary. That’s why we decided against such a variant, and why the kitchen should be on the west side.
The pantry should only be on the west side if necessary. But for us, it is necessary. The kitchen kind of “has” to be on the west, and the pantry is right next to the kitchen, so the pantry is on the west as well. In our opinion, that works. Currently, we have a small storage room that we use as a pantry and drink storage; it’s on the west and keeps cool enough. This is based on our direct experience.
Many people have a front door with a carport in front. They also have a second small entrance, like a utility room. On the other side of that is the path into the house or kitchen. For us, it’s exactly the same—only that you enter from the garage. What’s so unusual about that? Besides, we want to store coats and shoes there.
You can interpret everything in a negative or positive way. It’s clear which perspective everyone here takes.
Almost the same aspects are either bad for both of us or good for both of us, I think. For example, with your layout, to enter the pantry, I first have to open the kitchen door. I don’t like that.
As I mentioned, I’m still reviewing the staircase arrangement. If it’s open at the bottom, the hallway will immediately feel more spacious.
Positive about this version: the ground floor bathroom can move to the left, the pantry can move to the left, and there’s more space between the kitchen island and the chairs.
In your kitchen, the chairs are drawn in the extended position, but then I always have the disadvantage of having to squeeze around them. In my design, the only tight spot is between the right side of the kitchen island and the back of the chair—and only if someone is sitting there.
When guests are over, you can place or serve everything on the kitchen island (covering things up if it gets messy). People just need to get up, go through the sliding door, and help themselves to food. That’s something we really like about the kitchen island. This actually works in both of our layouts, don’t get me wrong.
All in all, I’ve played through dozens of scenarios and I’m fine with the floor plan as it is. At least better than with your suggestions. Although it could certainly be better, but that hasn’t happened here yet.
S
Slammer09091 Feb 2015 20:34Plot from the south (not yet at the southern boundary):
You just don’t seem to understand. When creating a floor plan, you can’t simply say that a certain detail or room isn’t good, tweak it a bit, and then assume everything will be fine. Changes always affect the adjacent rooms.
Also, do you really prefer looking at a bare wooden wall from the sofa’s resting spot? Just plant something nicely there—you’ll have to do that anyway.
Regarding the room depth... you’re still planning to place sideboards somewhere, which also limit the seating depth.
For example, I wouldn’t plan a pantry at all anymore but would store those items in the hallway between the garage and the house, saving myself a room that creates awkward corners. By the way, why would you put a small kitchen area in that cloakroom/hallway? I just read that.
And about the kitchen... in my design, it’s a full island with walkways on two sides. Those are the kinds of details I was talking about. You’re not paying attention to the details.
So, what happened with your architect friend?
Also, do you really prefer looking at a bare wooden wall from the sofa’s resting spot? Just plant something nicely there—you’ll have to do that anyway.
Regarding the room depth... you’re still planning to place sideboards somewhere, which also limit the seating depth.
For example, I wouldn’t plan a pantry at all anymore but would store those items in the hallway between the garage and the house, saving myself a room that creates awkward corners. By the way, why would you put a small kitchen area in that cloakroom/hallway? I just read that.
And about the kitchen... in my design, it’s a full island with walkways on two sides. Those are the kinds of details I was talking about. You’re not paying attention to the details.
So, what happened with your architect friend?
S
Slammer09091 Feb 2015 21:00Yes, is having 2 turns that are too tight better than having 1 turn that is too tight?
No offense intended, I just needed to get that off my chest. If the 90cm-110cm (35-43 inches) clearance around is acceptable, then my original version should also have been fine or acceptable. These are the kind of things I mean. It’s all a matter of perspective. From the sofa, there is no window facing north, so I can’t be looking at the fence boards there! When I look south, I see the entire garden. People can interpret what I say negatively, but my thoughts often go in a different direction...
I keep saying this: in my case, the criticism is that I have to go through several doors to reach the kitchen. Others do the same, so it should be just as problematic for them. And there are plenty of other examples, each with their own perspective. You notice subtle differences you prefer, while I like other aspects better, etc.
Regarding the staircase as in your design, I almost find it problematic again. Because when I look at the upper floor, the hallway consumes several more square meters. That roughly balances out my passageway for a central exit to the balcony. So from my perspective, it’s more practical use of space for the same area.
I didn’t know the architect at all beforehand. She is the sister of another colleague. I sent her the zoning plan and everything else necessary, as well as our blueprints. She then made a counterproposal and refined it through a few iterations. However, I realized that due to the distance (Cologne to Wolfsburg), it didn’t make sense to finalize it together with her. The quiet hope was to get a design that would really impress me. That wasn’t the case, but I did like the idea of the staircase and the entrance on the west side (see my blue sketches, which you also criticized). The rest was very similar.
We then agreed on how to proceed, and I paid her based on the hours worked.
No offense intended, I just needed to get that off my chest. If the 90cm-110cm (35-43 inches) clearance around is acceptable, then my original version should also have been fine or acceptable. These are the kind of things I mean. It’s all a matter of perspective. From the sofa, there is no window facing north, so I can’t be looking at the fence boards there! When I look south, I see the entire garden. People can interpret what I say negatively, but my thoughts often go in a different direction...
I keep saying this: in my case, the criticism is that I have to go through several doors to reach the kitchen. Others do the same, so it should be just as problematic for them. And there are plenty of other examples, each with their own perspective. You notice subtle differences you prefer, while I like other aspects better, etc.
Regarding the staircase as in your design, I almost find it problematic again. Because when I look at the upper floor, the hallway consumes several more square meters. That roughly balances out my passageway for a central exit to the balcony. So from my perspective, it’s more practical use of space for the same area.
I didn’t know the architect at all beforehand. She is the sister of another colleague. I sent her the zoning plan and everything else necessary, as well as our blueprints. She then made a counterproposal and refined it through a few iterations. However, I realized that due to the distance (Cologne to Wolfsburg), it didn’t make sense to finalize it together with her. The quiet hope was to get a design that would really impress me. That wasn’t the case, but I did like the idea of the staircase and the entrance on the west side (see my blue sketches, which you also criticized). The rest was very similar.
We then agreed on how to proceed, and I paid her based on the hours worked.
This is a final attempt because, unfortunately, I also find this discussion very pointless.
For example, you planned a peninsula with about 260 cm (100 inches) of space to the right. But there is supposed to be a table with a corner bench there. That means the 260 cm (100 inches) first accommodate the table with the bench, and when the chairs are pushed in, there is actually just under 100 cm (39 inches) of clearance space to the peninsula. But only if the chairs are properly pushed in.
I am planning an island that also serves as seating, with chairs placed at the top right and a main walkway on the left side without chairs, about 105 cm (41 inches) wide, and that in a kitchen that is over 4 square meters smaller.
But that is not really the point.
You say the kitchen is at the top of the plan and that you don’t want to look at the wooden fence on the east while working in the kitchen. I mention that you will be looking there when you sit on the sofa, and then you say you don’t see the wooden fence to the north… do you see what I mean?
For example, you planned a peninsula with about 260 cm (100 inches) of space to the right. But there is supposed to be a table with a corner bench there. That means the 260 cm (100 inches) first accommodate the table with the bench, and when the chairs are pushed in, there is actually just under 100 cm (39 inches) of clearance space to the peninsula. But only if the chairs are properly pushed in.
I am planning an island that also serves as seating, with chairs placed at the top right and a main walkway on the left side without chairs, about 105 cm (41 inches) wide, and that in a kitchen that is over 4 square meters smaller.
But that is not really the point.
You say the kitchen is at the top of the plan and that you don’t want to look at the wooden fence on the east while working in the kitchen. I mention that you will be looking there when you sit on the sofa, and then you say you don’t see the wooden fence to the north… do you see what I mean?
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