ᐅ Feedback on Our Floor Plan Idea, Small Building Plot

Bamue89 schrieb:
I’m mainly referring to the heat in the bedroom. I just noticed there’s a roof terrace attached, which I hadn’t seen before o.o ?! Anyway, since you have a larger glass area on the south side, that also means the room will warm up more strongly. Also, the bed is placed right in front of this window wall. I also always had a balcony by the bedroom... never used it, it just looks nice but that’s the truth. No one goes out onto the balcony in a bathrobe in the morning. Besides, this nice part of the house becomes completely private, or do you want your guests to always walk through the bedroom to enjoy the great view? The room is 27 sqm (290 sq ft), so maybe there’s a way to do something smart with a partition wall. I’m just thinking how it could be done, but that’s also a matter of taste. Just noticed it now!

Yes, that’s true. That’s why we are also planning various thermal protection measures (glass, shutters, roller blinds). But it will probably still get warm in midsummer in Hamburg (!).

We are aware that we will probably rarely use the balcony. However, we needed the balcony area because we want to build almost like a two-story house, and under Hamburg building regulations, a second story is only allowed up to 66% of the ground floor area.

Bamue89 schrieb:

Fireplace.

For me, there are generally three options.

You could do without the door between dining and living areas. Just make a passage there and use a fireplace with a see-through combustion chamber. The advantage is that even when dining with guests, for example during a festive meal, the fireplace fire can be enjoyed.

Another option would be to install a three-sided fireplace at the end of the partition wall between the living and dining areas, which would extend somewhat further into the living space.

The third option would be near the stair wall in the living room. The disadvantage is less space for furniture there, but more space in the current location and possibly better options for positioning the audio furniture, considering the entrance and living room issue I mentioned earlier!

Good ideas, we will think about them, especially the first and second options. However, that would mean giving up the possibility to close off the dining/kitchen and living areas (for noise, smells, etc.). The third option is also possible but would likely mean needing two seating areas (one in front of the fireplace and one probably more to the southwest) to use the space effectively. Also, the fireplace would no longer be a focal point and would kind of get lost.

Thank you already for your very concrete suggestions.

Lassemann schrieb:
The third option would also be possible, but it would mean that we’d probably need two seating areas (one in front of the fireplace and another likely more southwest) to fill the room effectively. Next to that, the fireplace would no longer be the focal point, it would kind of get lost.

Your living space isn’t so large that you would need two seating areas. With your preferred sofa arrangement, someone always has to turn their head, whether to watch TV or look at the fireplace. The central position also takes up quite a bit of floor space (for example, between the sofa and the window).
Regarding your point about coziness (the cave effect), which also applies when you consider the bedroom/bed situation on second thought: everyone is differently sensitive. It would bother me (I can tell from floor plans what wouldn’t feel comfortable in reality), but others might not understand what I mean because they don’t share that feeling at all.
For some, size is more important than functionality.
It’s like dirt: what is a no-go for one person may go unnoticed by another.

For me, the design wouldn’t be ideal, but it’s not the worst—it’s livable and comfortable as long as you don’t get the feeling of “falling out” of the rooms.

Regarding other comments, I also noticed that there is no storage room. However, you could possibly compensate for that with the utility area you have.
We have our laundry/utility room next to the kitchen, with all the stuff you need daily or yearly (from various cooking appliances to food storage and cleaning supplies). I go in there so often that during the darker months, I installed a small LED lamp near the door that activates with motion, because constantly switching the main light on and off is annoying. Most of the time, though, it’s just to put a bottle in or take one out.

I don’t mind having a guest room in the basement at all, as long as it gets enough daylight.
Still, I probably would have moved the office down there and the guest room to the ground floor, so that a shower on the ground floor has its justification. A little insider info: I’m about to have foot surgery and will need to stay in bed for two weeks, only able to get up for the bathroom. We’re already discussing whether to buy a bed for the small guest room (currently it only has a fold-out chair) and whether I should stay there or in the upstairs bedroom. Climbing stairs won’t be an option… so, if you have the space and budget, I would always find it useful to have this combination (bed and shower) on the ground floor.
Have you overlooked this?

Regards, Yvonne

Hello,

I don’t like the alcoves in the children’s rooms at all. My children have rearranged their rooms several times already because they like to sleep in different places now and then, which isn’t possible with these alcoves. Also, they are not wide enough. A teenager would prefer to lie in a 140cm (55 inch) wide bed. Besides, kids in their teenage years spend a lot of time lying in bed, surfing on their phones, reading, or listening to music. It’s not very comfortable in such a nook.

Best regards,
Sabine

I just thought of the following regarding this matter:

Lassemann schrieb:
That’s more than enough (2 or 3 units at 60cm (24 inches) each). Since when do people fill children's rooms with wardrobes? Note: Besides the children’s bedrooms, there is also a playroom (where all bulky items will be kept).

Since when do children like to share?

For children up to around 8 years old, it might work if toys are kept in the playroom downstairs. Also, a small wardrobe is sufficient. A desk is unnecessary until about age 5.
But the chance of getting conjoined twins is slim. The older the children are and the larger the age gap between them, the more they become individuals (hopefully). That means: their own toys and equipment, privacy with personal belongings, and at least a 150cm (59 inch) wide wardrobe, plus a bookcase like a Billy shelf; avid readers need more. A dresser with a TV, a desk with a PC...

This came to mind when reading Sabine’s post.

Best regards, Yvonne, child-free but with plenty of experience seeing teenagers’ rooms

Hello,

a brief update:

We have been building since March 11, and ten days ago, we held the topping-out ceremony in great weather. Almost 40 neighbors and about 15–20 children attended. It was lively but also very enjoyable. Since we are doing an infill development, our neighborhood is quite mixed, with older generations as well as many families with children.

The house is really starting to take shape now. The electrician and plumber have already started. The gables are finished, and the roof will be covered next week. We have decided on very dark brown Jacobi roof tiles. The front door is also chosen now (a classic wooden panel door in English dark green-black).

A few notes to the recent “critics,” which I just properly read, apologies.

@Curly/Sabine: It’s a matter of taste! By the way, the niches are 1.20 m (4 feet) deep, but a 1.40 m (4 feet 7 inches) bed would fit very well in the niche (up to the door or the window). Regardless, both rooms offer other layout options. P.S.: I had a similar niche in my room at my parents’ house, and I loved it....

@Yvonne: Regarding the living room, yes, it’s a matter of taste. By the way, a friend of ours has a very similar living room layout to the one we now have (no further changes made), and I cannot confirm that the living room is not cozy, nor that there is a feeling of "falling out." On the contrary, we found it very comfortable (probably also depending on the furnishings) and somehow very spacious. By the way, we don’t have to turn our heads. The TV will be placed to the right of the fireplace.

Regarding your well-intentioned comments on the children’s rooms, I am honestly a bit surprised that you, without children yourself, think you know what and how much our children would need or want. Anyway, everything you describe fits in each of the children’s rooms, including toys. The playroom is intended for bulky items (indoor trampoline, ride-on cars, large play store, table tennis table later). And if they don’t want to play there, well, then they can play in their bedrooms and/or in the gallery, or in the 1,200 m² (13,000 sq ft) garden (sorry, just had to say that). I believe they will actually have above-average space to become true individuals. ;-9

Good luck and see you here again soon.

Lassemann

Lassemann schrieb:
A few more comments for the recent "critics," I just read them properly, sorry.

Yes, it’s a pity that well-intended advice is no longer being read.

Lassemann schrieb:
Regarding your well-meaning comments about the children's rooms, I have to say I’m a bit surprised that you, without having children yourself, think you know what and how much our kids need and where.

Well, I deliberately chose that statement: I don’t need (young) children myself to know that they eventually stop playing. So, you actually know just as little.
My knowledge comes from other sources, but that’s not important here and now!

P.S. Congratulations on your future home