ᐅ Floor Plan Assistance: 216 sqm Single-Family Home with Granny Flat and Double Garage

Created on: 28 Feb 2022 13:59

AHLK2022

Hello everyone,
We have found a house near Frankfurt/Main where construction is about to begin. It is from a developer. Currently, there is an old house on the property which is being completely renovated. This will be converted into 3 condominiums. Our house will be a single-family home at the back with about 216 sqm (2,325 sq ft).
Two garages need to be integrated into the house, plus one parking space that we can purchase additionally.

Regarding the floor plan, apart from the external walls (a line with property boundary construction and 3.5 m (11.5 ft) to the neighbor) and the double garage, we have complete freedom. We have already modified the floor plan as we want to prepare the upper floor for potential rental at some point (an external staircase will probably not be approved). Hence the second internal staircase.

Basically, we are wondering how to best use the ground floor. Somehow I find it a bit small for cooking/living/dining. (Although I cannot verify the square meter figures, because based on the external dimensions and some calculations it should be about 49 sqm (527 sq ft) instead of approximately 44 sqm (474 sq ft), but I don’t know if the staircase is excluded).
Where is the best place to put a couch?

We also have questions about possible optimizations or mistakes we might have made. Does this all make sense? The architect implemented all of our requests without questioning whether they are practical or sensible. That makes us uncertain.

No basement, one garage for bicycles, and otherwise one room will be sacrificed.
We would like a kitchen island 🙂

The turnkey price is 769,000.
Thanks for your feedback!

Development plan/restrictions
Plot size 290 sqm (3,122 sq ft)
Slope no
Floor area ratio unknown
Building coverage ratio unknown
Building envelope, building line and boundary
Boundary construction see pictures
Number of parking spaces DG + parking space
Number of storeys 2 full + attic
Requirements from the homeowners
Number of people, age 2 + baby + one more eventually
Office: family use or home office? HO
Guests per year: few
Open or closed architecture: open
Conservative or modern style: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island

Multi-storey residential building with terrace, tree and two cyclists on the street.

3D rendering of a grey multi-family house with roof, tree on the left and person in red.

Floor plan of a house: living/dining area, kitchen, hallway, terrace, garage and garden.

Architect’s floor plan: upper floor and attic with bedrooms, bathroom, hallways and stairs.

Floor plan of a building complex: plots, entrances, colored ground/upper floor areas of the complex.

Myrna_Loy2 Mar 2022 13:43

#67

I would really recommend carefully reconsidering whether you need and want to maintain such a large house. Just because the plot seems affordable doesn’t mean you have to buy it. Right now, there are three of you, and even with four people, over 200 m² (2,150 sq ft) is still a lot.

Myrna_Loy2 Mar 2022 13:55

#68

I personally wouldn’t choose to have the kitchen and living room on separate levels. You end up going up and down the stairs for every drink or snack, and when you have children, don’t expect them to carry their plates or glasses back downstairs by themselves. Everyone always praises the open-plan living area because you’re not left standing alone in the kitchen – having the kitchen on the ground floor is the complete opposite of that.

haydee2 Mar 2022 14:37

#69

I would also not separate living and dining areas voluntarily. However, the ground floor is very cramped here.

Building services are placed in the small storage room. Make sure to remove the doors.

K a t j a2 Mar 2022 14:40

#70

Myrna_Loy schrieb:

I would really suggest thinking carefully again about whether you need and want to maintain such a large house. Just because the plot seems affordable doesn’t mean you have to buy it. Currently, there are three of you, even four would make over 200 sqm (2,150 sq ft) quite a lot.

I understand that this plot and house may not be everyone’s dream, but I want to offer a different perspective. I don’t think the property is all that bad. If there is hardly any land available for building in the area, it is quite attractive. Others build terraced houses and are happy as well.

Myrna_Loy schrieb:

I personally wouldn’t want the kitchen and living room on separate levels. You have to go up and down stairs for every drink and snack, and with children, don’t expect them to carry their plates or glasses back down themselves. Everyone always praises the open-plan living area because then you’re not standing alone in the kitchen — a kitchen on the ground floor is the exact opposite of that.

Why would the children eat in the living room? At most, there might be some snacks there, right? If needed, you can add a dumbwaiter.
As for connecting the living room and kitchen/dining areas across two floors — I’ve already shared an example. You just have to be bold enough to plan something similar. If you can afford it, it can be really great.

Myrna_Loy2 Mar 2022 14:40

#71

haydee schrieb:

I wouldn’t voluntarily separate the living and dining areas either. But here the ground floor is very tight.

Building services in the small storage room. Definitely remove the doors.

That’s why I wouldn’t build the double garage in this way and would instead buy off half of the parking space. If I’m spending that much money on a new house, I wouldn’t separate dining and living.

haydee2 Mar 2022 14:53

#72

That just doesn’t seem to be possible. Although the original poster now only has one housing unit, the homeowners’ association requires all three parking spaces.

ᐅ Floor Plan Assistance: 216 sqm Single-Family Home with Granny Flat and Double Garage

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