ᐅ Floor Plan Design for Renovation of a 1970s Terraced House
Created on: 6 Dec 2023 23:50
G
GalileoNRW
Hello everyone,
before I explain the request in more detail, here is the completed questionnaire:
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: I could find out, but I believe it is irrelevant for the floor plan design, right?
Slope: no
Floor area ratio: I could find out, but I believe it is irrelevant for the floor plan design, right?
Plot ratio: I could find out, but I believe it is irrelevant for the floor plan design, right?
Building window, building line, and boundary: ?
Edge development: ?
Number of parking spaces: Usable by us: 1 parking space in front of the house
Number of floors: Ground floor, upper floor plus basement – Usable by us: ground floor and partly basement
Roof shape -
Architectural style: ?
Orientation: ?
Maximum heights / limits: ?
Other regulations: ?
Owners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof shape, building type – Two-family house with 2 residential units, separate basement rooms and a shared basement. Relevant for us: ground floor
Basement, floors: basement, ground floor, upper floor. Usable by us: ground floor and partly basement
Number of people, age: 2 adults in their mid-30s, 1 baby – potentially another child in the future
Space requirements on the ground floor and basement: Currently: kitchen (possibly including dining area), bathroom, guest WC, 1 bedroom, 1 children’s room, 1 study, storage space (possibly as part of the study), living room (possibly including dining area) – potentially a second children’s room in the future (there is a larger room in the basement which was previously used as a children’s room. Either it could be used again for that purpose or the master bedroom might be moved there).
Office: family use or home office? – Home office (possibly with storage space) – only space for a desk 140cm x 80cm (55 x 31 inches) and an office chair is needed.
Overnight guests per year – rare
Open or closed layout – Preferably an open kitchen with dining area or view into the dining room/living room. However, ideally it should be possible to separate the kitchen from the other rooms while cooking.
Conservative or modern construction: preferably modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: open kitchen – see above, cooking island – yes, please
Number of dining seats: 4-6, tending towards 6 when guests visit.
Fireplace: no
Music / stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: terrace
Garage, carport: parking space
Utility garden, greenhouse: garden
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, also please explain why something should or should not be included:
- We would like a sufficiently large dining/living room where the child can also play later. The challenge here is: The play area should not be in the way or be so disruptive that you constantly trip over it.
- Although the house actually has large rooms (from our perspective and based on our current rental apartment), there is no real possibility for a “storage closet” for usual items like ironing board, vacuum cleaner, etc., if you don’t want to get them from the basement all the time. It would be nice to find a solution here, possibly through built-in cupboards in the hallway or entrance area.
House Design
Who created the design: The house was originally built as a bungalow but has since undergone multiple structural changes (added another floor, floor plan alterations, etc.). We don’t know who was originally responsible for the design, and that is probably irrelevant, right?
Current floor plan – I attach graphics made with SweetHome3D.
What do you like particularly? Why? – The large dining room and the large living room – we generally like that but it may not be optimal for our current needs or could be considered “space wasted.”
– Rather square rooms; our current rental apartment mostly has narrow or elongated rooms.
– Single-level living except for two rooms in the basement
What do you not like? Why?:
– Feels like there are too few rooms. We lack ideas to improve this.
– There is currently a bathtub and a small 80cm x 80cm (31 x 31 inches) shower cubicle – the classic design with shower tray and glass doors. We would prefer a bathtub (possibly in the guest WC) and a walk-in shower for aging-in-place, with at least 90 cm (35 inches) width.
Price estimate according to architect/designer: ?
Personal price limit for the house including fittings: The house is being sold within the family and the price is therefore “good.” We have not set a limit yet; first, we want to find out what can be achieved without major “poor compromises.”
Preferred heating technology: Currently, wall-mounted radiators under the windows without recessed niches. It still needs to be clarified whether underfloor heating is possible. If yes, that would probably be the chosen heating system, but this is not certain yet.
If you have to give up anything, which features / extensions
- can you do without: Ideally nothing – if anything, an open kitchen with cooking island 🙂
- cannot give up: ?
Why is the design as it is now?
Currently, this is simply the as-is condition. We haven’t developed it further. Below, we list our “thoughts” and hope this will be enough and helpful for now.
The plan and dimensions were created based on original floor plans and manual measurements over the past few days. Therefore, it may not be accurate in every detail but should be sufficiently precise for necessary planning and ideas. If you need anything else, please let us know – we will provide it.
The floor plan looks as follows:
1 – current kitchen (description viewpoint is from the window into the room)
2 – current dining room
3 – current living room
4 – current hallway with access to the garden (sliding door and glass front along the entire side)
5 – current guest WC (description viewpoint is from the door into the room)
6 – possible children’s room
7 – main bathroom (description viewpoint is from the door into the room)
8 – possible master bedroom
We are currently leaving out water connections, as the current owner says almost everything is possible by rerouting pipes along the basement ceiling (sometimes with more, sometimes less effort).
The following ideas have emerged so far – is the textual description sufficient? If not, we can add them to the plan:
Option 1:
Rooms 1 and 2 are combined. Along the wall where the oven, fridge, etc., are currently located, a large and long work surface extends into room 2. The cooking hob is placed at a right angle at the “end” of the work surface, running toward the window side (a classic “L” shape). The rest of room 2 remains the dining room.
Room 3 remains the living room.
Room 4 is separated off from the hallway and could then serve as a study / storage room: the problem here is that this is the only access to the garden. Therefore, quiet working in summer would not be possible; an additional access to room 3 would have to be built. A sole access through room 3 is not ideal since you would have to walk through the living room with garden waste, etc.
Additional question: The previously large and open entrance area could become very small and cramped – you would then be facing a wall from room 4. Also, there would be no possibility for a wardrobe.
Room 5 gets a bathtub instead of the washing machine and dryer.
Room 6 becomes the children’s room.
Room 7: The wash basin moves to the left side, the toilet remains where it is, the shower on the right side becomes slightly wider (if this is sensible regarding space and freedom of movement) and a bit longer.
Room 8 becomes the bedroom.
Option 2:
Room 1 becomes the home office with storage area.
Room 2 becomes the living room: the “problem” here is that the room is rather narrow for a living room concerning the distance between sofa, coffee table, and TV on the wall. Possibly some space could be taken from room 1 if that makes sense.
Room 3 becomes the kitchen with dining area (possibly with garden access, but not a must). We currently have no idea for the perfect division of “kitchen” and “dining area.”
Room 4 remains a large hallway.
Rooms 5 to 8 remain as in option 1.
Theoretically, there is also a basement room that could serve as a storage and pantry room. This would be a fallback solution because it is uncomfortable to always have to go to the basement. There is also a basement room (the above-mentioned former children’s room) that is large enough for a study with storage. However, if there is another child, that room will have to be a bedroom, and without further remodeling upstairs, there would be no possibility for a study with storage. Therefore, we would avoid that. If anyone has ideas for these rooms, we will gladly provide their floor plans.
We hope our explanations are understandable and that our suggested options at least give an idea of what we want to achieve with our ideas. These ideas are amateur and spontaneous – everything can be reconsidered and changed.
Many thanks in advance.
before I explain the request in more detail, here is the completed questionnaire:
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: I could find out, but I believe it is irrelevant for the floor plan design, right?
Slope: no
Floor area ratio: I could find out, but I believe it is irrelevant for the floor plan design, right?
Plot ratio: I could find out, but I believe it is irrelevant for the floor plan design, right?
Building window, building line, and boundary: ?
Edge development: ?
Number of parking spaces: Usable by us: 1 parking space in front of the house
Number of floors: Ground floor, upper floor plus basement – Usable by us: ground floor and partly basement
Roof shape -
Architectural style: ?
Orientation: ?
Maximum heights / limits: ?
Other regulations: ?
Owners’ Requirements
Architectural style, roof shape, building type – Two-family house with 2 residential units, separate basement rooms and a shared basement. Relevant for us: ground floor
Basement, floors: basement, ground floor, upper floor. Usable by us: ground floor and partly basement
Number of people, age: 2 adults in their mid-30s, 1 baby – potentially another child in the future
Space requirements on the ground floor and basement: Currently: kitchen (possibly including dining area), bathroom, guest WC, 1 bedroom, 1 children’s room, 1 study, storage space (possibly as part of the study), living room (possibly including dining area) – potentially a second children’s room in the future (there is a larger room in the basement which was previously used as a children’s room. Either it could be used again for that purpose or the master bedroom might be moved there).
Office: family use or home office? – Home office (possibly with storage space) – only space for a desk 140cm x 80cm (55 x 31 inches) and an office chair is needed.
Overnight guests per year – rare
Open or closed layout – Preferably an open kitchen with dining area or view into the dining room/living room. However, ideally it should be possible to separate the kitchen from the other rooms while cooking.
Conservative or modern construction: preferably modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: open kitchen – see above, cooking island – yes, please
Number of dining seats: 4-6, tending towards 6 when guests visit.
Fireplace: no
Music / stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: terrace
Garage, carport: parking space
Utility garden, greenhouse: garden
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, also please explain why something should or should not be included:
- We would like a sufficiently large dining/living room where the child can also play later. The challenge here is: The play area should not be in the way or be so disruptive that you constantly trip over it.
- Although the house actually has large rooms (from our perspective and based on our current rental apartment), there is no real possibility for a “storage closet” for usual items like ironing board, vacuum cleaner, etc., if you don’t want to get them from the basement all the time. It would be nice to find a solution here, possibly through built-in cupboards in the hallway or entrance area.
House Design
Who created the design: The house was originally built as a bungalow but has since undergone multiple structural changes (added another floor, floor plan alterations, etc.). We don’t know who was originally responsible for the design, and that is probably irrelevant, right?
Current floor plan – I attach graphics made with SweetHome3D.
What do you like particularly? Why? – The large dining room and the large living room – we generally like that but it may not be optimal for our current needs or could be considered “space wasted.”
– Rather square rooms; our current rental apartment mostly has narrow or elongated rooms.
– Single-level living except for two rooms in the basement
What do you not like? Why?:
– Feels like there are too few rooms. We lack ideas to improve this.
– There is currently a bathtub and a small 80cm x 80cm (31 x 31 inches) shower cubicle – the classic design with shower tray and glass doors. We would prefer a bathtub (possibly in the guest WC) and a walk-in shower for aging-in-place, with at least 90 cm (35 inches) width.
Price estimate according to architect/designer: ?
Personal price limit for the house including fittings: The house is being sold within the family and the price is therefore “good.” We have not set a limit yet; first, we want to find out what can be achieved without major “poor compromises.”
Preferred heating technology: Currently, wall-mounted radiators under the windows without recessed niches. It still needs to be clarified whether underfloor heating is possible. If yes, that would probably be the chosen heating system, but this is not certain yet.
If you have to give up anything, which features / extensions
- can you do without: Ideally nothing – if anything, an open kitchen with cooking island 🙂
- cannot give up: ?
Why is the design as it is now?
Currently, this is simply the as-is condition. We haven’t developed it further. Below, we list our “thoughts” and hope this will be enough and helpful for now.
The plan and dimensions were created based on original floor plans and manual measurements over the past few days. Therefore, it may not be accurate in every detail but should be sufficiently precise for necessary planning and ideas. If you need anything else, please let us know – we will provide it.
The floor plan looks as follows:
1 – current kitchen (description viewpoint is from the window into the room)
- Currently, the stove and dishwasher are on the left side.
- Currently, “above” is a row of cupboards including oven, microwave, and fridge.
- Currently, “below” at the windows is a worktop. But the windows are so low that an ergonomic working height is not possible – this is no longer an option for us.
2 – current dining room
- It is possible to open up a connection to the kitchen beyond the existing door.
- Between the dining room and living room, there is currently a somewhat outdated accordion door.
3 – current living room
4 – current hallway with access to the garden (sliding door and glass front along the entire side)
5 – current guest WC (description viewpoint is from the door into the room)
- Currently, the wash basin is “above.”
- Currently, the toilet is on the right.
- Currently, on the left are a washing machine and a dryer (these are no longer needed and should initially be relocated to the basement).
6 – possible children’s room
7 – main bathroom (description viewpoint is from the door into the room)
- Currently, on the left is first a small cupboard and then a bathtub (in front of / under the window).
- Currently, straight ahead is the toilet.
- Currently, on the right is first a wash basin and then the shower.
8 – possible master bedroom
We are currently leaving out water connections, as the current owner says almost everything is possible by rerouting pipes along the basement ceiling (sometimes with more, sometimes less effort).
The following ideas have emerged so far – is the textual description sufficient? If not, we can add them to the plan:
Option 1:
Rooms 1 and 2 are combined. Along the wall where the oven, fridge, etc., are currently located, a large and long work surface extends into room 2. The cooking hob is placed at a right angle at the “end” of the work surface, running toward the window side (a classic “L” shape). The rest of room 2 remains the dining room.
Room 3 remains the living room.
Room 4 is separated off from the hallway and could then serve as a study / storage room: the problem here is that this is the only access to the garden. Therefore, quiet working in summer would not be possible; an additional access to room 3 would have to be built. A sole access through room 3 is not ideal since you would have to walk through the living room with garden waste, etc.
Additional question: The previously large and open entrance area could become very small and cramped – you would then be facing a wall from room 4. Also, there would be no possibility for a wardrobe.
Room 5 gets a bathtub instead of the washing machine and dryer.
Room 6 becomes the children’s room.
Room 7: The wash basin moves to the left side, the toilet remains where it is, the shower on the right side becomes slightly wider (if this is sensible regarding space and freedom of movement) and a bit longer.
Room 8 becomes the bedroom.
Option 2:
Room 1 becomes the home office with storage area.
Room 2 becomes the living room: the “problem” here is that the room is rather narrow for a living room concerning the distance between sofa, coffee table, and TV on the wall. Possibly some space could be taken from room 1 if that makes sense.
Room 3 becomes the kitchen with dining area (possibly with garden access, but not a must). We currently have no idea for the perfect division of “kitchen” and “dining area.”
Room 4 remains a large hallway.
Rooms 5 to 8 remain as in option 1.
Theoretically, there is also a basement room that could serve as a storage and pantry room. This would be a fallback solution because it is uncomfortable to always have to go to the basement. There is also a basement room (the above-mentioned former children’s room) that is large enough for a study with storage. However, if there is another child, that room will have to be a bedroom, and without further remodeling upstairs, there would be no possibility for a study with storage. Therefore, we would avoid that. If anyone has ideas for these rooms, we will gladly provide their floor plans.
We hope our explanations are understandable and that our suggested options at least give an idea of what we want to achieve with our ideas. These ideas are amateur and spontaneous – everything can be reconsidered and changed.
Many thanks in advance.
G
GalileoNRW7 Dec 2023 11:51kbt09 schrieb:
The first thing I notice about the whole setup is... where are the bikes, garden equipment, etc. supposed to go? Is the basement access for your part only through the apartment—right? You notice so many details—impressive 🙂
The floor plan I uploaded from the basement is the original one. I am attaching the current layout as it is now, where you can see that there are additional accesses to the basement.
There is no outside access to the garden (regardless of the setup). So our bikes and "garden stuff" have to be stored either in the basement or garden (possibly in a suitable shed).
G
GalileoNRW19 Mar 2024 19:48It (unfortunately) took a bit longer.
I had already uploaded the original plans back in December. Are there any questions regarding them?
Otherwise, here are some additional details:
The living area is approximately 122 sqm (1,313 sq ft).
I’m also attaching our ideas for the room layout and furniture placement marked on the plans. The measurements I used in SweetHome3D are based on the original plan, "adjusted" to reality, including inaccuracies caused by tiles, plaster, etc.
In the plan, I have roughly indicated the parking spaces as well as the terrace. A compass showing the north orientation is also included.
Unlike in the original post, I have now designed the “ground floor living area” with a master bedroom and two children’s rooms (one slightly smaller than the other). This results in one room where the living and dining areas must be combined. I am uncertain whether this setup is as “comfortable” and “practical” as needed. I have marked possible passage widths for this. For the kitchen, I simply sketched in “something,” as I don’t have a clear idea yet. In the “long corridor running from bottom to top on the left,” we are considering built-in wardrobes, but I haven’t added them to the plan yet. The access to the terrace is still planned via the large hallway (where it is currently located). However, this can be changed if you think it would make sense. The same applies to the windows in the living room, since the left window may interfere with the sofa.
Below are three plans with a request for feedback and suggestions. If you need more details, please let me know. Thanks.
Plan 1 – Living/Dining room with chairs and bench
Plan 2 – Living/Dining room with chairs
Plan 3 – same as Plan 1 but with a different bathroom layout
As mentioned, I hope the additional information helps. If not, I can provide more details.
The plan is probably “not pretty, but rare” – apologies here. I am not very skilled at drawing or planning in such matters.
I had already uploaded the original plans back in December. Are there any questions regarding them?
Otherwise, here are some additional details:
The living area is approximately 122 sqm (1,313 sq ft).
I’m also attaching our ideas for the room layout and furniture placement marked on the plans. The measurements I used in SweetHome3D are based on the original plan, "adjusted" to reality, including inaccuracies caused by tiles, plaster, etc.
In the plan, I have roughly indicated the parking spaces as well as the terrace. A compass showing the north orientation is also included.
Unlike in the original post, I have now designed the “ground floor living area” with a master bedroom and two children’s rooms (one slightly smaller than the other). This results in one room where the living and dining areas must be combined. I am uncertain whether this setup is as “comfortable” and “practical” as needed. I have marked possible passage widths for this. For the kitchen, I simply sketched in “something,” as I don’t have a clear idea yet. In the “long corridor running from bottom to top on the left,” we are considering built-in wardrobes, but I haven’t added them to the plan yet. The access to the terrace is still planned via the large hallway (where it is currently located). However, this can be changed if you think it would make sense. The same applies to the windows in the living room, since the left window may interfere with the sofa.
Below are three plans with a request for feedback and suggestions. If you need more details, please let me know. Thanks.
Plan 1 – Living/Dining room with chairs and bench
Plan 2 – Living/Dining room with chairs
Plan 3 – same as Plan 1 but with a different bathroom layout
As mentioned, I hope the additional information helps. If not, I can provide more details.
The plan is probably “not pretty, but rare” – apologies here. I am not very skilled at drawing or planning in such matters.
GalileoNRW schrieb:
The plan is probably "not nice"That’s correct. However, it’s not only the software (can you even call this sh* program software?) that I find “not nice,” but I also consider the idea of placing the kitchen in the back corner, a children’s room without any zoning regarding noise levels, and the chill area at the entrance of the open plan room, as not well thought out.GalileoNRW schrieb:
what can be done without major "lazy compromises."When I saw your initial ideas in the first post, I thought of lazy compromises and I still do. I already see the house itself (large basement, little living space) as a lazy compromise just because it’s sold cheaply.In my opinion, it’s a cramped bungalow where there’s little room for development. What is your budget plan for this house?
Personally, I like challenges, and if you have a smaller floor area available, you can still make something of it. But if significant renovation is needed anyway due to energy regulations and such, I would gut the necessary parts and reconfigure the layout. I wouldn’t just cram things in. Are you aware that a lot needs to be done? I am not talking about adjusting the shower from 80 to 90 without changing the walls or raising the kitchen window to counter height — I think those are the minor issues you can just accept.
First idea: open up the stairs to the basement to make them more livable, possibly even lead directly into the basement bar; divide the lower basement area, and renovate the upper basement extension into living quality space, including windows with a view. The basement bar could become a bedroom, laundry room, or bathroom.
Keeping this option in mind will ease the ground floor a bit. Zoning for private and living areas would then be possible. A utility room on the ground floor would also still fit.
Initially, I would roughly zone the area, preferably without walls, and possibly incorporate existing walls later: entrance → wardrobe → kitchen and living area with terrace → private rooms, with a workroom and utility room in between.
I wonder whether you are planning a renovation at all? And what about fire safety if you sell or separate later? There are basement rooms extending into the other area, right? How will those living in the attic access the basement?
G
GalileoNRW19 Mar 2024 22:15Thank you for your detailed response.
A renovation is only planned to the extent that we would like to implement our "preferences."
The windows are from 2016 with triple-glazed insulating glass. The pipes for water and heating date from 2004 and are copper. The electrical system has also been continuously updated.
Based on this, we have not planned a major renovation, and therefore we did not change the floor plans but tried to make something usable out of what is already there.
But I gather that the current floor plan is rather "hopeless" as it is, and it would be advisable to modify it because it simply “is not good”?
The “attic residents” access the basement via stairs in the “shared corridor.”
What does “children’s room without zoning into the noise level” mean? There is no busy road in front of the house, if that’s what “noise level” refers to. It’s a narrow driveway for three other houses. And what exactly is “zoning”? Sorry if these are silly questions, but I’m not familiar with these terms.
What is meant by “chill-out area at the entrance of the open-plan living space”? Do you mean the currently existing room in the hallway?
ypg schrieb:Between the basement and the ground floor, as well as between the ground floor and the upper floor, it is reinforced concrete.
Is there a wooden ceiling between the basement and the ground floor? Probably not, right? More likely reinforced concrete?!
ypg schrieb:
I’m wondering if you’re planning any renovation at all? And what about fire protection if the property is sold or divided? There are basement rooms that extend into the other section, aren’t there? How will the people in the attic access the basement?
A renovation is only planned to the extent that we would like to implement our "preferences."
The windows are from 2016 with triple-glazed insulating glass. The pipes for water and heating date from 2004 and are copper. The electrical system has also been continuously updated.
Based on this, we have not planned a major renovation, and therefore we did not change the floor plans but tried to make something usable out of what is already there.
But I gather that the current floor plan is rather "hopeless" as it is, and it would be advisable to modify it because it simply “is not good”?
The “attic residents” access the basement via stairs in the “shared corridor.”
ypg schrieb:Sorry, I’m struggling with all the terminology here.
Instead, I find the idea of putting the kitchen in the back corner, a children’s room without zoning into the noise level, and the chill-out area at the entrance of the open-plan living space not very well thought out.
What does “children’s room without zoning into the noise level” mean? There is no busy road in front of the house, if that’s what “noise level” refers to. It’s a narrow driveway for three other houses. And what exactly is “zoning”? Sorry if these are silly questions, but I’m not familiar with these terms.
What is meant by “chill-out area at the entrance of the open-plan living space”? Do you mean the currently existing room in the hallway?
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