ᐅ Floor Plan Design for a Single-Family Home of Approximately 150 m²

We live right next to a pedestrian path. Everyone who owns a dog and lives in this neighborhood uses it...

Recently, at a big public party here in town, my husband was talking to someone who said, "I know where you live. I always see you at the dining table or in the kitchen!" Now he always waves when he walks by with his dog.
That’s one way to get to know people. It doesn’t bother us. I don’t want to be the person everyone talks about here as “the one who’s always hiding inside.” If I block the view inside, I can’t look out either. I prefer to keep my own view rather than worry about people looking in. If it ever bothers me that everyone is looking inside, I just press a button on my phone and close the roller shutter. But everyone has their own opinion about this.

For the original poster, I think it’s really unfortunate that they fulfilled their dream of owning a home but are struggling with it now. Honestly, I find the living space quite oppressive (I don’t want to be harsh, but that’s just how I feel). So I can understand those thoughts.

We also have large windows and live quite close to our neighbors – we were aware of that and accepted that people can look inside. It’s funny that it bothers our neighbors more, who have standard windows with regular sill height, and who feel very sensitive about their privacy (yes, THOSE neighbors). Madame seriously demanded that we ALWAYS keep the blinds down.

Of course, we don’t do that – I don’t choose large windows only to keep the blinds closed all the time.

It doesn’t bother me, and personally, I wouldn’t think of looking over at my neighbors. What would be interesting there?

Now they always keep their shutters down (they don’t have blinds or roller shutters, just exterior shutters) – well, if that makes them feel better, they should do it. I think once we get our privacy fence in spring, things will calm down.

What I found funny and a bit presumptuous was the attitude of “I’m bothered by this, I have a problem – you fix it!” So whoever has a problem should please solve it themselves. And it worked out: now their windows are fully covered, ours are not. Although, as I said, I wouldn’t have minded if they hadn’t pulled their blinds shut. I wouldn’t be peeking. But if they prefer it like this – let them.

I can’t just walk around naked in the house – which I rarely did anyway, so it doesn’t restrict me much *smile*. We can move freely and unclothed upstairs in our private area with bathroom, dressing room, and bedroom, since it is completely not visible from outside, and that’s enough. When I’m sitting at the table or cooking, I barely notice any outside views.

But my heart also aches hearing Chris talk like that – it’s just sad when someone builds a house and ends up so unhappy. It doesn’t help to remind them that these warnings were given beforehand. In his eyes, he had good reasons for the decisions and now he’s dissatisfied. I feel sorry for that.

By the way, the fireplace is great! You have my envy; my dream of having a fireplace was talked out of me, and I still mourn it. Especially when I see such a beautiful piece.

Otherwise: how long have you been living there now? It still looks very sparse and unfurnished. I would start there. Personally, I don’t like curtains, but with this type of window, they simply belong! That would be the first thing I would tackle.

I can imagine two options here: either a bit old-fashioned with rods above (extending well beyond the windows) and long, rich but definitely light curtains that softly touch the floor; or the clean version with a curtain system and curtain panels. These panels could be pleated three times and play with darker and lighter translucent fabrics, not only at the window but across the entire wall length (if no shelves or such are planned there). Choose bright, cheerful colors.

Get yourself a few large plants (check online classified ads – many people need to give away plants that have grown too large, so you can get great plants for little money!).

The lamp in the living room also doesn’t create a cozy atmosphere. This was mentioned before: get comfortable lighting. Work around the sofa area with small tables or illuminated elements. Right now, Lidl has nice, simple lamps that work well on a small side table next to the sofa (cheaper than the classic Wagenfeld lamp). Ikea has round glass globe lamps, and placing a few on the floor (three side by side looks pretty if you have the space – even better if they vary in size!) or rice paper lamps (they create really nice light) in the corner is a good option. At night, use this lighting instead of the ceiling light in the center. For that, I would hang a fancy fixture that serves as an eye-catcher even when turned off – the glass globe currently hanging there is not very charming.

Also, try rearranging the sofa as has been suggested several times – that’s worth a try.

I get the feeling you’re missing a bit of the knack for this. That’s nothing to be ashamed of, but I would start there. Look at interior designs (online, in furniture stores, in relevant magazines) and find out what makes a room feel good to you. Try to transfer that to your own rooms. If necessary, get someone who knows about this and can make a few suggestions. This can also be a good friend whose home you like – it doesn’t have to be a professional, but it can be (why not invest a few hundred dollars if you then feel “at home,” it’s worth it!).

I’m convinced you can get much more out of the rooms.

Enlarging the windows or installing floor-to-ceiling windows can be a project for the future – for now, I would be happy once the construction mess is gone. Such a big change makes more sense once you’ve been living there for a while – then you know where it really makes sense and where what you have is actually good enough.

I’m sure you can get a lot more out of the rooms and then you will surely feel very comfortable in your home.

ypg schrieb:

Well, to be honest, I’m always a bit surprised by the planned half-height windows—they’re not really my style either.

My partner and I actually find window sills nice and practical for flowers, decorations, etc.
On the south side, I think it’s useful as otherwise you’d always be looking at the back of a sofa from the garden.
On the west side, it would indeed have made sense to use a full-height window since there’s no sofa there.

ypg schrieb:

I would definitely put the sofa against the other wall. That way you get more light. The TV could be angled and placed on another piece of furniture or something.
Try placing some indirect lighting on the floor and/or at eye level: a skylight is only useful if you need to look for marbles.

We want to replace the current sofa with a corner sofa whose backrest will then extend up to the west window. Finally, we’ll add an ottoman that would fit under the west window.

On the west side, we have also planned a wall lamp at eye level that would provide indirect lighting. Plus some pictures and so on. I think that will make the west wall look nice.

ypg schrieb:

And the dining table could be placed crosswise, right?

Yes, it could be, but then half of the people would face the hallway instead of the window, which is a bit of a shame.
That’s why I prefer it lengthwise as shown in the picture. But of course, both options are possible.
What advantages do you see in placing it crosswise?

Climbee schrieb:

I just can’t dance naked through the house

Of course you can! I’d definitely lie naked in the garden at your neighbors’ place. :P

11ant schrieb:

I often wonder if no one here is familiar with vertical blinds from their office environment.

Right from the planning stage, that just wasn’t considered at all.
I think the main problem was that we simply had no vision — no clear idea of how the house (at least the living room) should look. So we just relied on our gut feeling and the architect. Maybe we should have copied more living rooms from show homes, then at least we would have gotten something we had seen before.

chrisw81 schrieb:

We want to replace the current sofa with a corner sofa whose backrest will extend up to the west-facing window. Finally, there will be an ottoman placed under the west window.

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I still think "get rid of the island" and put the table there. Corner sofas usually don’t look as good as two separate smaller sofas.