ᐅ Floor Plan / Layout Ideas for a Single-Family Home of 180 m² with 3 Children's Bedrooms
Created on: 1 Apr 2018 23:13
D
derJohnsonD
derJohnson1 Apr 2018 23:13Hello everyone,
I have been a silent reader for a few months now, and regarding our building project, we have already reached the point where we have chosen a construction company and, most importantly, a floor plan. From our perspective, the floor plan is really good, but we are looking for a more "realistic" view from others on our floor plan idea. By realistic, I mean practical for everyday living. We simply lack experience in building design, so I kindly ask the community to evaluate the floor plan. Of course, we are also open to other suggestions for improvement!
Development plan/restrictions:
Nothing significant
Plot size:
20 x 40 m (66 x 131 feet), see site plan. Approx. 809 m² (8,710 sq ft)
Slope:
Very slight downward slope towards the street front
Site coverage ratio
0.4
Floor area ratio
0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundaries
See site plan
Boundary construction
Garage may be built on the boundary line; otherwise, a 3 m (10 feet) distance to neighboring properties is required
Number of parking spaces
2 according to the development plan
Number of storeys
2
Roof style
Gable roof
Architectural style
Classic
Orientation
?
Maximum height restrictions
Eaves height: 4.50 m (15 feet)
Ridge height: 8.50 m (28 feet)
Other requirements
-
Client requirements
Style, roof type, building type
Classic style with gable roof
Basement, storeys
No basement, two storeys as far as the eaves height allows
Number of occupants, ages
Currently 2 adults, both 30 years old, a 6-month-old daughter, and planning 2 more children within the next 4 years
Space requirements for ground floor and upper floor
No precise square meter expectations. Generally a very generous open living, dining, and kitchen area, as we believe most family life will happen there.
Office: family use or home office?
Currently used as a home office; in old age, it is planned to convert the office into the master bedroom for single-level living
Guests per year
None
Open or closed architecture
Open living, dining, and kitchen area; otherwise closed architecture due to the expected noise level from 3 children
Conservative or modern construction
Rather conservative
Open kitchen, kitchen island
As mentioned above, not necessarily a kitchen island; prefer the stove against the wall
Number of dining seats
Kitchen with U-shape layout, breakfast bar extending into the living area
Main dining table in the conservatory
Fireplace
Not planned
Music/stereo wall
No
Balcony, roof terrace
Not desired
Garage, carport
Garage 4 x 9 m (13 x 30 feet), or possibly 3.57 x 9 m (12 x 30 feet) for cost reasons
Utility garden, greenhouse
On the property, a roughly 100 m² (1,076 sq ft) turtle enclosure and possibly a chicken coop will be established
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons for choices or exclusions
The wife works shifts, so access to the bedroom through the dressing room is preferred
House design
Who is responsible for the planning?
- Planner from a construction company
What do you especially like? Why?
The highlight will be the spacious conservatory in the living area. Anyone who has visited the show home by Stommel Haus in the prefabricated house village in Frechen will understand – it inspired us because we were absolutely enthusiastic about it. My father is a carpenter and will install an open “fake” beam ceiling inside, which will then be finished with a pale whitewash.
What do you not like? Why?
Basement floor plan: Personally, I would prefer the shower access in the upstairs bathroom to be from the side, so water does not splash into the bathroom while showering.
Ground floor plan: Are there options to redesign the staircase (wall), so that one can look directly at the double doors to the living room from the entrance?
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Not relevant
Personal price limit for the house including fittings:
Not relevant
Preferred heating technology:
District heating mandatory
If you have to give up details/finishes
- Can compromise on: Basically very flexible
- Cannot give up: Conservatory, third gable at the front
Why was the floor plan designed as it is now?
Our wishes were taken into account by the builder.
What do you think makes the floor plan particularly good or bad?
Basically, all our wishes are realized in the floor plan; I do not see much that is bad.
What is the most important/basic question about the desired floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
As mentioned, I would like feedback on the "everyday practicality" of our floor plan idea. Suggestions for improving the upstairs bathroom and staircase position welcome.
Thank you very much!
Best regards
derJohnson
I have been a silent reader for a few months now, and regarding our building project, we have already reached the point where we have chosen a construction company and, most importantly, a floor plan. From our perspective, the floor plan is really good, but we are looking for a more "realistic" view from others on our floor plan idea. By realistic, I mean practical for everyday living. We simply lack experience in building design, so I kindly ask the community to evaluate the floor plan. Of course, we are also open to other suggestions for improvement!
Development plan/restrictions:
Nothing significant
Plot size:
20 x 40 m (66 x 131 feet), see site plan. Approx. 809 m² (8,710 sq ft)
Slope:
Very slight downward slope towards the street front
Site coverage ratio
0.4
Floor area ratio
0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundaries
See site plan
Boundary construction
Garage may be built on the boundary line; otherwise, a 3 m (10 feet) distance to neighboring properties is required
Number of parking spaces
2 according to the development plan
Number of storeys
2
Roof style
Gable roof
Architectural style
Classic
Orientation
?
Maximum height restrictions
Eaves height: 4.50 m (15 feet)
Ridge height: 8.50 m (28 feet)
Other requirements
-
Client requirements
Style, roof type, building type
Classic style with gable roof
Basement, storeys
No basement, two storeys as far as the eaves height allows
Number of occupants, ages
Currently 2 adults, both 30 years old, a 6-month-old daughter, and planning 2 more children within the next 4 years
Space requirements for ground floor and upper floor
No precise square meter expectations. Generally a very generous open living, dining, and kitchen area, as we believe most family life will happen there.
Office: family use or home office?
Currently used as a home office; in old age, it is planned to convert the office into the master bedroom for single-level living
Guests per year
None
Open or closed architecture
Open living, dining, and kitchen area; otherwise closed architecture due to the expected noise level from 3 children
Conservative or modern construction
Rather conservative
Open kitchen, kitchen island
As mentioned above, not necessarily a kitchen island; prefer the stove against the wall
Number of dining seats
Kitchen with U-shape layout, breakfast bar extending into the living area
Main dining table in the conservatory
Fireplace
Not planned
Music/stereo wall
No
Balcony, roof terrace
Not desired
Garage, carport
Garage 4 x 9 m (13 x 30 feet), or possibly 3.57 x 9 m (12 x 30 feet) for cost reasons
Utility garden, greenhouse
On the property, a roughly 100 m² (1,076 sq ft) turtle enclosure and possibly a chicken coop will be established
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, including reasons for choices or exclusions
The wife works shifts, so access to the bedroom through the dressing room is preferred
House design
Who is responsible for the planning?
- Planner from a construction company
What do you especially like? Why?
The highlight will be the spacious conservatory in the living area. Anyone who has visited the show home by Stommel Haus in the prefabricated house village in Frechen will understand – it inspired us because we were absolutely enthusiastic about it. My father is a carpenter and will install an open “fake” beam ceiling inside, which will then be finished with a pale whitewash.
What do you not like? Why?
Basement floor plan: Personally, I would prefer the shower access in the upstairs bathroom to be from the side, so water does not splash into the bathroom while showering.
Ground floor plan: Are there options to redesign the staircase (wall), so that one can look directly at the double doors to the living room from the entrance?
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Not relevant
Personal price limit for the house including fittings:
Not relevant
Preferred heating technology:
District heating mandatory
If you have to give up details/finishes
- Can compromise on: Basically very flexible
- Cannot give up: Conservatory, third gable at the front
Why was the floor plan designed as it is now?
Our wishes were taken into account by the builder.
What do you think makes the floor plan particularly good or bad?
Basically, all our wishes are realized in the floor plan; I do not see much that is bad.
What is the most important/basic question about the desired floor plan, summarized in 130 characters?
As mentioned, I would like feedback on the "everyday practicality" of our floor plan idea. Suggestions for improving the upstairs bathroom and staircase position welcome.
Thank you very much!
Best regards
derJohnson
Hello, for this...
If money is not an issue, I would recommend hiring a professional architect who can also provide layout proposals. This looks rather improvised to me.
Regarding your floor plan: First of all, in the bathroom, the bathtub should definitely be swapped with the shower/toilet to allow natural light into the room.
The zigzag layout in the utility room is a sign of poor planning. This is not how rooms should be designed in a new build. Likewise, the small separate hallway on the ground floor for access to the utility room is problematic. It reduces the depth of your kitchen and blocks light from the entrance. There is definitely room for improvement in your floor plan.
derJohnson schrieb:
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings:
irrelevant
If money is not an issue, I would recommend hiring a professional architect who can also provide layout proposals. This looks rather improvised to me.
Regarding your floor plan: First of all, in the bathroom, the bathtub should definitely be swapped with the shower/toilet to allow natural light into the room.
The zigzag layout in the utility room is a sign of poor planning. This is not how rooms should be designed in a new build. Likewise, the small separate hallway on the ground floor for access to the utility room is problematic. It reduces the depth of your kitchen and blocks light from the entrance. There is definitely room for improvement in your floor plan.
D
derJohnson2 Apr 2018 08:20Thank you for your reply,
Upper floor layout:
Regarding the bathroom on the upper floor, I completely agree with you. That would likely solve my issue with the side entrance to the shower, depending on the shower placement.
Ground floor layout:
The ground floor is somewhat tailored to our preferences.
We wanted direct access from the utility room to both the kitchen and the hallway, so that when entering the house through the garage, you don’t have to walk all the way through the kitchen/living room to reach the coat area.
We are still looking for a solution here. Moving the staircase towards the back and placing the utility room access close to the front door is one possibility.
I don’t find the zigzag layout of the utility room problematic at all. On the contrary, I actually think the solution with the shower on the ground floor is quite well done. Where do you see issues caused by the corners?
Best regards,
derJohnson
Upper floor layout:
Regarding the bathroom on the upper floor, I completely agree with you. That would likely solve my issue with the side entrance to the shower, depending on the shower placement.
Ground floor layout:
The ground floor is somewhat tailored to our preferences.
We wanted direct access from the utility room to both the kitchen and the hallway, so that when entering the house through the garage, you don’t have to walk all the way through the kitchen/living room to reach the coat area.
We are still looking for a solution here. Moving the staircase towards the back and placing the utility room access close to the front door is one possibility.
I don’t find the zigzag layout of the utility room problematic at all. On the contrary, I actually think the solution with the shower on the ground floor is quite well done. Where do you see issues caused by the corners?
Best regards,
derJohnson
derJohnson schrieb:
We wanted direct access from the utility room to the kitchen and hallway, so that when entering the house through the garage, you don’t have to walk completely through the kitchen/living room just to get to the cloakroom.
Regarding the utility room access:
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/erklaerung-der-hypes.24943/page-54#post-252687
What exactly is the benefit of placing the garage at the back? The garden at the rear will be built over, and at the front you’ll struggle with the so-called sacred utility room access.
If you like the zigzag floor plan, then build it. Have you ever been in a room like that? Do you have one like it at home now? No? Ask yourself why.
The staircase is in the way everywhere here. You probably need a different solution. Rethink the floor plan.
D
derJohnson2 Apr 2018 09:03Unfortunately, the way you suggest it cannot be implemented due to the building permit / planning permission constraints.
We have a small recess on the north side if you look at the site plan.
So, we would have to move the entire house quite a bit further back to have the garage level with the rest of the house front. This would significantly reduce the garden space compared to the current version.
Putting the entrance on the side is not an option because, firstly, my wife doesn’t like it, and secondly, the entrance would then be on the north side.
Depending on what the neighbor builds on their property boundary, it could be quite dark there.
Furthermore, I want the garage to be set as far back as possible because
1. it creates an additional parking space in front, and
2. combined with the conservatory at the back, we would have a nice sheltered terrace where, with a more “permanent” awning or some form of roofing, we would have a great storage area for garden furniture, etc., protected even in winter.
So it doesn’t take up any of the already limited space inside the house or garage.
However, we did once have a preliminary ground floor plan where the staircase was moved about one meter (approximately 3 feet) backward. There was a small hallway immediately to the right of the front door leading straight ahead to a shower toilet, which was located in the very bottom left corner with a window, and access to the utility room was through a door to the left in front of the shower toilet.
I hope this was somewhat clear, as unfortunately we were never given a floor plan back then.
Best regards,
derJohnson
We have a small recess on the north side if you look at the site plan.
So, we would have to move the entire house quite a bit further back to have the garage level with the rest of the house front. This would significantly reduce the garden space compared to the current version.
Putting the entrance on the side is not an option because, firstly, my wife doesn’t like it, and secondly, the entrance would then be on the north side.
Depending on what the neighbor builds on their property boundary, it could be quite dark there.
Furthermore, I want the garage to be set as far back as possible because
1. it creates an additional parking space in front, and
2. combined with the conservatory at the back, we would have a nice sheltered terrace where, with a more “permanent” awning or some form of roofing, we would have a great storage area for garden furniture, etc., protected even in winter.
So it doesn’t take up any of the already limited space inside the house or garage.
However, we did once have a preliminary ground floor plan where the staircase was moved about one meter (approximately 3 feet) backward. There was a small hallway immediately to the right of the front door leading straight ahead to a shower toilet, which was located in the very bottom left corner with a window, and access to the utility room was through a door to the left in front of the shower toilet.
I hope this was somewhat clear, as unfortunately we were never given a floor plan back then.
Best regards,
derJohnson
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