Hello everyone,
The planning for our construction project is gradually becoming more concrete, so we would really appreciate your feedback on our floor plan ideas. I have attached our first floor plan concept below. Windows, doors, etc., are not yet finalized; at this stage, we are focusing mainly on the general room layout. The square meterage is probably not yet exact, as after subtracting the sloped ceilings (I believe!), it comes to about 150 m2 (1,615 sq ft), which is likely beyond our budget, but the overall shape and layout of the house roughly match our vision.
Our given conditions are:
Building plot 10x10 m (33x33 ft), one-and-a-half storey construction. The plot is approximately 575 m2 (6,190 sq ft), about 30 m (98 ft) east-west and about 20 m (66 ft) north-south. The house is planned to be positioned in the northeast corner, with the roof ridge running east-west (not sure if this is mandatory, but it seems logical, right?).
We are a family of five with grandparents living far outside our city (Berlin), and therefore we would like:
At minimum: open-plan living-dining-kitchen area, large utility/storage room, one shower bathroom, one family bathroom, four bedrooms
Ideally: an additional room (office/guest) and/or usable extra space in the attic
All this as cost-effectively as possible, since our budget for the house alone is 190,000 EUR.
Based on the previous recommendations, we would like to include a staircase to the attic right from the start, even if we may not finish the attic immediately.
After visiting a 134 m2 (1,442 sq ft) sample house of a well-known manufacturer over the weekend, we found that the six rooms we want are technically accommodated there with some charm, but it felt a bit cramped.
So, we tried creating a floor plan that makes the house somewhat larger overall, allowing space on the ground floor for a shower bathroom and a slightly bigger extra room, as follows:
The middle bedroom in the attic works because it is fully located in a dormer. We actually really like this layout, and a house with such a dormer also looks attractive from the outside. Our concern, however, is that the dormer might be too expensive, and/or that even with somewhat more square meters than the sample house, the rooms might still feel a bit tight.
The alternatives we are considering are as follows:
First, to forgo the fourth bedroom on the upper floor and instead have three equally sized bedrooms plus a bathroom there. In that case, a resident would have to temporarily relocate to another room when grandparents visit or the attic would need to be clearly designated as overflow space. It would then be important that the extra room on the ground floor is large enough to serve as a fully functional private room (which we have tried to plan accordingly on the ground floor).
Second, if we cannot afford the dormer, we attempted to maximize the attic space by moving the bathroom to the center, so that all four bedrooms still have proper windows. This resulted in the following layout:
Aside from the fact that the feeling of cramped space remains here as well, what bothers me about this variant is that, unlike the version with the dormer, it would later be difficult to create 2-3 well-shaped rooms from this space, which would actually be an attractive option for when the children move out.
This is where we are so far! Tomorrow we have an appointment with the architect’s office, into which we would like to go with as clear ideas as possible. Therefore, we would really appreciate any feedback today that could help us to refine and improve the ideas presented here. Thank you in advance for your suggestions!
Best regards,
Kazazi
The planning for our construction project is gradually becoming more concrete, so we would really appreciate your feedback on our floor plan ideas. I have attached our first floor plan concept below. Windows, doors, etc., are not yet finalized; at this stage, we are focusing mainly on the general room layout. The square meterage is probably not yet exact, as after subtracting the sloped ceilings (I believe!), it comes to about 150 m2 (1,615 sq ft), which is likely beyond our budget, but the overall shape and layout of the house roughly match our vision.
Our given conditions are:
Building plot 10x10 m (33x33 ft), one-and-a-half storey construction. The plot is approximately 575 m2 (6,190 sq ft), about 30 m (98 ft) east-west and about 20 m (66 ft) north-south. The house is planned to be positioned in the northeast corner, with the roof ridge running east-west (not sure if this is mandatory, but it seems logical, right?).
We are a family of five with grandparents living far outside our city (Berlin), and therefore we would like:
At minimum: open-plan living-dining-kitchen area, large utility/storage room, one shower bathroom, one family bathroom, four bedrooms
Ideally: an additional room (office/guest) and/or usable extra space in the attic
All this as cost-effectively as possible, since our budget for the house alone is 190,000 EUR.
Based on the previous recommendations, we would like to include a staircase to the attic right from the start, even if we may not finish the attic immediately.
After visiting a 134 m2 (1,442 sq ft) sample house of a well-known manufacturer over the weekend, we found that the six rooms we want are technically accommodated there with some charm, but it felt a bit cramped.
So, we tried creating a floor plan that makes the house somewhat larger overall, allowing space on the ground floor for a shower bathroom and a slightly bigger extra room, as follows:
The middle bedroom in the attic works because it is fully located in a dormer. We actually really like this layout, and a house with such a dormer also looks attractive from the outside. Our concern, however, is that the dormer might be too expensive, and/or that even with somewhat more square meters than the sample house, the rooms might still feel a bit tight.
The alternatives we are considering are as follows:
First, to forgo the fourth bedroom on the upper floor and instead have three equally sized bedrooms plus a bathroom there. In that case, a resident would have to temporarily relocate to another room when grandparents visit or the attic would need to be clearly designated as overflow space. It would then be important that the extra room on the ground floor is large enough to serve as a fully functional private room (which we have tried to plan accordingly on the ground floor).
Second, if we cannot afford the dormer, we attempted to maximize the attic space by moving the bathroom to the center, so that all four bedrooms still have proper windows. This resulted in the following layout:
Aside from the fact that the feeling of cramped space remains here as well, what bothers me about this variant is that, unlike the version with the dormer, it would later be difficult to create 2-3 well-shaped rooms from this space, which would actually be an attractive option for when the children move out.
This is where we are so far! Tomorrow we have an appointment with the architect’s office, into which we would like to go with as clear ideas as possible. Therefore, we would really appreciate any feedback today that could help us to refine and improve the ideas presented here. Thank you in advance for your suggestions!
Best regards,
Kazazi
Personally, I don’t like double doors on the terrace or in the hallway. If you want to get to the kitchen, you have to open the door completely to get past the dining table. For the terrace doors, you’ll need to check—ours can only open up to 100 degrees. This means you can’t open them very wide. If the dining table is positioned like that, it will get very cramped.
In other words: I would plan the terrace exit further east and rather enlarge the gable or bay window to integrate the dining table there. Perhaps consider a sliding door between the hallway and the living room that slides into the wall?
In other words: I would plan the terrace exit further east and rather enlarge the gable or bay window to integrate the dining table there. Perhaps consider a sliding door between the hallway and the living room that slides into the wall?
I’m already outside with a door, but what surprises me in the living room: just under 38sqm (about 408 sq ft) for the living room, kitchen, and dining area for 5 (or more) people?
That is definitely far too small.
You need a table for six, where everyone can comfortably eat three times a day and where guests can also join occasionally (so extendable or similar for 7-8 people).
The dining table in the marked spot probably won’t fit, even though a floor plan with measurements would be better.
You also need a sofa where at least 5 people can comfortably sit or lounge.
And a living room wall unit/furniture, TV, etc.
The kitchen must be designed for 5 people, including the cabinets.
The bar counter drawn into the kitchen is pointless, as the chairs take up even more space and wouldn’t actually be used—you need that space elsewhere.
Maybe rotate the kitchen a bit so that there’s a door and you can exit from there.
Either way, I believe that with an open kitchen, 38sqm (about 408 sq ft) is too little space for what is basically 3 rooms.
That is definitely far too small.
You need a table for six, where everyone can comfortably eat three times a day and where guests can also join occasionally (so extendable or similar for 7-8 people).
The dining table in the marked spot probably won’t fit, even though a floor plan with measurements would be better.
You also need a sofa where at least 5 people can comfortably sit or lounge.
And a living room wall unit/furniture, TV, etc.
The kitchen must be designed for 5 people, including the cabinets.
The bar counter drawn into the kitchen is pointless, as the chairs take up even more space and wouldn’t actually be used—you need that space elsewhere.
Maybe rotate the kitchen a bit so that there’s a door and you can exit from there.
Either way, I believe that with an open kitchen, 38sqm (about 408 sq ft) is too little space for what is basically 3 rooms.
Thank you all for your feedback!
@ Wastl: I agree with you about the dining area and the doors there. They should both face east and not be so large. A sliding door is an interesting idea; we will consider it. We actually didn’t want the gable/bay window at the bottom, or rather, the floor plan should work without it.
@ Bau-Bau: Your comments also mostly convince me. The kitchen, as currently drawn, wastes space; we don’t want it like that. I was thinking more of a longer kitchen run along the north wall plus an island or a shorter counter, maybe starting on the north side? In any case, the south side should be more open, the door further east, and the dining area should flow more easily into the kitchen—ideas welcome!
I’m still not happy with the proportions of the living room overall—it feels too narrow and elongated. I’m just not sure how to fix that best. We were inspired by the floor plan of the “Klassiker 140” by Richter Haus (Google it) with the living room slightly around the corner, but we wanted to swap the kitchen and the additional room.
I think the hallway/utility room/toilet area has simply become too large. Do you think a smaller utility room would be enough if it still needs to fit a drying rack? Any other ideas to shrink this area sensibly?
Overall, our house can’t be much bigger (costs), and based on my parents’ house, I believe 30 sqm (320 sq ft) should be enough for the living and dining area.
Thank you,
Kazazi
@ Wastl: I agree with you about the dining area and the doors there. They should both face east and not be so large. A sliding door is an interesting idea; we will consider it. We actually didn’t want the gable/bay window at the bottom, or rather, the floor plan should work without it.
@ Bau-Bau: Your comments also mostly convince me. The kitchen, as currently drawn, wastes space; we don’t want it like that. I was thinking more of a longer kitchen run along the north wall plus an island or a shorter counter, maybe starting on the north side? In any case, the south side should be more open, the door further east, and the dining area should flow more easily into the kitchen—ideas welcome!
I’m still not happy with the proportions of the living room overall—it feels too narrow and elongated. I’m just not sure how to fix that best. We were inspired by the floor plan of the “Klassiker 140” by Richter Haus (Google it) with the living room slightly around the corner, but we wanted to swap the kitchen and the additional room.
I think the hallway/utility room/toilet area has simply become too large. Do you think a smaller utility room would be enough if it still needs to fit a drying rack? Any other ideas to shrink this area sensibly?
Overall, our house can’t be much bigger (costs), and based on my parents’ house, I believe 30 sqm (320 sq ft) should be enough for the living and dining area.
Thank you,
Kazazi
It is possible for 5 people to live comfortably in 80 sqm (860 sq ft): it can work well, and many people live like this and are happy.
Personally, I love SPACE and ROOM, but of course, that is a matter of personal taste.
To clarify: with the current floor plan, the parents would sleep downstairs and all 3 children upstairs, each with their own room.
Or would the parents and 2 children sleep upstairs and one child alone downstairs?
Each of the 3 children gets their own room, right?
Depending on the building systems, a 10 sqm (110 sq ft) utility room is already the minimum, because what is not shown on your plan includes:
- Washing machine / dryer
- Cabinets for cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaner, etc.
- Recycling bags, interim storage for waste paper, beverage crates, empties, etc.
There is currently no space for a coatroom/wardrobe. For that, the living room door would need to be moved more towards the kitchen.
My idea: a single-leaf door (glass door? for more light) would be sufficient and possibly even a sliding door, to give you more space in the living room.
Do you usually keep your living room door open or closed?
Will there be a converted attic? There is another spiral staircase leading upstairs there.
Personally, I love SPACE and ROOM, but of course, that is a matter of personal taste.
To clarify: with the current floor plan, the parents would sleep downstairs and all 3 children upstairs, each with their own room.
Or would the parents and 2 children sleep upstairs and one child alone downstairs?
Each of the 3 children gets their own room, right?
Depending on the building systems, a 10 sqm (110 sq ft) utility room is already the minimum, because what is not shown on your plan includes:
- Washing machine / dryer
- Cabinets for cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaner, etc.
- Recycling bags, interim storage for waste paper, beverage crates, empties, etc.
There is currently no space for a coatroom/wardrobe. For that, the living room door would need to be moved more towards the kitchen.
My idea: a single-leaf door (glass door? for more light) would be sufficient and possibly even a sliding door, to give you more space in the living room.
Do you usually keep your living room door open or closed?
Will there be a converted attic? There is another spiral staircase leading upstairs there.
Of course, we also like having space and room, but I currently estimate that our budget will only allow for about 130-140 sqm (1400-1500 sq ft) according to the living space regulations. That’s why it’s important for us to make the most out of the space with well-designed rooms.
We are currently planning for Child 1 to be on the ground floor, with parents and Child 2 and 3 in the attic (they are currently 9, 7, and 2 years old, so we definitely want to sleep on the same floor with the youngest). We want to keep the option of finishing the attic open; we’re still undecided whether to include the stairs right away, but there should be space for them in the attic hallway. We would have liked to have a sixth room immediately since we often have guests from out of town (grandparents, friends from abroad), but that would have been too cramped. As long as Child 3 is still small, we can easily share a room with her when guests are visiting. In the long term, once the loft is ready, the downstairs room could be used as a guest room or office, with one child moving into the loft, or the parents’ bedroom could be in the loft with guest/office space downstairs. Or something along those lines...
I like all your living room ideas. I’m not sure yet whether the door will be open or closed. Do you (or anyone else) have any ideas on how to make the utility room/entryway/bathroom corner smaller compared to the rest of the ground floor without losing functionality?
Could some of the utility room functions possibly be relocated to the bathroom, or are there other storage tricks? The only thing that matters to me is that I never have to see a drying rack in my living area again—they really annoy me right now!
We are currently planning for Child 1 to be on the ground floor, with parents and Child 2 and 3 in the attic (they are currently 9, 7, and 2 years old, so we definitely want to sleep on the same floor with the youngest). We want to keep the option of finishing the attic open; we’re still undecided whether to include the stairs right away, but there should be space for them in the attic hallway. We would have liked to have a sixth room immediately since we often have guests from out of town (grandparents, friends from abroad), but that would have been too cramped. As long as Child 3 is still small, we can easily share a room with her when guests are visiting. In the long term, once the loft is ready, the downstairs room could be used as a guest room or office, with one child moving into the loft, or the parents’ bedroom could be in the loft with guest/office space downstairs. Or something along those lines...
I like all your living room ideas. I’m not sure yet whether the door will be open or closed. Do you (or anyone else) have any ideas on how to make the utility room/entryway/bathroom corner smaller compared to the rest of the ground floor without losing functionality?
Could some of the utility room functions possibly be relocated to the bathroom, or are there other storage tricks? The only thing that matters to me is that I never have to see a drying rack in my living area again—they really annoy me right now!
It’s best to first check what knee wall height and maximum overall height are allowed.
Maybe Jaydee’s floor plan could be a good option for you: I really like it, for example.
Before we start overthinking this, just give the architect a quick call to find out what is permitted and what the costs might be.
Maybe Jaydee’s floor plan could be a good option for you: I really like it, for example.
Before we start overthinking this, just give the architect a quick call to find out what is permitted and what the costs might be.
Similar topics