ᐅ Floor Plan Revision: Tips and Experiences for Improvement?
Created on: 29 Aug 2025 22:16
P
Philip St
Hello,
we had a local construction company prepare a design for our future building project, which we have already revised several times. We would be very grateful for tips or alternative design ideas for the current plan.
We would like an exposed roof truss and would prefer to do without the otherwise very small attic space.
We accepted the steep driveway in order to achieve a better view.
The terrace at the back is currently only accessible through the garden.
Construction is planned for about 8 months from now for various reasons. Two adults, two children (who will then be 13 and 11 years old).
Slightly sloped plot, 670sqm (7,215 sqft).
Development Plan / Restrictions
No development plan / zoning restrictions
Plot size
670sqm (7,215 sqft)
Slope
Yes, visible in the plan
Floor Area Ratio
2 (The builder said otherwise it would look too bulky and we only want two floors)
Number of parking spaces
We need at least two car spaces
Garage large enough for easy entry and exit. Parking in front of the garage must also be possible.
Roof style
Gable roof, staggered shed roof, flexible at this point, preferably with exposed roof truss because the current attic space is very limited
Architectural style
Modern, with lots of wood
Orientation
South
Maximum height / limits
Unknown to me. Neighbor does not accept any setback easement, so we have added greenery on the east side of the patio towards them.
Owners’ Requirements
Number of occupants
Two adults, 40 years old, two children, 11 and 13 years old
Office: Family use or home office?
Office to be usable as a guest room, no home office needed. Still requires a desk and cabinets
Possibly later on the upper floor as the parents’ bedroom, so one child can use the ground floor granny flat. So two separate living units.
Guest bedrooms per year
Very rare visitors
Open or closed architecture
Open, but with retreat options
Conservative or modern construction style
Modern
Open kitchen with cooking island
Seating for 8
Fireplace yes
Balcony currently planned, slightly overhangs the terrace below
Roof terrace on garage
Garage as a large multi-purpose garage with some storage space
Utility garden for ornamental plants, many shrubs, and a hedge at the front for privacy. We would prefer to avoid a shed.
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons why certain things should or shouldn’t be
We want to take advantage of the view since the plot was expensive.
We are not fully satisfied with the current design, as I explained in the post.
Steep driveway, path from garage to kitchen, after the stairs you face a wall upstairs and don’t have a direct view out of the windows, roof terrace is isolated, no quick garden access from the upper floor to the north terrace
House Design
Who created the plan:
Construction company from our area, one architect prepared the plan
What do you particularly like? Why?
Good use of space inside and outdoors for a small plot
Enough garden area remains
Bright rooms, sleeping downstairs, living upstairs, large dining area, fireplace in living area, possible two living units later, half-landing stairs
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
680k including exterior works
Personal price limit for the house including fittings: 700k excluding land
Preferred heating technology: Air heat pump
If you had to give up something, which details or features
We are completely flexible
Why is the design like it is?
Standard design from the planner? No, it was individually planned, but largely without us and with little discussion about details, no advice
Attached are images and the site plan.
we had a local construction company prepare a design for our future building project, which we have already revised several times. We would be very grateful for tips or alternative design ideas for the current plan.
We would like an exposed roof truss and would prefer to do without the otherwise very small attic space.
We accepted the steep driveway in order to achieve a better view.
The terrace at the back is currently only accessible through the garden.
Construction is planned for about 8 months from now for various reasons. Two adults, two children (who will then be 13 and 11 years old).
Slightly sloped plot, 670sqm (7,215 sqft).
Development Plan / Restrictions
No development plan / zoning restrictions
Plot size
670sqm (7,215 sqft)
Slope
Yes, visible in the plan
Floor Area Ratio
2 (The builder said otherwise it would look too bulky and we only want two floors)
Number of parking spaces
We need at least two car spaces
Garage large enough for easy entry and exit. Parking in front of the garage must also be possible.
Roof style
Gable roof, staggered shed roof, flexible at this point, preferably with exposed roof truss because the current attic space is very limited
Architectural style
Modern, with lots of wood
Orientation
South
Maximum height / limits
Unknown to me. Neighbor does not accept any setback easement, so we have added greenery on the east side of the patio towards them.
Owners’ Requirements
Number of occupants
Two adults, 40 years old, two children, 11 and 13 years old
Office: Family use or home office?
Office to be usable as a guest room, no home office needed. Still requires a desk and cabinets
Possibly later on the upper floor as the parents’ bedroom, so one child can use the ground floor granny flat. So two separate living units.
Guest bedrooms per year
Very rare visitors
Open or closed architecture
Open, but with retreat options
Conservative or modern construction style
Modern
Open kitchen with cooking island
Seating for 8
Fireplace yes
Balcony currently planned, slightly overhangs the terrace below
Roof terrace on garage
Garage as a large multi-purpose garage with some storage space
Utility garden for ornamental plants, many shrubs, and a hedge at the front for privacy. We would prefer to avoid a shed.
Additional wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons why certain things should or shouldn’t be
We want to take advantage of the view since the plot was expensive.
We are not fully satisfied with the current design, as I explained in the post.
Steep driveway, path from garage to kitchen, after the stairs you face a wall upstairs and don’t have a direct view out of the windows, roof terrace is isolated, no quick garden access from the upper floor to the north terrace
House Design
Who created the plan:
Construction company from our area, one architect prepared the plan
What do you particularly like? Why?
Good use of space inside and outdoors for a small plot
Enough garden area remains
Bright rooms, sleeping downstairs, living upstairs, large dining area, fireplace in living area, possible two living units later, half-landing stairs
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
680k including exterior works
Personal price limit for the house including fittings: 700k excluding land
Preferred heating technology: Air heat pump
If you had to give up something, which details or features
We are completely flexible
Why is the design like it is?
Standard design from the planner? No, it was individually planned, but largely without us and with little discussion about details, no advice
Attached are images and the site plan.
H
hanghaus20238 Sep 2025 13:034 minutes?
It seems the decision has been made for two full stories.
It seems the decision has been made for two full stories.
H
hanghaus20239 Sep 2025 09:18I find it unfair if you want to assign the granny flat to only one child. So my question is, why impose this requirement at all?
P
Philip St9 Sep 2025 09:55If we were to put two children's rooms on the upper floor, they would end up unused later on. This way, I can use the space more effectively or even rent it out.
Philip St schrieb:
If we put two children's bedrooms on the upper floor, they will be empty later on. This way, I can use the space efficiently or even rent it out. Children’s rooms become grandchildren’s rooms or hobby rooms. Nothing stays empty.
Here: a single child gets the apartment, child 2 gets married, has children, and has to stay in a hotel or rent a holiday home when visiting because there are no rooms in the "apartment in the single-family house."
On the topic of converting a house into two apartments:
Consider your lifestyle.
In 15 years, the children will be 26 and 28, and you will be 55. The children will have completed or be completing their education. They will follow their own paths, whether alone or with a partner, close by or far away.
One child may need an apartment; with a partner it would probably be too small, so that could only be a temporary solution.
At 55, and even earlier when the kids move out, you will be at an age where you want to enjoy the house without children, benefiting from having two rooms (only two rooms) free to use. Separate sleeping areas or an additional hobby room.
At that point, you won’t want to live on just one level of the house, without a walk-in closet and only a guest bathroom.
Assuming one child by age 35 has not achieved independent living with comfort, you will then be about 62 years old, still working and active in life. The same applies: you will not want to limit yourself, and you don’t have to. Grandchildren can use a former children’s room when they stay overnight.
In 30 years, you will be 70, but even then: these are your golden years, enjoying your own home with its benefits. Although grandchildren may no longer stay overnight since they are not interested, you will still appreciate your personal space. You might even consider a caregiver, who could occupy a former child’s room. You may also need physiotherapy equipment by then, which can be conveniently accommodated.
Perhaps you already know now that one child will have to stay because of special needs. But these facts belong in the initial thread, in the questionnaire, since they are indirectly asked about. For now, let’s assume no child will be dependent later on.
If you look at it this way and consider that the partner might also be unwilling to live with their parents, but you are worried the house will eventually become too large, what options remain?
Maybe the idea is to plan a proper master bedroom with an appropriate shower bathroom on the upper floor right away and live there so that you don’t have to compromise later.
Downstairs would be for the children, with a study and a second (children’s) bathroom, allowing you as "older parents" to spread out as described earlier. Much later, a caregiver could actually move downstairs with suitable rooms, separate from the family bathroom, but more compact.
What other options remain? Of course, selling a house that has become too large and moving into something more compact, suitable for an older couple, without a slope, stairs, or unnecessary rooms.
Philip St schrieb:
Two adults, 40 years old, two children, 11 and 13 years old
Consider your lifestyle.
In 15 years, the children will be 26 and 28, and you will be 55. The children will have completed or be completing their education. They will follow their own paths, whether alone or with a partner, close by or far away.
One child may need an apartment; with a partner it would probably be too small, so that could only be a temporary solution.
At 55, and even earlier when the kids move out, you will be at an age where you want to enjoy the house without children, benefiting from having two rooms (only two rooms) free to use. Separate sleeping areas or an additional hobby room.
At that point, you won’t want to live on just one level of the house, without a walk-in closet and only a guest bathroom.
Assuming one child by age 35 has not achieved independent living with comfort, you will then be about 62 years old, still working and active in life. The same applies: you will not want to limit yourself, and you don’t have to. Grandchildren can use a former children’s room when they stay overnight.
In 30 years, you will be 70, but even then: these are your golden years, enjoying your own home with its benefits. Although grandchildren may no longer stay overnight since they are not interested, you will still appreciate your personal space. You might even consider a caregiver, who could occupy a former child’s room. You may also need physiotherapy equipment by then, which can be conveniently accommodated.
Perhaps you already know now that one child will have to stay because of special needs. But these facts belong in the initial thread, in the questionnaire, since they are indirectly asked about. For now, let’s assume no child will be dependent later on.
If you look at it this way and consider that the partner might also be unwilling to live with their parents, but you are worried the house will eventually become too large, what options remain?
Maybe the idea is to plan a proper master bedroom with an appropriate shower bathroom on the upper floor right away and live there so that you don’t have to compromise later.
Downstairs would be for the children, with a study and a second (children’s) bathroom, allowing you as "older parents" to spread out as described earlier. Much later, a caregiver could actually move downstairs with suitable rooms, separate from the family bathroom, but more compact.
What other options remain? Of course, selling a house that has become too large and moving into something more compact, suitable for an older couple, without a slope, stairs, or unnecessary rooms.
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