ᐅ Floor Plan Ideas for the Ground Floor of a Semi-Detached House
Created on: 23 May 2022 18:05
T
Thunderbolz
Hello everyone,
I am looking for ideas to optimize the use of space on the ground floor of our semi-detached house currently under construction.
The floor plans show the standard versions. We would like to close off the hallway to create a small entrance area. This is a bit challenging because the staircase and the door to the boiler room are awkwardly positioned. The boiler room door can only be installed to open outwards.
We are also considering extending the wall between the stairs and the living room to create a TV corner there. However, we are unsure if this would reduce the natural light too much.
The house is oriented east-west and has interior dimensions of 5.47 m x 11.37 m (18 ft x 37 ft).
I would appreciate any ideas!
I am looking for ideas to optimize the use of space on the ground floor of our semi-detached house currently under construction.
The floor plans show the standard versions. We would like to close off the hallway to create a small entrance area. This is a bit challenging because the staircase and the door to the boiler room are awkwardly positioned. The boiler room door can only be installed to open outwards.
We are also considering extending the wall between the stairs and the living room to create a TV corner there. However, we are unsure if this would reduce the natural light too much.
The house is oriented east-west and has interior dimensions of 5.47 m x 11.37 m (18 ft x 37 ft).
I would appreciate any ideas!
T
Thunderbolz25 May 2022 10:30Does anyone have an opinion on this?
The windows, staircase, heating room, and bathroom cannot be changed. Only the wall in the kitchen can be modified, as well as possibly the door swings (but only outward or inward as shown in the floor plans).
The storage room is fixed for us. In the niche by the staircase, a narrow wall cabinet or shelf could possibly be installed (this will be checked for feasibility). It would mainly be used for decorative purposes (lighting, decor, books...).
The hallway is not very spacious but sufficient. We currently have a slightly smaller hallway in our rental apartment and manage well, so the hallway in the house represents an improvement for us.
A niche would make the kitchen feel too cramped for us. We want to keep that comfortable.
The windows, staircase, heating room, and bathroom cannot be changed. Only the wall in the kitchen can be modified, as well as possibly the door swings (but only outward or inward as shown in the floor plans).
The storage room is fixed for us. In the niche by the staircase, a narrow wall cabinet or shelf could possibly be installed (this will be checked for feasibility). It would mainly be used for decorative purposes (lighting, decor, books...).
The hallway is not very spacious but sufficient. We currently have a slightly smaller hallway in our rental apartment and manage well, so the hallway in the house represents an improvement for us.
A niche would make the kitchen feel too cramped for us. We want to keep that comfortable.
M
Myrna_Loy25 May 2022 10:57Do you have children or are you planning to have any? A hallway without a coat rack is a nightmare when you have kids.
Your suggestion doesn’t improve anything, and the kitchen just feels cramped, cluttered, and awkwardly laid out.
Your suggestion doesn’t improve anything, and the kitchen just feels cramped, cluttered, and awkwardly laid out.
T
Thunderbolz25 May 2022 11:38It should be clear to everyone that we will only find compromise solutions with this floor plan. I was hoping to receive constructive feedback and new ideas to improve the layout. Some ideas have come up—thank you for that. Not all of them are suitable or feasible for me, and that should be acceptable. Dwelling on how bad the floor plan or certain ideas are doesn’t help me move forward.
Yes, we have children, and our current hallway is not a disaster ("GAU"), but it is certainly not luxurious either.
My idea improves several aspects.
1. Closed hallway = No cold air flowing into the living area.
2. Separate heating circuit in the hallway that doesn’t have to be used = lower heating costs.
3. Slanted wall in the hallway = creates enough space between the open door and the stairway down, plus a direct view into the room when entering.
4. Extended wall in the living room = creates a cozy living area and space for a TV, etc.
5. With straight walls, the kitchen seems sufficiently wide to me. The refrigerator could possibly be placed next to the oven cabinet. However, this might compromise ergonomics and possibly increase energy use (heat from the oven vs. refrigerator???). If anyone has constructive suggestions for improvement here, please share them.
Yes, we have children, and our current hallway is not a disaster ("GAU"), but it is certainly not luxurious either.
My idea improves several aspects.
1. Closed hallway = No cold air flowing into the living area.
2. Separate heating circuit in the hallway that doesn’t have to be used = lower heating costs.
3. Slanted wall in the hallway = creates enough space between the open door and the stairway down, plus a direct view into the room when entering.
4. Extended wall in the living room = creates a cozy living area and space for a TV, etc.
5. With straight walls, the kitchen seems sufficiently wide to me. The refrigerator could possibly be placed next to the oven cabinet. However, this might compromise ergonomics and possibly increase energy use (heat from the oven vs. refrigerator???). If anyone has constructive suggestions for improvement here, please share them.
1st and 2nd: You are overestimating the effect. (We have a similar layout, and the door from the hallway to the open living area is almost always open, only closed when cooking.)
5th: I don’t like the kitchen at all. You spend more time at the sink than at the stove. And then in the last corner, with your back to the family. But of course, if the neighbors are more interesting than your own children, then go ahead. And the tall cabinet on your right blocks your view at the stove again.
No, no, I would place the sink and stove in a 300 cm (118 inch) run on the left side, with 300 cm (118 inch) tall cabinets on the right, 100 or 120 cm (39 or 47 inch) of which could be designed as a work niche with a roller shutter or lift door. Then you won’t have any problems with the corner cabinets. Having the refrigerator next to the oven is usually not an issue.
You don’t really use the full length of the kitchen in your proposal, so 300 cm (118 inch) should actually be enough. You could instead enlarge the dining area or maybe carve out a niche for the hallway since you need the space there more than in the kitchen.
Oh, and given the narrow hallway, I would also recommend making the doors to the utility room and the bathroom sliding doors.
5th: I don’t like the kitchen at all. You spend more time at the sink than at the stove. And then in the last corner, with your back to the family. But of course, if the neighbors are more interesting than your own children, then go ahead. And the tall cabinet on your right blocks your view at the stove again.
No, no, I would place the sink and stove in a 300 cm (118 inch) run on the left side, with 300 cm (118 inch) tall cabinets on the right, 100 or 120 cm (39 or 47 inch) of which could be designed as a work niche with a roller shutter or lift door. Then you won’t have any problems with the corner cabinets. Having the refrigerator next to the oven is usually not an issue.
You don’t really use the full length of the kitchen in your proposal, so 300 cm (118 inch) should actually be enough. You could instead enlarge the dining area or maybe carve out a niche for the hallway since you need the space there more than in the kitchen.
Oh, and given the narrow hallway, I would also recommend making the doors to the utility room and the bathroom sliding doors.
Thunderbolz schrieb:
1. Closed hallway = No cool air flowing into the living area.
2. Separate heating circuit in the hallway that doesn’t need to be used = lower heating costsWhat cool air? You are mistaken in assuming older houses with drafty doors and windows as a basis. Modern houses are well sealed, so there is no wind to catch.
Furthermore, why a separate heating circuit? The house is planned as an integrated concept regarding the heating load calculation; heating individual rooms or areas separately is not effective.
Try to let go of that mindset.
Thunderbolz schrieb:
Does anyone have an opinion on this? Yes. I don’t find the solution functional.
Thunderbolz schrieb:
The hallway is not comfortable but sufficient. I see that differently. The hallway is pure luxury, but I mainly see disadvantages in this narrow corridor.
I don’t see any way to store coats or shoes—at least not for the whole family. And for me, arriving home means something else.
Personally, I consider a closet, ideally a built-in wardrobe given the dimensions, necessary—rather than a closed-off, very cramped hallway.
I would personally end the kitchen partition wall right after the toilet to create more openness in that area.
I also find it unattractive that the small window area is further blocked by furniture or extended walls, which prevent light from reaching the center of the house.
My opinion leans toward rotating the sofa and placing the TV on the exterior wall. No matter how you look at it, the standard furnishing setup, as it is usually done, has proven effective—especially with the distance of about 5.50m (18 ft).
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