ᐅ Ideas, Feedback, Opinions

Created on: 17 Apr 2016 17:28
M
Manusch
Hello,

we are currently planning our own home and have just received the first preliminary draft from the designer. We basically like the design, but we are unsure whether the size of the individual rooms and thus the overall size of the house is sufficient. The construction company's offer is still pending. If there is still some flexibility, we would like to increase the living area a bit.

I think everyone has their own ideas about how large certain rooms should be, but perhaps you have some suggestions on what you find impractical or what we should urgently reconsider.

Now to the basics:

Development plan / restrictions
Plot size: 815 sqm (9,000 sq ft)
Slope: no
Number of floors: 1.5 according to development plan
Roof type: mono-pitched roof
Orientation: entrance facing north
Maximum heights / limits: none specified

Homeowner requirements
Basement, floors: no basement, 1.5 floors
Number of occupants, age: currently 2 (29 & 32), children planned
Room requirements on ground floor, upper floor
Office: family use or home office? Wife is a teacher...
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, cooking island: yes
Fireplace: yes
Balcony, roof terrace: yes
Garage, carport: yes
Utility garden, greenhouse: no

House design
Who designed the plan:
- Designer from a construction company

Price estimate according to architect/designer: €1600 per sqm (detailed offer still pending)
Personal price limit for the house, including fittings: 290k
Preferred heating technology: air-source heat pump
L
Legurit
18 Apr 2016 07:45
In general, I think it’s good!
Some detailed questions remain open. The T-junction solution might be omitted, how wide is the garage driveway, a 24cm (10 inch) tread is a no-go, etc.

How big is the house?
M
Manusch
18 Apr 2016 18:19
The current plan includes 140.11 sqm (1,507 sqft), divided into 76.49 sqm (823 sqft) on the ground floor and 63.62 sqm (685 sqft) in the upper floor.

The objection regarding the tread is very valid; we have not considered that aspect until now.

As mentioned, we are still waiting for the builder’s offer. If there is some flexibility, we would like to increase the living area.
L
Legurit
18 Apr 2016 18:38
We started with 26cm (10.2 inches) and increased it to 27cm (10.6 inches) using metal edging – this is something we would do differently in our next house (though it still works).

One problem is that a design often hinges on the staircase – however, you could simply extend the staircase by, for example, setting back the front door. You would lose the porch, but gain more natural light in the hallway.

A suggestion: move the door back to the wall at the bottom of the plan, remove the window near the cloakroom, and place the cloakroom against the bottom wall. To maintain symmetry, just remove the window in the office as well. This would allow you to widen the bathroom by about 10–20cm (4–8 inches), which would make the layout feel less cramped. Dimensions would be helpful 😉
MarcWen18 Apr 2016 20:19
Why have a kitchen island? Just because everyone wants one or because it’s supposed to be trendy?

As planned, it doesn’t offer any real benefit... I would remove it and consider an L or U shape instead, so that two people can work comfortably in the kitchen.
L
Legurit
18 Apr 2016 20:28
Kitchen island bashing is the kitchen island planning of the forum 😀
But no, Marc is right... although the dimensions are missing, it can already be strongly assumed that the kitchen lacks enough space.
I would plan a G-shaped layout; cooktop in the row where the sink is, sink in front of the window; regular window.
MarcWen18 Apr 2016 21:14
Well, we also really wanted an island and had been advised against it, so we abandoned the idea, even with a 20 m² (215 sq ft) kitchen.