ᐅ Large single-family house with 4 children’s bedrooms – adaptable into 2 separate living units

A consultant from a major general contractor said right at the beginning that we are not the cheapest. I will never claim that either. The same house, with the same features and quality, costs the same everywhere. There are no 5% variations – if there are, something is wrong.

This is contradictory. If there is no significant price difference for the same quality, then there is neither cheap nor expensive. The "expensive" option offers better quality, while the "cheap" one provides a simpler, possibly "lower" quality. "Cheap" and "expensive" are subjective terms that do not belong in this context.

And it simply isn’t true. A general contractor (GC) is definitely able to offer their best-selling model at a price that a competitor with more custom designs cannot match.
This is the discount retailer principle: standardization, volume, and low purchase prices lead to low selling prices. You just have to buy it as it is, without custom requests. Everything is possible.

But this is where it becomes difficult. Are there even standard floor plans with 4 children’s bedrooms?

Marcus. schrieb:

@ypg: We wanted the utility room where the laundry happens, and with the layout near the stairs, we had to figure out how to manage with an L-shaped pipe. I think it works for us. And if the kids prefer the shower bathroom later on, that’s fine by me.

What do you mean? Did I say anything about the utility room? Your laundry setup is shown in the technical room – I haven’t commented on that, since a separate utility room on the upper floor for six people does take up quite a bit of space. I actually like having a utility room upstairs, but with two floors it hardly matters. Or are you referring to your bathroom upstairs? Should one have to wade through piles of laundry to get to the toilet?

Marcus. schrieb:

Your parents’ case is interesting.

It’s not really interesting – it just reflects typical situations for elderly seniors or small children. If you can’t accommodate that, so be it.

Marcus. schrieb:

But if needed, rooms can be swapped. A larger bed also fits in the home office (3 x 4.2m (10 x 14 feet)),

But it wouldn’t be accessible with a walking aid. Apartments for elderly people, even if it’s just one room, should serve other functions than, for example, a child’s bedroom.

Marcus. schrieb:

2.7m (9 feet) in the guest room: As long as it’s a guest room, that’s fine. You can (but it costs quite a bit of closet space) turn the bed and place it by the window.

That doesn’t work either, because the corner gets in the way. Then you can’t go around the bed at all.

Marcus. schrieb:

At the latest, there’s enough space in the current living room for such a worst-case scenario.

You don’t seriously want to relocate older people behind the open-plan kitchen into the living room—far from the toilet and always in the view of family or guests?! The parents wouldn’t have any privacy left. I do expect a somewhat more respectful perspective if you ask for justified criticism, especially since you’re presenting them here on a silver platter. Downplaying facts, even when it concerns active and not severely limited people, seems somewhat lacking in empathy toward this golden age.

Marcus. schrieb:

“I don’t see scenes of family life here.” -> Interesting. What kind of scenes?

Marcus. schrieb:

“Family dinners” (kitchen / outside)

Before I continue, to clarify again: we are discussing a desired household for six people.

The classic Christmas tree scene as a fixed image. I don’t want to start about making music at home, but why not? Children are often musically educated, which might also require space somewhere. This stands as just a placeholder for many things. The other scenes you yourself mentioned could theoretically happen, but many things are just tight. Where does guests go? When sitting at the table, do you have to squeeze through or lean over somewhere? You can't easily put down unplanned items or just dance without moving furniture. It’s just that you don’t want to send other residents off somewhere to sit. Movement, gymnastics, “Mom, look!”… The seniors, as I said, get in the way, and sometimes it’s actually better to just keep them in the bedroom. Some prefer their seniors bedridden and sleeping because then their needs are easier to handle. But I don’t want to exaggerate situations.*
And without seniors: two kids are doing homework or crafting at the dining table, and suddenly the way to the garden is only accessible through the kitchen passage because the chairs block the way.

Marcus. schrieb:

There’s no nice large practical terrace door: There are quite a few windows. Floor-to-ceiling windows limit possibilities somewhat (you can’t put anything in front of them), and when sitting at a table, some have their backs to the windows and others have to look past the people/the table. That reduces the effect.

That describes your design. My quick and dirty suggestion avoids furniture in front of a window at least. Everyone can enjoy the wonderful garden view. And not only that: You can walk outside onto the terrace without worrying about moving something. In summer months, the garden is the house’s living room anyway, while the terrace replaces the dining area. And the parent doesn’t have to shuffle some stuff away from the door before worst case having to step out into the garden.

Marcus. schrieb:

There are some tall trees visible from the windows, plus other stuff.

That’s great, actually, saves some biology lessons when you have that in your garden and can look at it.

Marcus. schrieb:

Large window fronts which don’t feel quite so important to us.

Marcus. schrieb:

I know floor-to-ceiling windows, but I don’t really need them? If they are useful and fit, okay, but somehow I don’t find them necessary. Am I missing something here?

Either you are, or you’re a bit out of touch with reality. I’d put it this way: Why wouldn’t you want to have a view into your own garden (didn’t you even have a pond?), which obviously offers so much already? It hardly costs more. There’s brightness, and everything else has already been mentioned by @haydee. Even workplace safety recommends looking into the distance several times an hour, and this is much easier with larger windows. Some people pay good money for a nice view. And you want to do something for the resale value, right?!

Long story short: a head of household very often wrongly assumes that all their chicks behave the same way and have the same needs and daily routines. Here I also see that you have thought about a room for the parents, but I don’t see that they actively participate in the household. Living together is more than just assigning everyone a place at the table or a room.

Marcus. schrieb:

Wardrobe cabinet: actually we don’t want a closet but coat hooks.

Haha, I know some for whom the top priority in the house is no visible jackets at all. I won’t say more about that, @haydee already explained it well.

Marcus. schrieb:

May not look very tidy to some,

Marcus. schrieb:

Grandparents (at least ours) are bothered by clutter otherwise (even if they accept it sometimes),

That seems to be the key factor to a harmonious coexistence 😉

Marcus. schrieb:

The technical room is on the west side (longer pipe runs),

That really doesn’t matter at this distance (10/15 meters (33/49 feet)) at all. We’re not talking about a deep narrow plot with 50-meter (164 feet) pipes. It’s just as wrong a thought as thinking the bathroom absolutely has to be above the technical room. Here it’s convenient to have a side entrance directly from the garden, where you can also carry flower pots or laundry in and out.

Marcus. schrieb:

The bathroom only has a north-facing window, and there’s one room less.

Quick & dirty… I know it’s hard to imagine a window differently in your mind 😉 Yes, one room less, but the whole ground floor layout works.

Marcus. schrieb:

The grandparents’ reserved comment is that they prefer the version with more rooms.

Oh, are they getting the office or just a say in the house?

Marcus. schrieb:

In the later scenario when the house is separated

A lot will have to be remodeled anyway. In 30 years or so?

Marcus. schrieb:

With the current plan, for example, a bike carport or similar fits next to the technical room. In principle, it also fits in the southeast corner.

I really don’t care where it ends up. It’s just an example of something you have to consider in a plan, and it was missing – you might also need a building permit/planning permission.

Marcus. schrieb:

And in the worst case, it’ll be converted into a student residence with 8 rooms at sale time. Is that a thinking error?

Well, I was actually thinking of a shared living community. They only have enough space for seating in the kitchen according to the number of residents.

Marcus. schrieb:

“A bit alarming!” Probably so. We’re currently quite happy in principle. At a level where I previously thought everything couldn’t be squeezed under one roof.

Yes, I can understand that. You did put effort into it. And your Tetris almost works out. But collective wisdom or I myself do recognize the shortcomings. I’ve rarely encountered anyone who wasn’t proud of their creation, whether it was good or bad: it’s just fun to work with a tool and watch your house take shape. But you also have to admit: love can blind you. At first, it’s infatuation, then after weeks it’s more stable love for the house. Being blind to faults leads to asking in a forum, but you had your reasons for every wall projection. And the tool can turn an amateur into a real architect. So you can’t really be wrong. I’m also a mathematician because I can use a calculator.

Marcus. schrieb:

I appreciate honest, well-founded criticism—the more detailed, the better.

And what did it bring? Now you’re on the defensive. That usually happens only in hostile attacks or if you feel personally attacked. Well, it’s up to you what you make of the criticism. I’m done. P.S. Personally, I don’t care for these ping-pong exchanges. The expert needs to meet the layperson at their level—and that’s what you get in return. Here one also has to mention the outdated external views. A nice appearance need not cost more.

I forgot: a hallway without any coat storage planning (4 people)

ypg schrieb:

I forgot: a hallway with missing wardrobe planning (4 people)

Thanks for the example of complete detachment. You have basically reached the Neptune of expectations.
What exactly is so terrible about this wardrobe?

MachsSelbst schrieb:

What is so terrible about this wardrobe?

Everyone sees it from their own perspective. You seem to like it.

ypg schrieb:

Here, unfortunately, the outdated exterior views must also be mentioned. Nice appearance doesn’t have to cost more.

But "outdated" is still a very mild way to put it.