ᐅ Renovation of an Older Building (1966): Two-Family House – Floor Plan Sketch
Created on: 30 Jul 2018 13:39
H
HappyDee45
Hello everyone,
We are currently planning a renovation of an older house built in 1966. Over the years, the house has been extended and remodeled several times. It has previously served as a two-family home. We are taking over the house now and do not want any "stranger" tenants living in it. This means we want/need to live in the house ourselves as a single-family home for the next 1-2 decades at least.
So, we have the challenge—or luxury—of being able to plan a lot of space.
You can find our first draft attached.
Basement:
We do not want to make any changes here for the most part. Only the electricity meter and related equipment need to be removed from the stairwell as part of the electrical upgrade. We have discussed with the electrician to create an “electrical room” in the workshop for this purpose. Everything else will remain as is.
Ground Floor:
On the ground floor, we plan to remove three walls to create a large open living and dining area including the kitchen. The pantry will be prepared as a potential bathroom (water supply and drainage will be renewed). We might want to add a bathroom there in about 10 years. A full guest bedroom is essential for us, due to family circumstances. The office will serve as a home or remote work space for both of us. The “home theater” will probably remain an unused room for now until we have more budget to invest there.
Upper Floor:
On the upper floor, we plan to move the door to the terrace (currently located in the "children’s room") and relocate the wardrobe wall to create a new hallway with access to the terrace. In the bedroom, we will add a wall to create a second bathroom on the upper floor (currently, there is a kitchen in that space).
Attic:
The attic will remain an unheated area and will remain unused or serve as an attic storage space.
This is roughly our current plan. A structural engineer has already reviewed the walls. Most of the work will be done by ourselves. But here, we want to focus on the floor plan.
We are open to all ideas. Please share any constructive feedback.
Thanks and best regards
We are currently planning a renovation of an older house built in 1966. Over the years, the house has been extended and remodeled several times. It has previously served as a two-family home. We are taking over the house now and do not want any "stranger" tenants living in it. This means we want/need to live in the house ourselves as a single-family home for the next 1-2 decades at least.
So, we have the challenge—or luxury—of being able to plan a lot of space.
You can find our first draft attached.
Basement:
We do not want to make any changes here for the most part. Only the electricity meter and related equipment need to be removed from the stairwell as part of the electrical upgrade. We have discussed with the electrician to create an “electrical room” in the workshop for this purpose. Everything else will remain as is.
Ground Floor:
On the ground floor, we plan to remove three walls to create a large open living and dining area including the kitchen. The pantry will be prepared as a potential bathroom (water supply and drainage will be renewed). We might want to add a bathroom there in about 10 years. A full guest bedroom is essential for us, due to family circumstances. The office will serve as a home or remote work space for both of us. The “home theater” will probably remain an unused room for now until we have more budget to invest there.
Upper Floor:
On the upper floor, we plan to move the door to the terrace (currently located in the "children’s room") and relocate the wardrobe wall to create a new hallway with access to the terrace. In the bedroom, we will add a wall to create a second bathroom on the upper floor (currently, there is a kitchen in that space).
Attic:
The attic will remain an unheated area and will remain unused or serve as an attic storage space.
This is roughly our current plan. A structural engineer has already reviewed the walls. Most of the work will be done by ourselves. But here, we want to focus on the floor plan.
We are open to all ideas. Please share any constructive feedback.
Thanks and best regards
I would have combined the bathroom and the small hose WC on the upper floor. It’s only 4 years old, but the wall won’t be removed later. It’s also more convenient. Children need help on the toilet at first, and you should be able to turn around comfortably.
I don’t like the parent’s area on the upper floor. The wardrobe, sleeping area, and bathroom belong together. I would reconsider the layout there.
Children’s room 3 = bedroom, bedroom = dressing room, bathroom with bathtub. Such a large house and no bathtub.
The third children’s room isn’t really needed as a children’s room anyway.
Depending on the age, I would consider replacing the windows now.
Plan a staircase from the terrace to the garden.
I don’t like the parent’s area on the upper floor. The wardrobe, sleeping area, and bathroom belong together. I would reconsider the layout there.
Children’s room 3 = bedroom, bedroom = dressing room, bathroom with bathtub. Such a large house and no bathtub.
The third children’s room isn’t really needed as a children’s room anyway.
Depending on the age, I would consider replacing the windows now.
Plan a staircase from the terrace to the garden.
H
HappyDee4530 Jul 2018 15:15kaho674 schrieb:
At first glance, I think the plan is quite well thought out.
Where I would seriously reconsider is the question of the third child's bedroom. If you really need three, okay. But if two bedrooms are enough, I would completely remove the currently planned "closet room" and instead design a spacious living gallery there. The bedroom would move to the planned third child’s room, and the dressing room would be where the current bedroom is. Access to the balcony might need to be relocated.Interesting idea – thanks! It’s a difficult question since we don’t even have a child yet. Maybe it won’t happen at all, or maybe there will be four kids… as you know, you can’t predict that. Our wish is for three children, so for now, we’ll boldly proceed with this assumption when we start the renovation.
My partner would really like direct access to a private bathroom from the master bedroom. To keep effort and costs manageable, combining the bedroom and bathroom in the current kitchen space seems sensible. A wardrobe across the hallway isn’t ideal, but at least the bathrobe will get plenty of use.
haydee schrieb:
I would also combine the bathroom on the upper floor with the tiny separate WC. It’s only four years old, but that wall won’t be removed later anyway. It’s more comfortable that way. Kids need help on the toilet at first, and you want to be able to turn around there.
I don’t like the master bedroom layout on the upper floor. Wardrobe, sleeping area, and bathroom should be grouped together. I would reconsider that.
Child’s bedroom 3 = bedroom, bedroom = dressing room, bathroom with bathtub. Such a big house and no bathtub at all.
Is the third child's bedroom really necessary as a bedroom?
Depending on the age of the children, you might want to consider replacing the windows now.
Plan a staircase from the terrace down into the garden.You’re right about removing the wall. We’ll reconsider that. But it’s hard to justify spending that money unnecessarily.
There is a bathtub located along the far wall of the upper floor bathroom. It would be a shame to have no tub at all, especially with children.
I like the idea of using the third child’s bedroom as the master bedroom. Do you mean then turning the current master bedroom into a dressing room and bathroom space behind it?
The question remains: where to put the third child’s room if everything goes as planned and we have three kids? In the 12 m² (130 sq ft) room? It feels a bit awkward since the other two rooms are about 20 m² (215 sq ft) each.
The windows are double-glazed with gas filling and the frames are in good condition. We’ll save that money for now.
haydee schrieb:
Children's room 3 = bedroom, bedroom = walk-in closet, bathroom with bathtub...
The 3rd children's room is actually not needed as a children's room.
2:1 independently. I would say the original poster has been outvoted. 🙂Then use the walk-in closet as a buffer. If there is a third child, it will become the baby or toddler’s room, and later the small room will be swapped with the guest room downstairs.
I would definitely plan a nice master suite by combining children’s bedroom 3, the bedroom, and the bathroom. You don’t want to have to put on a bathrobe after showering just to get a new shirt.
I would definitely plan a nice master suite by combining children’s bedroom 3, the bedroom, and the bathroom. You don’t want to have to put on a bathrobe after showering just to get a new shirt.
H
HappyDee4530 Jul 2018 15:25... okay, okay! We'll talk about it again. What you’re saying really makes sense ;-)
I would take another look at the windows. I have no idea how extensive the corridor damage will be if the windows are replaced. The window reveals will probably need to be replastered and painted. It would be a shame if everything else is new and then the windows still need to be replaced. I would also check how well they are sealed and how smoothly they close.
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