Hello everyone,
I have been following this forum for a while and now have a few questions myself, as we are slowly reaching the decisive phase.
I hope I have answered everything so far; if not, please feel free to ask again. Thanks.
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size 509 m² (5475 sq ft)
Slope yes
Site coverage ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio ?
Building window, building line, and boundary as per plan, street (cul-de-sac, about 7 houses to be built after us) is to the south.
Edge development
Number of parking spaces 1.5 per dwelling unit; storage space in front of garage at least 5 m (16 ft)
Number of floors
Roof type gable roof (pitch: 25–35°)
Architectural style
Orientation
Maximum heights/limits eaves height 4.5 m (15 ft); building height 7.5 m (25 ft)
Additional requirements max. 2 dwelling units;
Homeowners’ requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type timber frame construction, solid basement
Basement, floors basement, ground floor, upper floor
Number of occupants, ages 2 adults + 2 children (1 and 3 years old) (+ 1 child?)
Room requirements on ground floor and upper floor
Basement: storage cellar, technical room, office (possibly later home office)
Ground floor: living/dining and parents’ bedroom, parents’ bathroom, dressing room, kitchen, guest toilet, possibly pantry or small storage room
Upper floor: 2 children’s rooms, 1 office (possibly another children’s room), bathroom, possibly storage room
Office: family use or home office? Currently family use, possibly later home office
Overnight guests per year rarely
Open or closed architecture open, but separated parents’ area
Conservative or modern construction style
Open kitchen, kitchen island open kitchen, rather no kitchen island
Number of dining seats 8
Fireplace yes
Music/stereo wall ?
Balcony, roof terrace possibly
Garage, carport double garage
Utility garden, greenhouse yes, small area in garden
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why certain things should or should not be
House design
Who created the plan:
- Architect
- Do-it-yourself
What do you especially like? Why?
What do you not like? Why?
Estimated price according to architect/planner: €450,000
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings:
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump with water-cooled fireplace
If you have to do without, which details/extensions can you do without: pantry
Which details/extensions can you not do without:
Why did the design turn out as it is now? For example,
Standard design from the planner? We roughly sketched our idea and the architect fully revised it. Still without windows etc., as we have several fundamentally different floor plans.
Overall, we are satisfied with the floor plan.
We still have a few changes/questions:
- Possibly omitting the door to the kitchen to allow for a larger corner cupboard there, since we don’t have a pantry.
- Removing the windbreak area between garage and house. We want to keep the passage open for now.
- We currently have a dining corner bench and want to keep it. Therefore, we are considering installing a wall (only as high as the corner bench or kitchen counter) between the kitchen and the corner bench.
I have been following this forum for a while and now have a few questions myself, as we are slowly reaching the decisive phase.
I hope I have answered everything so far; if not, please feel free to ask again. Thanks.
Development plan/restrictions
Plot size 509 m² (5475 sq ft)
Slope yes
Site coverage ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio ?
Building window, building line, and boundary as per plan, street (cul-de-sac, about 7 houses to be built after us) is to the south.
Edge development
Number of parking spaces 1.5 per dwelling unit; storage space in front of garage at least 5 m (16 ft)
Number of floors
Roof type gable roof (pitch: 25–35°)
Architectural style
Orientation
Maximum heights/limits eaves height 4.5 m (15 ft); building height 7.5 m (25 ft)
Additional requirements max. 2 dwelling units;
Homeowners’ requirements
Architectural style, roof type, building type timber frame construction, solid basement
Basement, floors basement, ground floor, upper floor
Number of occupants, ages 2 adults + 2 children (1 and 3 years old) (+ 1 child?)
Room requirements on ground floor and upper floor
Basement: storage cellar, technical room, office (possibly later home office)
Ground floor: living/dining and parents’ bedroom, parents’ bathroom, dressing room, kitchen, guest toilet, possibly pantry or small storage room
Upper floor: 2 children’s rooms, 1 office (possibly another children’s room), bathroom, possibly storage room
Office: family use or home office? Currently family use, possibly later home office
Overnight guests per year rarely
Open or closed architecture open, but separated parents’ area
Conservative or modern construction style
Open kitchen, kitchen island open kitchen, rather no kitchen island
Number of dining seats 8
Fireplace yes
Music/stereo wall ?
Balcony, roof terrace possibly
Garage, carport double garage
Utility garden, greenhouse yes, small area in garden
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why certain things should or should not be
House design
Who created the plan:
- Architect
- Do-it-yourself
What do you especially like? Why?
What do you not like? Why?
Estimated price according to architect/planner: €450,000
Personal budget limit for the house, including fittings:
Preferred heating technology: air-to-water heat pump with water-cooled fireplace
If you have to do without, which details/extensions can you do without: pantry
Which details/extensions can you not do without:
Why did the design turn out as it is now? For example,
Standard design from the planner? We roughly sketched our idea and the architect fully revised it. Still without windows etc., as we have several fundamentally different floor plans.
Overall, we are satisfied with the floor plan.
We still have a few changes/questions:
- Possibly omitting the door to the kitchen to allow for a larger corner cupboard there, since we don’t have a pantry.
- Removing the windbreak area between garage and house. We want to keep the passage open for now.
- We currently have a dining corner bench and want to keep it. Therefore, we are considering installing a wall (only as high as the corner bench or kitchen counter) between the kitchen and the corner bench.
I find the approach of planning without windows and adding them later quite odd. Many aspects inside and outside depend on the windows.
Now then:
A 1.50 m (5 feet) distance in the kitchen is too large, and the cabinets of the "island" are too shallow. Go for 90 cm (35 inches), then you still have a good 1.20 m (4 feet), and the cook will have an easier time.
I would leave out the half-height wall; a corner bench can also stand freely. This allows more freedom in seating choice later on—visually also much better.
The double door is awkwardly offset from the bay window; this will be noticeable in a negative way.
I miss a wardrobe—available space is barely enough for two people.
The terrace fits better near the kitchen and dining area.
Best regards in brief
Now then:
A 1.50 m (5 feet) distance in the kitchen is too large, and the cabinets of the "island" are too shallow. Go for 90 cm (35 inches), then you still have a good 1.20 m (4 feet), and the cook will have an easier time.
I would leave out the half-height wall; a corner bench can also stand freely. This allows more freedom in seating choice later on—visually also much better.
The double door is awkwardly offset from the bay window; this will be noticeable in a negative way.
I miss a wardrobe—available space is barely enough for two people.
The terrace fits better near the kitchen and dining area.
Best regards in brief
Thank you for the feedback.
Regarding the approach without windows:
Due to setback requirements and the location of the neighbor’s garage to the west, we first had to choose between three fundamentally different floor plan options. We decided on the preliminary floor plan shared here. Now the detailed planning follows, so I thought it would be a good idea to ask for early feedback that can be incorporated right away.
Yes, we will probably leave out the wall at the corner bench as you suggested.
I am leaning toward leaving out the door from the hallway to the kitchen. This way, we gain space in the kitchen for a large corner cabinet and more room in the hallway for a coat rack, cupboard, and so on.
Where do you think the patio door would fit best then?
The exit should be by the terrace, but there probably isn’t space in the bay window, right?
Regarding the approach without windows:
Due to setback requirements and the location of the neighbor’s garage to the west, we first had to choose between three fundamentally different floor plan options. We decided on the preliminary floor plan shared here. Now the detailed planning follows, so I thought it would be a good idea to ask for early feedback that can be incorporated right away.
Yes, we will probably leave out the wall at the corner bench as you suggested.
I am leaning toward leaving out the door from the hallway to the kitchen. This way, we gain space in the kitchen for a large corner cabinet and more room in the hallway for a coat rack, cupboard, and so on.
Where do you think the patio door would fit best then?
The exit should be by the terrace, but there probably isn’t space in the bay window, right?
Gruibo schrieb:
Do you have any other suggestions or recommendations regarding my above questions? Or is there any information missing? Well, Yvonne has already covered the most important points. This is still just a preliminary draft from you. When you come back with the architect’s plan, there will definitely be more detailed advice.
Gruibo schrieb:
...
Where do you think the patio door would fit best?
The exit should be towards the terrace, but there probably won’t be room in the bay window, right?Did I miss something? Who is designing three drafts for you to choose from?
The architect’s task is supposed to be placing the terrace close to the kitchen 🙂
Best regards in short
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