ᐅ Our Floor Plan Design for an Affordable Home

Nordlys schrieb:

All windows in standard DIY store size rough opening 102cm (40 inches)

Do you mean 113.5cm (45 inches) for "110"?

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ypg schrieb:

OF COURSE north is at the top of the plan. I don’t think it’s fair of you to pick a fight here with @kaho674 or others just because they’re thinking for you, since you didn’t orient the plan or include a north arrow.

I didn’t mean to pick a fight, and honestly, I don’t find the little jab unfair, especially since @kaho674 has also made some pointed comments. You know, if you dish it out, you have to take it. Basically, I’m very grateful for all your comments and your patience – you could just stop writing at any time, but you’re still engaging. I really appreciate that!

True, I didn’t add the north arrow, but as far as I know, I mentioned in one of the first posts that the garden side (which the living/dining area faces) is southwest. I also thought it was on the site plan, but I think I cropped out the compass rose there. However, when the orientation discussion heated up, I explained several times how exactly the house is oriented. Really, multiple times.

And actually, the orientation is not our main focus; we’ve put a lot of thought into it and are confident about it. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t still make suggestions.

kaho674 schrieb:

Maybe you missed that I was the one who uploaded your site plan including the north-south designation? I have to admit, I only estimated the positioning from your description in #1. But there is definitely more south than west, so you’re right, the living room probably gets enough sun.

But that does not change the main point: you have placed the storage and utility rooms where the sun shines and some of the living space in the dark north. This can be clearly seen from your sun path graphic. I colored the house sides differently to maybe help you see what I mean:

Red means sun, blue means shade. And yes, of course, a few rays of sunset reach the living room as well. The graphic is just to illustrate which rooms are bright and which are dark.
I would support your plan immediately if there were compelling reasons to have the utility rooms there, but I don’t see any. Maybe late info will come up about a short connection to the street or something like that, but so far we readers are in the dark.

You didn’t understand something at all. I’m not rotating the house; I’m mirroring it. So the utility room ends up in the blue corner. But I would still change some of the rooms a bit.

No, it’s 5 to 6m (16 to 20 feet), and it won’t work—especially in winter, since that window is also higher and narrower than the others.

But what am I saying. Let’s just wait for the offers. Then the house will probably shrink to some standard mini floor plan or it turns into a duplex and all of this fuss was for nothing.

Thanks, @kaho674, that’s a very detailed (and mostly tactful) explanation. I see what you mean. But it’s not just about where the sun shines directly, it’s about when we use the rooms while the sun is shining there. We’re rarely awake at sunrise, but almost always at sunset—that was our thinking. Someone else suggested rotating the house—that’s correct. Sorry for the confusion. Mirroring the house might be possible, but would have to be done entirely. Just swapping kitchen and office (I think suggested by @ypg) would be inconvenient, as then the kitchen and utility room would be far apart. Also, a possible future extension might make it tricky if the entrance moved to northwest. The driveway is on the northeast side (so the path to the utility room is actually shorter wiring-wise). The TV wall without windows would then face east. I’m not really convinced by that.

Nordlys schrieb:

I observe:
The layout of the ground floor fits very well with the cardinal directions and doesn’t need to be changed. Kitchen in the southeast, living room in south and southwest to northwest. Fits well.
The ground floor can stay open if desired, though I would reconsider the staircase. Maybe a partially separated staircase from the living room would be more practical, even if it has less style.
The upper floor fits quite well. I would improve the bedroom by placing the ironing room in the northeast and the bedroom in the southeast.
I would put a wall or something on the gallery to make it a storage room.
Now we have to wait and see how the prices come out.
Savings potential could be: instead of Ytong, Hansapor. Instead of full-height windows, normal-sized windows. All windows a common builder’s merchant size with rough opening 102.

You could mirror the upper floor, of course. I would even find that practical for waking up in the bedroom. However, the bathrooms would then not be stacked (which saves money with short piping), and morning sun in the bathroom is nice, too. So, that’s how we have it so far.

I just reluctantly replaced the staircase with a spiral one, which really saves space… even though I find it much less attractive. Do you think it’s better? Yes, we still have to wait for the offers, which will take time. Before that (once we finally finalize the floor plan), I have to plan the windows on the facades. So far, especially the northeast facade with the entrance door looked pretty awful.

la.schnute schrieb:
You know, if you dish it out, you have to be able to take it too .

That’s not a problem.

la.schnute schrieb:
I do understand what you mean. But it’s not only about where the sun shines directly, but also when I use the rooms while the sun is shining there. We’re rarely awake at sunrise, but almost always at sunset – that was our thought.

Uh, no.
Try to detach yourself just a little bit from your daily routine. That can change drastically over the years, and please don’t start with the idea that you’re different from everyone else here. The older members here used to sleep until 10 a.m., but now they’re up at 7 a.m.
Besides, that’s actually not the main point. The goal is to design an open, bright living space. If you stand in the middle of that room (where the dining table is now), according to my plan you will have sunlight ALL DAY because the openness of the rooms is aligned with the sun’s path. From east to west, the room is open, and with proper window planning there is always natural light. It wouldn’t matter who is awake when (there are other family members, too).

la.schnute schrieb:
Just swapping the kitchen and the office (I think @ypg suggested that) would be awkward, since the kitchen and utility room would be so far apart. With a possible future extension, it might also be tricky if the entrance door shifts to the northwest. The driveway is on the northeast side (so the path to the utility room is actually shorter in terms of plumbing). The TV wall without windows would then face east. I’m not really convinced about that...
Upstairs you could mirror the layout, which might actually be practical for the bedroom to catch the morning light. However, then the bathrooms wouldn’t be stacked (which is supposed to save money on piping), and morning sun in the bathroom is nice as well. That’s why we have it as it is so far.

Those are the kinds of thoughts you have when you’re stuck on a floor plan and now trying to force it into a new concept. That’s not how it works. The old plan gets scrapped and you start from scratch. That’s the way it goes.

By the way, plumbing to the utility room also costs a significant amount. Roughly speaking, people say about 1000 per meter (that’s very variable though) – but you have gas, right? Try drawing the existing utility connections on the street into your plan.

11ant schrieb:

Do you mean 113.5 instead of "110"?

yes

Bathrooms stacked on top of each other: do not change.
Swap the bedroom and dressing room so the bedroom is no longer directly adjacent to the children’s room.
Where the indoor palm tree is drawn upstairs, add a small wall with a storage closet behind it for miscellaneous items.
Front window: urgent need for action, it looks terrible.
The window in the storage closet can be removed. Another 500 to 1000 saved there.
Pay attention to the window size of 113.5cm (45 inches). We used this size consistently. All blinds and roller shades fitted perfectly from Ikea or Danish Bed Store. You will save over 1000 euros later if you keep this in mind now.
Downstairs: don’t be overwhelmed. The utility room with the gas boiler is large enough for a washing machine, dryer, and a Billy-style cabinet with doors for cleaning supplies, etc. Our utility room is even one square meter (about 10.8 square feet) larger but has an exterior door, which I recommend you plan for as well. It provides a separate entrance for dirty items.
Also include a utility sink with a cold water tap in the utility room inside the house. How often do I quickly need water! Bucket under, tap on, done. Karsten

Karsten, with two of you working on four, there is more to do, and then 1 square meter at this size is not a small amount. However, the original poster is not unskilled at DIY. So, some clever solutions may still come later.