ᐅ Planning a Single-Family Home. Thank you for your feedback.
Created on: 25 Oct 2016 16:06
R
Rollothemachine
Hello everyone,
My wife and I are currently planning a new home for ourselves.
We bought our first house six years ago (built in 1966, 140m² (1507 sq ft) living space, 1700m² (0.42 acres) plot).
Now we want a new one, a slightly larger house with a smaller garden...
Something about the floor plan still bothers me, especially the staircase and the upstairs bathroom. We would also like to have a simple kids' bathroom.
The garden/kitchen/dining area faces west! On the left side, there is a half-timbered house used as storage, so we can’t put any windows on that side of the ground floor.
The building is right up against the boundary, wall to wall. The garage is tapered because it is also built on the border!
The attic is intended as an office and possibly for children later on. The windows on the gable are incorrectly drawn, as is the offset of the bedroom wall; the winter garden dimensions are also not yet fixed.
Unfortunately, we’re not making much progress and aren’t quite sure how to realize it. We’ll have to take up the drawing pen again! Our family will probably use the entrance through the garage as usual and use the front door less often.
We would appreciate any suggestions for improvement and any critiques.
Plot size approximately 750m² (0.19 acres)
No slope
Floor area ratio (FAR)
Site coverage ratio (building coverage ratio)
Building envelope, building line, and boundary
Adjacent development at property boundary yes
Number of parking spaces: 1
Number of stories: 1.5
Roof style: gable roof
Architectural style: country house
Orientation: gable facing the street
Maximum height/limits?
Additional requirements
Client requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: country house, gable roof, 1 dormer
No basement, number of floors
Number of people, ages: 4, 32, 31, 1.5 weeks
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor
Office: family use or home office? Family
Guests per year sleeping over: 10
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern construction: (not specified)
Open kitchen with island: yes, please
Number of dining seats: 8
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage or carport: garage
Vegetable garden, greenhouse: no
Other requests/special features/daily routine
House design
Who designed it: us and architects
- Builder company planner: no
- Architect
- DIY by you: winter garden, windows, doors, furniture, drywall, floors except tiles
What do you especially like? Kitchen / winter garden
What do you not like? Staircase (would prefer a straight one) Suggestions?
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal price limit for the house, including fixtures:
Preferred heating system: probably gas
If you have to give up anything, which features or expansions
- can you do without?
- can’t you do without?
My wife and I are currently planning a new home for ourselves.
We bought our first house six years ago (built in 1966, 140m² (1507 sq ft) living space, 1700m² (0.42 acres) plot).
Now we want a new one, a slightly larger house with a smaller garden...
Something about the floor plan still bothers me, especially the staircase and the upstairs bathroom. We would also like to have a simple kids' bathroom.
The garden/kitchen/dining area faces west! On the left side, there is a half-timbered house used as storage, so we can’t put any windows on that side of the ground floor.
The building is right up against the boundary, wall to wall. The garage is tapered because it is also built on the border!
The attic is intended as an office and possibly for children later on. The windows on the gable are incorrectly drawn, as is the offset of the bedroom wall; the winter garden dimensions are also not yet fixed.
Unfortunately, we’re not making much progress and aren’t quite sure how to realize it. We’ll have to take up the drawing pen again! Our family will probably use the entrance through the garage as usual and use the front door less often.
We would appreciate any suggestions for improvement and any critiques.
Plot size approximately 750m² (0.19 acres)
No slope
Floor area ratio (FAR)
Site coverage ratio (building coverage ratio)
Building envelope, building line, and boundary
Adjacent development at property boundary yes
Number of parking spaces: 1
Number of stories: 1.5
Roof style: gable roof
Architectural style: country house
Orientation: gable facing the street
Maximum height/limits?
Additional requirements
Client requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: country house, gable roof, 1 dormer
No basement, number of floors
Number of people, ages: 4, 32, 31, 1.5 weeks
Space requirements on ground floor and upper floor
Office: family use or home office? Family
Guests per year sleeping over: 10
Open or closed layout: open
Conservative or modern construction: (not specified)
Open kitchen with island: yes, please
Number of dining seats: 8
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage or carport: garage
Vegetable garden, greenhouse: no
Other requests/special features/daily routine
House design
Who designed it: us and architects
- Builder company planner: no
- Architect
- DIY by you: winter garden, windows, doors, furniture, drywall, floors except tiles
What do you especially like? Kitchen / winter garden
What do you not like? Staircase (would prefer a straight one) Suggestions?
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal price limit for the house, including fixtures:
Preferred heating system: probably gas
If you have to give up anything, which features or expansions
- can you do without?
- can’t you do without?
Rollothemachine schrieb:
Good question! Either under the stairs, possibly accessible from the storage room, in the storage room itself, or in the garage. We have thought about it but haven’t made much progress yet... Maybe someone here has some good ideas?!Rollothemachine schrieb:
Preferred heating system: probably gas Rollothemachine schrieb:
Who created the design: us and architectsIt’s hard to believe: You say it’s an architect’s design, but there isn’t even a technical room.
Without technical installations, there’s no house! The house’s technical systems are like its organs; they make the house function, and the heating system is the heart.
Here, we often see floor plan ideas and designer drafts that don’t show much creativity because they follow the standard low-cost construction model. When these are presented to a family living in an apartment as a good solution, they naively trust that the house plan will work.
Most of them do, but people often end up frustrated by missing cloakroom space, insufficient storage, children’s rooms facing north, kitchen too small, too little storage space, or a staircase placed in front of the entrance’s dirt zone.
Rollothemachine schrieb:
What don’t we like? Staircase (would prefer a straight one) Suggestions Rollothemachine schrieb:
Unfortunately, we aren’t making much progress there, and can’t really figure out how to realize it. We’ll have to get the sketch pad out again! Rollothemachine schrieb:
What bothers me about the floor plan is somehow the staircase and the bathroom upstairs. Also, we would like to have a simple bathroom for the kids.What exactly bothers you about it? You need to specify that if you want suggestions for improvements.
You definitely don’t have a true architect! A real architect listens to your wishes and implements them. Here you have a standard floor plan—perhaps some minor tweaks? If you tell an architect you want a straight staircase and a children’s bathroom, they will design it accordingly.
........
Rollothemachine schrieb:
We bought the first house 6 years ago (built in 1966, 140m² living area, 1700m² plot)You should have gained some experience with houses over the past years.
Whether others find the design odd? I don’t know, I find it a bit strange, but everyone has different priorities regarding their living preferences.
You have over 120m² (1292 ft²) of built-up area! More than 25% of that is hallways, vestibule, cloakroom, and storage—all on the ground floor. And no technical room.
With the side entrance, you spread your arrival routine out to the extreme (side entrance in, stroller under the stairs, cloakroom for coats and shoes...), which means that dirt isn’t just in the entrance area (unless guests arrive) but spreads along the entire hallway. I don’t see the reason for putting up with that.
Many people appreciate direct garage access, which is well designed here, and the garage offers plenty of space for it. Still, I always wonder why someone chooses that dark path instead of using the main entrance every day.
Long story short: for me, it’s a completely standard layout but overall oversized (clearly visible on the ground floor, and the parents’ area with about 24m² (258 ft²) is generously sized as well).
It will work, but things like a utility room connected through the bathroom, technical systems in the attic, and guests without a proper sleeping or washing area should not happen in a 160/80m² (1722/861 ft²) house—that’s just wasted money.
Tip: You’re probably a good carpenter, but you’re not an architect. Furniture is designed differently than a house. Therefore, my advice is to hire an architect. Surely you have a good network that can provide some recommendations.
Rollothemachine schrieb:
Guest stays per year: 10
Rollothemachine26 Oct 2016 15:59This is a draft that actually comes from a friend who is an architect. It serves as a starting point to have a basis for planning! It is not an approved construction drawing. He may have prepared it a bit carelessly about 8 weeks ago. Since then, our son was born and we had a few other concerns. During that time (I had some vacation), we thought that a children’s bathroom (which could also be used by guests) would be very practical for the future.
We wanted the hallway to be this large because currently, we only have a narrow corridor with a relatively steep staircase, which has always bothered us. Maybe it is a bit too big, but that’s why I am here—to get opinions.
Regarding the technical equipment: It will go into the utility room or garage. Originally, it was supposed to be in the garage, but at that time, we didn’t know we were only allowed to build a 30° (degree) roof.
Of course, we will also use the front door. However, when I come home through the garage, I immediately take off my work clothes and shoes in the entryway/hallway. It’s similar when I return from sports. Groceries and similar items will also be brought in this way.
The staircase: Well, what can I say—I don’t like it! I always thought I would get a straight one! We also had a design with a straight staircase, but that would eliminate one door—either to the kitchen or the dining room. I prefer the situation with two doors.
I could imagine placing the children’s bathroom directly between the two children’s bedrooms, with the door straight ahead from the hallway.
I also noticed the bathroom leading into the laundry room. I would be happier if there was also direct access from the hallway, maybe in front of the attic staircase.
I like the bathroom in the dormer, but the T-shape layout blocks natural light in the shower. I would prefer to move the bathroom door to the center, with the toilet behind the door, the shower on the other side, and the washbasins on the wall where the shower is currently located.
Tuesday is grandma day! We have another appointment with the architect then, and I will share our requested changes with him. Once I have a new draft, I will post it here for discussion.
We wanted the hallway to be this large because currently, we only have a narrow corridor with a relatively steep staircase, which has always bothered us. Maybe it is a bit too big, but that’s why I am here—to get opinions.
Regarding the technical equipment: It will go into the utility room or garage. Originally, it was supposed to be in the garage, but at that time, we didn’t know we were only allowed to build a 30° (degree) roof.
Of course, we will also use the front door. However, when I come home through the garage, I immediately take off my work clothes and shoes in the entryway/hallway. It’s similar when I return from sports. Groceries and similar items will also be brought in this way.
The staircase: Well, what can I say—I don’t like it! I always thought I would get a straight one! We also had a design with a straight staircase, but that would eliminate one door—either to the kitchen or the dining room. I prefer the situation with two doors.
I could imagine placing the children’s bathroom directly between the two children’s bedrooms, with the door straight ahead from the hallway.
I also noticed the bathroom leading into the laundry room. I would be happier if there was also direct access from the hallway, maybe in front of the attic staircase.
I like the bathroom in the dormer, but the T-shape layout blocks natural light in the shower. I would prefer to move the bathroom door to the center, with the toilet behind the door, the shower on the other side, and the washbasins on the wall where the shower is currently located.
Tuesday is grandma day! We have another appointment with the architect then, and I will share our requested changes with him. Once I have a new draft, I will post it here for discussion.
Rollothemachine schrieb:
Regarding the technical equipment: it will be installed in the utility room or garage.The equipment needs to be kept frost-free. If you plan to install it in the storage room, you will definitely lose valuable storage space.
Rollothemachine schrieb:
Tuesday is Grandma Day!And where will Grandma sleep in your house?
ypg schrieb:
You have built over 120 m² (1,292 ft²) of floor area! More than 25% of that is hallway. Hallway, cloakroom, storage.ypg schrieb:
If those are meant to be stored in the storage room, you definitely don’t have enough storage space.So, what is it now? Too much or too little usable space?
The technical equipment will take up half of the storage room on the ground floor. But just look at how large the rooms are. He has a properly sized kitchen, the corridor to the garage (there’s space along one side for a row of cabinets or shelves—or if not yet included, it’s only a matter of a few centimeters (inches) to adjust), of course the garage itself is accessible from inside, on the upper floor a second utility room, children’s rooms large enough to keep their stuff there, and a walk-in closet that fits 7.5 m (25 feet) of cabinetry.
Whether there is “definitely” a lack of storage space—we think this is more than enough.
@Alex85
Plenty of good spots to store tools, waste paper, decorations, sports accessories, old clothes, and cleaning supplies 😉
The passage to the garage includes the coatroom, and the utility room upstairs might also hold decorations and clothes. You can even carry skis past the bathtub.
You can also fill the hallway with lots of cabinets. Maybe grandma could fit into one of those...? 😉
To me, the house and its layout are a pointless waste of expensive floor space without meeting the residents’ needs.
But it’s good that my comment still gives some of you a chance to speak up 😀
Regards
Plenty of good spots to store tools, waste paper, decorations, sports accessories, old clothes, and cleaning supplies 😉
The passage to the garage includes the coatroom, and the utility room upstairs might also hold decorations and clothes. You can even carry skis past the bathtub.
You can also fill the hallway with lots of cabinets. Maybe grandma could fit into one of those...? 😉
To me, the house and its layout are a pointless waste of expensive floor space without meeting the residents’ needs.
But it’s good that my comment still gives some of you a chance to speak up 😀
Regards
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