ᐅ Self-Designed Floor Plan – Looking for Opinions and Feedback
Created on: 1 Jun 2018 11:48
Z
ZafiraAnni
Hello everyone!
Since I’m new here and this is my first post, I’d like to introduce myself briefly.
My name is Anni, I’m 25 years old, and I live with my partner in his parents’ house in the beautiful Rhön region.
We have long decided to demolish this house and rebuild on the property.
I’ve been working on the floor plan for a while now, even though the exact timing of the project isn’t clear yet. In any case, I really enjoy it and hope to get some helpful tips here.
I want to apologize in advance because I can’t yet answer questions about the zoning plan (building permit/planning permission).
I created the floor plan using a great 3D browser program. I added all the dimensions myself with an image editing program. I even designed the roof as well as I could using the same image editor.
Sorry that it’s not a professional floor plan (like one from an architect), but I hope you can still understand everything.
Our plot is in a small village with about 300 residents, very rural and beautiful.
It’s around 3000 m² (0.74 acres), but about 70% is steep hillside.
Only a small part of the land is shown in the pictures—it extends much further to the right, but as I said, it’s all steep hillside and therefore not very usable. Maybe we’ll put some goats up there!
The slope is our biggest problem. We definitely don’t want to build another house on a hillside.
We plan to level a large area completely (marked in dark green), and we’re already dreading the work and the associated costs.
Our advantage is that we have many helpers and my father-in-law can provide an excavator and other equipment. However, disposal will be expensive (we’ll reuse some of the soil to fill in the slope next to the driveway). Does anyone have experience with this? Is it really as straightforward as it sounds?
Of course, we have considered looking for a new property if the costs get out of hand. We also have to factor in rent costs for the meantime.
The floor plan shows a town villa with about 166 m² (1786 sq ft). We haven’t decided yet whether to go with prefab or solid construction—I’d prefer solid construction, but my partner is convinced by prefab. We’ll see. Does that make a big difference in price?
Since, as mentioned, we don’t yet know the zoning plan, we could also build a regular single-family house with sloped ceilings if that’s all that’s allowed. But then the bathroom door on the upper floor would be tricky.
(Does such a small village even have plans you have to follow, like in a new development area?)
Now to the main question, aside from all the problems with the slope, etc.: What do you think of the floor plan? I designed it myself—I’ve been working with the program for months, considering different options, planning and replanning. I’ve probably made 10 other versions before arriving at this one—and I think it’s perfect now. Surely there are similar floor plans out there; it’s nothing extraordinary.
Do you have any suggestions for improvement? Have I included any major mistakes that I don’t see? Anything that’s technically not possible?
Client Requirements
Style, Roof Type, Building Type Town villa, hip/tent roof
Basement, Floors No basement, 2 full stories
Number of People, Age 2 people, 24 and 24, 2 children planned
Office: Dedicated computer room
Conservative or Modern Style Modern
Open Kitchen, Kitchen Island Open kitchen
Number of Dining Seats 4-8
Fireplace No fireplace
Balcony, Roof Terrace Balcony
Garage, Carport Double garage, possibly self-built?
House Design
Planning by: Me
Personal budget limit for house, including fittings: 300,000€ - Feasible?
Preferred heating technology: Heat pump
If you have to give up something, what details/features
-can you do without: Single garage instead of double garage
-can’t do without: Equal-sized and equally shaped children’s rooms, walk-in closet, direct access from master bedroom to bathroom, urinals in WC and bathroom, symmetrical front elevation (Wow... that shows how important some things really are...)
Phew, that was a long text... sorry!
Thank you very much in advance for your kind responses.
Best regards, Anni
Since I’m new here and this is my first post, I’d like to introduce myself briefly.
My name is Anni, I’m 25 years old, and I live with my partner in his parents’ house in the beautiful Rhön region.
We have long decided to demolish this house and rebuild on the property.
I’ve been working on the floor plan for a while now, even though the exact timing of the project isn’t clear yet. In any case, I really enjoy it and hope to get some helpful tips here.
I want to apologize in advance because I can’t yet answer questions about the zoning plan (building permit/planning permission).
I created the floor plan using a great 3D browser program. I added all the dimensions myself with an image editing program. I even designed the roof as well as I could using the same image editor.
Sorry that it’s not a professional floor plan (like one from an architect), but I hope you can still understand everything.
Our plot is in a small village with about 300 residents, very rural and beautiful.
It’s around 3000 m² (0.74 acres), but about 70% is steep hillside.
Only a small part of the land is shown in the pictures—it extends much further to the right, but as I said, it’s all steep hillside and therefore not very usable. Maybe we’ll put some goats up there!
The slope is our biggest problem. We definitely don’t want to build another house on a hillside.
We plan to level a large area completely (marked in dark green), and we’re already dreading the work and the associated costs.
Our advantage is that we have many helpers and my father-in-law can provide an excavator and other equipment. However, disposal will be expensive (we’ll reuse some of the soil to fill in the slope next to the driveway). Does anyone have experience with this? Is it really as straightforward as it sounds?
Of course, we have considered looking for a new property if the costs get out of hand. We also have to factor in rent costs for the meantime.
The floor plan shows a town villa with about 166 m² (1786 sq ft). We haven’t decided yet whether to go with prefab or solid construction—I’d prefer solid construction, but my partner is convinced by prefab. We’ll see. Does that make a big difference in price?
Since, as mentioned, we don’t yet know the zoning plan, we could also build a regular single-family house with sloped ceilings if that’s all that’s allowed. But then the bathroom door on the upper floor would be tricky.
(Does such a small village even have plans you have to follow, like in a new development area?)
Now to the main question, aside from all the problems with the slope, etc.: What do you think of the floor plan? I designed it myself—I’ve been working with the program for months, considering different options, planning and replanning. I’ve probably made 10 other versions before arriving at this one—and I think it’s perfect now. Surely there are similar floor plans out there; it’s nothing extraordinary.
Do you have any suggestions for improvement? Have I included any major mistakes that I don’t see? Anything that’s technically not possible?
Client Requirements
Style, Roof Type, Building Type Town villa, hip/tent roof
Basement, Floors No basement, 2 full stories
Number of People, Age 2 people, 24 and 24, 2 children planned
Office: Dedicated computer room
Conservative or Modern Style Modern
Open Kitchen, Kitchen Island Open kitchen
Number of Dining Seats 4-8
Fireplace No fireplace
Balcony, Roof Terrace Balcony
Garage, Carport Double garage, possibly self-built?
House Design
Planning by: Me
Personal budget limit for house, including fittings: 300,000€ - Feasible?
Preferred heating technology: Heat pump
If you have to give up something, what details/features
-can you do without: Single garage instead of double garage
-can’t do without: Equal-sized and equally shaped children’s rooms, walk-in closet, direct access from master bedroom to bathroom, urinals in WC and bathroom, symmetrical front elevation (Wow... that shows how important some things really are...)
Phew, that was a long text... sorry!
Thank you very much in advance for your kind responses.
Best regards, Anni
I would like to point out that having two entrances to the bathroom is impractical (constantly locked because the previous user left through the other door and did not unlock it again) and that the bedroom in this layout functions as a central passage room. You look forward to having the walk-in closet and letting the person sleeping longer rest, but then you have to walk back and forth (and back again because you forgot something) or even go to the bathroom and back in between…
And: a balcony accessible from the walk-in closet? I’m not sure. There is no direct objection since in a detached house with a garden it is usually (almost) never used anyway, but it still seems a bit odd.
On the other hand, I find the kitchen corner between the living and dining areas very well designed, provided it is furnished appropriately for its central location and role. The stove has “always” been the central element of a house, and here the kitchen divides the open-plan space in a natural way. That’s exactly how I would like it, but unfortunately our other, more mandatory framework conditions don’t allow it.
And: a balcony accessible from the walk-in closet? I’m not sure. There is no direct objection since in a detached house with a garden it is usually (almost) never used anyway, but it still seems a bit odd.
On the other hand, I find the kitchen corner between the living and dining areas very well designed, provided it is furnished appropriately for its central location and role. The stove has “always” been the central element of a house, and here the kitchen divides the open-plan space in a natural way. That’s exactly how I would like it, but unfortunately our other, more mandatory framework conditions don’t allow it.
I would probably look for a different kitchen location as well. Are you building without a basement? If the staircase can be enclosed and isn’t absolutely needed as a coat area, you might consider:
- Making the office accessible from the hallway and closing the door toward the living area
- Placing the kitchen on the wall next to the office
- Possibly even enlarging the office wall a bit
- Creating a small pantry under the stairs accessible from the kitchen side
Accessing the walk-in closet through the bedroom is often criticized here in this forum. In the layout shown here, what bothers me even more about the bedroom is that the bed is placed under a window. You won’t have easy access to open or clean it (sure, you can get into bed, but cleaning without spilling drops or water on the unstable surface would be difficult). Additionally, many say this setup feels unsettled, as people might prefer a solid wall behind their head when sleeping.
By the way, in my opinion, you have very little storage space without a basement. You should seriously consider whether that will work for you. But overall, the house is quite livable and, to me, doesn’t have any major flaws.
Oh, and where possible, always position doors with some distance from the wall so that cabinets can be placed behind them.
Edit: I overlapped with Kekse and overlooked the door between the bedroom and bathroom. We also have direct access to the bathroom, but there is a second bathroom for the kids. With only one bathroom, I would never install this door or spend money on a soundproof door. You can hear much more than you would through a solid wall, and especially when kids come home late from parties, the peace for everyone would be over.
- Making the office accessible from the hallway and closing the door toward the living area
- Placing the kitchen on the wall next to the office
- Possibly even enlarging the office wall a bit
- Creating a small pantry under the stairs accessible from the kitchen side
Accessing the walk-in closet through the bedroom is often criticized here in this forum. In the layout shown here, what bothers me even more about the bedroom is that the bed is placed under a window. You won’t have easy access to open or clean it (sure, you can get into bed, but cleaning without spilling drops or water on the unstable surface would be difficult). Additionally, many say this setup feels unsettled, as people might prefer a solid wall behind their head when sleeping.
By the way, in my opinion, you have very little storage space without a basement. You should seriously consider whether that will work for you. But overall, the house is quite livable and, to me, doesn’t have any major flaws.
Oh, and where possible, always position doors with some distance from the wall so that cabinets can be placed behind them.
Edit: I overlapped with Kekse and overlooked the door between the bedroom and bathroom. We also have direct access to the bathroom, but there is a second bathroom for the kids. With only one bathroom, I would never install this door or spend money on a soundproof door. You can hear much more than you would through a solid wall, and especially when kids come home late from parties, the peace for everyone would be over.
ZafiraAnni1 Jun 2018 13:21First of all, thanks for the replies.
It’s true that I designed the floor plan myself and did not use any – as you so kindly put it – “Horst von Hümpel” template. As mentioned before, it’s possible that a similar floor plan already exists and it’s not entirely original. And that was exactly my intention. I don’t want a complicated, cramped layout. Clear lines and a straightforward arrangement.
In my opinion, identical children’s bedrooms have only advantages. It prevents arguments between them, doesn’t it?
I have explained in the floor plan what those dots mean.
Would it be so bad to already drive a Zafira? But no, I don’t.
_________________
Thanks for the kind reply. We would carry out the demolition and leveling of the plot ourselves, and possibly the garage as well, depending on the offer.
We currently live in a house on a slope, and to me, it doesn’t look very appealing (seems bulky), and the distances seem longer that way. Or am I mistaken?
We will definitely visit them. I thought I could prepare in advance here, get some help, and show up there with a solid plan.
11ant schrieb:
That’s only half the truth, as you must have already absorbed a lot of "inspiration". Just asking a bit sharply: which Horst von Hümpel house type was the basis for this?
It’s true that I designed the floor plan myself and did not use any – as you so kindly put it – “Horst von Hümpel” template. As mentioned before, it’s possible that a similar floor plan already exists and it’s not entirely original. And that was exactly my intention. I don’t want a complicated, cramped layout. Clear lines and a straightforward arrangement.
11ant schrieb:
Symmetry is not a value in itself – in fact, it can be a hindrance to originality – and equal-sized children’s bedrooms, in my opinion, only suit twins.
In my opinion, identical children’s bedrooms have only advantages. It prevents arguments between them, doesn’t it?
11ant schrieb:
I hadn’t noticed those yet – but what are the blue dots?
I have explained in the floor plan what those dots mean.
11ant schrieb:
And yet you already drive a Zafira?
Would it be so bad to already drive a Zafira? But no, I don’t.
_________________
haydee schrieb:
300,000 euros depends on how much work you want to do yourselves and what is ultimately included.
A turnkey house + additional construction costs + demolition + leveling and stabilizing the plot will not work.
Why don’t you want a house on a slope? What’s wrong with that?
Thanks for the kind reply. We would carry out the demolition and leveling of the plot ourselves, and possibly the garage as well, depending on the offer.
We currently live in a house on a slope, and to me, it doesn’t look very appealing (seems bulky), and the distances seem longer that way. Or am I mistaken?
haydee schrieb:
There is a prefab house manufacturer just around the corner from you who regularly shows their production on weekends, has 2 or 3 model homes for viewing, and advisors for initial consultations
We will definitely visit them. I thought I could prepare in advance here, get some help, and show up there with a solid plan.
On the contrary, I find that city villas or any types of full two-story houses appear very bulky on flat plots.
No, I don’t find longer distances problematic at all, why should I? Modern hillside houses can have regular living spaces in the basement level. In our case, you can enter the basement or ground floor from the garage without any steps, and from there, step-free access leads to the terrace (once the landscaping is completed). We have two full stories with a similar room layout as yours and on a slope. During planning, we followed the existing structure and kept the old walls as slope reinforcement.
I would reconsider doing demolition work yourself. Stripping out the interior is quite manageable, but for dismantling the roof frame, you'll need people without fear of heights. For the rest, heavy machinery is necessary, and potentially testing of the demolition materials. I know that disposal is easier and cheaper for you in Hesse, but several trucks will be required.
No, I don’t find longer distances problematic at all, why should I? Modern hillside houses can have regular living spaces in the basement level. In our case, you can enter the basement or ground floor from the garage without any steps, and from there, step-free access leads to the terrace (once the landscaping is completed). We have two full stories with a similar room layout as yours and on a slope. During planning, we followed the existing structure and kept the old walls as slope reinforcement.
I would reconsider doing demolition work yourself. Stripping out the interior is quite manageable, but for dismantling the roof frame, you'll need people without fear of heights. For the rest, heavy machinery is necessary, and potentially testing of the demolition materials. I know that disposal is easier and cheaper for you in Hesse, but several trucks will be required.
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