ᐅ Self-designed 160 m² Single-Family Home – Looking for Suggestions and Feedback

ypg schrieb:

I definitely wouldn’t orient the garden to the north.
....
And just like that, checked again while writing, and once again the orientation is wrong.
It really annoys me!!!

You were probably a bit tired.
The orientation is correct; the garden is facing south.
Before complaining like that, it’s better to read and think twice.
@Zeuge17: she doesn’t mean it that way...

I don’t think the design is bad at all for a self-designed plan.
For me, there’s too much hallway space; downstairs it’s still okay, but upstairs it feels wasted.
A tiny bedroom and then a walk-in closet... I would probably turn that into a proper room. Anyway, I’m not a fan of walk-in closets; I think it’s a strange trend.
Other than that, I think the floor plan works. The living room is a bit narrow, that’s true, but I don’t see it as a fundamental problem.
I would also leave out the pantry and instead just extend the kitchen. The pantry doesn’t really add storage space and makes the kitchen smaller and outdated.

Yes, she means it that way and is also right, sorry.

When you read many plans, it’s simply annoying to keep rotating them mentally because no one wants to align them to north. It really isn’t difficult to rotate an image, and doing so avoids a lot of unnecessary confusion since most people assume (and this is standard) that north is at the top.

It makes things easier for yourself and others here if you follow this simple rule. Since ypg often comments on floor plans and does so quite competently, the frustration is understandable (at least I get it).

Sorry, but if there is a large, clearly visible north arrow on it, this level of interpretation can be expected and there is no need to start complaining right away... It is frustrating when no cardinal directions are indicated at all and the site plan is completely missing. Of course, your contributions are valuable, but complaining over such a minor issue is simply unnecessary.

Nanana, don’t argue.

If it’s not possible otherwise, I would separate the corridor by adding a partition wall or a tiled stove between the living room and dining room. In my opinion, the pantry doesn’t add much. Why not have a door to the utility room and use it partially as a storage closet?

I agree with @kaho674—if you want a staircase with a landing anyway, why not plan for it?

You don’t want a separate room in the garage for the garden or workshop?

I completely agree with YPG and Climbee... well, at least there is a north arrow here. I admit, I always open the images in IrfanView and rotate them 180°... that way, I don’t have to mentally rotate the image by 180° with every sentence or thought.

So, that’s that.

• I also see the living room corridor.
• The pantry separates the tall cabinets quite a bit... and keep in mind the ergonomic kitchen work triangle of refrigeration, sink/preparation, and cooking.
• An office as a home office for two people just won’t work. With the structural dimensions, only 70 cm (28 inches) remains for a proper swivel chair, and looking at mine, it would hit the wall behind it with the slightest turn.
If two people are working from home simultaneously, I would try to create two separate offices... perhaps about 2 m x 4 m (6.5 ft x 13 ft) each, separated by a partition wall built on top of the finished floor, with two doors opening into the room. This way, the space can also quickly be expanded again (a decent combined home office with a guest couch or something) if the work situation changes. I imagine two people on calls with different participants at the same time.
Where there is enough space, the issue with room for proper swivel chairs can probably be avoided by positioning desks along the walls.
• Sauna... if the tub is about 180 cm (71 inches), with sauna walls, plaster, etc. added, the interior sauna width won’t exceed 140 cm (55 inches)... is that intended?
• The parents’ walk-in closet doesn’t seem very suitable either, definitely disturbing if one person sleeps longer.
• For the children’s rooms, I would always try to plan with 140 cm (55 inches) beds (for teenage years).
• Number of parking spaces according to the checklist is 1... does that mean you only have one car, or does it mean one garage space plus one extra parking space? If you have two cars, I would try, even with one garage, to find enough space for the second parking spot so you don’t have to move both cars when the wrong one is parked in the garage.
• In general, I would try to develop a bit more of the west-facing garden area.
• Oh yes... do your overnight guests use children’s bedroom 2, or is a second child definitely planned there?

apokolok schrieb:

Sorry, but if there is a large, clearly visible north arrow, you can expect this level of interpretation and don’t need to start complaining right away...

Yes, because as responders we provide significant added value to the questioners here, essentially saving them thousands of euros that a planner or architect would charge. It’s understandable to complain or express frustration when (once again) things are not as they seem. Since tips are often given on the go, the information must be straightforward. Rotating the image on a phone is simply not an option. If quality is expected from us tip providers, then quality must be present as the initial basis. Every six months or so, someone ends up bearing this ongoing frustration.