Hello everyone!
We are currently finalizing the plans for our new home.
We would really appreciate your opinions, tips, suggestions, and constructive criticism!
We basically like the design a lot, but I’m not happy with the staircase situation on the upper floor. Downstairs there is a landing staircase that then continues as a quarter-turn staircase (due to limited space) leading up to the attic. I don’t find this combination visually appealing. We tried planning a straight staircase, but didn’t make much progress. We’re not big fans of winding staircases, and this seems to be the biggest challenge right now.
The staircase should also not be located in the entrance area or visible from the entrance.
Both staircases are open to the back (does that make sense?). There is an open space in the hallway reaching all the way to the top. A brick parapet (or railing) is planned there.
The staircase should be accessible from the opposite direction.
Upstairs, I would prefer to have the washer and dryer in the bathroom. However, the solution of placing them in the walk-in closet is also okay for us.
Is there generally enough storage space? The garage is very large at 4.5 x 9m (15 x 30 feet), but it will also be used as a workshop, so the only storage areas available are the basement storage room, the space under the stairs, and the attic.
The hallway upstairs feels too narrow at 115cm (45 inches) and will be widened to about 130-140cm (51-55 inches).
The attic will be fully finished since my small office will be located there. The rest of the space will be for storage – this is not yet reflected in the plans.
Thanks so much in advance for your feedback. Here are the key details:
Zoning/Planning Restrictions
Plot size: 509 sqm (5,478 sq ft)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio: 0.4
Building line and building boundary: 3 m (10 feet) setback from property boundary
Edge development: garage on the north side, over 9 m (30 feet) long
Parking spaces: 2 (in front of the garage and under the kitchen window)
Number of floors: 2
Roof type: gable roof with 38-48° pitch
Style
Orientation: ridge runs east/west
Maximum heights/limits: 9.5 m (31 feet)
Eaves height: 4.2 m (14 feet)
Other regulations
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style: modern
Roof type: gable roof without overhangs
Building type: single-family house
Basement: no
Number of floors: 1.5 plus attic
Number of occupants: 4
Ages: 44, 37, 4, 2
Ground floor spaces: living room, kitchen with dining area, cloakroom, guest toilet, storage room
Upper floor: 2 children’s bedrooms, master bedroom, separate walk-in closet with washer/dryer, bathroom
Attic: utility room, office
Office use: family use or home office – home office
Number of guest stays per year: 4-10
Open or closed layout: open
Traditional or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: yes, yes
Number of dining seats: 8
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: yes, no
Vegetable garden, greenhouse: no
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine: landing or straight staircase, staircase in the living/dining area, living room no larger than 25 sqm (270 sq ft), access from garage to house, large kitchen/dining area, large children’s bedrooms (approx. 15 sqm (160 sq ft)) facing the garden (west), master bedroom no larger than 12-14 sqm (130-150 sq ft), separate walk-in closet and bedroom due to different wake-up times, walk-in closet with washer/dryer, large bathroom (with washer/dryer as alternative to the walk-in closet), proper staircase to the attic because it will be used as an office
House Design
Who created the design: planner from a building company and do-it-yourself
What we like most: children’s bedrooms, bathroom size, utility room on the ground floor with access to garage and garden, spacious entrance area, staircase in dining area
What we don’t like: staircase from upper floor to attic, street view (east)
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal budget limit for the house including fittings:
Preferred heating system: gas, controlled ventilation with heat recovery
If you have to give up anything, what would it be?
- Could give up: nothing
- Cannot give up: nothing
Thank you very much!
XeNiA
We are currently finalizing the plans for our new home.
We would really appreciate your opinions, tips, suggestions, and constructive criticism!
We basically like the design a lot, but I’m not happy with the staircase situation on the upper floor. Downstairs there is a landing staircase that then continues as a quarter-turn staircase (due to limited space) leading up to the attic. I don’t find this combination visually appealing. We tried planning a straight staircase, but didn’t make much progress. We’re not big fans of winding staircases, and this seems to be the biggest challenge right now.
The staircase should also not be located in the entrance area or visible from the entrance.
Both staircases are open to the back (does that make sense?). There is an open space in the hallway reaching all the way to the top. A brick parapet (or railing) is planned there.
The staircase should be accessible from the opposite direction.
Upstairs, I would prefer to have the washer and dryer in the bathroom. However, the solution of placing them in the walk-in closet is also okay for us.
Is there generally enough storage space? The garage is very large at 4.5 x 9m (15 x 30 feet), but it will also be used as a workshop, so the only storage areas available are the basement storage room, the space under the stairs, and the attic.
The hallway upstairs feels too narrow at 115cm (45 inches) and will be widened to about 130-140cm (51-55 inches).
The attic will be fully finished since my small office will be located there. The rest of the space will be for storage – this is not yet reflected in the plans.
Thanks so much in advance for your feedback. Here are the key details:
Zoning/Planning Restrictions
Plot size: 509 sqm (5,478 sq ft)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio: 0.4
Building line and building boundary: 3 m (10 feet) setback from property boundary
Edge development: garage on the north side, over 9 m (30 feet) long
Parking spaces: 2 (in front of the garage and under the kitchen window)
Number of floors: 2
Roof type: gable roof with 38-48° pitch
Style
Orientation: ridge runs east/west
Maximum heights/limits: 9.5 m (31 feet)
Eaves height: 4.2 m (14 feet)
Other regulations
Homeowners’ Requirements
Style: modern
Roof type: gable roof without overhangs
Building type: single-family house
Basement: no
Number of floors: 1.5 plus attic
Number of occupants: 4
Ages: 44, 37, 4, 2
Ground floor spaces: living room, kitchen with dining area, cloakroom, guest toilet, storage room
Upper floor: 2 children’s bedrooms, master bedroom, separate walk-in closet with washer/dryer, bathroom
Attic: utility room, office
Office use: family use or home office – home office
Number of guest stays per year: 4-10
Open or closed layout: open
Traditional or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: yes, yes
Number of dining seats: 8
Fireplace: yes
Music/stereo wall: no
Balcony, roof terrace: no
Garage, carport: yes, no
Vegetable garden, greenhouse: no
Additional wishes/special features/daily routine: landing or straight staircase, staircase in the living/dining area, living room no larger than 25 sqm (270 sq ft), access from garage to house, large kitchen/dining area, large children’s bedrooms (approx. 15 sqm (160 sq ft)) facing the garden (west), master bedroom no larger than 12-14 sqm (130-150 sq ft), separate walk-in closet and bedroom due to different wake-up times, walk-in closet with washer/dryer, large bathroom (with washer/dryer as alternative to the walk-in closet), proper staircase to the attic because it will be used as an office
House Design
Who created the design: planner from a building company and do-it-yourself
What we like most: children’s bedrooms, bathroom size, utility room on the ground floor with access to garage and garden, spacious entrance area, staircase in dining area
What we don’t like: staircase from upper floor to attic, street view (east)
Price estimate according to architect/planner:
Personal budget limit for the house including fittings:
Preferred heating system: gas, controlled ventilation with heat recovery
If you have to give up anything, what would it be?
- Could give up: nothing
- Cannot give up: nothing
Thank you very much!
XeNiA
Bieber0815 schrieb:
The layout of the guest bathroom should be checked regarding the sink and the door. I would always insist on a standard-sized sink here, which also needs to fit.
Upstairs, I would make sure that the bathroom can be drained as planned (definitely possible, but better to plan it now before building).Thanks for the tips! I will ask about this again!
Is it difficult to drain the bathroom as planned? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I have no knowledge about this :-/
The distances are quite long, especially since the bathroom upstairs is the farthest from the bathroom downstairs...
And routing drainage down through a wall above the kitchen also seems rather suboptimal to me.
What type of underfloor heating system do you plan to have upstairs?
And routing drainage down through a wall above the kitchen also seems rather suboptimal to me.
What type of underfloor heating system do you plan to have upstairs?
bortel schrieb:
The distances are very long, especially since the toilet upstairs is the farthest from the toilet downstairs...
And draining through the kitchen into a wall going down seems rather suboptimal to me.
What kind of underfloor heating system are you planning to have upstairs?We have on the upper floor:
floating cement screed on 60 mm (2.4 inches) DEO impact sound insulation/boards
This is what is stated in the building specifications.
Our builder has not mentioned the long distances so far :-/
bortel schrieb:
talk about that, it depends on how much insulation is under the cement screed... but I think bending the thick 100mm (4 inches) pipe will be difficult We will do that, thank you! It’s noted right away.
I generally agree that this is a very nice floor plan. Apart from a few minor points mentioned here, I would plan one aspect completely differently (not because it’s currently trendy, but simply because I personally prefer it that way 😉).
The orientation of the kitchen/dining area and living room. Since the living room is separated, the family will mostly spend time in the open kitchen area (even if the door in between is open), at least during the day. This space should have access to the main terrace and face south. Additionally, in summer the kitchen door is usually left open to the outside (children run to the fridge, meals are eaten outdoors, etc.), so having the kitchen open to the main terrace has many advantages. The current layout means the route is much too long (and also, otherwise you’d end up tracking dirt through the living room when going inside from the kitchen to the terrace).
The living area is mostly used in the evening, when it’s dark, so access to the main terrace is much less important there. Also, the living room to terrace path is used far less than the kitchen to terrace one.
The second small point, already mentioned, is the washing machine and dryer in the dressing room... I don’t think your clothes will be happy there, even with controlled ventilation.
The orientation of the kitchen/dining area and living room. Since the living room is separated, the family will mostly spend time in the open kitchen area (even if the door in between is open), at least during the day. This space should have access to the main terrace and face south. Additionally, in summer the kitchen door is usually left open to the outside (children run to the fridge, meals are eaten outdoors, etc.), so having the kitchen open to the main terrace has many advantages. The current layout means the route is much too long (and also, otherwise you’d end up tracking dirt through the living room when going inside from the kitchen to the terrace).
The living area is mostly used in the evening, when it’s dark, so access to the main terrace is much less important there. Also, the living room to terrace path is used far less than the kitchen to terrace one.
The second small point, already mentioned, is the washing machine and dryer in the dressing room... I don’t think your clothes will be happy there, even with controlled ventilation.
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