ᐅ Single-family house, 160 m² with basement, on a 500 m² plot of land
Created on: 9 Jun 2020 18:34
M
Murmelstein
Hi,
We have a 500m2 (5400 sq ft) plot where we would like to build.
We have now received the initial plans from our preferred construction company.
We need a basement because my wife and I both work from home, and we have three children who should each have their own room.
The attic is not really a good option due to the small dormer window and a building height limit of 9 meters (30 ft). The basement is quite expensive because of the clay soil, but in the end, we decided in favor of the basement, and the first financing simulations fit approximately a $680,000 build cost including additional construction expenses. The land is not included, of course.
I think the plans are already quite good, but I don’t have much expertise. A master bathroom was our request. The guest bathroom on the ground floor is there because we often have guests staying with us.
In my opinion, the pantry can be left out.
I planned the upstairs hallway once larger and once smaller to allow for a bigger children’s bathroom.
I miss the external staircase to the basement. If the stairs were on the right side, it would allow for "normal" windows in the basement offices. I have pointed this out. Also, the street runs roughly along the house from left to right and drops about one meter (3 ft).
I’m not sure about the layout of the "fitness" room; I think it might be structurally necessary. I want to bother the architect only once we are 100% sure we are going with this construction company.
What I generally don't like right now is that generic feel when looking at it, but the house is simply a standard two-story with a 30° pitched roof.
I would really like to know from your experience whether this covered terrace is a good idea or not.
Thanks in advance
We have a 500m2 (5400 sq ft) plot where we would like to build.
We have now received the initial plans from our preferred construction company.
We need a basement because my wife and I both work from home, and we have three children who should each have their own room.
The attic is not really a good option due to the small dormer window and a building height limit of 9 meters (30 ft). The basement is quite expensive because of the clay soil, but in the end, we decided in favor of the basement, and the first financing simulations fit approximately a $680,000 build cost including additional construction expenses. The land is not included, of course.
I think the plans are already quite good, but I don’t have much expertise. A master bathroom was our request. The guest bathroom on the ground floor is there because we often have guests staying with us.
In my opinion, the pantry can be left out.
I planned the upstairs hallway once larger and once smaller to allow for a bigger children’s bathroom.
I miss the external staircase to the basement. If the stairs were on the right side, it would allow for "normal" windows in the basement offices. I have pointed this out. Also, the street runs roughly along the house from left to right and drops about one meter (3 ft).
I’m not sure about the layout of the "fitness" room; I think it might be structurally necessary. I want to bother the architect only once we are 100% sure we are going with this construction company.
What I generally don't like right now is that generic feel when looking at it, but the house is simply a standard two-story with a 30° pitched roof.
I would really like to know from your experience whether this covered terrace is a good idea or not.
Thanks in advance
Unfortunately, you are not allowed to post links here, and I don’t have any personal photos to share. However, you can find examples by searching for "Lichthof Keller" on Google and then looking at the images. I like the terrace-style planted beds. You have a view of greenery, and natural light comes in.
M
Murmelstein10 Jun 2020 12:14Yes, it looks really good. Maybe I will skip the staircase as well, but in the end, my wife has to decide.
I don’t like the hallway on the ground floor because there is very little storage space for 5 people since there are hardly any walls.
I also find it difficult to judge whether the kitchen/dining room size is adequate.
I don’t like the hallway on the ground floor because there is very little storage space for 5 people since there are hardly any walls.
I also find it difficult to judge whether the kitchen/dining room size is adequate.
Hi,
I think the ground floor is quite good.
The dimensions are sufficient. 55 sqm (592 sq ft) is not little for the open-plan living area.
I don’t see the lack of storage space in the entrance hall since you have a large storage room. To me, that would be the cloakroom or wardrobe space—what else would you put there? You also have a basement.
I wouldn’t want the sofa with a corner placed like that in the living room. I’d rather swap the living room to the opposite side facing the window. That leaves less space for a media wall, though.
I find the upper floor difficult. Child 3 gets the short end of the stick. You can debate how large a child’s bedroom should be; for many, under 13 sqm (140 sq ft) is already considered unlivable, while others find it just right. But child 3 ends up with such a narrow room.
With three children, I can understand the desire for two bathrooms. But the upper floor already feels quite cramped and somewhat awkward in layout.
I’m not a big remodeler—others here might have ideas—maybe it’s possible to fit everything into the available square meters, but certainly not easily. Would it be an option to have only one bathroom upstairs and use the ground floor bathroom as a secondary bathroom?
Edit: Oh, and I wouldn’t want to park a car in the garage...
I think the ground floor is quite good.
The dimensions are sufficient. 55 sqm (592 sq ft) is not little for the open-plan living area.
I don’t see the lack of storage space in the entrance hall since you have a large storage room. To me, that would be the cloakroom or wardrobe space—what else would you put there? You also have a basement.
I wouldn’t want the sofa with a corner placed like that in the living room. I’d rather swap the living room to the opposite side facing the window. That leaves less space for a media wall, though.
I find the upper floor difficult. Child 3 gets the short end of the stick. You can debate how large a child’s bedroom should be; for many, under 13 sqm (140 sq ft) is already considered unlivable, while others find it just right. But child 3 ends up with such a narrow room.
With three children, I can understand the desire for two bathrooms. But the upper floor already feels quite cramped and somewhat awkward in layout.
I’m not a big remodeler—others here might have ideas—maybe it’s possible to fit everything into the available square meters, but certainly not easily. Would it be an option to have only one bathroom upstairs and use the ground floor bathroom as a secondary bathroom?
Edit: Oh, and I wouldn’t want to park a car in the garage...
M
Murmelstein10 Jun 2020 12:47What do you mean about the living room? That you leave out this covered terrace and swap the living room with the dining room?
The third child’s bedroom is about 5 x 2.5 m (16.4 x 8.2 ft). 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) is quite narrow, but we really don’t want to give up the two bathrooms. In the end, all three bathrooms will be in use in the mornings and I’ll be peeing in the garden. I could at most reduce the size of child 1 and child 2’s rooms to give child 3 more space, but then child 3 would clearly have the biggest room.
The third child’s bedroom is about 5 x 2.5 m (16.4 x 8.2 ft). 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) is quite narrow, but we really don’t want to give up the two bathrooms. In the end, all three bathrooms will be in use in the mornings and I’ll be peeing in the garden. I could at most reduce the size of child 1 and child 2’s rooms to give child 3 more space, but then child 3 would clearly have the biggest room.
Murmelstein schrieb:
What do you mean by the living room?Flip the sofa. Put it where the TV currently is and place the TV where the sofa is now. Just the furniture arrangement.
Murmelstein schrieb:
The third children’s room is about 5 x 2.5 meters (16.5 x 8.2 feet). 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) is quite narrow,That’s not just “quite narrow,” that’s uncomfortably narrow. If you place a bed there, you only have about 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) left (90 cm (35 inches) bed + a bit of bed frame and distance to the wall). These are raw construction dimensions. You have to subtract some space for plaster and finishing. I’m not one of those who believe a children’s room must be 20 square meters (215 square feet), but under 13 and such a narrow shape? That’s less than ideal.
Murmelstein schrieb:
I could at most reduce the size of Child 1 and Child 2’s rooms to give Child 3 more space, but then Child 3 would clearly have the biggest room.No, reducing the others is definitely not the solution…
M
Murmelstein10 Jun 2020 13:08We definitely want the garage to be at least half a meter (around 20 inches) wider.
Regarding the upper floor: Of course, it’s possible to make the entire upper floor 1 meter (about 40 inches) longer than the ground floor. I’m not sure what additional costs that would involve, but I think the extra 10m² (108ft²), including the columns, will probably cost around €30,000.
Regarding the upper floor: Of course, it’s possible to make the entire upper floor 1 meter (about 40 inches) longer than the ground floor. I’m not sure what additional costs that would involve, but I think the extra 10m² (108ft²), including the columns, will probably cost around €30,000.
Similar topics