ᐅ Single-family house floor plan – where to place the mudroom?
Created on: 18 Apr 2023 13:16
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Bauherrin2024
Hello everyone,
we are currently in the planning phase and have just received our first draft – however, there are still a few things that are not quite satisfactory or were forgotten in the drawings. Before I ask my detailed questions, here are the most important details:
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 980m² (11,000 sq ft)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio: 250m² (2,690 sq ft)
Building envelope, building line and boundary: approx. 12x12m (39x39 ft)
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2
Roof type: gable roof
Client Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: classic gable roof single-family house
Basement, floors: no basement, 1.5 to 2 floors
Number of occupants, age: 2 adults, up to 2 children
Space requirement on ground and upper floor: approx. 160-170m² (1,720-1,830 sq ft)
Office: one office with desk (plus shelves etc.)
Overnight guests per year: very rare
Open kitchen, cooking island: yes/yes
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: yes, ideally recessed between living/dining area
Garage, carport: yes, connected via carport to a large garage at entrance door
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why certain things should or should not be included: bedroom should occupy the entire gable, absolutely need a “mudroom” for dog etc.
House Design
Planning by:
- own design with support from building planner
We currently have three main points that we are not happy with:
1.: What was forgotten: our big wish for a “mudroom.” We have a dog, horses, and a goose, so we come home with dirty shoes and pants (some of which also smell a little). We quickly dismissed the idea of extending the garage and putting everything back there to change, because our things need to dry there (= heating). My dream would be a second entrance from the garden or carport leading into a separate room, ideally adjacent to the utility room (with a door, as I don’t want my riding boots drying next to the white laundry). I just haven’t had the perfect idea yet on how to implement this elegantly.
2.: The bedroom is too large. We want the entire gable as a bedroom because we have a fantastic view. However, 27m² (290 sq ft) is huge, even with a walk-in closet. Do you have any ideas on how we could redesign it?
3.: I had hoped that the attic could possibly be used later as an additional office/dressing room or similar. Now the building planner told us that the attic is too small for such purposes and therefore did not include a fixed staircase. This surprised me a bit, as I find the attic in a similarly sized house at a friend’s place quite spacious. Am I missing something, or am I misreading the drawing? Are the 2m (6.6 ft) lines the exterior dimensions or actually the (insulated) ceiling height inside? Is there really no way to make use of the attic space with these dimensions?
Of course, I am also open to any other comments on the floor plan.
Thank you very much in advance!!
we are currently in the planning phase and have just received our first draft – however, there are still a few things that are not quite satisfactory or were forgotten in the drawings. Before I ask my detailed questions, here are the most important details:
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 980m² (11,000 sq ft)
Slope: no
Floor area ratio: 250m² (2,690 sq ft)
Building envelope, building line and boundary: approx. 12x12m (39x39 ft)
Number of parking spaces: 2
Number of floors: 2
Roof type: gable roof
Client Requirements
Style, roof shape, building type: classic gable roof single-family house
Basement, floors: no basement, 1.5 to 2 floors
Number of occupants, age: 2 adults, up to 2 children
Space requirement on ground and upper floor: approx. 160-170m² (1,720-1,830 sq ft)
Office: one office with desk (plus shelves etc.)
Overnight guests per year: very rare
Open kitchen, cooking island: yes/yes
Number of dining seats: 6-8
Fireplace: yes, ideally recessed between living/dining area
Garage, carport: yes, connected via carport to a large garage at entrance door
Other wishes/special features/daily routine, also reasons why certain things should or should not be included: bedroom should occupy the entire gable, absolutely need a “mudroom” for dog etc.
House Design
Planning by:
- own design with support from building planner
We currently have three main points that we are not happy with:
1.: What was forgotten: our big wish for a “mudroom.” We have a dog, horses, and a goose, so we come home with dirty shoes and pants (some of which also smell a little). We quickly dismissed the idea of extending the garage and putting everything back there to change, because our things need to dry there (= heating). My dream would be a second entrance from the garden or carport leading into a separate room, ideally adjacent to the utility room (with a door, as I don’t want my riding boots drying next to the white laundry). I just haven’t had the perfect idea yet on how to implement this elegantly.
2.: The bedroom is too large. We want the entire gable as a bedroom because we have a fantastic view. However, 27m² (290 sq ft) is huge, even with a walk-in closet. Do you have any ideas on how we could redesign it?
3.: I had hoped that the attic could possibly be used later as an additional office/dressing room or similar. Now the building planner told us that the attic is too small for such purposes and therefore did not include a fixed staircase. This surprised me a bit, as I find the attic in a similarly sized house at a friend’s place quite spacious. Am I missing something, or am I misreading the drawing? Are the 2m (6.6 ft) lines the exterior dimensions or actually the (insulated) ceiling height inside? Is there really no way to make use of the attic space with these dimensions?
Of course, I am also open to any other comments on the floor plan.
Thank you very much in advance!!
Bauherrin2024 schrieb:
Thank you for your explanations. Maybe I can still get some general tips here in the thread on how to incorporate a mudroom into a floor plan. For general ideas, the exact measurements are not really that important. You have received both a suggestion from me and an objection (freezer chest doesn’t fit in the pantry) explaining why the measurements are indeed important.
So far, I’m still waiting for your feedback on this. What are the dimensions of the pantry? How is the freezer chest supposed to fit in there? Why wouldn’t a side-by-side refrigerator be sufficient?
You should provide some input in return if you want us to help you...
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Bauherrin202421 Apr 2023 11:44Dear respondents,
I hope you have noticed that I have thanked each constructive contribution with a like and verbal appreciation, and have always tried to provide relevant information when asked. I am truly very grateful for your objections. For example, I really appreciate the concern about whether a chest freezer would even fit in the pantry (we would like it mainly for storing homemade dog food, which I prefer not to keep in the refrigerator). I must honestly say that, especially due to your questions, objections, and criticism of the planner, I am becoming increasingly dissatisfied with this "ruined standard floor plan." The more I calculate, adjust, and plan based on this floor plan, the worse the solution appears. Without going into more detail about the floor plan I uploaded: what would be the best approach for me to achieve better results on a second attempt?
I have now acquired floor plan software and am currently redrawing our wishes, combining them with your valuable advice (all individual dimensions are included here). Should I share my new plan with you again? Or would you rather advise me to "please go back to the planner/somewhere else and have everything redrawn"?
I must say I am somewhat disappointed with the outcome of our draft. Of course, we said it would be great to have the bedroom occupy the entire bay window, perhaps with a slanted wall so that the other rooms wouldn’t be so small, but that this would be implemented exactly 1:1? Actually, the whole point of hiring a planner was that I have no expertise and that they would show me with their knowledge if my approach was wrong or if they have a much more efficient solution.
I hope you have noticed that I have thanked each constructive contribution with a like and verbal appreciation, and have always tried to provide relevant information when asked. I am truly very grateful for your objections. For example, I really appreciate the concern about whether a chest freezer would even fit in the pantry (we would like it mainly for storing homemade dog food, which I prefer not to keep in the refrigerator). I must honestly say that, especially due to your questions, objections, and criticism of the planner, I am becoming increasingly dissatisfied with this "ruined standard floor plan." The more I calculate, adjust, and plan based on this floor plan, the worse the solution appears. Without going into more detail about the floor plan I uploaded: what would be the best approach for me to achieve better results on a second attempt?
I have now acquired floor plan software and am currently redrawing our wishes, combining them with your valuable advice (all individual dimensions are included here). Should I share my new plan with you again? Or would you rather advise me to "please go back to the planner/somewhere else and have everything redrawn"?
I must say I am somewhat disappointed with the outcome of our draft. Of course, we said it would be great to have the bedroom occupy the entire bay window, perhaps with a slanted wall so that the other rooms wouldn’t be so small, but that this would be implemented exactly 1:1? Actually, the whole point of hiring a planner was that I have no expertise and that they would show me with their knowledge if my approach was wrong or if they have a much more efficient solution.
Feel free to share your drawing. Even if it receives criticism, you will gain valuable information for yourself.
A planner—presumably one hired by the general contractor—is employed and likely earns only an average income, which probably doesn’t allow them to afford building a house on their own. The enthusiasm for individuality tends to be lost in standardized planning. While the planner cannot buy anything from the customer’s gratitude and satisfaction, the general contractor, their employer, benefits.
That’s why there are forums like this one, where users occasionally share good ideas and suggestions.
A planner—presumably one hired by the general contractor—is employed and likely earns only an average income, which probably doesn’t allow them to afford building a house on their own. The enthusiasm for individuality tends to be lost in standardized planning. While the planner cannot buy anything from the customer’s gratitude and satisfaction, the general contractor, their employer, benefits.
That’s why there are forums like this one, where users occasionally share good ideas and suggestions.
Bauherrin2024 schrieb:
As an example, I’m really glad about the comment questioning whether a chest freezer would even fit in the pantry (which we would like to have just for preparing raw food for our dog, something I don’t want stored in the fridge). I have to honestly say that, especially because of your questions, objections, and “complaints” about the planner, I am becoming increasingly dissatisfied with this "messed-up standard floor plan." We’re glad if we were able to highlight the poor performance of your planner and that you are now on your way to becoming a more demanding consumer of planning services. After all, a carelessly designed house doesn’t cost any less. The fact that I currently have to give a new cookie consent for every single (!) page refresh makes me a bit lazy to check again—but at least it feels like the info about the dog being fed raw food is new to me. Such seemingly minor details can be essential when it comes to advising you appropriately.
Bauherrin2024 schrieb:
The more I calculate, move, and plan based on this floor plan, the worse the solution becomes. Without going into more detail about the original floor plan I uploaded: What would be the best way to proceed so I can be more successful on the second attempt? I have now gotten some floor plan software and am redrawing our wishes here, combined with your valuable feedback (all individual dimensions are included there). Should I share my new plan with you again? Or would you rather say “please go back to your planner/somewhere else and have everything redrawn”? The more you (which is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of) are a complete layperson, the more you need a true professional by your side. So don’t go to the draftsman of a general contractor, but to an independent architect you commission yourself. Talk to her only about your wishes—that means make a list of the required rooms and special needs (see above, the dog and its food not in the family fridge). If you have fallen in love with certain details on Instagram, Pinterest, etc., you can show her those pictures if you want similar features included in the design. If you do plan something yourself, never show the result to the professional before she has presented her own or a jointly developed concept. And don’t wear yourself out fiddling around with software. Sketch the roof or upper floor roughly with pencil and graph paper, then place tracing paper over it to develop the ground floor accordingly. I am also professionally searching for architects and building companies, use the same name at gmx.de as here, and if you google “bauen-jetzt,” you can read the planning tip I just gave and many others in more detail.
Bauherrin2024 schrieb:
I have to say I’m a bit disappointed with what came out of our design. Of course, we said it would be great if the bedroom occupied the entire bay window, maybe with an angled wall so the other rooms wouldn’t be so small—but that it would be implemented exactly 1:1 like that? Actually, I am using a planner because I have no clue and expect them to show me with their expertise if I am on the wrong track or if they have a much more efficient solution. It’s still unclear to me what input you provided for the plan shown here, and where you felt you were not listened to properly. Planning expertise is rarely found with a building contractor; for that, you need to go to a proper architect. In some cases, that might not be necessary, and I’m happy to guide you to alternative approaches if those are more efficient for your project. What never works well, as I said, is to take a standard design and then try to “stuff” additional wishes into it (which inevitably happens when you just add more wishes without increasing the overall size). Such an angled wall as in your example leads to unnecessarily complicated connections between building elements. The professional (or even a crime scene photographer or a pet shop assistant) should be able to come up with a better solution.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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hanghaus202324 Apr 2023 09:09You can try searching on American websites, for example using "house with mudroom floor plans." There are plenty of options available.
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