ᐅ Single-Family Home Planning, Over 200 sqm, with Basement – Thank You for Your Feedback

Dear community,

I would appreciate honest and constructive feedback on my floor plan – especially regarding the corridor widths and lengths (too long, too dark?) as well as the size of the entrance area and the corner at the bathroom/guest room on the ground floor. However, I also welcome any other helpful criticism!
Please find more information about the planning and orientation below. I am happy to provide additional details if needed!

Thank you!

Development plan/restrictions

Plot size – 750sqm (8,073 sq ft), between 18 and 17m (59 and 56 ft) wide (tapers towards the back), between 40 and 45m (131 and 148 ft) long, east side faces the street, south, north and west sides border neighboring properties
Slope – no
Site coverage ratio – 0.35
Floor area ratio – 0.7
Building envelope, setback line and boundary – construction allowed between 5m (16 ft) and 21m (69 ft) behind the rear edge of the curb
Adjacent buildings – large barn on the south side, single-family houses on the west and north sides; large garden on the west side
Number of floors – basement + ground floor + upper floor + (attic)
Roof type – gable roof, 30° pitch
Architectural style – modern
Orientation – main entrance on the east side facing the street, terrace on the west side

Architectural style, roof design, building type – gable roof with ridge running east-west (according to the development plan), modern single-family house
Basement, floors – basement + 2 full floors + attic; approx. 230sqm (2,476 sq ft)

House design
Plan based on extensive feedback from planners and various providers, compiled by me

My must-haves

• Guest room and bathroom on the ground floor
• Level entrance from the garage into the house
• Open living/dining area with a suggested separation towards the sunny side
• Kitchen on the southwest side, easily accessible but can be separated from the dining area if desired
• Possible separation between ground floor and upper floor
• Children’s and master bathrooms on the upper floor
• Children’s rooms facing the sunny side
• Passage from master bedroom → walk-in closet → bathroom with separate access to the bathroom

North arrow on the floor plan? Site plan?

Fitting a wardrobe will be tricky due to the door positions.

Regarding the kitchen/pantry area... a pantry might not even be necessary, as storage can be done in the basement.

In general, it would be helpful to indicate some furniture arrangements. Also, specify the window sill height, although windows would look good on the upper floor as well.

Walk-in closet... you can fit no more than about 3 m (10 feet) of wardrobe space there.

Guest bathroom - a boxed-in area for wastewater pipes; the bathroom could become quite tight with a bathtub included.

Three bathtubs and three showers is quite generous 🙂.

Sorry, here is the orientation along with the site plan of the currently existing building, which will be demolished.

Thank you very much for the direct feedback – regarding the doors in the cloakroom you are absolutely right, and I will also take another look at the bathroom.

The staircase to the upper floor is located immediately next to the front door (east side), and the basement stairs are in the center of the house.

Please furnish all rooms to scale with accurate furniture dimensions.
Somehow, the floor plan reminds me of Tetris.

What is the purpose of the strange corner between the guest room and entrance?

The wardrobe is nicely sized but there is no space for it.

Why have a large pantry when there is a basement available?
Direct access from the kitchen to the pantry is missing.

The bathroom is too small. Are three bathrooms with showers and bathtubs really necessary?

Upper floor:

I would plan the parents’ bedroom on one side.
Swap Room 1 and the bedroom.
The walk-in closet can only be furnished with a 3 m (10 ft) wardrobe.

Having two doors to the bathroom seems impractical, especially since there is a bathroom for the children.

I would change the staircase to reduce the hallway space.

Thank you both very much! Very helpful. I have already incorporated some parts (see below).

As requested, I have drawn to scale.

Regarding the points:

• Strange corner/guest room at the entrance --> This is intended to be a guest room, and in case it is needed later, I would like to have a room on the ground floor that can be converted into a bedroom.
• Wardrobe --> You are right... Thank you!
• I would like to keep walking distances as short as possible (--> supplies directly from the car in the garage to the pantry). So far, I have not considered a direct access from the pantry to the kitchen very important, since the distance difference is less than 2m (6.5 ft).
• Bathrooms --> all too small? I already adjusted this on the ground floor; a third bathtub would indeed not be practical. Thanks.
• How would you position the staircase? I had also considered a half-landing staircase right at the entrance on the north/east side but discarded that idea because the hallway upstairs would then be too long...

Thank you for your helpful comments.

haydee schrieb:


I would plan the master bedroom on one side.
Swap room 1 and the bedroom.
The walk-in closet is only furnished with a 3 m (10 feet) wardrobe.

P.S. I chose the west side for the master bedroom because of the nicer garden view and being farther from the street. Why would you place the master bedroom in the northeast?