Hello everyone,
After almost a year’s break, we have resumed our building project and are planning a new floor plan.
We’re stuck when it comes to the open-plan living area, so I would like to hear your opinions!
Our garden faces west, and to the south, the neighboring property begins after three meters (10 feet).
Option 1:
Overall, we like this option best. BUT: Is it possibly too tight? About one meter (3 feet) between the sofa and table—is that too cramped? It’s enough for walking through, but maybe it compromises comfort on the couch? Currently, we have much more space between the couch and table, but not as much room depth as in the planned layout. We are thinking of trying to place the table this close to the sofa in our current apartment to get a feel for it.
Pros: Great window view to the west, a skylight to the south (brings in plenty of light but prevents the neighbor from looking into our house), from the couch you can see the room, the garden, and the TV.
Cons: Is it too narrow in width?
Option 2:
Same setup, only the table is rotated. Basically, a table with a footprint of 1.00 x 2.00 meters (3 x 6.5 feet) requires a total space of 2.00 x 2.00 meters (6.5 x 6.5 feet) to accommodate chairs. In this arrangement, all guests could look out to the garden. In option 1, both the sofa and the kitchen island have visual contact with all guests.
Option 3:
The sofa and the entertainment wall are swapped. The skylight to the south changes to a floor-to-ceiling window, but the window to the west is removed.
Pros: More freedom of movement in the room, sofa hidden behind the fireplace, more coziness.
Cons: No view of the garden from the sofa, loss of a west window, view of the fireplace only from the side.
We have gotten so lost in the planning that we can’t see the forest for the trees right now.
What do you think?
Thanks and best regards,
Ypsi
After almost a year’s break, we have resumed our building project and are planning a new floor plan.
We’re stuck when it comes to the open-plan living area, so I would like to hear your opinions!
Our garden faces west, and to the south, the neighboring property begins after three meters (10 feet).
Option 1:
Overall, we like this option best. BUT: Is it possibly too tight? About one meter (3 feet) between the sofa and table—is that too cramped? It’s enough for walking through, but maybe it compromises comfort on the couch? Currently, we have much more space between the couch and table, but not as much room depth as in the planned layout. We are thinking of trying to place the table this close to the sofa in our current apartment to get a feel for it.
Pros: Great window view to the west, a skylight to the south (brings in plenty of light but prevents the neighbor from looking into our house), from the couch you can see the room, the garden, and the TV.
Cons: Is it too narrow in width?
Option 2:
Same setup, only the table is rotated. Basically, a table with a footprint of 1.00 x 2.00 meters (3 x 6.5 feet) requires a total space of 2.00 x 2.00 meters (6.5 x 6.5 feet) to accommodate chairs. In this arrangement, all guests could look out to the garden. In option 1, both the sofa and the kitchen island have visual contact with all guests.
Option 3:
The sofa and the entertainment wall are swapped. The skylight to the south changes to a floor-to-ceiling window, but the window to the west is removed.
Pros: More freedom of movement in the room, sofa hidden behind the fireplace, more coziness.
Cons: No view of the garden from the sofa, loss of a west window, view of the fireplace only from the side.
We have gotten so lost in the planning that we can’t see the forest for the trees right now.
What do you think?
Thanks and best regards,
Ypsi
Y
Ypsi aus NI20 May 2021 12:22I have to admit, I didn’t expect such a clear result :-)
If you want to keep the fireplace and use it as a small room divider or partition near the sofa: what else might be possible with the floor plan?
Does anyone perhaps have a completely different idea?
Thanks!!!
If you want to keep the fireplace and use it as a small room divider or partition near the sofa: what else might be possible with the floor plan?
Does anyone perhaps have a completely different idea?
Thanks!!!
Myrna_Loy schrieb:
When we have friends over for dinner—or when we’re guests at someone else’s place—no one looks into the kitchen or the garden. Unless the cook asks for help. People talk and focus more on each other.
I’m not a cooking show! Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
At the table, people talk, but not so much with the cook, since half of the guests have their backs to them.
I think both seating arrangements have their pros and cons. Let’s be honest: everyone has a neck under their head. When I have guests, they look around—at their plates, at the cook, outside, or at a new piece of furniture. When I’m a guest, I look around, too. I don’t mind looking at a nice dresser or the plant pot on the terrace. I also get up if something catches my interest. If someone outside sees an alien, they can call out and everyone will turn around. Basically, people focus either on themselves or something at the table.
I think this discussion about who looks where is a bit exaggerated. Considering your own preferences, alone or as a couple, those thoughts make sense. But if you welcome guests at 7 p.m., it’s usually dark outside or you’re still sitting on the terrace. Or the blinds block the view anyway.
Ypsi aus NI schrieb:
Resumed the building project and are planning a new floor plan. In that case, I would also plan a new floor layout.
What you are doing now is just moving furniture back and forth in a fixed 9.90 x 5.30m (32.5 x 17.4 ft) space.
So the question is: are these dimensions fixed?
In my opinion, you cannot properly fit three separate areas (living/dining/kitchen) within 9.90 m (32.5 ft) in length. That would give each area just 3.30 m (10.8 ft), which is far too narrow for living space. You need at least 4–4.5 m (13.1–14.8 ft) for living alone. That leaves only 5.5–6 m (18–19.7 ft) for dining and kitchen. As you can see, that is tight. It hardly matters whether the dining table is placed crosswise or lengthwise. I also think the kitchen is slightly oversized at over 8 linear meters (26.2 ft).
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