Provide Feedback on a House Floorplan!

[ddd-shooter]

Latest thoughts with some of the input from this thread. Added 2' to the long dimension of the house for this iteration.

Still thinking about the kitchen a bit. Layout of the sink/stove/fridge is still ab it odd, and a 7'-3" wide horseshoe kitchen seems like a bit of wasted space (but 5'-3" probably was too narrow in my original plan).

Also widened the dining room by 2' and shrunk BR2 a bit and made BR3 a bit wider.

Nothing is finalized but lots of helpful feedback to think about so far. Thanks!

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Not sure on what to do with washer/dryer/water heater but for now they're in the garage in this iteration.

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This entire highlighted area is useless. You’re paying for square footage that is not functional, and actually hinders movement through the house.

 

[TX_Diver]

This entire highlighted area is useless. You’re paying for square footage that is not functional, and actually hinders movement through the house.

few other comments are similar and I’m thinking I agree. What do I do with it instead or how do I eliminate it and create space elsewhere?

 

[TX_Diver]

Is this the front door opposite side of the garage door?
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Square off this wall, I get why it’s angled but it really cuts down that closet and bedroom. Don’t need a door here and removing the closet really helps getting down the hallway and helps allow better air circulation for the heat.
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Main door will be on the north into living room. The wall/covey on the right as you walk in will have coat hooks, etc.

Interesting thought on the angle. It seems like it opens that dining area up a bit, but with the extra width maybe it’s not needed

Few comments have mentioned that bedroom entrance hallway. Definitely looking at that some more.

Someone asked if I’m working with an architect. Not really. I have an engineer who is sizing some stuff and will provide a set of plans, but he isn’t much for aesthetics or architectural type feedback.

 

[OMF]

I haven’t read all the posts to see if this was suggested. I would get rid of the hallway closet on the backside of the master bedroom closet. I would add that space onto the master BR. I would redo the master bathroom so it had a double vanity/sink, move the toilet down and push the shower back and use some of the master closet space.

I think the basement affords some flexibility with closet space upstairs. And don’t cheap out on windows (window wells) in the basement. They can take a dark space and lighten it up and make it useable for living space.

Good luck!

 

[Irish Miner]

Fun project, I just recently did this myself. Sketched out my vision on graph paper, then tossed it over to an architect to make it more formal. A couple revisions later and we are digging now. ~2,200 sq ft. Just the wife and I now, kids are all grown and gone. One level (no stairs) with a 4' crawl space underneath. Kinda fun. This is a first for us so I'll be learning alot as we go...

Not to derail your thread, but thought I'd share what I'm looking like so far here. Best of luck!

 

[ODB]

Echo the comment on small hallways. And That door entering the hallway doesn't make sense to me.

Also the kitchen seems disjointed - the fridge seems far awat from eveerything. You'll be hauling food across a lot of floor

I would not want my master bedroom against the living room wall. my folks' old house had a living room open into kitchen, then behind the kitchen wall was the master. It was quiet when the TV was on.

Do you really think you;ll use four chairs on that pass-through? I think areas like that are high expectation, low performance. You could extend that wall, make the entry closet bigger, leave two seats, move the fridge to that side neatr where the stove is, move the stove across from where it is now and have a good stove/fridge/sink triangle. Swap some cabinets. you could even put a pony wall behind the door and if the fridge is moved, add a small round cafe table next to the pony wall if you wanted seating for breakfast/lunch.

 

[fngTony]

Overall that’s a lot going on in one level, I would make it ten feet bigger in both dimensions. That would open up the hallways, allow for another bathroom (four kids sharing that sounds like hell), expand the master bath.

 

[ddd-shooter]

few other comments are similar and I’m thinking I agree. What do I do with it instead or how do I eliminate it and create space elsewhere?

Honestly?
Turn the house 90* so the basement wall with the garage is on the long side. Put two bedrooms down there (or preferably three) with windows. Keep water heater, HVAC, electrical all in basement.
That improves the entire main floor to actually be useful-pantry and laundry on main floor, larger kitchen, larger master, more cabinets, useful guest bath.
Save money for a good garage later.

I wouldn’t sacrifice my living quarters for a place to park my vehicle. You and your kids will be cramped forever. You can build a nice garage at anytime later.

 

[hikenhunt]

I have four kids and designed the entire layout of our house. Its fun but also daunting at times. There is a lot of personal preference that goes into your layout, but here are some ideas:
- a half bath for guests. I highly recommend so they don't have to go through your hallway for the kids bathroom, which will never be clean! If you don't do anything else, please do this!
- where is your closet? somewhat of a joke, but I would suggest a smaller master bedroom and larger closet and bath. Two sinks will serve you well if you can and add a door to the shower.
- Entertaining. For a current family of 6, the living room is small if you're having any guests
- The kitchen looks fine to me with the added width. I would be more concerned with how far I'm hauling groceries from the car to the kitchen (the garage is a long ways from the kitchen).
- If you are going to add dimensions to the house, I would add a walk-in pantry to the west of the kitchen. We had a pantry down the hallway at our previous house and it was a hassle. And that was on the same floor. I would highly recommend getting the pantry next to the kitchen.
- Unfinished space is your friend if you're family is still growing. We only had three kids when we moved into our house and then had a fourth. We needed the unfinished space above our garage!
- I can understand the allure of trying to get everything on the main floor, but I think you're making sacrifices that I personally wouldn't to make it happen. If you can't add square footage then I would put a bedroom or two downstairs to make the main living area more functional.
- After I had a good layout, we worked with a contractor and his drafter to get through permitting (a huge hassle where I live) and the contractor had some good ideas for layout and cost savings too. Definitely worth his cost.
- Good luck!