First time to build - Floor Plan Review Please

etr2002

9 years ago

I have a meeting on Thursday morning to go over changes to the plan. We are building on a hill in the middle of 100 acres of pasture just outside of Nashville. Ceiling downstairs are 10" and upstairs are 9". I would appreciate thoughts and opinions on the houseplan.

One thing that I noticed last night was that the area for a future elevator opens one way downstairs and another way upstairs, so I know this is going to require some changes. What else do you see that you would recommend changing?

Thanks in advance!
Erica

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Comments (7)

etr2002
Original Author
9 years ago
1st Floor
etr2002
Original Author
9 years ago
2nd floor
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Thanks for the responses everyone! Let's see if I can address them all: There's a lot of focus on my guest bedroom area. My intent for that space is really to "flex" with us as our family ages, like you said, @lavender_lass. For now, I see it being used as an extra room- play room, or whatever with a bed or pull out couch for the infrequent times we do have adult over night guests. It can also be used as a BR if someone breaks their leg or has surgery or something. Then, as we age, it will become our Master bedroom. The Guest bath is large because we needed one that is wheelchair accessible. We have 3 friends and family members in w/c now, so it was drawn with them in mind. (And any future handicaps in ourselves.) So currently, it will be used as the bathroom that every guest uses when they visit. I didn't want it to open right on to the family room, cuz I think that's a little tacky! :) I don't like the door being where it is to the "guest suite" or flex space or whatever you want to call it. I was thinking about moving the door down, like you suggested, @kirkhall. Since you mentioned it, I'm thinking that's probably a really good idea! @fotomatt- just curious what you meant about the small look/sq footage? Didn't know if you meant that I haven't used the space well, or if I did use it well! Does the exterior elevation look wrong? I was actually worried that I have too much sqft. Just wondering- I won't bite, I promise! :) @andi_k- good point! And actually, after looking at those pics again, they don't seem to have alot of usable counter space, either. I might have to rethink my vision for that room. Adding a little footage to the mudroom might be on the agenda. I need to check and see if it will jive with the upstairs. So....what do you think about my front windows, then? Should I cut them down to 2 casements w/ transoms? That would give me a little more room to play with in the mudroom, but would that ruin my exterior look? So many good things to think about! I appreciate them all!
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I would design the mudroom so that it could hold the washer/dryer. If at some point you do find yourself living with someone in this house, you might like having the option of getting the washer/dryer somewhere that is accessible to you without stairs AND accessible to someone else, without their having to go through your bedroom. Also, if you end up selling, it might be a more attractive option for potential buyers. I'd also set things up so that the server room can be accessed without walking through the master, if for no other reason than that it might be less awkward if you find yourself working from home with a female employee/associate. I see you're building in Michigan. What direction will the house face? How do you feel about natural light? We're building in Minnesota, and our last house had a South facing front porch that meant the main level of the house got almost no natural all winter. It was kind of depressing. I'll add a link to the Naval Observatory's website-- you can put in your location and they'll tell you the sun's angle and azimuth for any day of the year. I suspect that there will be several months where the windows in the back of the house get almost no direct light. Also, I think the 14' ceilings will be cavernous and hard to heat. I can't read the dimensions of your great room, but it looks like the width is right around 14', and having a room that is roughly the same width and height may feel off. I'd go down to 12' or even 10' (especially because this is your "forever" house, and when you retire you may want to spend money on something other than heating 7'+ of air above your head.) Here is a link that might be useful: US Naval Observatory Sun or Moon Altitude/Azimuth Table
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Oh, that's wonderful Summerfield! I wish I could just build that almost as you have drawn it! Unfortunately, I've got some restrictions I have to work within due to the lot I have and city setbacks. I've been reading "The Not So Big House" book (loving it, thanks for the recommendation minneapolisite) and was looking at some new ideas from my original layout. **This is pretty rough** and there's a bunch I really don't like on it just yet, but I wanted to give an update. What I like most about my latest update is more windows in the main living area on the south side of the house and all three living areas having direct windows instead of the dining room being sandwiched into the middle of the house. I also like the shared entry so that the 'nice' entry doesn't end up being for guests only. I hate the way I have the pantry laid out, but I do like the idea of a good sized pantry with room for the chest freezer (currently in the basement in our house today). Also, this opens up the living room for a bit more space. My favorite things about the plan you've drawn, Summerfield, are both of the bathrooms, laundry and master closet. Those are the areas I'm struggling the most with. (as well as the whole bedrooms side of the house...) We may have a small television in the kitchen, and temporarily in the living room, but once the basement is finished we would only have the kitchen tv. So no need to build a dedicated spot for it on the first floor. Site Plan:
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Garage: How cool that you have a 3-car garage, but only 2 bays dedicated to cars! That means all the bikes etc. will not scratch up the cars. You might want to make that door extra wide or a double-door to accommodate the in-and-out of bikes, and golf cart if you get one for FIL and MIL to cruise the property. You might want to build it so that you can, perhaps, add a garage door if the kids get a car...it's not long off! Mudroom: I agree with the mudroom being mostly hooks; no one uses the closet in our house, only the hooks; I'm planning to take out the closet but keep cabinets for the "stuff": batteries, sunscreen, bug spray, caps, etc. Inlaw suite: Perhaps put the door on the back of the mudroom wall, instead of flush with the soon-to-be-gone closet door. Makes a little more of an entrance, so it looks less like a closet from the hall. This might allow the door to open further to accommodate the wheelchair. You might want to include an egress, just in case. Also, where is the accessible entrance to the house, a ramp? You could quietly incorporate it along the garage to the front porch, if you pull the porch and posts out a bit and if you don't have a step from the porch into the foyer. Remember to add a window, perhaps a French door for egress, facing the back yard for the in-law's room. Basement: Include a bathroom in the basement for the kids, it'll be great for sleepovers. FR: I kind of don't mind the dead space between the island and FR; the kids can make a mess there without getting it on the FR furniture, or they can just gather without being on the island, and it opens up the flow. Library: How do you plan to use the library? Maybe add a window to the side? It could be a high window with bookcases below. Maybe a window in the turn of the stairs, too. Seems like a nice family house :)
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bpath
9 years ago
Oh, that's a nice farmhouse look.

Are the washing machines in the laundry room divided by the sink? If so, move them next to each other. It really is bothersome to reach from washer to dryer when they are two feet apart.

Is the elevator intended for the right-hand bedroom? Could you have it open right into the bedroom, and come down into the parlor? It would be easiest for a mobility-impaired person to not have to make multiple turns to use it. If you plan to keep the doors in the hallway, be sure they swing on the easiest side. For example, as shown upstairs it should be on the other side if it's serving the right-hand bedroom.

Would it make sense to flip the stairs? It seems to me most traffic goes between the back, living area of the house and the upstairs. The upstairs seem to be set up in such a way that the stairs could go either way. If the stairs start in the family room, the parlor becomes a quieter "away"space.

Can you talk about the garage doors, and how many there are?
etr2002
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for taking the time to review our plans!

We will not have a garage but a carport instead. It is supposed to be large enough for 2 SUVs. The mechanical room that is located in that area is for a freezer, safe, and water heater.

The closet in the master bath is a safe room.

The elevator is intended for the guest room which is the one on the right side of the home. Good point about the turns and the opening. I'll definitely address this at our meeting. I'm also going to work on the bathroom in that area because it is designed for a custom shower, and I don't want to spend quite that much when I can get a premade handicap shower that will work just as well.

I also like the thoughts about the stairwell. It is currently located right outside of our master bedroom that will be soundproof, but my husband works nights and will be sleeping during the day while the kids are stomping up and down the stairs.

I hadn't thought about the wet clothes going across the sink. I only thought about the window being above the sink.

Thanks!
snuffycuts99
9 years ago
I can't see your plans very well, but...it looks like the space for the elevator has a door on the right on the first floor and exits to the left on the 2nd floor. If that is what you're concerned with, don't worry about it. It's a simple option to have a straight thru cab where you have openings across from each other. That's exactly what we're doing in our current build. Sorry if I misread your plans...

Also, I wouldn't have 1st floor entrance to the elevator from that hallway, though. It looks quite narrow. If so, you'd want it to be at least 4' wide. It would probably make more sense to enter from the foyer.
bordercolliesrule83
9 years ago
The kitchen stools appear too close to the dining table chairs.
lethargo
9 years ago
Where do your kids drop their stuff? It looks like it's next to the powder room. I would put the powder room to open across from the stairs, and slide the other closets to the right; the Butler's pantry over, and place the pantry across from the carport access. Also, I would do a stackable wash/dryer upstairs for the kids when they get older. You also may consider switching the peninsula for just one big island to get more space between the dining room and Kitchen, as well as give more flow in and out of the sapce.

First time to build - Floor Plan Review Please

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etr2002
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