hi there,

i agree with a comment someone made yesterday where most are individual preferences. but i just want to mention you have a lot of room in the jack & jill bath to rearrange and maybe opt for two separate toilets for a more usable space. my architect said it couldn't be done with the space we had. and then i presented him with a drawing. he said, "cool. i'll have to steal this." we also put two water closets in the master bath. i like privacy.

can't wait to see your progress! where are you building?

Not in my style at all, but I think it's livable, at least as long as no one ever breaks a leg. I shudder at the thought of having to navigate that square footage with crutches, not because of it's arrangement (most of it seems well thought-out), because of the sheer distance between everything. And I'm not one to want to get my slacks from the closet and then have to go through the bathing area to get to a seat... otoh, some folks can put pants on while standing up. What's uncomfortable for me is probably just fine for you.

The kitchen just doesn't look convenient to me; too stretched out and too many corners to go around (and we all know that is *my* main complaint whenever a island is stuck in the area). I can't tell for sure, but it looks as though there is 15' to 18' between sink and refrig. And if that is a freezer beside the fridge, then there isn't have a counter beside, which is a big awkwardness, especially when you are putting in/out bulky items.

I do like the screened porch, which looks to be big enough to enjoy with friends and small enough to enjoy when alone.

Going to put a fountain in the courtyard?

Thanks for all the comments. I really enjoy examining and dissecting this house, and I really do want to take everything into consideration; so, all the comments really help.
So, we're going to be building in WI, and yes, we'll have a foutain in the courtyard. As for the kitchen, well, I had this sudden moment of panic last night and am now wondering if I should rearrange that entire layout. I just don't know how. I think I'll cross post on the Kitchen forum... Any help though would be appreciated! I'm kind of stuck with the lack of wall space and my desire to have lots of windows. Yes, it is about 15 feet or so from the refrigerator to the main sink, but I don't see this as a huge problem bc there is a prep sink right by the refrigartor. With the prep sink right there, I can't really think of a reason I'd need the main sink closer.
I would, however, like to try to rearrange things bc I'm not sure if this layout is quite right. I actually want to add french doors from the kitchen to the courtyard bc I think it would make the courtyard more accessible from the main house, and therefore, be used more. I can't say for sure right now, but I don't think the courtyard has the best accessibility. So, tell me what you think about this. I was thinking of getting rid of the wall between the kitchen and dining room and instead putting in a 10 foot island that is one cabeinet depth between the 2 rooms. Those cabinets might even be a slightly raised height. Then I'd put a set of french doors on the exterior kitchen wall, adjacent to the french door leading to the screened in porch. I'd then move the wall of cabinets with the sink, etc. down a foot or 2. I could probably squeeze in about a 1 foot cabinet next the refrigerator by making the WIC in the mud room a foot narrower and moving the pantry and refrig. down 1 foot. What do you all think? The problem is that there are hardly any uppers now. Do you think I'll be lacking in storage? Do you think it's worthwhile to get access to the courtyard from the kitchen?

Thanks!

Do you have side elevations of your plan? I would be concerned that the kitchen is not going to get a lot of natural light.

I would rethink a sittin area in the bath. Was that a linen closet outside the master suite upstairs? Why not find another place for it in laundry room closet there? I would have a cased opening from master to sitting to define a seperate area. Also I would make laundry room bigger into loft area. BEdroom 3 and 4 closet and sinks could be rearranged to make more space. Did you want your vanities that large? I think 48 is sufficient unless you designed for that large.

This looks like an amazing house, especially if you have a large family and if you are young. If I were looking at lots of yrs of child rearing ahead of me I would not hesitate building a house like this.

I love the front elevation.

I definitely would not have a wall between the dining room and kitchen. I would want it open.

Can't wait to see the finished product of this home.

i'm going to respectfully disagree about the dining room wall. originally we were going with an "open" floor plan but it just wouldn't function well for our needs. we will be hosting large gatherings for my dh's practice as well as fund raisers and large family dinners. lots of formal entertaining. if the dining room were open to the kitchen it would take on a much more casual feel. it wouldn't do to have guests seated in the dining room in full view of the goings-on in the kitchen. of course, it that's what you're looking for then lose the wall. evaluate your needs and decide how the home will be used. i know opening the rooms is a big trend now but it doesn't work for all. that said, i do appreciate the look and feel of such a layout. just not for us.

My only concern about the courtyard is if it'll be dark. Otherwise, I like it and your other outdoor spaces. We have covered porches and I love having the dry outdoor areas.

I really think there's got to be a way to make the sitting room more a part of the bedroom rather than the bathroom! Or maybe rearrange the master bath and closet area to use that sitting space and make a nook opening ino the hall across from the bedroom door where the toilet is now...Just something better. I know from your other thread that you want hubby to be able to read and not bother you, but reading next to the sinks is just odd, especially in a house of this size and elegance.

beautiful house and similar to the one we are currently building. a word of advise, do not think into it a ton or you will drive yourself crazy. my opinion of the layout is this: i would try to incorporate deep freezers into pantry by expanding that area, i am not a fan of the door to mud room area from courtyard because i am thinking it will hardly (if ever) be the way to go there. i would put appliances on dining room wall side and flip island and try to incorporate your door to cortyard or more windows. second floor: I agree the sitting area in the mbath is odd and is better used for your bedroom even if you made your bath smaller that way you could even wall off a seperate office/reading section nook area. i also think the loft area upstairs seems like an odd space. do you have plans for what this will be? if media area maybe you want it more closed off as to not see mess of sorts. food for thought. good luck