Laundry room more on the side of the second floor.

Pros
+ On the side instead of the middle of the house, so less noise issues from the first floor and from the master bedroom.

Cons
- Weird shape? Could downsize bedroom #2.
- Lose a window in bedroom #2.

Laundry room more in the center of the house. I don't like how this laundry room is rather long and narrow, but I don't know if there's a way to avoid this. The other one still kind of has this problem too though.

Here's a link to the ongoing kitchen discussion.

Here is a link that might be useful: U Kitchen with Island Layout Help

Exterior, just for everyone to get a basic idea...we're still working on the details, but pretty sure we will have siding and no stone.

Do you have a view out the back? If so, I would consider moving the nano wall or placing a window so you have a view straight though to the back from the front door.

As far as the laundry goes, I prefer option #2 for a couple of reasons. I prefer the central location and it being closer to the master, although I would switch it to the opposite side so it shares a plumbing wall with the bathroom. This makes the master quieter as well. And this would move the door so you do not see the laundry mess when you walk up the stairs.

I do not like option number one with the bedroom 2 bath sharing a plumbing wall with the master.

Don't think the laundry room shape is an issue..you just need a comfortable walkway for one person. I prefer the second option so that the bedroom can have that corner space.

Having those corners on your kitchen and family room is a great opportunity for light on two sides of those rooms, I would add windows on the range wall for sure, and isn't that your southern exposure?

Like the house a lot overall.

We are planning on windows on the sides of the cooktop facing south, just haven't bothered talking to the architect about it yet.

Would you put a window on the family room wall on the right of the TV? Windows are great but that wouldn't be symmetrical. I'm not sure if that would look strange at all.

We agree with everyone, laundry room next to the master is better. I also thought about flipping the door to the other side, but thought maybe that makes the door too close to the master room door? Not sure how bad that is or not.

I think if you decided you wanted a window on the north wall near the tv, you could use artwork on the other side to balance that wall. I like having multiple exposures in a room for cross breezes, changing light throughout the day, etc. But with windows flanking the cooktop I think it will be fine without it too. Hope you post the final plan when it's done.

A warning about the 2nd option for the laundry-- ours is about that location in our house and the spin cycle shakes the whole house. If that would bother you, putting the machines up against an exterior wall for greater stiffness would be a good idea-- also it's a better path for the dryer vent. Ours vents through the roof, and in hindsight that was a mistake.

I would turn the bench/or whatever is against the powderroom wall in the mudroom to be along the "bottom" wall of the mudroom, and put a second door in the powder room so it can be used from the mudroom side as well.

Tell me about the "accessibility" you want for the guest suite, also.

Right now, I don't think it is possible to put in any bars around the toilet with it being against a vanity and the shower.

So, would it be important for the user to be able to help themself off/on the toilet? If so, swap location of toilet and sink.

@kirkhall: I wouldn't want two doors to any bathroom.

As for accessibility, I have no idea. No one is currently currenly infirm/disabled in anyway, but we just want to be prepared...but maybe not necessarily install grab bars and all that until they're actually needed.

This post was edited by girlguineapig on Sat, Dec 20, 14 at 1:42

Would it be possible to flip the house so the garage is on the North side, and the guest room is to the South? I think that would make for sunnier living spaces.

Even if you don't install grab bars now, if you want to later, you want to plan the major plumbing so that you can. Swapping the toilet and sink will give you the wall space to be able to install grab bars.

I usually am not interested in 2 doors to a single bath, but in your case, I'd prefer to have easy access to the powder from the main family entrance. But, it is good to know what you want/don't want. I can see not wanting the only entrance to be through the mudroom.

(But, one possibility I would consider is swapping location of the closets in that block with the powder room, and then making the only access to the powder through that "mudroom". When you do that, you get closet nearer the front entrance, as well as the ability to close off the mudroom and still have guest access to the powder. And, you hide the powder a bit more from your front entrance.)

Just an option.

I really like the elevation.

I like the laundry along only one of the bedrooms to cut down on noise while sleeping and running laundry. You can always sound insullate a wall with extra sheetrock. Easier to do one than 2.