You need to find away for people to read the drawings as even blown up that is next to impossible.

The window over the garage looks dated to me. Can you make it oval to compliment the window over the entry?

Thanks bpathome, I was thinking about a powder bath in the mudroom too...not sure how I'll squeeze that in, but I think it'll be handy. I've talked to our builder about adding in windows to the kids' bath, I think that'll have to be something we add when building, as I'm not sure if the foundation walls/grading will allow for it. The kids' bath actually doesn't have a tub - it's a walk-in shower. In fact, the only tub in the house is in the master bath which will be a vintage clawfoot tub. You're right that the sink area does feel compartmentalized though - that's something I'm just not in love with yet. And yes, I am concerned about the bar/wine areas being so close to the boys' area. We'll definitely be having all drinks secured.

Michelle - great point about the windows on the garage looking outdated! I never thought of them that way. We have the same layout above the backdoors in the greatroom too. Do you think those look outdated as well?

Millworkman - Here are a couple more of the same layout that might be easier to read.

Our Home Build · More Info

Our Home Build · More Info

Hmmm...immediately, the first thing I see is the VERY long walk for grade school boys, from their bedroom to your bedroom. Can you change those stairs?

Also agree about powder room by mudroom and what is the black box in the kitchen?

If it were me, I'd think about three bedrooms on the main floor, with two in the basement. If the kids were 5 to 8 years older, I could see this plan, but not now.

The main floor two bedrooms could belong to the boys (for now) and have guest room and office in the basement. Then swap the rooms, when the boys get older. Also, if you plan to have a bar...I'd build one that locks up. Too much unsupervised area down there, IMHO.

Sounds like you'll have a lovely view...just remember that you need cozy spaces as well as airy ones, to really feel comfortable in a home. (Paraphrasing Sarah Susanka, "Not So Big House")

That's a much clearer picture :) So in the kids' bathroom, you can probably take out the toilet/shower door. If you really feel like they need a door (because I guarantee they will lock the main door) (again, my boys were never in there at the same time) do a pocket door, so they can get to, hang up, and let dry the towel that will be on the wall opposite the toilet. And if you go to one sink, you can have a small linen closet and still have plenty of counter space and drawers. They will need it when they get into braces, hair, clearasil, and all that teen paraphernalia. Be sure to include good, automatic ventilation.

That is an odd entry from the garage into the house, why the odd angle? Just trying to imagine coming in with the stuff we always seem to be toting from the car, and it seems like it will be unnecessarily convoluted to make that turn?

With the spacious garage, you could probably incorporate that nook in the back corner into the mudroom and then you have room for a half-bath. Is that a dog bath in the corner of the mudroom?

Hard for me to tell, but do you have room to roll out the trash/recycling cans without backing out a car?

Where are you planning to put the bed in the master?

Maybe in the kitchen, just one island turned lengthwise will be easier? Put e range on the right-hand wall, maybe sink in the island. It can help control traffic and give you longer work surfaces. and what is the second island for? If you are serving at it you have to walk around the other island all the time.

The windows in the great room aren't necessarily my taste, but I do like the arrangement better than the ones above the garage.

lavendar_lass - yes, it is a long walk from the boys' bedrooms to ours. We've thought about having them share the office as a bedroom in the near future, and moving them to their own rooms when they get a bit older. I hope that'll work! The black box in the kitchen is actually the cooktop - too many lines on top of each other so it looks black. :)

bpathome - what do you think about this layout for the boys' bathroom? This would add in a bathtub, so it would be more expensive. Thanks for pointing out that the existing bathroom toilet door would hide where we'd hang up their towels. I never thought of that - it should definitely be a pocket door.

I think you're right about the mudroom too and that there's probably a better layout. I'll work on that and post what I come up with. There's no dog bath in there though. We have a desk in there, cubby area for the kids, and a closet for our coat & vacuum storage. I'm not sure about the garbage storage, but we should have room since we only have 2 cars right now :)

In the master, the bed will go up against the same wall that has the doors to the master bathroom. We've measured it out and it'll fit our nightstands and king size bed.

Sometime I need to understand how it helps a kids' bathroom to have the toilet and tub/.shower in the same room with a door, because I see it a lot. In your bathroom, especially the most recent, if you are going to have two sinks, two vanities, two closets, a tub and a shower, why not just add a toilet and have two separate bathrooms?

If they share the office for a while, maybe add a shower to that bathroom? My parents did that, the shower is through a pocket door so when it is a powder room, you don't see the shower. It enables them (and you) to use the office as a guest room when needed, especially for older or mobility impaired guests.

I know what you mean, but here's my logic: I grew up in a jack & jill bathroom with a separate tub/toilet area with a door. I remember many times being at the sink area with my sister in the other room showering. With the extra door, it gives privacy while still both kids utilizing the bathroom. Mornings are always hectic at our house, with people rushing to get out of the house...so anything that makes things speed up the morning time, the better :)

Great idea about the shower in the powder bath. I'll see if we can make that work...it might end up being too tight and the boys might have to use our master bath shower/tub.

So, just thinking that you have doubled everything else in the boys' bathroom, get another toilet and they each have their own. There is plenty of space in the lower level for two.

In the office, you could encroach on that right-hand wing to find the space needed for a shower. And you could remove the closet across from the door and move the bathroom over, but it looks like you are going for the symmetry of the office and bedroom doors.

bpathome - that's a good thought about having two baths instead of one. I'll give that some more thought. In the mean time, I played around and straightened out the garage entry into the mudroom. I also added a powder room, but couldn't figure out how to access it from the mudroom. Currently, the access is from the garage.

Any thoughts on a better layout for the bathroom (to access it from the mudroom) and still keep a closet, desk, lockers and a space for a dog bed (which will be under the window near the door in this configuration)?

Do you think this configuration is better than the original?

The only way in from the garage is through the kitchen - likely between sink and stove there. I'd think long on hard on that - lots of traffic and kids running through.I would swap the office and the laundry room perhaps. Unless it is a working office? I am thinking "mom central" space so that may not apply.

Nice home!

Well, there are times when a bathroom in the garage would be handy, but at that point your boys could just use the woods lol! Just kidding. Let's see, what is the hanging space in the laundry for? Clean shirts? You could put that hanging space over the counter and add that space to the mudroom. Will you really use a desk in the mudroom? My "mom central" has to be in the kitchen. Anyway, if you remove the desk, you have a better closet and room for the bathroom.

Oh, and can you keep the vacuum in the laundry?

I actually like the kid's bath as it is. The house I currently live in has a hall bath almost exactly like that, except the toilet/shower area is slightly bigger so it's a little roomier. I always close the door when I use toilet/shower, and rarely close the outer door to the vanities. It's my husband's childhood home, so I'll have to ask him how he and his brother if they even bothered closing it growing up. But I like the setup.

stephanie_sara,

I agree with autumn.4, my biggest concern is the path (through the kitchen) from the garage. I'm in the minority, & actually prefer my laundry room off the mudroom, but wouldn't want to be carrying laundry to/fro through the heart of my prep/cooking zone!

In our kitchen, the "walk-through" to the mudroom passes between our island & refrigerator, which works very well, & keeps traffic out of the prep/cooking & clean-up zones.

I'd prefer a 1/2 bath (we have a 3/4 bath - great for washing the dog!) in the mudroom to a desk for me. I'd also want lockers for DH & I, as well as the kids. You've got a nice-sized room, but the doors (front & back) definitely make it tougher to use. I wouldn't want to give up the door to the back, but perhaps additional bench/lockers, or your desk, could move where the front door is?

Re: your downstairs baths, I think the guest bath works well. Re: the kids bath, I prefer your original layout (with a window, if at all possible!), perhaps with a "hutch-style" cabinet, with drawers below/doors above (instead of walled linen closet) between the two sinks. Granted that we have 2 girls (6&9) instead of 2 boys, but we find that the divided bath (vanity & linen closet in one part, & toilet/tub in the other, separated by a pocket door) in our new house works much better than the "non-divided" bath in our old one. There was lots and lots of fighting over the old bathroom (despite a powder room fairly close by), and 6 months in, our girls continue to happily share the new one. Similar to you, we could probably have just done 2 baths, but a) think sharing's important (after all, DH & I don't have our own separate baths!), and b) had room for a window in a shared bath, but not for 2 windows in 2 separate ones.

Overall, I think it's a beautiful house, but would want to get the mudroom/kitchen area just right!

mommy_to_C (&K!)

bpathome - i totally know what you mean, why put the 1/2 bath in the garage if they can just use the great outdoors...although neither of them really do that unless if they're desperate and a bathroom isn't around. considering how many times they pee on the toilet, i might rather them pee outside anyhow ;) j/k yes, the hanging space in the laundry room is for clean clothes, but one of the most things we hang up is our jeans. i just can't see that fitting above a counter unless if we folded them or if we have the rod super close to the ceiling; in which case i would need a step stool to access it. so i felt like having full drip dry hanging was important to have in the laundry. the desk in the mudroom is really a 'drop zone' and place to sort through mail - not really working from home in there or anything. it might end up being just a counter top and no space to sit. yes, the vacuum could definitely go in the laundry room too - I wasn't sure if I'd like it in the laundry room or in the mudroom more.

girlguineapig - do you have the linen closet dividing the two sinks in your bathroom at home too? do you think that'll feel too separated?

mommytoc - i prefer the laundry off of the mudroom too! glad you do too. with the boys' sports, i think taking really dirty clothes off in the mudroom and straight to the w/d will be a good idea. I was opting for us to have a closet instead of lockers. the main reason being because we have so many coats. in the pacific northwest you end up having a TON of coats - and they typically clog up the hall closet by the front door. With this layout we can keep those just for guests and put all of ours (plus our shoes down below) in the mudroom. for the downstairs bath - a hutch style is a great idea. i thought of that but also wondered if we'd end up spending more on countertops since it would have to be a pretty big slab to run that entire length. maybe it's less expensive to divide them with a closet. Know what I mean?

Thank you so much for all of your input - it's really making me rethink our layout!!

LOL, we have so many coats (and other winter gear) here in central Wisconsin, we have a walk-in coat closet at the base of our stairs for overflow!

Our mudroom is similar to the one in the Mascord plan, which I thought I'd link since it's triangular, like yours:

https://houseplans.co/house-plans/2471/

With our lockers on the garage wall, we had room (and you would too), for a extra deep mudroom bench - ours is 27" deep, with roll-out trays for shoes below, & 15" deep lockers above. 27" allowed us to fit 2 rows deep of both DH's and my shoes (size 11 mens, and womens, respectively) on each tray. (DDs can fit a few more for now, but sadly, seem to be taking after me in the "foot department".)

I love our shoe roll-outs so much, I wish I'd had room for more!

Very interesting layout mommytoc! Thanks for sending me the link. I just got done playing around in CAD a bit more and I think I figured out a solution that'll work in the mudroom that allows me to add a small powder room. The dog bed will need to go underneath the 'desk' in the corner. Not the greatest spot but the powder bath is more important and it'll do. Let me know your thoughts!

...although with that link you just sent, maybe I should re-think the space!??

That's a nice layout. The dog will be happy under the desk, very den-like :) Doesn't the back door need to swing in, though? I wouldn't worry about it hitting the powder room door too much, everyone will remember to close it...or you could put an automatic closer on it.

I like a laundry room there, too. My grandmother had a similar set-up (with half-bath, too) and called it the Utility Room, because you could everything in there. Hers was as if you removed the wall with the drip closet, so it was open, but the laundry space was its own nook. I like your arrangement better.

There's a covered porch off the back of the mudroom so I think it's ok for us to swing it out. I'll check with our builder though and make sure (just to be safe). Yes, I was thinking our mudroom would be more like a drop zone for everyone - maybe even hold my "indoor" toolbox. Glad you like the layout! Hopefully the additional bath doesn't add too much $$ to the budget :)

That's a much better mudroom layout, IMO! It looks like you've got all your "wants", and more room for everyone to move through the space!

Back to the kitchen, how do you see your family getting from mudroom/laundry to gathering room and bedrooms? Personally, I'd want to walk right *through* your double oven and adjacent cabinet, straight toward the hallway & staircase on the other end of the gathering room.

I'd be inclined to eliminate the butler's pantry, opting for a longer span of built-ins in the dining room and additional pantry space. With a doorway as above, you'd still have easy access from your kitchen to dining room. If possible, I'd also want to move the range out of the main walkway.

Have you posted your kitchen layout on the kitchen forum yet?

I agree! Thank you Mommytoc :)

Originally the layout of the kitchen area had a hallway where the pantry & butler's pantry are to connect the front door to the mudroom. There was no butler's pantry, and the food pantry was squeezed in the laundry room area. It was a great layout, but it added square footage and cost and so we removed it. I know that the kiddos will have to cut through the kitchen, but I wasn't sure of another way around it. Your note about removing the double ovens is a good one - I'll play around with that layout and see if I can get something I like.

I haven't posted the kitchen layout on the kitchen forum yet - I'll definitely do that soon though! Thanks for the suggestion :)

Consider one long island, set lengthwise, and a doorway perpendicular to the butler pantry. Maybe move the range to the outside wall, fridge backing up to pantry. That gives a walkway when you come in that doesn't go through the work zones.

why not lose the walk in pantry and make it a reach in pantry thereby allowing for a hallway towards the dining room. Frees up the foot traffic into the kitchen.

bpathome - although we could switch to one long island, we specifically designed the kitchen around having two islands :) It's the main feature that we love in the kitchen. Yes, it does break up work space, but it also separates out different zones. Our architect gave us tours of two different homes that he designed and both of them had two islands in the kitchen. We totally fell in love with the idea! Here's one of them below, and the dimensions of our kitchen are roughly the same as the one below too.

Georgian - Parade of Homes 2012 · More Info

mommytoc - the more I thought about it, I do realize the people will need to walk through the kitchen to get to the rest of the house - but that's only if they enter using the mudroom/garage. for the most part, that'll be our little ones and they always head straight to the fridge or pantry! it'll be very unlikely for guests to be entering through that door...and if for some reason they do, I bet that I'll be in there cooking up something for them anyhow. I feel like our family is always in the kitchen (even when guests are over) too. so although this floorplan may not have the best straight walkway from the mudroom to the rest of the house...it also gives us storage in the pantry, a butler's pantry, and doesn't add square footage just for a hallway. I hope we're making a good decision about that!! I totally agree with you that the placement of the appliances could get relocated to help with the flow though - that's next on my list to tackle!