Please Share Your Opinions/Input About This Home Plan

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I would love to, one day, build a farmhouse and I came across this home plan. It's one that my husband and I both like.....which, I'm sure you can understand how this isn't always an easy task. ;) I would love to get your opinion of it. https://www.architecturaldesigns.com/house-plans/modern-4-bed-farmhouse-plan-62544dj

Thank you!!

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Mrs. S

7 years ago

Bethohio has great points. If you're like me, who loves to look at houses and dreams of building/designing one someday, it's easy to look at those lovely pictures and admire.... the finishes, the stone, the white farmhouse look, the luxurious open kitchen/island, the porch.... but if you spend any time over in the kitchen forum (for example), you will soon realize that it would be a complete shame to build something like that, when for an equal amount of money and the same finishes, you could've had a highly functional kitchen with more storage and better organization, and highly tailored to YOUR families' needs. Ditto with the floorplan. You can put those finishes on any/most custom homes, but it would be better to start with a smart floorplan, which is one that is custom designed for the specific lot, taking advantage of natural light and geographic features. And I have learned that simply from lurking around this website for the past few months. There are some really smart and helpful people here!

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Comments (19)

Beth
7 years ago
The first thing that strikes me about this plan is that the kitchen doesn't have any windows. The fridge is way out of the way and the kitchen doesn't seem like a great working area either--but it is doesn't get direct natural light, and that would bother me a lot. Having the open window between the fridge and oven/microwave makes that space unusable--and that's a huge amount of space to not have usable within a kitchen.

12x12 is not a huge space for the only dining area in the house. I'd want that to be larger if it was the only dining area, since it would have to have a large enough table for the largest group dining.

Although it's convenient having the laundry and master closet open to each other, I don't like either of the accesses to the MBR--I definitely wouldn't want my MBR accessible off the great room without a hallway or buffer somewhere.

Similarly, there's no foyer/entry way into the house--you walk into the front door and there you are.

I like the placement of the powder room. The lockers and closet off the garage are convenient.
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Original Author
7 years ago
Bethohio3,

Thank you so much for taking the time to look at the plans and to give me your advice! I love getting other people's take on things like this because I won't see everything (positive and/or negative). I did notice the lack of windows in the kitchen, but when I looked at some of the completed pictures, I wasn't concerned. The area in between the fridge and oven would be nice extra work space, but I definitely agree with you about the placement of the fridge. Maybe it wouldn't bother me since I would have that space next to it. Here's the album with some finished pictures. Also, I hadn't noticed how small the dining room area was until you pointed it out.....that would need to change for sure. https://www.architecturaldesigns.com/house-plans/modern-4-bed-farmhouse-plan-62544dj/client_photo_albums/48

Thanks again!!
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Second Draft House Plan: Your Input Again, Please?
Q
Comments (23)
While it's a nicely laid out house, and the pictures of a Texas hill style house are lovely . . . I'm concerned that you're asking for ways to decrease costs, while presenting us with a house that's about as expensive as possible to build. If you want this style, it's going to cost for several reasons: - A long house like this requires a long, expensive foundation. In contrast, if you were to vault the secondary bedrooms up to a second floor, your foundation costs would decrease. - A long house like this requires a great deal of brick (or other siding) and a large roof and more insulation. A house's exterior costs more than its interior. You said you can't make it more square -- and I see that this style doesn't lend itself to a square -- so the choice really is, This style or a less expensive build. - Your footprint contains multiple jigs and jogs rather than being a simple rectangle. Of course, we can all see that a house this long NEEDS some of those things to avoid looking like a pre-fab warehouse. - A long house means that plumbing is strung literally from one end of the house to the other. This means longer plumb lines, significantly more labor to install it, and a greater chance of leaks later. You might consolidate a bit near the secondary bedroom; that is, you could bump those two bathrooms up against one another. Or, a bigger money-saving option would be to downsize to ONE bathroom for the three bedroom . . . and/or eliminate the powder room /have guests use this bathroom. Since you're talking about a pool, it would logical for pool guests to enter the house through the back gallery, which would put them right by the secondary bedroom wing. - I see that you're planning a very large master bedroom . . . and the only spot the bed could be placed is against the far right wall /under the windows. This leaves a rather large area at the foot of the bed. I'd consider eliminating the sitting room, which seems to be sort of a master retreat . . . and use that area at the foot of the bed as a master sitting area. You could still include the fireplace on that wall; however, a small wood stove would be less expensive and more fuel-efficient. - Your garage looks extra-deep. If you're thinking storage, it'd be cheaper to build an outbuilding behind the house later -- plus that wouldn't be included in your mortgage. - Consider eliminating the upstairs game room (which would also save big bucks in terms of eliminating a staircase, which is only serving one room). You say, but we want that game room space! How about making the entry hall /gallery into a game room? I see that it's rather necessary to the layout of the house . . . but it's just a hallway now. Make it serve double duty. - I would consider cutting the kitchen down by 1/3- 1/4. It's so spread out right now that it's going to require many extra steps each day. I'd go with a standard island instead of the (expensive) custom island that you've drawn here, and I'd cut down on the number of cabinets. You have a decent-sized pantry, which will cover your storage needs. - Some one else commented on the cost of allll those French doors. Look into the new "glider" doors, which look like French doors but are an update of old-fashioned sliding glass doors. They're less than half the cost of French doors, plus they don't interfere with your furniture placement and they're more energy-efficient. - Though it has nothing to do with the build, I agree with NOT having children's computer space in a private location. My girls were good kids, but they occasionally wandered into places they shouldn't on the internet. Also, with desktop computers going the way of the dinosaur and laptops /tablets becoming more powerful, computer needs are changing. I think parents of young children need to be VERY vigilant about this topic.
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Comments (21)
Overall I do like it, but would change a few things if it was for me. If the basement is just for mechanical and storage, why not just build a same floor mechanical room into the current gargage space, and adjust the garage over a bit. It avoids the "wasted" space and hazards of stairs, eliminates water /flood issues,and makes it easier to get things in/out of storage. Where the current stairs are could be a big walk in storage closet.(I grew up in one story homes, and have never gotten used to basements myself.) Is there a way to make a mudroom entrance from out back by scooting the den office over? Or would you always want to enter the garage then the mudroom, which could keep the biggest mess out of the house altogether. A bench in the garage could be great. I have never had a house with an actual mudroom, so I don't speak from experience. But I think I would like to be able to also enter a mudroom without going through the garage. And it could give a way out the back of the house which I would also want. On the other hand, it makes for a lot of doors in a small room............. Ultimately this house is for you and your husband to live in and enjoy, so it should be the way that makes the most sense for how you live. (I do agree that at least a half bath would add a lot to resale value, more than the initial cost, but the cost/benefit is for the 2 of you to decide) I do like that it is a practical design with added details that fit your needs and make it more interesting than a plain box shape. And if you build exactly as it it will be beautiful! I like the way everyone lives a little differently and comes up with such varied ideas for home design, and you get to pick what is best for you. Good luck! And post more pictures as you progress. I like watching folks progress from design to actual build, since it is so hard to really know what a plan actually is to live in. And maybe some day I will be able to go through the process myself.
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House plan opinions please - much appreciated!
Q
Comments (25)
Okay, since you're proposing building what is essentially a three-story house, I'm going to go off the deep end here and suggest that you SERIOUSLY consider adding home elevator to your plans! Lugging groceries upstairs from the garage is going to get old in a big hurry. And, if someone in your family ever gets hurt and is on crutches, it is going to be really really difficult for them to get in/out of your house. And, if they are wheelchair-bound - even temporarily - it will be absolutely impossible. In a few years your sons will likely be playing sports and it is not that uncommon for athletic teenagers to wind up with a broken leg or needing knee surgery at some point. Are you or your husband going to carry a 180 lb 17 y.o. son up/down all those steps??? You can get a 3-level home elevator installed in a new build for around $30K. I know that is a LOT of money. But, with a new build, people often spend that much and more just upgrading from standard to top-of-the-line appliances and putting in fancy granite countertops. With a 3 story house, an elevator would be at the top of my priority list. I would put an elevator right where you have that downstairs powder-room. Upstairs it would fit into the right-hand half of the "office" and in the garage level it would fit beside the left parking bay. With your design, you would need to get an elevator that opens up in different directions at the different levels. At the basement level you would probably want it to open toward the "south" and on the upstairs level it would have to open toward the "north". At the main level, the elevator could open either direction but you would need to remove the closet if you wanted the elevator to open toward the dining room. Personally, I'd probably have it open towards the south on the main level. BTW, if you close in a portion of you garage - to create an entry room around the stairs, you can get away with removing the door in the dining room that leads to the basement stairs. Not having a door swinging in toward the top of the basement stairs would make that area safer. Next, I would completely remove the laundry room from the main level and remove the remaining portion of the "office" so as to leave the staircase open along one side (railing instead of wall). That would allow you to have a very nice "entry foyer." As your house is currently designed, guests arriving at the front door must walk down a relatively narrow hallway past the staircase, past your laundry room, and past the powderroom before finally getting into the heart of your home. That is NOT going to feel at all welcoming.... especially since they first have to climb a fairly lengthy set of exterior stairs/steps just to get to the front door in the first place! You really need a transition space. You NEED a spot where, when you answer the front door, you can step back and say "come in" and actually welcome your guests BEFORE you have to turn your back on them and lead them down the hallway. Getting rid of the laundry room and opening up the staircase would give you that welcoming space. Plus, you'ld have the added advantage that, while coming down the stairs, you would have a view of those windows to the deck instead of being in that tight enclosed stairwell! Next, if it could possibly be done, I would move the front door to the spot where the three windows are (across from the current laundry room). This would require having the exterior stairs/steps lead up to the deck instead of to the side of the house. But, if that side of the house faces the street, it would make the front door more obvious and therefore make the house more welcoming. You could still have lovely windows surrounding the door. Moving the front door so that it opens out onto the deck would also allow you to incorporate a portion of the deck into "transition space" from outdoors to indoors. Upstairs, I would definitely make the two bedrooms a lot smaller and put in third room to serve as a SHARED den/playroom/study room for the two kids. IMHO, kids should be encouraged to play and spend time together and with the family. They should be discouraged from spending too much time holed up alone in their individual bedrooms. Giving a kid a huge bedroom seems to me to send exactly the opposite message. Plus once kids reach their teen years, you sure don't want them entertaining friends in their bedrooms. Far better for them to have to do their entertaining in a shared space where they know a sibling (or Mom and Dad) can be expected to walk in at anytime without knocking! Besides, with a murphy-bed along one wall, the boy's den/playroom could also serve as a guest room when you need one. (Don't the grandparents ever come to visit?) Or, if you should ever have another child, it could become a permanent third bedroom without requiring you to do extensive remodeling. Unfortunately, with an elevator where the powder-room is and the stairwell opened up to create a foyer, you really don't have a good spot left on the main floor for a guest powder-room. Instead, I'd put a powder-room upstairs and probably add a shower in it as well so that overnight guests don't have to use the boy's bathroom (ugh!). I'll admit that upstairs is not the best location for a guest powder-room but, with an elevator to use to get up/down stairs it's not a terrible option either. I find my guests all want to take at least one ride in my elevator anyway. LOL! Finally, move the laundry room either down to the basement or up to the second floor. With a home elevator, moving laundry up/down stairs ceases to be a horrible chore. I'd probably put it in the basement b/c that eliminates noise issues and reduces potential flooding problems. And do make your laundry room bigger so that you have room to sort and fold clothing there and room to hang things to dry. I know you said you fold laundry in the living room now - but as the boys get a little older, don't you want to teach them to do their own laundry? If so, there are going to be times that they start the job and then wander off and forget about it for awhile. You can "nag" but it is usually far more effective to just allow their laundry to sit there undone until they realize that THEY have to finish it themselves b/c Mom won't! That means there may be "piles" that sit around for days. You will find it a lot easier to hang tough if those piles of laundry are NOT right next to your front door. LOL! Oh, one last thing. You show a sink in the basement. Why not add a toilet as well so that, when you're outside it it not necessary to come all the way indoors to use a bathroom? You have plenty of room. If you want, I'll spend a little time this weekend fiddling with your drawings using my paint program and show you the changes I would envision. p.s., no I don't work for an elevator company but here is a link to the company that makes the brand I got. I will admit, we had quite a bit of trouble with it when they first installed it - turned out to have a bad mother-board or something like that - but once they finally figured out what was wrong and got it fixed, it has been wonderful! There are other companies that make and sell home elevators as well. Just do a google search and you'll find them. Here is a link that might be useful: ThyssenKrupp home elevators
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Q
Comments (47)
I would like to thank everyone who took the time to read through these posts and to post advice and suggestions and constructive criticism. I am taking all of it into consideration and some of it was not what i wanted nor expected to hear, but what I needed to hear. I feel as if a little more explanation is needed. We found a builder that we really like and everyone that he has built for has been really happy. He had several plans that we could look at or if we had any plans he could build whatever we liked. He has a gentleman that could draw and customize a home for us. We thought it was architect at first and the price was so good because we were going through him and he would then be able to have our house plan to use in the future. Upon our first meeting with the gentleman that was going to draw up of dream home so we could make it a reality, we learned that he was not an architect, or designer. He's retired now from 40 years of experience woking on/building homes and is good with the software. He is very kind and has been very patient with the many changes we have made along the way. However, we soon discovered that he really has no design ideas or suggestions. He just draws whatever we ask him to or whatever I draw to send to him. If we wanted something a changed, the standard procedure was to just make part of the house bigger, we had gotten up to almost 4400 square feet! If we didn't like the way something worked and asked for a change, he would fix that issue and cause 2 more. I got so frustrated that we are trying to build our dream home and pretty much the only person I had for design help was myself. Uhm, I really want someone with much more skill and talented and better taste to design my home. I know what I want, I just do't know how to get there. We have been working on this for 8 months. I got so frustrated that I gave up for 3 months. Our neighbors are using the same builder and they had difficulties getting their design as well. However they had found a floor plan that they liked and just had him make changes to it and add a mother in law plan. I firmly believe that we are his first truly start from scratch home. Again, this is the guy the builder sent us to to have plans drawn, not our builder. Giving him credit he has taking my very very basic sketches and turned them into something the builder can build from, but pretty much the design is about 99% me, not that I wanted it that way. Here is where I'm at, so you can see that he is doing all the builder type stuff. We don't want to be difficult, but we want a good design. We don't want the builder to think that we are difficult or indecisive because we just can't get there with his guy. I'm at a loss! Several people wanted to know the lot dimensions. So here they are: It is at the top of a ridge, has some slope to it and has a nice open are in the middle. Of course we want the house to sit about at the arrows part of the lot. There is an utility easement of 20 feet on the right side of the lot, but the utility poles are more like 30 feet inside the property. I really do appreciate all of your insight. It has been eye opening. I'll make another post addressing questions and comments. Sorry to be so long winded.
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cpartist
7 years ago
It's a nice plan but the question is, do you have a property to put it on yet? If not, then trying to find a plan is putting the cart before the horse. You need to find the property first because many times the property will dictate the house.
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User
Original Author
7 years ago
Also, I actually prefer the look of the back of the home versus of the front with the garages. My husband thinks I'm nuts (Lol!) and would prefer to keep the garages in the front.
User
Original Author
7 years ago
cpartist,

We do have land to build, but putting the cart before the horse is something that I've been known to do before. :) I let my dreams run crazy at times. I see all of these gorgeous kitchens and start picking things for my future home, but then have to remind myself that there's cost to each of these things that I've fallen in love with. Lol!
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you all so much for your input....it's helpful to have other people's perspective.
bpath
7 years ago
It reminds me a bit of my parents' winter home, which I really liked. But there are some things...

The master bedroom door is problematic, it really limits the placement of furniture in the great room.

The great room has no wall space, no place for books, games, artwork, piano. The tv can only go above the fireplace.

I see no guest coat closet; where is your lot?

I imagine the living room will be used as a den/library, is that right? Would you consider swapping it with the bedroom? Or, bedroom on the end, and the utility/bath/closet areas at the front?

Or, if you can widen the house by 4', you could create a little hallway right of the stairs, leading from the front hall back to the bedroom. I don't know what that would do to the upstairs, though.
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cpartist
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
cpartist,

We do have land to build, but putting the cart before the horse is something that I've been known to do before. :)

Hey I hear you! Been there, done that more times than I care to admit.

Since you have the land, put together idea books, and what your needs will be for the next 10 years or so depending on when you hope to build. Go for your actual needs and not how you think you'll live if you only have the ...

For example, I can dream all I want of having formal sit down dinners for 10, with us all first starting with cocktails on the lanai, while having violinists playing in the background. After cocktails, we'd move to the formal dining room, where a 5 course meal with wine pairings will be served. And of course I was the one who cooked the meal, although I'm not serving and cleaning up. After dinner, we'd retire to the living room for more witty conversation along with brandys.

Now the reality in my life is that I'm more likely to have an informal get together where we eat on the lanai after I hand DH burgers, franks and chicken to barbecue that will then be served buffet style. Cocktails will be from a pitcher DH made up in advance or help yourself to wine and beer. I doubt I will ever have a formal sit down dinner and I certainly know I won't be cooking it, although I do make great desserts. And the truth is I dislike brandy.

About the only thing that is probably true about the first scenario is that I probably will ask my housekeeper to come and help out.

My point being don't put in rooms you'll never use (like in my case a formal dining room) or make rooms oversized. (How much time during the day will you actually spend in your master bedroom for example?)

Get your needs right and then build a house that is right sized and arranged for how you live and how your land is.

I let my dreams run crazy at times. I see all of these gorgeous kitchens and start picking things for my future home, but then have to remind myself that there's cost to each of these things that I've fallen in love with. Lol!

My sister has a gorgeous kitchen. She lives in a 1927 very large georgain colonial. She has a marble fireplace in her kitchen, white quartzite counters, original hardwood floors, lots of windows, pearl shell backsplash, an antique fixture over the island and blingy knobs with crystals in them. It actually was done quite tastefully and is stunning. I look at it and drool and for a second think I would like that.

But then I realize that really isn't me at all. Plus, I'm cheap and wouldn't want to pay what she paid for her backsplash or knobs. LOL.

Dream on, but with a dose of reality.
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just_janni
7 years ago
Either way, CP, I am coming over for the party. :-)
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PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
7 years ago
Building a house is a good time to let dreams run wild. Too many people settle for other people's dreams.
doc5md
7 years ago
Building a house is a good time to let dreams run wild. Too many people settle for other people's dreams.

I hearby nominate this for the quotes for 2017 thread :)
mrspete
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Overall it's a nice, clean layout with good circulation. I have a couple suggestions - all rather minor:

- The kitchen is the weak spot in this plan. Someone else commented that it has no windows ... what I'd add here would be a pass-through window to the screened porch, where I assume you'd enjoy meals occasionally. The refrigerator placement is very bad -- you have no "landing space" -- which means that as you unload groceries or take out the items you need for dinner, you have no place to "set something down". Wait -- that's a window seat beside the refrigerator, right? Though the kitchen will be lovely, it could be more functional.

- The dining room is fairly small compared to the rest of the house ... and it contains the only public door to the back yard. I'd also want a window on that left side of the dining room.

- The entrance to the master bedroom is odd ... a cased opening PLUS a door? And I never like those derpy double doors. Even ignoring the light switch placement issue, when are you going to want to use two hands to open the door? I suppose the idea is to make the room look "grand", but this falls flat.

- I never like a toilet-in-a-closet, but this one seems to be sized /positioned exactly like a public toilet stall. Next time you're at the mall using the facilities, ask yourself if this is really what you want to build into your own home. Additionally, the door swings inward ... where are you going to stand to close that door?

- You've given two prime corner spots to closets ... but I really do like the connection between the master closet and the laundry room.

- I like the living room. It's nicely located away from the main family areas, so it'll have visual and acoustical privacy, and a pocket door is appropriate in this spot because it'll likely stay open most of the time.

- The upstairs bedrooms/bathrooms look good, but I wonder about the desk. It's in a pathway to the bedrooms. I'd lean towards making it a bookcase or a closet ... not a place to sit.
gthigpen
7 years ago
I don't generally comment on layout posts because I'm not qualified at all in house design. But I have learned a bunch from reading others comments about what might work and what might not work.

Assuming this works with your site, I like this plan mostly. As far as stock plans go, it seems like one of the better ones. A few comments that I do have but are pretty minor....

1) I think the entrance from the garage will be quite functional. You have a locker/cubbie space to drop coats, shoes, bags, etc. A closed off coat closet for bulkier and lesser used coats and this could be your guest closet. And the pantry is accessible from the kitchen.

2) The kitchen layout needs work but I think its placement in the house is OK. I'd seriously consider a 'drop zone' area for mail, keys, and other assorted stuff that gets dropped on my kitchen island daily. Maybe where the refrigerator is. You need to tweak the whole kitchen layout to make it more functional.

3) I'd put more windows in the dining room...on the left side so you have light from all 3 sides (including the door to the back). I'd actually consider replacing the dining room door with a window. It looks like the whole wall of the great room is full of doors, so do you really need another door?

4) Will you really use that screened porch? Seems like its in a location that won't have great views and kind of looks like an after thought. Plus if you can get rid of the door from the dining room, that opens up more kitchen layout options.

5) Put more windows in the master bedroom. On all the walls you can.

6) The laundry room isn't very big and those 2 doors limit the space even more. I don't have any better suggestions, but maybe a whole tweak of the powder room, laundry and master bath space could fix it?

7) Do you need a 2nd fireplace in the Living room?

8) Full disclosure, I'm not a fan of 2 story great rooms or foyers. If you put a ceiling in the great room, you'd end up with a great bonus room upstairs. Don't know if you have kids or not but that would be a great space for a toy/play room. I've got 2 kids with a bonus room upstairs in our house I don't know what I would have done without it! I think your great room can still be quite 'great' with the walls of doors on both sides and make it 10' foot ceilings.

Good luck!
bpath
7 years ago
The door from house to garage drops you right at the car door, which really isn't so great. Not to mention when a passenger gets out, they could trip on the steps. I'd flip the door and boot bench, or even put the door around the corner.
cpartist
7 years ago
Either way, CP, I am coming over for the party. :-)

I'm hoping for a New Year's Day, all day open house. So definitely come on down.
User
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you all again for the GREAT input....lots of good advice!
Pinebaron
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
cpartist
And the truth is I dislike brandy.

That's a shame, I had a bottle of XO ready for you. Even though I primarily drink scotch, I like to end a formal dinner with cognac. Now I wonder what I'll serve when we invite you over for dinner.
doc5md
7 years ago
I love a nice bar!! That's lovely PineBarron!

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