Thoughts on this landscaping layout? Any recommendations or changes?
Joe Grant
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
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Yardvaark
6 years agoJoe Grant
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Pre-designed landscape plans for free -- what are your thoughts?
Comments (7)Since the fees associated with a professional landscape design are one of the least expensive aspects of the entire process, the perceived savings with using a "free" design are minimal. And while I acknowledge I am coming at it from a professional viewpoint, this is NOT the area where I would be looking to economize. It is the quality and site-appropriateness and personalized aspect of the design that makes the distinction to the landscape. The primary con in my opinion - and it's a major one - is there is NO site evaluation. The assumption is made with these designs is that the site is level (or reasonably so) and basic in its configuration, there are no issues regarding privacy or screening or focusing/directing of views, no consideration of soil quality or drainage or how rain water flows across the property, no factoring in of the house footprint or how the landscape interacts with the house (or any other structures), how light conditions, weather or prevailing winds may affect the landscape, how the 'proposed' landscape interfaces with the surrounding neighborhood, what zoning or HOA issues may impact the design and that the property is a complete blank slate - no existing plants to be considered or conserved. As a practicing landscape designer, I can say without qualification that every site is unique. Even in newer developments where there is an overwhelming sense of uniformity, each site will be somewhat different from the others, often in ways that are not readily apparent at first glance. The most successful designs will come from an acknowledgement and interpretation of that uniqueness and that cannot be achieved without visually seeing and evaluating the property. I guess if you have a basic, flat, rectangular cookie cutter-type lot with a cookie cutter-type house, then a cookie cutter-type landscape design could be superimposed on it but IMO, it's a lot like fitting a square peg into a round hole....See MoreKitchen layout changes lead to complete house changes. ughhhh
Comments (28)I know it's been a while and you've probably resolved the issue, but I wanted to tell you I really like your new plan. It has a wonderful clarity about it. It also isn't too symmetrical. The central corridor is strong and I think walking through the house, from one end to the other, could be quite beautiful. It would be nice if one end, or both ends, of that corridor was more of an "event". A dramatic window, or painting.... On the left side for example, with a little tweaking, if you swapped the dressing room with the bathroom, you could end the corridor with a floor to ceiling window, or glass block like you have in the front. This would make moving towards that end of the house inviting, and would bring light into the space. I do agree the kitchen island may be too big, and may end up completely dominating the space. Less can be more, and empty space can be more valuable that one completely filled. And since you have so much counter space, I'm wondering why the sink is on the island? Why put a messy sink in such a central position in the house? I see a lot of people building sinks into islands, and I don't really understand the appeal. Why not have an island that's just about the luxury of the surface, the stone. I think the elevation is also wonderful and I have no doubt you will enjoy this house. Just a few more tweaks here and there. Good luck to you!...See MoreRemodeling our kitchen should I make any changes to the layout?
Comments (20)So, no sink on island, due to plumbing difficulties. MW turned toward fridge could be 24" wide (Sharp 24" MW is ap 21.5" wide, with front the whole width of the base cabinet--think full overlay-type door), or if you have enough space, make the island 6" deeper for a 30" MW. Adding a 6" half wall behind the other cabinets would make it easy to run wiring for an outlet on the other end of the island. You need at least 24" elbow space for each seat, for comfort at counter height, so island needs to be at least few inches wider (72"). I'd make it as wide as space and budget allow. Is the existing sink centered under the window? Does your cabinet line offer a 33" drawer base? If possible, I'd center the sink on the window, put a 33" drawer base to the left and put a 15" trash pull-out to the right of the DW. Trash would normally be under the prep zone, but that's going to the island, so having the trash on the end of the sink run will make it more convenient for all zones. Anyone making a fridge-to-MW foray won't need to enter the cooking aisle to throw away packaging. Even if the sink line-up doesn't change, I'd make the 18" cab a trash pull-out to preserve the wider drawers to the left of the sink. A wide drawer can be divided into storage sections, without losing space that two cabinets would waste--and a 12" drawer base won't have a lot of interior space. Of course, you need to assess your storage needs and cooking style to make a final decision. Info on drawer MW comparisons...See MoreAny thoughts/tips about my draft master bath layout/colour scheme?
Comments (8)If the tub filler is between the tub and the window you will have to reach over the tub to turn the water on. Whether this is an issue for you or not is partly a matter of personal preference. We rarely use our tub anyway, so I guess it really wouldn't have mattered to us if it was positioned differently. We couldn't put ours there so we ended up with the more convenient location. :-) In another bathroom we remodeled we had a half wall on the short end of the shower and put the controls in the half wall. It always confused our guests the first time they visited, but it did solve the problem of having to reach all the way in and get wet turning on the shower. For lighting we have sconces on either side of the mirrors (we have a double vanity). We also did medicine cabinets. We have a semi-flush ceiling fixture roughly in the center of the room. I did this in our previous house when we remodeled the master bath and I like the quality of the light better than what you get with pot lights. It is good general illumination. Then there is a fan with a light between the toilet and shower. Because two sides of the shower are glass I don't find it necessary to have a light in the shower. I haven't even used the light that is part of the fan yet. All lights are on dimmer switches. I will leave the question of mixing metals to others as I prefer a more uniform look. I actually did all chrome because it is the least expensive finish and I was interested in the shiny/sparkly look....See Moremad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
6 years agoYardvaark
6 years agowhitewatervol (Z 8a/7b Upstate SC)
6 years agowhitewatervol (Z 8a/7b Upstate SC)
6 years agoJoe Grant
6 years agoJoe Grant
6 years agolittlebug zone 5 Missouri
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoJoe Grant
6 years agolaceyvail 6A, WV
6 years agoJoe Grant
6 years agoJoe Grant
6 years agoJoe Grant
6 years agoJoe Grant
6 years agoemmarene9
6 years agoStanton L z4 NE
6 years ago
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whitewatervol (Z 8a/7b Upstate SC)