House plans

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

We are planning on building a house. Maybe I am just too picky but I can't find a single set of house plans that have everything I want. If someone could point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it. We were thinking either a basement or a 1.5 story house. This will be our forever house and therefore my husband wants all the necessities on one level so he never has to go upstairs or down when we get old.

Here is what we absolutely want:

- a mud mud room that opens to the back yard and the garage. This would also be the laundry room and include a sink and room for my sewing desk

- a kitchen that is open to the dining room (I think these are called an eat in kitchen?)

- I do not want my kitchen to be visible from the living/family room. I do not want an open floor plan other than the kitchen/dining as explained above

- a large pantry (like 14x4)

- the bedrooms all together on one side of the house.

- a master bed/bath plus 2 other bedrooms on the main floor.

-a bar counter or long skinny island in the kitchen. I would prefer the bar as this is where my kids do things in the kitchen (homework, crafts, etc) to be near me but are not "in" the kitchen. This allows me to help them but still work on my kitchen stuff (canning, baking, dinner, etc)

- a large open kitchen with room to walk around and not bump into each other.

- I do not want any appliances (sink, oven, dishwasher, etc) in the center bar or island.

- a place for a old wooden cook stove

- a covered porch on the back for shade and eating outside

What would be nice:

- either a basement or a 1.5 Story house

- sink with window has view of back yard.

- a 4 foot wide stair way.

- a closed entry way that does not allow visitors a view of the inside of our house.

- kids bathroom that had a tub/shower and toilet Separated from the sink area. The sink area would have a linen closet or storage area in that part of the room.

- a living room that is approximately 14x20 or bigger

- bedrooms for the kids that are big enough to fit two bunk beds on each side with a ceiling fan in the middle.

- I would love a formal living room that would double as a library

things I do not need:

- a huge master bathroom

- a huge master closet

- a theatre room

- vaulted ceilings

Thanks for all your ideas!!

Featured Answer

rrah

6 years ago

OP--I'm not always of the opinion that one must hire an architect. Sometimes one's needs and wants are simple enough that an online plan might work. If your building site allows for some flexibility it becomes easier.

Looking at your list of needs and wants though, it's not so simple. What you want is very specific and a bit out of the ordinary to be able to find in a current online house plan. Secondary bedrooms tend to be smaller today. Stairways tend to be narrower. Kitchens are open to other spaces. You might find a plan that has 1 or 2 of the things you want, but not all of them. You also need to think about things like needing a 14x4 pantry. Realistically that might be 16-17 feet of shelving depending on the configuration. There are other pantry sizes that will get you the 16-17 feet of shelving. A 6x5 pantry would get you to the same place in terms of storage space. (assuming a door on one side.)

In your case, because what you want is so specific, I'd recommend finding an architect. The other alternative is to find a library that has a lot of older house plan books and keep searching.

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Comments (13)

Kristin S
6 years ago
Have you considered hiring an architect to design plans specifically to your needs? It sounds like you might be much happier with that result, as you would be able to get exactly what you want and need.
cpartist
6 years ago
Do you have land already? If so then your best bet is to find a person of design talent or an architect to design a house that will work for your needs.

Look for a sole practitioner who specializes in residential architecture. There are a few who frequent this board, so they are out there.
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T. J.
6 years ago
I agree with both above... hire an architect
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
6 years ago
Take you list in your hand and go interview architects who do single family custom homes. Good luck!
rockybird
6 years ago
Yup - what the others said - find some land and hire an architect. This is too large of an investment, with a huge impact on your families life, to mess up.
0
User
6 years ago
From someone's whose been there and doing that now, trust me hire an architect. We hired ARG from this forum, tremendous talent.
0
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
6 years ago
I wish I had a penny for every hour people spend looking house plans that they think will meet their needs. I could probably retire next year.
boarderchik05
Original Author
6 years ago
Older house plans, I didn't think of that. I'm going to see what my library has. Thanks!
0
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
6 years ago
Contact me privately and I will tell you the address to send the money.
0
cpartist
6 years ago
You won't find what you're looking for with old house plans as they had smaller rooms, less bathrooms, and separated kitchen and dining rooms, but if you're ok spending even more time looking at plans, I say go for it.

As we've all tried to tell you, your best bet is to find an architect to create what you need.
Stan B
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I'm also of the opinion that custom architect designed homes are over-recommended on this board. Yes they can be fun and you get a truly customized home but a true custom home is also stressful and frankly many people don't have unique needs or care about all the little construction details.

In your case you have so many specific needs you'd want to think through what if any compromises you can make and if there are none you should work with an architect. Your needs are reasonable, just very specific to you and not necessarily something you can mark up and change on a stock plan.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
6 years ago
" . . . many people don't have unique needs or care about all the little construction details."

I have seen a lot of those houses.

House plans

rrah

Comments (13)

Kristin S

cpartist

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