Brand New House with Clashing Designs and Poor Layout
Travis
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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pennydesign
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoMon
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Help a Poor Guy Out with His Layout... PLEASE!
Comments (41)Been doing a bit of thinking (and working) so haven't really had a chance to post. Davidro: Thanks again for the suggestion, but I'm not into the Silgranit or the drainage area. As far as I'm concerned, taking away counter space is a bad thing. As for the other things, I stood int he future stove area and there was plenty of space behind me for others to get by. I don't think thats an issue. Measured the fridge and will need to incorporate the dimensions into the layout. They're pretty close as they are now, probably a 1/4" here and there off. Opening my fridge to 90 degrees gives me access to pretty much everything easily. If I need to take drawers out (which I do like once a year now) I can either pull the fridge out or just remove some of the door storage shelves (they pop in and out easily). So, where I have it now is pretty good in terms of placement. I'm thinking of getting a 36" wide vent hood instead of the 30". i've been doing more reading and it seems like everyone is going 6" wider than the range/cooktop, especially with gas. Also, I'm thinking in the future, when this stove dies (hpefully not for a while) we'll get something a bit more high performance, but still 30" wide. Anyways, in order to get a 36" hood in, I need to switch the 24" cabinet to the left of the stove in the layout above to a 30" which is better for pots too. The cabinet on the left side of the stove will stay at 18". I'll have to rip my door trim down a bit, but oh well, can't have it all I suppose. So, I'll try to get my plan updated a bit although there aren't any huge changes at the moment. Still thinking about microwave placement. Have to do a rough layout for my laundry room as well. We're moving it from the main floor to the basement and the plumber that is coming to do the kitchen drains is going to do the laundry room rough in as well so need to get that planned out. Bye for now! Thanks! Dan...See MoreNew house layout - advice needed
Comments (16)I agree with most of what's been said. The big issues in my mind: - Lack of proportion; that is, some of the rooms just aren't wide enough for realistic comfort. - The bathrooms aren't efficient. The basic 3-piece American bathroom is usually built in a straight line so that all the water lines are in one wall ... something like this ... you could flip-flop the sink and toilet, you could make the vanity longer, you could add a small closet ... but this is the best bang for the buck: - You want to have windows on two different walls, if at all possible ... you don't want to give the coveted corner positions to a storage room. - You want your table to be near the kitchen. - Here's my best suggestion for tweaks to this plan: It's an efficient, inexpensive to build rectangle, which means you can have a simple roofline. Every bedroom has a closet. The bathrooms are simple but efficient ... the master even has a small linen closet inside the bathroom. The laundry is near the bedrooms. All your water is consolidated in the middle of the house, which is efficient and cheaper to build. Your pocket office is small (definitely a one-butt office) but can have a window ... I'd close it off with pocket doors. Having it open to the foyer will make it feel a bit larger when in use. The kitchen isn't big, but it is hidden from the front door, and the large pantry will make up for its modest size (and your hot water heater can fit in the deep corner of the pantry). You can have a window in the kitchen. Your living room and dining room are one long, narrow space -- and a good-sized space -- which means you'll have great cross-breezes in good weather. You can have a large table, which , of course, will go next to the kitchen. You can have windows on two walls of your most important space -- your living room -- and one of those windows will be a bay window. The garage is front-facing, which is least expensive /works on a small lot ... but is set back from the house, so it isn't the first thing you'll see....See MoreBuilding New House - Need Layout Advice!
Comments (77)Thank you all! To add some context, we are working with a custom builder and will have the architect draft our plans however, we get only two revisions upon the first draft. That is why I wanted to come in extra prepared. I'm sure our process is not like a truly custom home -- but I agree I want to leverage the expertise of the architect. Sounds like you're using the builder's "architect". I'm guessing the builder's "architect" is really a draftsman and not a LICENSED architect. Why do I say that? Because our builder basically had us work with his "architect" who turned out to be a draftsman, and a very poor one. Can you instead get your own architect? Even if the person you're using is licensed, chances are they will make it easiest for the builder and not what is best for you because he/she is "paid" by the builder. You bringing him/her your plans is not how a REAL architect works....See MoreKitchen Layout Confusion - New Builder Home
Comments (46)I think it is too tight for you to have an island and cabinets/pantry on all walls. That appears to be 3ft in the last drawing around the island and makes it oddly shaped. A 2ft reach in pantry will handle pots/appliances etc. and protrude less and waste less space as it doesn't need the space to step as a step-in pantry does. I have no issues with having a sink on the island. It can be really helpful when you have multiple helpers or have someone doing dishes while another cooks, but you need space around it and having it on a short narrow area means you'll likely have water running down the back and splashing onto the floor there unless very careful every time....See MoreFalk Designs, LLC
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