How to make these floor plans better?
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
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- 6 years ago
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Floor Plans... Which one better?
Comments (22)Dekeoboe: The mudroom has a closet and a "drop zone" that are across from each other by the side door and behind the half bath. I will either have a table and mirror in the "drop zone" niche or I will have a built in with drawers and shelves. In both cases I will have an electical outlet for charging cell phones, etc. The "bench" will also be a built-in with hooks for backpacks, umbrellas, coats, etc and space for shoes underneath bench. The location of laundry is a small concern of mine, I did initially have a second laundry room upstairs, and I may rework the larger bathroom to have space for a stacked W/D closet. It does have now a laundry chute to the laundry below so that will help some. Otherwise, I only do laundry 2x week (as in 3-6 loads at a time) so it's not something to bother me on a daily basis... I feel that size of an entry doesn't mean an entry is "unwelcoming". In most homes, I feel the entry has wasted space which is why I told my designer to make it as small, but functional as possible. Again, 90% of my guests will be entering through side entrance and mudroom. Also, the guest closet will not be directly off entry so guests will not need to take coats off/on in this area. With that said, I had suggested to my designer a width of 7-8 ft wide... However, to make it wider I would have to reduce the size either of my garage, dining, or study which I do not want to do if not really needed (which then changes room size above too). I could move the doors of the study to the entry wall and remove wall separating dining room from entry to make it feel more "spacious" but that would make the study feel more isolated from living room which is something I am trying to avoid. Also, the back of the home will be seen as much, if not more, than the front of the house. The back yard is adjacent to the golf course and the commnuity pool is on the other side of golf course. So anyone playing golf or swimming at pool will seeing the back of the home. Any more obsevations or comments? I am thinking I may want to move my refrigerator to stair wall and then double ovens to where refrigerator currently is... So that the stove would be centered on its wall....See MoreDoes this plan make a better house?
Comments (18)Graywings, 1929Spanish, joaniepoani - Points taken. Given all the other input, a full bath does not seem to be that needed. Since there is no other place to put a bath on the main floor, it looks like the half bath off the back porch is where it will stay. Spanish - The china cabinet will have to go, but I am moving it to the living room in some form or another. It never has stored china in it anyway. kashka_kat - We've lived here 17 years and agree the house needs to retain elements of its period; however, previous owners destroyed all original trim and features. The baseboards are even gone, and 100 years of earthquakes have destroyed the plaster. Since I must replace all wiring and plumbing and HVAC, we are gutting room by room and trying to find a balance between the modern lifestyle and period design and architecture. I have been working on the house now for four years. All that remains to remodel is the main floor and the upstairs bath. We love the house as is but the current kitchen is a nightmare. Beverly - Thanks. Using the existing kitchen footprint for a plan is what I have been working on for two years now, but we've reached a stalemate (my wife and I). Your plan is a variation of what we have gone over and over and over and over.... :) tracie_erin - We've tried to fit an island but the space is too small and opening up the entire back half of the house is not something we want to do. We both agree the kitchen should be totally or semi-isolated from the rest of the house because we will have solid flooring throughout and sound will really carry around the main floor. Plus, an open floor plan is just not in the style of this house. Thanks everyone, so far. I think the question of the full bath has been answered....See MoreHow to make this floor plan better with minimum change?
Comments (35)I made a (fairly) simple change. Expanded the kitchen into the den, leaving a portion of it as a dedicated hallway. The gurus over in Kitchens can help you lay it out. I don't imagine you want to lose the slider to the back yard, but the former den window can be kept, changed, or elimated. Depending on the kitchen layout, you could restore a door to the hall, which I would love because I like circulation! Moved the hallway door. Yes, this is a load-bearing wall, but this small change is worth it. It vastly improves the living room access to the back yard, and gives the two bedrooms more privacy. In the back hall, I incorporated the closet into the bathroom, where you need the storage. You can put a cabinet, shelves, or a linen closet there. Maybe even a stacking washer-dryer! For several more $$ you can move the bathtub over into that space, and have the storage next to the vanity instead. In the central hall, how useful is that deep closet? I can see half of it being added to the bedroom, but with good shelving it's probably fine for luggage and a dustmop. In the dining room, I took out the closet. Wouldn't a sideboard look nice there, or built-ins? Are the foyer and big bay window additions? I ask because of the partial wall, but perhaps that was put in because of the fireplace/woodstove? At any rate, that looks like a nice sitting room in the bay. My mother-in-law has something similar in her condo, and it's a nice place to have a conversation separate to what's going on in the living room. In this next version, I moved the kitchen door to the right, and restored a den door to the hall. If you don't mind losing or moving the kitchen slider to the right, you could have a nice galley kitchen. Of course, it's also the traffic zone from garage to the the rest of the house, but really, how often would that be a problem? Or, this next one, where I opened the kitchen completely, and there's only one door from the living room to the back, but it's right across from the former den window, so the LR gets an enticing view to the back. Or, restore the door to the dining room, and move the LR-hall door to the right. Maybe this gives circulation again, and helps move traffic in the kitchen? Is 10'4" wide enough to make a galley using an island, instead of one counter against a wall?...See MoreNeed help! Which floor plan is better? (House/Kitchen Remodeling)
Comments (9)Depends on what you want. Plan one has a serpentine aspect : living /kitchen /dining are removed from each other and the prob is that none of the three spots are large enough to accommodate what I would want . Perhaps that is what you desire in that people will be splintered off but I see continual back and forth and not in a good way. Plan two w probably a reduction of island somewhat offers the one lg space and I would plan for the couch and around fireplace to also contain a couple chairs once the island is adjusted for that. And you still have the front room as a separate area which will evolve as far as your use dictates. Can't comment on storage ......it can be worked out .....looking at more long term possibilities and comfort/enjoyment for day to day living. Good luck...See MoreRelated Professionals
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