Thoughts on this simple floor plan?

5 years ago

Hello!

So before I get pounced, YES, this is only an “internet floor plan”. I have not yet worked with an architect or a home designer. I’m in the very early stages of planning our home and I wanted to get feedback on this floor plan.

Here is some background: we’ll be building on a hill of our 100+ acre farm with dreamy views. We have two young children and at this point I do not want to be on a separate level, but this will be our forever home so we are also aware we will need a bedroom with full bath downstairs for when the time comes for us to move downstairs. We are trying to be cost effective in this build, and luckily I love the simplicity of a rectanular buIld with a 3 sided wrap around porch with attached garage on 4th side.

So, we’ve been browsing plans and this is the closest we’ve come to something we feel could be a good fit for us. We would “bump” the back corner out and get rid of the screened in porch in order to accommodate a full bathroom downstairs. See attached (VERY ROUGH) Sketch.

I guess what I’m looking for is any feedback on the layout itself. I do realize this is about as basic of a layout as it gets. But does anything stick out that may be a problem? Anything I could be overlooking? Thank you so so much!

Featured Answer

damiarain

5 years ago

A quick first comment is I understand the tension between wanting to be upstairs with your kids now vs option to be downstairs later in life. I think though the rough idea you've sketched out isn't a great plan. You have a beautiful Master suite planned for the second floor - private space (no shared walls) a large bedroom, large ensuite, walk in closet but then the plan for later in life is a basic guest bedroom that is adjacent to the great room (noisy, no privacy) that has a minimal bathroom (no space if you have ie a walker/wheelchair) and a minimal closet. Seems like you're short changing your future self.

Also, while your children are young now, what ages will they be when you are actually done with the build and you all live in the house? Maybe they'll be old enough that you can imagine yourself in a sweet Master Suite on the main floor.

Also (also), if you're on a farm, a common plan is to have an extensive mudroom that includes farm-clothes-laundry machines so you don't have to traipse your extra dirty stuff all the way upstairs. Related to this, having the main laundry upstairs will not serve you well in your later years... instead, a good plan has everything you need on the first floor...

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Comments (28)

PRO
Anglophilia
5 years ago
This is a VERY small house with VERY small rooms. I have a guest room that is just about 9x12 and it holds twin beds up against the walls with a window between. I also have a dressing table underneath the window and room for a tall, narrow chest on one wall. It's just fine as a guest room; as a child's room, it would be very small.

Your LR is also small and it functions as a traffic pattern as well. You have room for very little furniture.

I know what a "morning room" was in a lovely Georgian house in London, built 200 years ago. What the heck is it in your house? I'd move my kitchen back there so it will not be so dark. That angled island is a dated look and totally inefficient.

You can do SO much better than this. Online plans are designed for subdivisions, with narrow, small lots. You're on 100+ acres with lovely views. Hire an architect to design a house for you that you can afford now an that can be added to later (get the plans for that now) when you have the money.
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Thanks for the great information ...patches I'll take a look at your plans...mightyanvil..thanks for taking the time to provide such great advice. This will be our "vacation" home..but it will really be a weekend get away place, that is if we can pull it off. The home will oriented so that the front of the home is north, the back south. We want views to the south and west. I was avoiding a second level because of cost, although considering a loft, but it sounds as though the rule of "cheaper to build up rather than out" applies. It's just DH, myself, and our chocolate lab. Originally we thought everything on one level but are now considering living room, kitchen, mudroom/bath on main level and bed and bath on above. We also considered a basement, as my DH wants the extra storage, but costs vs. it and just a slab foundation..not sure of the differences although there are those that say "might as well put in a basement while you're at it" We're not worried about excavation as we have a friend who'll do the job for us. We love open floor plan because we anticipate small footprint, we want back deck (but plan to build it on later) so outdoor spaces are important. We definitely want a mudroom...area to keep coats, boots, and area to rinse off dog after a run in the mud! We don't really need a garage..again, something we can add later... We live in Western Pa and do want a weather tight home, as we get more cold rainy weather than hot sunny...but want overhangs to keep direct sun out in summer, but still allow sun in winter (passive solar?)... Views to south (back) include woods and stream..views to west include woods and field. Weather hits us from north west...lots of wind from time to time. Why not a screened in porch? I love to sit out but hate the bugs! Ideally, we'd like to contract to get a "shell" built and finish the home ourselves as time/$ allow. Not sure what our options are there... I had to laugh about the home you'd described above with the various levels ..we currently have that set up...and have 5 levels and 4 sets of stairs and it drives me crazy! I can handle one set, but am a bit tired of 4. ;-)
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It's a big house but with a very small living area. When furniture is floated and traffic must go through a room, there is very little space left for furniture. Think about this. I like to sleep in, too. Since your house faces East, you won't get morning sun in the bedroom and can still have more windows/light. My own very large bedroom faces west and has two windows on that wall and one on the north wall. I also live in KY and morning light comes late here unless you're in the Central time zone part of KY. Even then, it's not broad daylight at 5 AM in the summer the way it is on the East Coast! The way the plan is now, you're ruining what could be a lovely master suite. With two teenage grandsons and having had two children of my own, the last thing on earth I would want is the garage entrance right next to their bedrooms! Even the nicest, best child WILL sneak out at some time and you're inviting it and also inviting "guest" you might not want in your house at an inappropriate time of day. You have acreage - for heavens sake get rid of that garage where it is now! That plan is for small subdivision lots! I can see the reason for the two baths if this is truly your "forever" home - when children are married and come home with their families, an extra bedroom will be very welcome. In a big house with the bedrooms on separate sides, I'd want my main laundry to be near the children's bedrooms as that is where the majority of laundry will be. I'd also want a stacking w/d in the area of the MBR so you don't have to haul your own sheets/towels/clothes all the way across the house. Do you really want your master bath right on the front of the house? With the tub at the front window? I'd want it on the back where I could bathe with no window covering and look out at my property, not the driveway and a guest who might arrive early! There is a reason that houses had halls for many decades - even centuries! It means one does not have to walk through rooms to get to another. It means there are walls on which to place furniture. It also separates space. I know - "open concept! open concept"! Sometimes separation of space is a very good thing! If you're having adult entertaining, do you really want children walking through the living room/great room? Your dining room is VERY small! My own DR is 13x13 and I'd kill for an additional 2 ft in length and width! It's very tight when people are at the table - I can't even walk all the way around the table to serve. And I hate passing plates across someone. If my lot were not so narrow, that's one wall I WOULD knock out and expand that room, but alas, not to be. You have a huge lot - make that a room that you can seat your entire family at someday when your children are grown. As others have said, the drawings are faint and my old eyes have had trouble reading the plans. I agree with all about that gigantic roof. You'll thank us someday when you have to re-roof that thing and it costs a year's college tuition to do so! And it won't be In-State in KY! Okay - wife wants a vaulted ceiling. Your living room will be cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Your heating/ac bills will be enormous. It will be noisy. You live in KY - it does get cold in the winter and Lord knows it gets VERY hot and humid in the summer! If I were going to spend this much money to built a large house, I would hire an architect and I would listen to his advice - especially your wife needs to listen. My own house is only about 2800 sq feet but I have more true living space than you do - bigger rooms. You can do better than this.
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f you have regular large dinner parties, this is one of the first times in a while that I've actually seen a dining room that can fit 12 people comfortably Thing is, the dining room is pretty far from the kitchen. Setting the table, bringing out the food, then returning everything to the kitchen is going to require LOTS of steps. If setting up for large dinner parties is a priority, the kitchen and dining room need to relate to one another strongly. Note that you'll have to carry plates to the far side of the kitchen /around the island to reach the sink /presumably the dishwasher. Is that a beverage station or bar or butler's pantry between the kitchen and the dining room? That's a good idea, but is it enough? Do you usually serve plates or set up a buffet? Consider where things would go /walk through it mentally. In my family we usually do pot luck /buffet type meals ... but I want a space for main dishes, a separate /away space for desserts, and a third area for drinks. Consider how you serve /walk through it mentally. Off-topic a bit ... the kitchen seems to have been designed for style instead of function. It's large, but not necessarily efficient. It's also nice to see a house that manages to get a window in each room. Note that the full bath for the guest room doesn't have a window. If you were to bump the sun room forward a bit (you don't have a window on that side of the living room anyway), you might get some natural light into this bathroom. While we're talking about this bathroom ... it's open to guests, so why go with the powder room near the garage entry? With this full bath available, I don't see anyone wanting to use that bitty nose-to-toes powder room ... and it's another toilet to clean each week. On a larger sense, have you planned out the way that you might use each of your rooms? Good question. This is a lot of space to build /clean /maintain ... definitely go through how you'll use each space and be sure you're not overdoing. The master bedroom entrance. First know that those double doors may be a pain to use, Yes, double doors are not a great option. They also require two hands to open and complicate placement of light switches. Consider how far the master bath is from the bedroom area. For me, with all but one of the bedrooms upstairs, I'd prefer the laundry room to be located upstairs as well,, rather than slugging laundry up and down the stairs. Agree ... though I'd really lean towards moving the master downstairs rather than moving the laundry up. I don't like that you'll have to walk through the kitchen /through the mudroom /through a door to reach the laundry. Laundry is enough of a chore without all these extra steps. Also bump the laundry to the exterior wall so the dryer can vent directly to the outside. Cheaper and more fire-safe. I'd try to save money by cutting down on all the roofline additions and bump outs. Yes, all the jigs and jogs will be expensive, and they will push you towards a complicated roofline. Yes, these things are trendy right now, but SIMPLE is less expensive, more practical /functional. 3600 square foot house but mostly it was wasted space because of the way we lived. I have a 2400 square foot house and could say the same thing. My girls refer to the living room as "the Christmas tree room", and we rarely ever use the dining room (because of its distance from the kitchen). I don't mind having rooms in my house that are not regularly used. I look at them the way I do an evening gown: may only be used every year of so, but when it is "required" one needs to have one. Eh, I can't share this sentiment. I like the length of the DR but not the width. This long room with one big window on the end will end up feeling cave-like. Of all the rooms that would benefit from windows on two sides, this one is #1. Other thoughts: - Your only backyard access is through the breakfast room ... but once you place a table in this space, the door will not be easy to use. - All rooms are nicer with windows on two sides ... with the addition of a few more windows, several of your rooms could have natural light from two sides. - I'd bring the garage entry "up" so it's closer to the kitchen /across from the current closet. Why? Imagine you park on the side nearest the back of the house ... you have to walk the length of the garage before you reach the door, then you turn and walk the same distance to reach the kitchen. - I'd open the door to the pantry from the mudroom ... which would place it closer to the garage entrance and would mean you don't have to walk through the kitchen to reach it. Upstairs: - The master bath is huge, but is mostly empty space. - Do you really need this much closet space in the master? Consider, too, carrying laundry baskets upstairs, then threading through the master door /sitting room /hallway and finally the closet. Too many steps. On the other hand, the non-master bathrooms have minimal-minimal closets. - With only yourselves + one child living upstairs, do you really want to clean four upstairs bathrooms every week? - Imagine bringing furniture into Bedroom #2 ... will you be able to make that 90 degree turn? - Note that (except for Bedroom #2), the non-master bathrooms are all minimal. Minimal isn't comfortable. These bathrooms have tiny vanities (I've lived with those vanities ... too small to set out a curling iron, no drawer storage ... never again). No space for storage of towels, extra toilet paper, or even a clothes hamper. I'd much rather have a shared bathroom that's big enough for comfort. Overall thoughts: This house is designed to look fancy, not to live comfortably. Its circulation /flow and storage need attention.
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Comments (15)
Random thoughts: - First, this plan is full of jigs-and-jogs, which will cost more and give nothing. You say you're going to alter the front to be more plain ... but that's expensive. Why not choose a plan that already has a more simple shape? This general layout is not uncommon. - I agree with people who say this is a dark plan ... I'd solidly reject it for this reason alone. Even without the side porches, your main living space is enclosed and will never have direct sunlight. Main living spaces are best on a corner so they can have direct light from two directions. - The living room will not be particularly large ... not after you allow for walking spaces all around the edges. Where will you place the TV? - I think a family house with one large living space (enough for the family to comfortably gather) and a smaller "away space" (which can be closed off visually and acoustically) is ideal without being overkill. You'll have that if you use the front study /bed as a den /TV room /rec room. - You mentioned a playroom. Kids rarely actually use playroom for play ... they end up being a storage spot for toys. If you're going to have one, the front study /bed would be the ideal spot. - You say you're thinking of using the downstairs study /bed for a nursery for future children. Look at the pathway between the master bedroom and this nursery ... it'd be closer to go up the stairs, which are right by the master, to the upstairs bedrooms. - If you think this'll ever be used as a bedroom, especially as an adult bedroom, I'd add a pocket door to close off the bedroom /bathroom as a suite. This would close off the coat closet and the downstairs bathroom ... but it'd only be closed at night. - You say you plan to homeschool, but I haven't heard any discussion about a homeschooling space. This study /bed would be the ideal location. - Big problem with the breakfast nook: it houses the only door to the backyard. This looks okay on the plan, but once you add a table for 6, you'll be blocking the exit. It'd be better to close off this door and add a slider (which requires no swing space) to the back side of the living room. - The kitchen could be better laid out ... for one thing, the sink is the most used item in any kitchen ... and this one's located on the far end. I know someone placed it here so it would be under a window, but it'd be more functional in the middle of the kitchen. - I'll side with an above poster and ask why you need a breakfast nook, island seating AND a dining room ... and probably outside dining too. Don't try to have every. single. thing. Instead, pick two and do them well. - I hate the laundry room's location. It's far from the master, very far from the upstairs bedrooms. With four children, you'll be taking so, so many extra steps for a never-ending chore. - Consider swinging the washer/dryer to the back wall. Dryers are best on an outside wall ... cheaper to build, more fire safe as it's easier to keep the vent clean. - I love big pantries, but this one's inswing door is a problem. It'll cover half the food. Look at the plan, and you'll see ... to get something from the left side, you'd have to enter, close the door. Inconvenient. A pocket door or a barn door would fix this problem. - I'd do away with that clutter of doors by the laundry room and just have open storage. With a family of 6, you'll need it. Instead, add a pocket door to divide the whole mudroom /pantry area from the main house; that'll allow you to close off a mess or the noise of the washer/dryer. - I see two water heaters. This house doesn't seem big enough to warrant that. - Do you see one of these small closets becoming a broom closet? Realistically, a 3' broom closet is a must ... vaccum cleaner, cleaning supplies, paper products and more. - The master bedroom is quite far from any entrance. I'd like to see an exterior door, perhaps to the porch, especially if you might one day be elderly in this house. - The master bath is about the size of a bedroom two children will share. This could be cut down without any loss of function. You really want to clean this huge bathroom + 3 small bathrooms each week? It'll be years until the kids can help. - The closet is large, but it is not large enough to hold a center dresser. Assuming a 24" deep dresser, you'd have 24" walkways around it. Remember to allow 24" for hanging clothing and 14" for shelves. Note, too, that the closet has the same problem as the pantry: its swing door blocks access to clothing on one side. - Agree that this garage won't really hold three cars. Realistically you'll be able to keep a car in each door + have storage space on the side with the larger door. - Upstairs two 12x14 bedrooms, and they'll have lovely natural light ... two kids can certainly share a bedroom this size. It's not going to be luxurious, but it's certainly acceptable. If you end up with 2 boys and 2 girls, this'll work out well ... if not, you will have unequal spaces. Will that be okay with you? - I like that the closets will give a decent amount of storage -- and you have a linen closet upstairs for the kids' sleeping bags, suitcases and other things. - I'd cut off the hall access to an upstairs bath and expand that linen closet even larger. You're not just dripping in storage in this house. - Upstairs bathrooms are simple but functional. I wish the kids could have larger vanities ... lack of drawer storage will be an issue as they grow older. - You say this isn't a forever home (few are), yet you also say that -- if you ever want to sell -- your pool of buyers is extremely small. You're young. Your children haven't even started school yet ... I know you say you plan to homeschool, but at some point your needs /thoughts may change; you want to be sure you like the school system. Consider that jobs may take you to another area. Definitely think through what it means to build on family land while you're still so young. You're tying up your careers, your finances, your children's educations. Think long and hard on it ... this isn't a house in a suburb that's easy to sell and easy to walk away from. How is the house oriented, and what climate zone? Good question. - Where will guests hang coats? I see a coat closet under the stairs. I think what's more important is good coat space by the family entrance ... guests may or may not bring coats into the house (we Southerners tend not to do so), but the family will absolutely need to store multiple coats by the back door. Even in moderate weather, think about a light jacket and a raincoat X 6 people. - there is little storage in any of the bathrooms, except the closet in the toilet room (which seems inconvenient) Not really a problem in the master bath, as the plan over-does the sink vanities + the closet is right there ... but, yes, the kids will one day need storage, especially if you have girls. - do you need 2 bathrooms upstairs? One bathroom opening to the hall allows for storage, more counter space, and a window (currently one bathroom has no window) I would like to see the bathrooms a little larger, but with potentially 4 kids upstairs, I'd stick with two bathrooms. - Also, if this is a forever home/aging in place, the separate toilet room in the primary bath won't work. Toilets in closets don't function well even for young people. Too small and claustrophic for comfort. More work to clean. Closed off from a sink for handwashing. And the upshot is that people leave the problematic doors open! I would flip the kitchen and nook locations. I do not like kitchens that face the front of the house. Disagree ... if they ever want to use the dining room as a dining room, it'd set them up for the dreaded table-next-to-table. I hate that. Your foyer will be a large wasted space with a tiny bit of wall space and no closets. Yes, the foyer is bloated. Wasteful. They would never get 3 cars in there unless two are smart cars. Three cars will fit in, but they may not be able to open their doors. Seriously, my friend has such a garage. She has to stop the car and let everyone get out, then she pulls into the garage ... keeping closey-close-close to the right side so she has enough space to squeeze out the driver's door. If you have to build such a garage, I'd say skip it. A garage isn't a necessity.
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User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Small and mean and does not foster family togetherness. Or sane adult time apart.
beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
5 years ago
If your family will be using the entry/mudroom by the garage rather than the foyer, the kitchen will be one big bottleneck/funnel.

I have three kids and live on a farm, and I'd want a bigger family entry/mudroom area so that things don't end up spilling into the kitchen. In your last drawing, will there be a sink/toilet by the mudroom? I've always liked having someplace where the kids and I can come into the house and wash our hands (whether we've been working in the garden, the garage, or doing chores) etc.

I don't like anything on the diagonal, especially islands; it's a huge waste of space where you can't afford to waste any.

I'm not quite sure how your handwritten layout relates to the top picture.

What climate are you in? What sort of farm do you have? Do you want a one-bum kitchen or a kitchen big enough to work in with your spouse/partner and/or kids? Do you have family and/or friends over regularly for meals? In the living room to watch TV or talk? Do you already have furniture? If so, will it fit? If not, do you have an idea of what you want, and will it fit?

Take a look at some of these plans, and see what you think,

http://susanka.com/plans/default.asp

I'd also recommend reading Sarah Susanka's books, "The Not So Big House" and "Home By Design" -- I think they'll both speak to what you're looking for.

Also, some good threads to read through as you think about your plans,

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3542783/i-just-read-this-on-sarah-susankas-fb-page

https://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3285825/what-makes-a-house-have-good-design?n=39
Michael Ratliff thanked beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
Kristin S
5 years ago
You might also check out Allison Ramsey's plans. https://www.allisonramseyarchitect.com/search-house-plans.cfm
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
5 years ago
What make you think it is simple?
User
5 years ago
I really like this floor plan. plenty of light, almost no wasted space, and still a compact form. Kitchen seems a bit small but its a smaller house.

I dont know how you would integrate a bedroom downstairs though
Mrs Pete
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
For what it's worth, I have no problem with internet plans ... but only if the changes are relatively small; for example, hypothetically, change a set of French doors into windows, use a closet to enlarge the adjacent bathroom, etc.

You're proposing some VERY significant changes to the plan: you're looking at changing the staircase, removing walls (some of which are sure to have been necessary for support). I think you've lost the original concept, and you'd be better off "starting fresh".
BT
5 years ago
Changes look ok, but I am not good at imaging things today without the use of architectural software. Saying this.... You front door after the change must be dead on center or elevation will be impacted, and windows in the new master and dr must be symmetrical/equal distance from the door. This change may also impact the placement of the windows upstairs...
Michael Ratliff
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you all for your input! You’ve already given me a lot to think about. Btw, it says Michael but this happens to be the wife, didn't realize I was linking the account to his name! Anyway, to answer some of the comments/ questions... yes, I agree these rooms are small. I believe the whole hole in the plan was 2100 sq ft and we are aiming for more like 2700-3100. So I’m not too worried about actual size of the rooms as everything would be upsized If we go with this. Mainly concerned about nailing down a layout with good flow. I feel the breakfast area would be wasted space for our family and would like to extend the kitchen into this area and have a straight, not diagonal, island.

One of the biggest sticking points for me, which has been pointed out, is the downstairs bedroom. I do feel strongly about a masters upstairs for now (we plan to only move downstairs when we are unable to do the stairs, so hopefully we’ll have a couple of decades at least upstairs) but what we’re really looking for is essentially and upstairs and downstairs master. And I’m having a really difficult time making that work. in the meantime, the downstairs bedroom would be used as a homeschool room and guest room when needed.

I appreciate all insight, it’s so very helpful. Thank you.
Michael Ratliff
Original Author
5 years ago
Oh I forgo, what makes it simple to me is the boxy design. No extra corners, no bump-outs, no complex roof lines, no “froo-froo“.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
5 years ago
Can you share the exterior elevations with us, for I do not find it simple (although "simple" is a relative term) and I have no idea what is going on here:
Michael Ratliff
Original Author
5 years ago

Sure. And I think that closet is very strange and I would not want it jutting out like that. Hadn’t really noticed that before.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
5 years ago
You have not noticed it is not simple either.
Michael Ratliff
Original Author
5 years ago
I don’t know...to me a rectangle build is simple. But I guess its in the eye of the beholder.
User
5 years ago
Not simple. Look at that roof. And the chances for leaks. Anytime you get roof intersections like this plan has, simple isn’t the word to describe it. There is another S word. For sure.
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
5 years ago
It's a minature plan for minature people. You can do much better.
chicagoans
5 years ago
Does the plan take into account the hillside terrain and take advantage of the dreamy views? Seems a shame not to! (Which way are the views?)

On 100 acres, you don't have to settle for nearly a whole exterior wall adjoined with a garage. Wouldn't it be great to have a breezeway between home and garage, where you could have room for farm-worn jackets and shoes, kids' backpacks and sports gear, a nice big laundry, pet dishes...

I think you, your family, and your dreamy views deserve better. :)
Michael Ratliff
Original Author
5 years ago
With the hilltop we’ve chosen, the views are honestly close to 360. Having said that, there is one house visible from the top of the hill that makes that one view less desirable. It’s a fine house and it’s not close, but it’s still another house. We were thinking of putting the garage on that side.
Michael Ratliff
Original Author
5 years ago
We’d like to extend the porches to wrap around...one of the other changes I forgot to mention. I love the idea of a breezeway but I can’t get my husband on board with it.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Take a list of you wants & needs and a survey of your site, and start talking to local architects. Throw this plan in the trash. You will be handicapping an architect by showing them a floor plan. The people commenting on this thread only want the best for you and your family, and starting with a preconceived plan can do more damage than good.
Michael Ratliff
Original Author
5 years ago
Curious, is it too restrictive to an architect to request plan that is literally a rectangle? Or is an architect going to want “free-reign” to design as he/she sees fit? Clearly I’ve never worked with an architect before and don’t know how the process plays out.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I think most architects would not have a problem designing to any particular shape a client requests as long as it is conducive to their needs and fits the site. There was a discussion here on Houzz not to long ago that touched on that very subject, but probably not worth reading. Tell each architect you interview you want a simple house, perhaps a rectangle, and see how they react. They will most likely ask you to define "simple". Pictures or drawings may be restrictive, verbal descriptions will be liberating.

Talk to several local architects to see which one you will feel the most comfortable with.
User
5 years ago
Michael Ratliff I briefly worked with an architect. I told him I wanted a rectangular shape or as they say in the architecture world a rectilinear shape. the architect was awesome and actually created very nice rectangular designs for me.

now, on this board there was an architect that said to me -if you came into my office asking for a rectangular house I would tell you to go and find another architect.
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
5 years ago
That's because of your attitude, not because of a rectangular shaped design.
beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
5 years ago
Curious, is it too restrictive to an architect to request plan that is literally a rectangle? Or is an architect going to want “free-reign” to design as he/she sees fit? Clearly I’ve never worked with an architect before and don’t know how the process plays out.

A "bubble diagram" might be a better way to proceed,

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/beginning-bubble-diagram-for-a-custom-home-dsvw-vd~4351651[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/beginning-bubble-diagram-for-a-custom-home-dsvw-vd~4351651)
A Fox
5 years ago
Slightly off topic since Michael said that they were looking for a bigger house than his example stock plan, but it seems kind of silly that we have gotten to the point that a valid critique of a plan is that 2100 sf is not enough space for a family of 4.

Growing up, we first lived in a 1900 sf house, then temporarily in a 1600 sf house, then in a 2400 sf house, and never did any of them feel cramped. And this wasn't that long ago; my parents still live in the last house. The first house had 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, combo living room/dining room, kitchen and adjacent informal dining, an office/den, and an unfinished basement. The kids rooms were each just over 9x12 plus a desk alcove. Now my parents were not huge entertainers, just the occasional small family visits, so I cannot say that the house would take a big crowd, but it had plenty of space for 4. The last house was based on the same house plan as the first, but with slightly enlarged kitchen and dining room, and master bath, the living room was increased by 75% and another bath was added bringing the house to 3 bed 3.5 bath. Our bedrooms were still the same size and fit us just as well. The only downfall is that a 9x12 bedroom now as a guest bedroom does not fit the length of a queen bed well. They would have been better off being a bit more square. The new plan mostly was to accommodate slightly larger and more regular family gatherings.
jmm1837
5 years ago
Interesting point about house size - my sister and I grew up in a 1500 sq ft, three bedroom, one bathroom house (when we hit our teens, Dad built a second bathroom with shower in the basement for himself!) and we never thought it was small. Nowadays 2000 sq ft seems to be almost a starter home, when really, a well designed one should meet the needs (as opposed to the wants) of most families.

Thoughts on this simple floor plan?

damiarain

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Thoughts on this simple floor plan?

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