Looking for comments on new home layout
Ben F
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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millworkman
5 years agoBen F
5 years agoRelated Discussions
5000sf new home plan first floor comments?
Comments (16)You have a lot of square footage but few rooms. This means that it'll always be expensive to change anything: Changing out carpet in one room will never be a couple-hundred dollars thing, for example. It'll always be a big expense. The kitchen and dining room are both huge, but to what point? Bigger isn't better -- efficient is better. What I see here is excessive steps. I like the size of the pantry, but I'd nix the hallway door. It saves only about two steps, yet it eats up probably 3' of storage space. I agree that I would not spend the square footage and the money for a switch-back stair that'll be hidden in a back hallway. If it were a focal point in the entryway or the family room, yes. If you do keep this stair, at least harness all that square footage underneath it for a half-height closet. It could hold all your Christmas stuff, for example. You have a bedroom-sized master closet. Are you planning an island in the middle? Or some other use of that middle space? The master bath has so much space, yet you're planning two sinks jammed side-by-side so close that it'd be uncomfortable to use them simultaneously. The other upstairs bathrooms have a similar lack of sink space. Well, no, a lack of counter space. You'll have no place to set a soap dish, tooth brush holder, no space to set a curling iron as it warms up. With all the space in this house, I'd definitely want more in the places that are used daily. The three upstairs secondary bedrooms all have walk-in closets, but because they're narrow walk-ins, they only have space for an L-shaped closet rod configuration. This is an awful use of square footage. You're spending the square footage for the necessary walking space, but you're only getting the storage of a reach-in. I agree that the mudroom is oversized. The hallway leading out of the mudroom, too, seems excessive for a space that's just a corridor. I'd open up the den to include the hallway space, and have that exterior door in the den....See MoreLayout comments please - new build
Comments (11)Shannonplus2, we have a 36" french door fridge now, which is fine for us because we have a 2nd fridge in our garage. In the new house, it will go in our pantry along with a chest freezer we have now. So fortunately, fridge storage is okay for us. With regards to the microwave, it's an interesting idea to put in the pantry, but we use the microwave almost every day so we want to keep it convenient. And I'll definitely make note of where to consider a warming drawer. Rhome410, I'm going to go back and fake plot out how we prep when we're cooking for the two of us. I know for me, I gather everything together and then prep, but DH might not work the same way. I really thought I had paid attention to the work zones, but I could be wrong. We're coming from a really small kitchen with less than 3 feet of counter top space for prep, so I thought spreading out would be better. The island prep area is near the sink and stove, so I thought that was good? We talked about putting the dishwashers on either side of the sink, but thought it would be easier to clean up if a 2nd person could be loading the dishwashers at the island from the "prep" sink? FlwrsNCo, agreed on the fridge and prep. Sounds like my initial thoughts. Mentioned the separated dishwashers and my thoughts on the 2nd person loading the 2nd dishwasher? I hesitated moving the prep sink to the end of the island near the stove because I was planning to use that big open area for prepping (especially with big pans) and use it as landing for both the oven and the stove. I like the idea of moving the trash to the island for the prep area! I'm still researching the warming drawers! Thanks everyone! Am taking copious notes so I can re-study the layout. The window is pretty firm by the architect, but everything else is still flexible....See MoreNew House Design - Looking for Comments, Suggestions
Comments (32)It refers to a ranch style house with public rooms on one side and private rooms on the opposite side. That's the definition of a typical ranch, as opposed to a split ranch, in which the master bedroom is "split" from the secondary bedrooms. but the community we're planning to build in has some architectural requirements that keep the roof pitch above a certain minimum which forces the dimensions. Another house with different dimensions would work with this roof pitch -- I suspect this requirement is in place to push you towards a two-story house (though if that is the goal, I don't see why they didn't just say two-story). A two-story with this same pitch would be able to fit living space under that big, expensive roof and wouldn't look out of balance. - but my wife likes the kids having their own ensuite bath. I also like the idea of a jack and jill between the two bathrooms, but you can do it better than this long, narrow, lots of little compartments layout. If so, then the best light for passive solar energy is being lost because you want the longest part of a house to face north/south and the shortest to face east/west. You want the most windows on the south side and you want to shade as much as possible on the west side. I think you're describing a house with lots of windows oriented towards the West. Yes, I have a friend too who has a house like you describe, and it is beyond miserable. What I really don't understand is why she doesn't install some heavy window treatments and plant some trees to block the sun. If you do some reading on how to orient a house, you'll find that you want your main rooms /biggest windows to face either South or East. You can find plenty of write-ups about the angle of the sun, etc. You're looking at a typical suburban layout with the main rooms oriented to the back of the house, so you'd probably be happiest if the back of your house faces South or East. And, yes, you really do want to pick your lot first and then work on your house plan. Regardless of which lot you pick, you can design a house to play to its strengths, but without knowing, you're just guessing. The roof is so top heavy it's pushing the house down. That's it exactly! And young children certainly don't need their toilet in a toilet closet. Just think of if the child is sick and you're in there with the child trying to hold their head. Gross thought but it happens. Not just children. My 18 and 21 year olds both had the stomach bug over their Spring Breaks, and I was up with them. Multiple times. It doesn't matter how old they are, they still like you to bring them water and wipe their faces and necks with a cold washcloth. Yes - we've talked about a breeze-way....but my wife would prefer 'attached' garage for those cold winter days and mornings.....we do get snow here once in a while. I suggested we could add a breezeway for the 2nd set of 4 garages.....if that ever happens....ha. A garage attached by a breezeway IS an attached garage. It's attached by the breezeway. Several of my family members have this arrangement, and it's quite nice. Gives you a sort of half-indoor/half-outdoor space, keeps dirt from coming into the house -- and by separating the house from the garage, you can often include more windows on the house. mtspete - Why do you say 'everyone likes banquet seating'? Is that just for your family? I personally hate shuffling down that type of seating, and the inability to sweep my feet back under my seat would drive me crazy. Well, most people seem to love it -- they're discussed fairly often on this board and always in positive terms. Given the choice, a whole lot of people will opt for a booth instead of a table at a restaurant -- this is essentially the same thing. Remember that half the people at the table will be seated in chairs facing the banquette. And if the seat is designed properly, you can sweep your feet back into a comfortable position....See MoreNew house, need new furniture. What layout do I use for fam room?
Comments (13)how many people usually use the room? and do you prefer to sit straight or to lounge? if you mostly prefer to sit straight...and it's your main living space in the house where guests of different ages come etc..push the sofa closer to the window..(since the bookshelf is not staying)..two armchairs facing: one, the TV, another, the sofa..kinda angled, like they're having a conversation, you know? the coffee table gets to be in the middle.and you can add a side table between the chairs. maybe something round, so not everything gets to be rectangular etc. I'd definitely put TV lower either on a console ot over the console. in this scenario TV stays where it is but you get a) much better viewing angle b) storage c) simply nicely composed space. It can still swivel so you don't loose that function. The console should be longer than the TV. If the mirror stays over the sofa it needs to be lower. The rules of art and mirror placement change when they are over the furniture..they should relate to the said furniture. There are guidelines, but generally you can eyeball it ..if it looks good then it's good. If strongly prefer to lounge..then instead of sofa you can get a sectional with corner part under the window. You might be able to put a chair on the other side of the coffee table, depending on how big or small the chair is..you don't want to cramp it too much. If no space for a chair-consider switching your coffee table for an ottoman (don't match exactly to a sectional). can serve as a coffee table very easily if you have a tray on it. But can also be used for additional sitting if you have company..especially kids love these. You can have a side table on one or both sides of the sectional, depending how much space you'll have. I'd definitely add some lights. A table lamp. Or a floor lamp. These are food for specific tasks like reading or mending; they're also create pleasant ambient light. You're more in control of your lighting thus mood you want to create, and function you want to get depending on what you do, if you have different lights on diffrerent levels. I love your curtains and floors and a rug..and a dog..:) It will be a very cozy room...See MoreVirgil Carter Fine Art
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