Below are two example of projects I am currently working on. In both cases north is to the left and a lake is to the top. They are different because they are for two different clients on two different sites. Many factors determine the house's design.

You have a predetermined space size to fit three functions in. Each individual space and how they best relate to the other spaces and circulation should determine their size and placement.

I think we need to see your space in a to scale drawing, are windows already in , what is the size of your family ? Why this exact size? Neither of the drawings above are the same size as your space but good illustration of layouts that suit spaces and needs. BTW why are you designing the floor plan? IMO unless you have built homes before you will need an architect so get one now .

Personally, I would think it would be cramped in some areas and inefficient in others. A 20x18 living area is what I’d shoot for but traffic patterns and furniture placement have to be considered as well. If you use 18’ for living, that leaves 18’ for the kitchen and dining. The kitchen will take a minimum of 10 ft of that, which leaves you an 8’ by 20’ area for a dining room, which seems very awkward to me.

I would try to arrange the space into more of an L shape with the kitchen and living in line with each other and the dining tucked off to the side of the kitchen.

Thanks for the comment. I’m in the planning stages. Nothing built yet. I don’t need an architect yet. Thanks for the advice though. It does not have to be that exact size but close to it. I’m planning to build 2 story 3/2.5. first floor master. footprint of the home will be 36x40 or close to it. That’s why I’m asking about this size kitchen, dining, and living area. The other half of the first floor will be taken up by master bed and bath, walk in closet, mud room, and 1/2 bath.

no, I dont. I’m just basic enlarging an existing plan. My question was if anyone has a similar layout.

"footprint of the home will be 36x40"

That's a pretty fat plan. Have you considered going narrower but longer?

I'm building right now and have kitchen dining great room all in a row as I think you're describing.

kitchen and dining room are each 12' and great room is 19' ....so 43' ... I don't think i'd go a lot smaller. now we do have a fireplace that sticks into the great room 18".

my rooms are all 18' wide.

Thank you Trish. That’s the kind of input I was looking for. This is what I’m looking at doing. Just larger with a few layout changes. Delete the pantry and the wall it’s on. Island instead of peninsula. Guess I need to get out the tape and spray paint and just lay it all out in my yard so I can see for myself. I was hoping someone had pictures of a similar size room.

I hate to argue with you but now is when you need an architect if you want a beautiful home that works for you , you do not go to the architect to tell them what to design. If this is on a piece property that is where you start designing a house

The traffic flow from the kitchen to the backyard is very convoluted in that plan. Imagine trying to carry a platter of meat to the backyard to grill and having to sidestep the living room furniture. The layout limits your ways to arrange furniture in the living room. I REALLY don't like to point out flaws on plans but I've seen plans of similar size with a much better flow. What is it about this particular plan that you're drawn to?

I was actually thinking about flipping it and doing the kitchen in the back. The back right door when then be deleted obviously. There are things I will change about the plan. I’m more interested in seeing rooms a similar size. Thank you for your input.

We're going to do (hopefully) a similar space too - 20 x 40 though. Much less than that and the dining area got a little cramped. In your design, think about how someone serving or clearing the table from the living room side would get around the furniture.

How does it relate to your site?

I’m not restricted by lot size. Lot is 1.4 acres. 165’ wide. This is the style house I prefer. It’s surrounded by farm land and backs up to a river. The house will be on pilings. Going for more of a traditional Carolina farmhouse with a little low country exterior style.

Which way is north? In which direction is the river? Where are the best views? Where are the objectionable views? Where are there houses in sight of yours? Where is the road? Where are the trees? Are there wetlands? Are there Department of Natural Resources restrictions? What area is the house to be located in?

The master bedroom is as big as the living room, which serves not only as a living room but also passage to yard and stairs. If you put the kitchen back there, the stairs will land IN the kitchen, and, unless you keep that kitchen wall, the living room will have a view into the powder room.

You can tell an architect the style home you like (yes, low country is pretty!) and about your site, and let her or him give you everything.

It sounds like a great lot! It deserves a great house. :)

I'm not a pro, but just looking at your picture one can see how cramped it is. Look at the space between the dining table and easy chairs, or between the couch and chairs. And we're not sure if that furniture is even drawn to be full scale. Unfortunately, I don't think a couple feet more is going to make much difference. But it is a good visual for seeing how furniture layout either works with a space, or doesn't.

In my opinion, your room could be cramped.

I have a house plan that I have changed around and then had drawn up to suit. The original "Family Room" (Living, Dining, and Kitchen) areas seemed too small and cramped for my taste.

First, I added another 4' to the end of the kitchen. Then, I eliminated the area for a long table so that the living area is larger. The 7' island will have 2-3 bar stools. The original pantry space (on an outside wall) is now a banquette with windows looking out onto the open porch. A large pantry has been added on the other side of kitchen where an office/mudroom was originally located.

The width of this "family room" is over 18'. The length is 45' Plus the banquette off to the side, and a 2' x 9' bump out in the middle of the living area to accommodate an entertainment buffet (with a chair on either end), and a large screened TV on the wall. This helps with traffic flow going from the kitchen, the living area, to the M bedroom hallway. The opposite wall will have the fireplace (no raised hearth) flanked by double French doors.

We also have a large dining room for the larger dining gatherings. I will have my 10' table there.

Since you are just thinking about this, why not sketch a 20 x 36 square room on graph paper. Then start putting in your walking aisles and if you want an island in the kitchen, then add an eating area which will have a table probably 42 inches wide and 76 inches long with 6 chairs....the chairs will need three feet behind ALL of them in order to get into and out of the chairs and walk around them to go outside if you have slider/French doors for access to back yard.....then lay out the living room furniture around the fireplace and decide where the TV will go for best viewing; ie. do you want to watch TV from kitchen if you are considering island or bar seating? How big of a sofa do you need to seat your family while watching TV. The sofa generally goes opposite the TV, so where will the sofa and TV be in the room? Will you have room to add a chair or two if you want a recliner/s in the room. Is a cocktail table something you need to hold the remote and put up your feet, or are you going with reclining furniture that requires room in front of and in back of while reclining? Plus you will want lamps and end tables by most of your furniture pieces...how will these fit? When you answer most of these questions, that indicate how you want to live in your space, you will probably answer how big the room should be? As for aisles, you will want 42 inches in kitchen minimum, and 36 inches for hallways and walkways.....we have a 42 inch walkway in our great room and it works. Our great room/ living area has TV area, breakfast table area, and L shape kitchen with a 5 x 7 island that seats 5, 3 on one side, 2 on end and is 16' x 40' and I wish it was 6 feet longer, just so I would have another pair of chairs in the great room......I can sit 6 but would love to seat 8 for family gatherings.....just sayin'. Keep us posted.....

I took a stab at flipping the right side of the plan, but I kept the peninsula. I put a small closet inside the entry door, and opened the other storage to the master bedroom--that closet could open to the laundry instead. The PR and laundry were flipped, to block the view of the PR door. LR is 15', with the other 21' (of the 36' total) going to the DR and kitchen.

(Plan is rotated.)

That’s everyone for all the insight and constructive criticism. Mama goose, thank you for the fresh ideas. That gives me a lot to think about. If I make it a 40’ square I’ll end up with a 1600 sq ft main floor and I’m trying to keep it under 2100-2200 total. Unfortunately there’s not room for much more than that in the budget. The original plan was a little over 1700 btw. My current single story 3/2 is just over 1300 total so I can’t imagine a 2000 plus 2 story can feel but so cramped to me. Thanks again everyone.

@jon potter think about what views you will have out the windows and the direction of the sun, etc.

" My current single story 3/2 is just over 1300 total so I can’t imagine a 2000 plus 2 story can feel but so cramped to me"

It can and will with a poor layout.

" Unfortunately there’s not room for much more than that in the budget."

You may be surprised that the price may increase much as not all square footage is equal dollars, especially in a 2 story home.

Just wanted to throw this plan out there. When you mentioned Lowcountry farm house, I thought of this plan. A little larger than you wanted, but has many options. Personally, I would change a few things in the interior and layout, turn the screened porch into a room, and add a screened porch off the back. But it is so pretty!

SL House Plan

http://houseplans.southernliving.com/plans/SL1666

Here is one after a build.

http://www.the-hall-way.com/2014/07/20/eastover-cottage-the-exterior/