There are conventional graphics in drawing out floor plans to scale. When those conventions are not used, it is difficult to understand what some quirky software tries to express. I suggest engaging an architect and letting them show you drawings.

Hey Mark I’ll be sending if off to our architect tonight. Just wanted to get some general feedback already. Maybe there’s something I can change prior to sending it off

Then there is no need to spend more time on drawing.

Verify the license of the "architect"

Thanks. I’d still love other people’s feedback. No need to reply Mark let’s leave it open for other people’s thoughts please.

Your arcitect will want a visit from you very quickly. You need to visit the architect with no drawing that is what they get the big bucks for let them do their job. . There is nothing to focus on your architect will want to see the plot that is where the design begins .There is no way to read that floor plan. Come back with the first draft from the architect and then ask the question.You don’t even show where the stairs are or name the spaces

If I am reading this correctly, the distance between your sink and your kitchen peninsula is four feet and your peninsula itself is also four feet across. That would make for a very tight work area in the kitchen, really only enough room for one person to be in there at a time. I would reduce the peninsula to three feet and give yourself another foot of floor space, if you are stuck on this floor plan.

Also, you have two informal eating areas. Maybe that would work for you at this time, but the banquette has a lot of uncomfortable seating and you really don't have a place designated for a company or holiday eating area.

Me again. I keep looking at your plan. Your entry/mudroom is at least as big as your kitchen, maybe bigger. That's a place you just pass through whereas the kitchen is a place where you spend a lot of time. Your allocation of space needs a throughout overhaul.

I have to agree that this diagram is confusing. Which are doors and which are windows? From which direction does one enter the stairs? What is the space between the stairs and the bathroom? 1 foot between the toilet and the shower seems awefully tight, by the way. What does one do in the front room? Is it all just mud space? It seems like a lot of space for uncertain purpose, and I have no idea what the grey thing is. The couches seem too far apart for conversation despite being focused on one another. Maybe you could bring them and have them coordinate more with what I'm assuming is a fireplace or TV cabinet, which I'd want to shift over to make a cozier space with the couches. That would leave an awkward space that is big for what would be a glorified hallway and too small for what might have been a dining space in another life.

If you could explain the front of the house, maybe things would make more sense?

Thanks for the feedback @PRN Yes, its 4 feet from counter to counter in my U-shaped kitchen. I thought this would be enough space, because most kitchen websites suggest 42-48 inches from counter to counter.... maybe that's not meant for U-shaped kitchens though? Maybe the distance from counter to counter is different when applied to counter and island with two ways to enter and exist, which a U-shaped kitchen doesn't have? I'll be sure to research that a bit more and adjust the space in my U.

I agree with you on the dinning area....the dinning nook isn't ideal for entertaining. I'll have to see if I can convince my hubby to widen the house a bit. We're working with a solid timber construction for both the walls and the ceiling beams (we're building the house ourselves) but are getting the structure engineered. The wider the house the more massive the ceiling beams need to be. We'll need to have a sit down with our engineer to see what the requirements are in case we widen the house.

Yes, the hallway seems quite massive compared to the rest of the house, but we'll be living in the country .... lots of dirt roads and mud etc. It's really just a house hallway - widened to accommodate cabinets and a long bench to "drive" the whole family through as we get into the house. It might seem overkill, but I'm happy with that space, considering where we live.

I see many doors, but I can’t tell which is the front door...

Hello @BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA I'll try to post another floorplan on this thread once I have a better one, that is easier to read. The space between the staircase and hallway is for electrical etc.

I'm considering adding a window wall in the living room and moving the seating away from the wall a bit... as you suggested the seating is spaced quite far apart.

This way the seating would be closer together plus I'd get more light into the living room. The window wall would face west towards an open meadow with trees in the far distance....would make for a beautiful sunset view :) I attached a 3-d rendering of it for you.

I also attached two pictures of the "mud-hall". There's a utility sink + counter on the one end. The rest of the mudhall is basically just a "widened" hallway to accommodate cabinets and a long bench to "drive" the whole family through as we get into the house. We live in the country with lots of dirt roads and mud etc. We're planning on (eventually) only using this house seasonally during the spring/summer/fall during, the muddiest time, so I'm happy with allocating quite a chunk of square footage to that part of the house. With kids's muddy boots, jackets etc. I'm excited for the space. Also, this will be where I house my broom, vacuum, cleaning supplies, house-handyman tools, miscellaneous house stuff etc. Here are a couple of pictures of the mudhall :)

I'll post a better floorplan here as soon as I get my hands on them @Patricia Colwell Consulting :)

Hey @Kristin S I never realized, that the windows vs. doors would be so confusing until you just mentioned it! Sorry, my windows are all inward swinging tilt and turn windows, that makes for a super confusing birds-eye-view :(

Here is a picture of the front door entry. It's really just an entry door that leads to the main living area... no fancy entry-hall. Quite minimalist. Because we live in the country, I've focused the square footage on the backentry mudhall that leads into the house from the garage (note yet shown on drawing). Here's a rendering of the front entry for you. It's near the kitchen.

I totally understand the desire for a mud hall (and have one in my new construction house). That said, with a country location like you describe, I also wouldn't want to be without a foyer of some sort. I assume that just as family will have boots, coats, etc. to shed on the way in, so too will guests. Right now you don't have a place to accommodate that. With a different layout, you could potentially have a foyer at the house end of the mud hall, so that guests also can use that space.

*That's* what you should be taking to your architect - not a floor plan, but a list of wants and needs, like "We really want a mud hall space between the garage and main house that the kids have to walk through, increasing the odds that their muddy things/sports equipment/backpacks end up there, rather than all over the house. And we'd love it if there was a way to have space for guests entering to also sit down and take off muddy shoes, hang coats, and so on. The spaces could adjoin or overlap, maybe?" Then let the architect use his/her creative skills to come up with the best solution for your site, budget, wants, and needs.

First off, I agree with Mark.

A simple drawing with a pencil on graph paper would be a lot easier to understand.

But we don't have nearly enough information to provide any help whatsoever. How many people will live in the house? What part of the country? Which way is north? Flat or sloped lot? Views to enjoy or hide? Do you have guests? Do the stairs go up or down?

Next, what are your needs for this house? You've shown a 6' fridge (I assume that's what the white thing is), which implies bulk food purchases for a big family, but no pantry, little storage space in the kitchen, and not enough living space for a large family.

Your architect will want to walk the lot with you, then sit down and ask you a bunch of questions (mine are just a tiny start). Let them work their magic, and help you come up with a plan for a house that will be a joy to live in.

Good luck with your project.

I agree with Mark as well, but just thinking here.. four people sitting at the peninsula in a row - person one cannot converse with person four. At the very least, put it as 3 people in a row, and the fourth at the edge of the peninsula, facing left. Would likely mean shortening the peninsula.

I know this is not to scale but the way it is drawn if more than one person cooks, they'll be bumping nether regions frequently in that kitchen. If you have a family, hopefully eventually there won't be only one person cooking, especially when the young ones are learning. 48 inches is typically not enough unless you are stuck in an urban city kitchen. (I do understand where there is no choice.)

It looks like you likely have enough kitchen/breakfast room you don't need to trap someone in on the bench seat to the right of the breakfast table. Especially if the peninsula is shortened.

I'm not crazy about the inward swinging tilt window over the sink. It swings in and towards the range, potentially interfering with any work going on there. If you have a kitchen smoke event going on - we all get those eventually - the way this opens is not conducive to ventilation, or headspace, either. Make that a regular up and down sash window, please.

I'm fine with a large mudroom. This one depends so much as to where you live and how you use the outdoors.

All those windows facing west will mean a very hot living area, unless you live in the extreme north.

Also, the range/sink area seems quite crowded. It seems like it would be hard for someone to be cooking and someone else cleaning or prepping in that space.

Even for me here in Florida, it's nice to have a closet by the front door for shoes, hats, etc.

(chocolate chip cookies with walnuts)