Where are you building?

What is the building site like -- dimensions, sloping or flat etc.

What direction will the house face?

Where do the stairs go?

Will you have 2 cars?

Where is the dining area?

Have you considered working with a professional to design the home?

• Do NOT decrease the width of the garage unless you intend to park only one vehicle inside. You could look at this website for ideas/info about garage sizes.
• The minimum depth for a closet with clothes on hangers is 24" so both closets in your Master Bedroom are not deep enough (unless your clothes will be on hooks rather than hangers).
• The door from the garage into the laundry room should be more towards the middle of the garage. With it positioned as it is now, the person who parks on the right side of the garage (presuming you will be parking two vehicles in the garage) has a very long walk from the car to the door - especially when carrying things.
• Moving the laundry room/garage entry door will have the added benefit of not walking in front of the laundry machines, which will keep the floor in front of the machines cleaner (in case you ever drop clean laundry when transferring it from the washer into the dryer).

Lindsey, if the garage door is to the middle, now the driver of the left hand car has to walk just as far. But I night even move the door to open into the foyer. After all, there will be a shoe bench and a closet there. We deserve a nice entrance to our home! Also, that allows the laundry to be a laundry and storage.

What this shows is you really do not know what you don't know. (Garage is too small for anything other than 2 of the smallest cars. Master closet is not wide enough for hanging clothes. Laundry area isn't deep enough at 5'6" for the new machines which stick out over 30". Lots of wasted space in the middle of the house which I assume is your dining area, which also means it's the traffic pattern to the rest of the house. Etc.)

You think you understand how to design a house because you've lived in houses before but just like you wouldn't design and build your own car, why do you think building a house would be easier to design?

Plus one other thing you're not truly taking into account is if this is a retirement home, you need to consider future ADA accommodations.

Answer PPF's questions because when designing a house, you don't put together tetris blocks and the stick a facade on the outside and plop it down on a piece of property. To properly design a house, the exterior, interior and the land it's sitting on, including views, light, how the sun affects it, etc all has to be considered at the same time.

Thanks for all comments. I will try to answer all questions.

Where are you building? Canada

What is the building site like -- dimensions, sloping or flat etc. The lot is flat and rectangular 49'.5" x 150 '

What direction will the house face?

Where do the stairs go? the stairs goes to the basement

Will you have 2 cars? probably one but it will be for 2 small car garage ( I mentioned the size as today we have 18' x 21 ' and it works fine for us, again we have 2 regular size car no Trucks or SUV

Where is the dining area? the dining area is the light rectangular parallel to the stairs

Yes we have a draftsman that will help us, all design he sent us we didn't like, that is the reason I picked one I liked most and made some changes. I am trying to learn more before we go back to the profissional. He will adjust the floor plan to ensure it is correct in all details.

Thanks for the ones answering my questions regarding the measurement of the rooms and door position.

I know I don't know how to design a house, just looking for some guidance before going to the professional.

Thanks again.

Hi Lindsey_CA, thanks for your comments, I used IKEA measurement, for the size. I will double check it. I probably wrote it wrong . and bpath, I also liked your idea of having the door to the foyer.

Generally, a Draftsman is not a designer. They will simply draft your ideas, good or bad with little feedback.

Canada has what I believe is called an Architectural Technologist -- someone between an Architect and a draftsman which may be a better fit.

I would consider a L shaped house to maximize southern exposure. Keep it close to the left side.

Thanks PPF, I will check this professional. thanks for your suggestion.

I would suggest finding someone new. It will be worth the money in the long run. If this is the best design that they have presented to you, that is a definite sign to move on.

Mqcola, as this is your retirement home, then please write down a list of what you need essentially in the house keeping in mind you or a family member might need a wheelchair, or mobility devices down the line. Its easier to design and build for age in place homes rather that down the lane modify existing spaces. Not to mention the extra expense. Strongly recommend you sit down with a professional architect who is capable of putting that design down on paper for you. Its well worth the expense. Research first who is good in your area who designs specifically with that in mind. Ask for references. Give them a list of what your very essential needs are and they can help design it for you. The plan you currently have would probably not work for age in place... unless modified drastically.Hope you find the right professional before you put down any money and finalize the plan. Also if you are able to visit and view similar age in place home builds then you will get a better idea..

Being you are in CA I highly suggest you take PPFs suggestion and hire an architectural technologist. NOT a draftsman