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Building a Home Design Dilemma

Bonus Room Layout New Build

3 years ago

We are looking to finish our bonus room.

Immediate intentions are:

Bedroom/Hangout Space for teenage son
Small Bathroom (toilet, sink, stand-up shower)
Closet
Storage area
Maintain as much natural light throughout room(s) as possible
Maintain open and spacious feeling

Future Use:

Area for visiting family to hang out / spend the weekend
Possibly build in bunk beds

I’m looking for recommendations on how to lay this out in the most functional yet appealing way. All suggestions welcome, but please note, I’m super visual and a quick sketch is likely the quickest way for me to “get” your idea.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

PRO

Mark Bischak, Architect

3 years ago

Possibly seek the advice of whoever designed the house. I have never designed a “bonus space“ (or basement) without having at least one layout for its potential use. Leaving an unused space totally ambiguous is a poor practice.

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Comments (8)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
So I need to know where this space is in relation to the rest of the house to start.
P M
Original Author
3 years ago
@patricia

The room in question is a second story bonus over the garage. Wider screen shot here:
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If total cost is $110, then it would be about $20 to finish otherwise framed space. It is similar to finishing an unfinished basement if this area was planned as a "finishable" space. I am assuming that roofline is there and stairs are already there, and subfloor is already there (and designed for load). The real cost variable is HVAC - if you finish it later, then your HVAC won't be sized right and you may need a unit just for that space which can add a big chunk. Rough costs per sqft electrical $4 Paint $2 Drywall $2 Insulation $2 (mild climate) plumbing $0 - assuming no bathroom HVAC $4 Carpet $2 Trim $2 (includes door) Builder $2 (low to make numbers work...) HVAC is quite variable - it can be less if you are just adding a duct or two and not changing the size of the original unit. The comfort of a bonus room is climate and insulation and HVAC design dependent. Done terribly much of the time. I have a bedroom in a "bonus" area and it is just fine without spray foam. It also only has 1 duct and no return but it isn't 900 sqft either. The walkin closet in that area is absolutely frigid with no duct.
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bump - any thoughts? This is a new build - I don't think the bath is very efficient - too many doors. I am at a loss at how to reconfigure it. Musts: 2 36" vanities, 3x5 shower, linen closet, closet that is able to hold hanging + drawers (no dresser in bedroom) - access to laundry room from master bath or closet. We do not need a separate WC. Thank you.
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"Hey, let's position the garage door and front door right in each other's way so the homeowner can save a thousand bucks by forgoing a separate walkway. Never mind that the extra bend that's now needed in the driveway because of the garage facing to the side instead of the front will take more additional concrete than the little walkway we eliminated would save. Also, pay no heed to the complex footprint and rooflines that needlessly raise construction costs many thousands over a similar design with simpler forms. Just remember those thousand bucks we're saving here." Somehow, I've seen countless other houses with attached garages built on a far smaller budget than this one would need that do not have such cramped, awkward entryways. This is just a bad design. It can be fixed by moving the garage mass over a bit to give the human entry some more breathing room and make the garage doors face the front. By making the driveway straight, you'll save enough to be able to make a little walkway to the front door.
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That is a long walk from the kitchen cooking area to the DR is the rest of this already decided it seems like a lot of chopped up spaces to me, the sitting room is for what ? It looks very small too many things I don’t like so I would go back to the drawing room but I do agree an improvement would be the use of spaces and swapping the study for the DR would be one I would do.That pantry is IMO useless where it is you will wear yourself out preparing even a simple dinner.
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sprink1es
3 years ago
What's below it? Is any plumbing roughed in? HVAC? Depending on what's under it, might be issues with noise transmission, hvac issues... Many times these are an afterthought that need electric heaters and mold/mildew can be an issue with no air exchange (since we are talking about potential bathroom)

Do you want to finish it like a suite with its own bathroom? Might be cool to do a half kitchen up there to make it like a mini apartment (guest suite) then it would be very versatile as a home theater room, music/hobby room, guest suite, or just another cool ass bedroom
P M
Original Author
3 years ago
@sprink1es - it’s a new build so plumbing, etc will be run as indicated by the design.
I doubt we will do a kitchen, although that’s a cool idea!
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
3 years ago
What is the roof pitch above this space?
P M
Original Author
3 years ago
@Mark Bischak, Architect Hi Mark - Primary space is would be 12-12, gabled area is 4.5-12
P M
Original Author
3 years ago
Hi Everyone,

We are toying with an idea similar to this. Would love to hear pros and cons. The space between the storage area and the bathroom may be the location of the future built-in bunks, or possibly have them sitting opposite the storage on the bottom edge of this photo

I’m not sure how to utilize the roof pitch to know if there is enough headroom in the various areas but I’m sure some of you are experts in this!

Thank you!

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