How would you enclose this Primary Suite?

last year

I am photoshop-tweaking our proposed floor plan for an addition, so pardon the non-technical drawings - they will be reviewed by my architect before we submit for permits but I want different opinions.

I am tweaking the floorplan to accommodate a few things we want to make sure it's included, like large walk-in closets, a hallway closet, a large bathroom, etc. One of our musts is a home office since we work from home, so we wanted to add a closet so in the future could be a flex bedroom for resale value.

Where I get stuck is how to enclose the primary "quarters" so it's not just 2 bedrooms with a bathroom down the hallway. Should we add french doors in the hallway to divide the room or is there a more sophisticated way to divide this space better?

Comments (9)

PRO
PPF.
last year
What you are doing is what an architect does. Do you have and architect or a draftsman?
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
last year
Have the architect do the design drawings any you review the design drawings.
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Doc-I've been playing with turning the master bath to get the toilet closets closer and possibly make a nicer overall space. I went back through the many photos I have saved for ideas. I sketched out some several variations. This doesn't look at pretty with black boxes, but hopefully gives an idea. I still have an empty corner, but may just have to deal with that. I also give up the vestibule entrance for the closet/bathroom, but at least the door isn't in a horrible location. I'm hoping the space off the bathroom can feel sort of separate (like these 2 photos) (The greyed space/square would all be the mudroom space, mostly for boots and coats. Considering I am hoping to start building within 1-2 months, I am just intending to get the overall plan "better" at this point. I can't wait much longer than that to get started. But, I would love any ideas of working off this change...or something like it, but better.
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While I think the revisions addressed some issues, I would 1. make the vanity longer and use up all the space possible. Remember, 2 sink vanities lose a lot of drawer/storage space. Also, is there any other storage in the bathroom? Where will a towel-rack go or even a bar to hang a towel? 2. A desk inside the closet? Not what I would do, but maybe you have a good reason. You're going to need some serious lighting conditions in there to address the needs of someone working at the desk. 3. You must have a great relationship with a plumber, because none of the water-needing devices are back-to-back which means a whole lot of plumbing. 4. I'd probably close up that door from the bathroom to the closet. 1st, you get more hanging space in the closet. 2nd, you get room to add a tall bank of cabinets in the bathroom for storage. 5. Is that the shower in the upper left corner? 6' by 5'? That's an awfully big shower (bigger showers not always better, since it might not be as warm in there), and then a little dinky toilet area which is going to feel cramped. 6. The master bedroom is still so big you can fit a sofa in there. This is my personal preference, but here you are adding all this "utility" to a big space...2 bathrooms, a desk to work at, a new laundry room... and yet you still want all that roomy space around the bed. I just wouldn't want that, if I were you. To me, I consider having separate vanities a far bigger luxury than space around a bed, or having a sofa in my bedroom. I do think it's a great idea to have the laundry close to the kitchen like that. But a powder room that is going to flush while people are dining at the table? And they'll be able to smell from there? All in all, I don't really know why you are opposed to getting an architect. I'd want it done right for the amount of money you'll end up paying for construction.
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I'm stumped for where to put towels. I don't have an answer, but don't start the process until you know! It's small things like this that'll end up driving you crazy. The office must count as the 5th bedroom, so we'd like to keep it a separate room. My husband also works full-time remotely so he needs the space away from the noise and clutter for video meetings.. So you're using it as a bedroom ... and your husband is using it for work? If you were to make this space a closet, your husband would have the currently-allotted-for-washer-dryer closet space as a pocket office. If you can't move the washer/dryer to this area, I think I'd scrap the project and keep what you have now as closet space ... even though it will mean hauling laundry upstairs. I just need a desk chair for my laptop when I need to hide from my kids. Why not go with a small desk in the alcove /keep the closet for storage? What will you do at the small desk? If most of your desk-work would be on the computer, you might consider a small chest (for office-type storage) next to a comfortable chair and a lap-desk. Regardless of where your work space ends up, don't neglect outlets in the right places. The WC needs a pocket door for sure. Needs? I'd think through the reality of using this space -- it's small, and the door isn't going to close once a person's in the room. I don't think the vanity sinks are to scale in the drawing. Yes, 7' would allow for a single bank of drawers to be shared between spouses. I suggest going through your current items /measuring what you need to store in those drawers. Everything else goes in the linen closet (toilet paper, towels etc). A hamper in the lower half /storage above sounds good for the linen closet. The one problem is the toilet paper being stored across the bathroom from the toilet. We never had such a large bathroom before to consider two trash cans, haha! In my old house we had two trash cans in two bathrooms ... I'm all about efficiency and hated doing four trash cans every trash day. You might want to draw a to-scale bed and nightstands, and whatever else you will have in the bedroom. A good idea. I’d not want to always be going to the linen cabinet for stuff. Yes, drawer storage at the sink is essential.
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Hillary
Original Author
last year
@Mark Bischak, Architect he already sent me a proposed version, what I am looking for is opinions on how to best enclose the space
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
last year
last modified: last year
Tell him what you do not like and what you do like about his proposed version. You are limiting his creativity by giving him a drawing. Sit down with him face to face and work out a solution with him. Solutions in a remodeling need to be worked out by people that know all the existing conditions.
3onthetree
last year
Tell them you want an office/nursery with option for a future bedroom. To accomodate that separation of future function, and get your bath closer to the closet, I imagine they would be switching the Master Bath and Office locations, but I don't know what's under here or the rest of the constraints. Then at that point, the Master Bath might switch with your closet to allow it's prominence better suited for more exterior wall exposure.
Jennifer K
last year
It sound like you need to express the following requirements to your architect:
- stylish transition to the the addition from the original house
- secondary bedroom that you will use for your office. Make sure to describe how you work (lots of phone calls; need to meet with clients; requirement for silence; desire for natural light or not...) and whether the office is considered private or public space.
It may feel like the best way to communicate this is with a picture. But it's not. Your job is tell your architect not just what you want to be able to do in your new space but also how you want to feel there.
Hillary
Original Author
last year
@Jennifer K thank you, I have a hard time explaining to him, so it's easier for me to tweak the floorplan and ask what is actually doable. This is helpful. He did nail most of our wants and needs, we just added to it since we last spoke.
Hillary
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
@3onthetree thank you. We can't move the plumbing so the bathroom needs to stay along that wall with the existing bathrooms, but maybe the home office can switch with the bathroom so the plumbing lines don't have to run too long. We also have other constraints like a chimney (it's diving the toilet and vanity) and having the back of the closet and bedroom being on top of a covered porch.
scout
last year
I think if you could flip the bathroom and home office, that would help. Not sure if you can do this with your plumbing though.

How would you enclose this Primary Suite?

Comments (9)

PPF.

Mark Bischak, Architect

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Hillary
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How would you enclose this Primary Suite?

Comments (9)

PPF.

Mark Bischak, Architect

Related Discussions

HillaryOriginal Author

Mark Bischak, Architect

3onthetree

Jennifer K

HillaryOriginal Author

HillaryOriginal Author

scout

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GET HELP

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Hillary
Original Author

Hillary
Original Author

Hillary
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