160 sqm two-storey single-family house - second attempt

For a new building, I would not plan any compromises such as a narrow washing machine. What about in old age? Possibly include a dryer then.

If you already have a straight staircase to the upper floor, then install a stairlift there if BOTH of you permanently cannot climb stairs anymore. Otherwise, the upper and lower floors remain unused and neglected. If only one of you temporarily cannot walk properly, the office/guest room setup works fine. I would keep the access to the office as it was; otherwise, you always have to go around the stairs and past the front door when you need to use the bathroom (and have trouble walking). As before, the route is more direct and intimate. Also for guests.

Additionally, I would make the basement stairs quarter-turn (place the starting step sideways). This saves you the "hole," the hallway feels less tunnel-like, you gain space for the fireplace (in the upper floor the shaft would then be somewhere in the corner near the dressing room/child’s room) and more spaciousness in the living-dining room. Also, you would get rid of that half-slanted door – I don’t like it.

Regarding the wardrobe: Either you forgo the kitchen door and the laundry chute (meaning about 4 m extra walking when you’ve done your shopping) and then make the wardrobe wider, or you make a small guest wardrobe at the entrance and use a closet in the office for your own stuff.

The washing machine can also go in the kitchen if neither of you can get to the basement or the upper floor (stairlift). Keep in mind that the ground floor (bedroom, bathroom) is far too tight for people with mobility impairments.

Refrigerator in the French style.

What is that?

If we are allowed to move the garage further back or if it works with the building envelope that we can leave some space between the garage and the house, a small window would of course be added next to the door.

I thought the garage was not going to be built?!

So, let's continue. We now have two offers for our floor plan; both contacts were able to implement the floor plan with small changes.

One is pretty much exactly like the current draft attached to this post. The other made the door at a 45° angle because he needs a thicker wall between the living room and the office. This shifts a few other things, which mainly makes the hallway a bit wider and the office a bit smaller.

Now we have to compare the service descriptions in detail to see who is ultimately cheaper, as there is almost a 20,000 euro difference between the two designs.

Basically, depending on the choice of provider, the design will remain as is; we will try to keep the shower bath relatively small, but it probably won’t stay as small as in this design. From my point of view, as well as the exact position of the windows and, for example, the door swings, this is fine-tuning.

If you already have a straight staircase to the upper floor, then just install a stairlift there, in case both of you can no longer climb stairs permanently.

We will now simply take that as Plan A for old age. Making too many compromises for a hypothetical case that might never happen is no use.

I would leave the access to the office where it was; otherwise, you always have to go around the stairs and past the front door when you need to use the toilet (and are unsteady on your feet). As before, the route is more direct and intimate. Also for guests.

We have now decided to leave the entrance to the office next to the basement stairs. Then we either have more space for the bathroom or possibly space for another cabinet in the entrance area. I don’t expect any public traffic there, and we have very few overnight guests.

The angled door is currently something we like. But tastes differ, so thanks very much for your contribution.

According to both companies, we do not need a door at the basement stairs (we once read that somewhere, so I had simply planned it as a precaution), so the stair area can remain rather open and airy.

The French refrigerator is oversized, around 70-90cm. But it will end up being a normal fridge. Freestanding but basically framed. The masonry garage definitely won’t happen, but either a carport or a prefab garage, which do not really differ much in the corresponding level of expansion.

What does the planner's draft look like here?

both contact persons were able to implement the floor plan with minor changes.

Do both have the same changes planned? - otherwise it would be interesting how they justify the differences.

Now we need to compare the service descriptions in detail to see who is ultimately cheaper, since there is almost a 20,000 Euro difference between the two designs.

Wisely, you then don’t take the "cheaper" one, but the one who cheated less in terms of comparability.