You definitely wanted the windows stacked on top of each other... and to make the living room smaller... I have to admit, it’s not my thing. But I’m not planning for myself, but for the OP, and you already had the preliminary draft from the planner. The dimensions were somewhat fixed since you only wanted to spend 200,000 on the house.
Yes, the windows were difficult because of the house next door and I don’t like it when someone can look in. At most, one could have made a window band along the west side, say 3x0.76m, then the wall wouldn’t be so bare. But I and others didn’t have that idea back then. The dimensions were not determined by the house price, but by the plot shape (8.5m width optimal, otherwise too much area would have been lost to the south) and by the maximum 100 m² footprint permitted by the building authorities. I followed those measurements exactly. Also, one more meter in width would have made the living room even more narrow. Then you could have made an L-shaped floor plan, which I actually would have liked better in hindsight. That would probably have been the better choice. Many other floor plans appealed to me more, but you have to live with the plot you have. Yes, I was fixed on 200,000, but I could have spent more with a great design. But it doesn’t have to be pointless either...
I interfere little with windows and exterior dimensions, especially when it’s clear that the 150’s are desired or the window sills... for me, narrow window sills are nice and good for privacy protection for example in the upper floor. And the exterior dimensions reflect the house price.
150’s weren’t desired, rather much more was not possible in the upper floor due to the limited house width. Somewhere you also want to place tall cabinets. By the way, in the living room they are 1.76 m. We explicitly wanted the window sill on the south side because I don’t need glass behind the sofa back wall. On the west side, one could certainly have done something floor-to-ceiling (possibly also wider), but that would have conflicted with the upper floor again... Also, I like window sills for putting things on.
With money, much can be implemented. You fully exploited the 200,000, I would say... or how much did it end up being? That would be interesting as well. If you had enlarged by one meter, maybe 20-30,000 would have been added.
Yes, I think it would have been about 10-20 thousand more, but as said, it wasn’t possible due to the reasons above. In the end, I invested more in equipment... controlled residential ventilation, water softening, venetian blinds, great electrical and sanitary installations, high-quality staircase, so almost all trades were upgraded significantly. In the end, it came to between 240 and 250 thousand (without painter/flooring).
I think many things probably turned out great that you don’t even realize now. What if the hallway and utility room didn’t work??? As the saying goes: the first house is for the enemy, the second for the friend, and the third for you then.
Yes, that’s true, in many areas it turned out very nicely. Only the living area could have used a bit more revision back then.