Floor plan: New construction on existing bungalow basement, 1.5-story

if you included the hallway in the utility room.

I hope I understood you correctly: You mean a larger L-shaped utility room at the bottom left of the plan (instead of a small utility room + access hallway there)? Since we don't necessarily need so much utility room space, that would just be a measure to avoid "walking through the TV picture." Or are there additional advantages?

I almost want to say I don’t understand 101% of this post.

The awarding is still at the stage of not yet finalized planning, still in the future, goes even faster with an architect than without him, and as a separate award also doesn’t take any longer. And when the time comes, of course, you have the binding deadlines of the offers breathing down your neck.

A bit off-topic, but the way we are building, it feels like we have forever to plan. Somehow we lack definitive "deadlines," and so repeatedly have the opportunity to open Pandora's box and incorporate changes. We want to start building in April. Our architect and the construction company have been very relaxed about changes so far. The architect accounts for this "free of charge" within his fixed planning fee and the construction company charges the effort according to unit prices. A client with a prefabricated house manufacturer would probably already have a non-changeable final plan by this stage of construction and fixed dates for sampling, electrical planning, etc. Their mind would then be somewhere else. We, on the other hand, have months to ponder again (and you always find something...). That is both a curse and a blessing. We constantly feel the need to (supposedly) optimize again, the prefab house client regrets (also supposedly) missed opportunities afterward. In the end, it’s all a matter of self-discipline. I wouldn’t even know where to start if not at least the basement layout + staircase were predetermined...

We want to start building in April. Our and the construction company have been very relaxed about changes so far. The architect books the "free of charge" in his lump sum for design services, and the construction company charges the effort according to unit price.

April is only a quarter away. Your building authority must already work at the speed of light. How can there already be a unit price if the tender readiness has not yet been established?

[...] the way we build we feel like we have forever to plan. Somehow we lack definitive "deadlines" and thus always have the chance to open Pandora's box again and integrate changes. [...] A client with a prefabricated house manufacturer would probably already be sitting on a non-changeable construction plan at this stage of construction and would have fixed dates for sample selection, electrical planning, etc. He would already be thinking about something else. We, on the other hand, have months to reconsider (and you always find something...). That is both a curse and a blessing at the same time. We constantly feel the need to (supposedly) optimize again; the prefabricated house client regrets (also supposedly) missed opportunities afterwards. In the end, it’s all a matter of self-discipline. I wouldn’t know where to go if at least the basement floor plan and stairs were not predetermined.

I see no blessing at all, only a curse. You have already been gifted that the existing basement halves the fantastilliard of different possibilities, and you don’t make use of this enviable advantage. The closing of the counting rhyme should have long since taken place; the FOMO should be buried at the latest by the end of the dough rest. There must be a virus going around somewhere here, is still planning the underfloor heating (I had already assumed this family had given away all their moving boxes long ago). So much deep relaxation while builders in neighboring threads are under adrenaline due to price and interest rate developments is quite alarming.

So much deep relaxation while in neighboring threads prospective buyers are under adrenaline over price and interest rate developments is quite alarming.

It seems to me that you are the only one who has a problem with it. Could it be that the issue lies with you? We are currently planning the complete renovation of a house. The schedule foresees the next 2 years for this. If that is not enough, we'll just add some more time. Totally deeply relaxed.

are you aware that the island is very small? some would call it more of a side table than a kitchen island.

It seems to me that you are the only one who has a problem with it. Could it be that the problem lies with you?

I don't have any problem with it at all, since I don't have any shares in it. I was just happy for the OP to have at least half the trouble of choosing among infinitely many options, and thereby reach the goal in a more time- and stress-saving way. Therefore, I find it a shame to waste this advantage. At the same time, I see many builders who are afraid of being overtaken by market developments in their decisions. A little shaking of the head must be allowed there.

are you aware that the island is very small? some would call it more of a side table than a kitchen island.

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Yes, we also noticed that negatively, hence the desire for a peninsula, as mentioned in post #79.
It is supposed to look roughly like this, with a 2.10m island: