Floor plan of a single-family house, feedback

You have the exit to the terrace right next to the conservatory. I wouldn’t find that important in the conservatory/bay window. I don’t really like floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper floor. If you put something in front of them, you lose the light again. Better horizontal, then you have space for sideboards, desks, etc. underneath. On the ground floor, I love our floor-to-ceiling windows. They bring light and convey openness. And there are no pleated blinds on them. We also have a fixed element with a roller shutter. It hasn’t bothered me in 4 years, I haven’t felt the need to clean it yet. But they are only at the bottom, when I’m sleeping.

I don't really like floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper floor. If you put something in front of them, you block the light again. Better horizontal ones, then you have space for sideboards, desks, etc. underneath.

But then, for example in the children's rooms, only one each (the east-facing one) should be twice as wide, otherwise we practically have almost no wall space there. And should the others be left floor-to-ceiling or "normal height"? ah. Meeeh. Always this thinking and weighing. Ugh yuck. :) In the study, I plan the desk in front of the window, which is twice as wide AND floor-to-ceiling. But I think/hope that should be fine – since I usually have it raised most of the time (desktop at 126 cm, about 80% of the day) and it (and I) will also be clearly visible there with normal-height windows.

My opinion: Cross out a laundry chute; you definitely don’t need that in a compact design over one floor. If someone really wants to throw laundry down, let them use the stairs. I wouldn’t build a conservatory in the literal sense either – my intention was a bay window, which I prefer here. Not only because of the construction method but also because of the clean room opening. The amount of light can hardly be more than it already is; a nice window design is enough. I think that has completely gotten out of hand here. Floor windows on the upper floor break the look, there are auxiliary windows on the west side, even though this light is the nicest. Because of the window in the office upstairs, you can’t even place a wardrobe in the niche. And a wardrobe in the bedroom is also suboptimal because of the door. You don’t need windows above the bed; they are rather disturbing, and there is no reason why the master bathroom can’t be accessed from the hallway. As it is now, that is a disadvantage. In the children’s bathroom, the toilet and shower still need to be swapped. Make sure there is a line of sight from the entrance to the garden, at least from the living area. That enhances any house! Also, at least widen the door and extend the „WiGa“, that is, the bay window to the left on the plan.

The alternative is a bay window. Somewhat more cost-effective, but then "only" one set of windows and no door. Although that could also be nice if you put 3 windows on the long side and the middle one is one with a deep window seat, that sounds good to me as well. If we stick to a depth of 1.25m here, there would be no side doors. Don’t know if that’s terribly bad – I can imagine that at least one door directly to the terrace there would be nice. But then you could possibly make it about 1.50m deep.

I already see two other doors right next to it on the plan? I don’t think that many doors are needed here.

But – this is a room for painting, sleeping in it and otherwise "when you need some retreat" or “You can have some peace there for a hobby/some reading/…”, but unlike a children’s room or study it won't be used that permanently. It has to suffice.

I would have planned it that way too, based on everything I had read (keyword tax deductibility of a study).

I was thinking about something else: windows also need space. And beyond a certain point, windows for rooms are also oversized. Whether that is the case here, I can’t say directly. For the small room, a 200x125 window would already seem very generous to me. It will also be well illuminated with a smaller window.

Floor-to-ceiling is simply one way to get more light

... well yes and no. A bit on light physics:
1. Window areas have a diminishing effect! If you enlarge (as the only window) an 85x125 window to 95x125, the room becomes noticeably brighter. If you enlarge (as the only window) a 250x125 window to 260x125, you hardly notice the difference.
2. Floor-level window areas light the room only very little. You can check that in several ways: In show home parks with many floor-to-ceiling windows, close all shutters down to about 90cm above the floor. Or in a pitch-dark room hold a flashlight diagonally downward while moving closer to the floor. Or look for a house with a high knee wall that only has small fixed glazing light strips near the floor. (The darker the floor covering, the more pronounced this effect.)
3. The less circular/square a window area is, the lower its light effect. (A 50x50 glass area provides more light than a 10x250 glass area, despite having the same square meters.) With normal window formats you don’t notice this. When comparing the light effect of a large window vs a single-leaf patio door (e.g. 175x140 vs. 113x221), you see it clearly.
(4. Windows on multiple walls are often much more advantageous for lighting than windows on only one wall. But as far as I remember, that has been well implemented everywhere.)

For openness, for the view, for the spatial effect – floor-to-ceiling elements are definitely very good. For pure light effect, however, they are usually overrated due to the above effects.

And in children’s rooms they are really impractical, as they dominate the room there. You can put a desk under a normal window. Or a dresser. Or whatever. A normal window leaves design possibilities. A floor-to-ceiling element does not.

My opinion: strike a laundry chute, you definitely don’t need one over one floor in compact construction. If you really want to throw laundry, use the stairs.

Laundry chute is already on my knockout list, it was good in the old draft but no longer in the new one.
But throwing down the stairs – that is a bit heavy, I’d rather not do that.

I also wouldn’t build a conservatory in this literal sense – my intention was a bay window, which I prefer here.
Not only because of the construction, but also the clean room opening

I already see two other doors right next to it in the plan? I don’t think that many doors are needed here.

Yes, these wall parts that intrude there are disturbing. With a bay window, I would plan a 125-high window each on the long wall left and right and one in the middle with a seating window sill. That should also be somewhat higher (the parapet has to be lower), let’s see what they offer there.
I’m thinking whether to put windows on the small wall pieces left and right or not. For that, the wall would probably have to be 150 deep instead of 125. The advantage would be more light and (left) a view of the terrace. But if I do it without, I could attach or place something in front of the wall.
Or only a window on the left to the terrace, right towards the neighbor’s wall.

You can’t even put a cabinet in the niche because of the window in the office upstairs

That was my initial plan, yes. At the moment, though, I also think it’s not bad idea-wise to have the desk on the left and the cabinet/shelf on the right in that room.

Be sure that there is a visual axis from the entrance to the garden, at least the all-purpose room. That enhances every house! Also widen the door at least and extend the “WiGa,” meaning the bay window, to the left according to the plan

Oh, I have a representative of an opposing opinion at home here, being able to see through freely all the way is not a favorite.

I would have planned it that way too, based on everything I had read (keyword tax deductibility of home office).

Yes, the home office must be separate.

I meant something else: windows also take up space. And at some point windows in rooms become oversized. Whether this is the case here, I can’t say directly. For the small room, a 200x125 window would seem very generous to me anyway. It will also be well lit with a smaller window.

I think it will be a normal, not double-wide, 125-high one. That should fit. Right now it’s purely trimmed for symmetry, but we all find that such a high band of light in the guest room looks funny. A normal simple window should be sufficient.

.. yes and no. A bit about light physics:

Thanks for that.

And in the children’s rooms they become really impractical because they dominate the room. Under a normal window you can place a desk. Or a dresser. Or whatever. A normal window allows design options. A floor-to-ceiling element does not.

Noted, will reconsider, thanks.

Oh, I have here at home a representative of an opposing opinion, directly freely completely transparent is not a favorite.

Then no upgrade. Regarding the windows: first the basic framework, that means room planning. Then set the windows. As a whole. It makes no sense to tackle one window or another now. Observe basic physics and floor space, then you can set the windows confidently. If the room planning is correct (also statically), then the positions almost arrange themselves, so that it looks homogeneous on the outside.