Floor plan optimization city villa 180m2 (with visualizations)

The garage is probably too short at 5m for car enthusiasts

Well, Mini, Autobianchi A112, the racing version of the Renault 5 would probably need a bit more width ...

Thank you very much for the numerous and very helpful critiques.

Unfortunately, we are now somewhat at a loss or very unsettled. We have invested many weeks here.

We would like to keep the basic “DNA” of the floor plan (wider central hallway, stairs on the left), but make improvements based on the suggestions, see below; budget approximately EUR 300,000, but there is some flexibility if needed:

OG

1. Criticism mainly about the passage from the garage through the guest room:

We definitely wanted to include a guest room, so this was an acceptable compromise for us. We have now reluctantly removed it. A wardrobe is planned for that room. Ideally, we would also have a small storage room or a washing machine with a basin there.

Question 1: We can’t fit both into the room with our drawings. Do you perhaps have an idea of how to integrate two rooms here (wardrobe + storage room / laundry room)?

The utility room would be in the basement. In the variant without a basement, it is clear that the utility room would be here.

2. Criticism about the dining room and kitchen being too small

We have enlarged the dining room from 3m x 3.5m (width + length) to 4.11m in the bay window. Yesterday, we rebuilt the room with slats and cover tarps on a meadow. This nearly 12 m² dining room was sufficient from our perspective and did not detract from the generous / stately character we wanted. Especially since – as seen in the floor plan – the wall to the living room would be a glass wall with a large door.

Question 2: We spent weeks fiddling with this layout of living room, kitchen + dining room. The basic orientation with hallway and stairs as well as garage (must) remain. Does anyone have another idea for a layout with already separated rooms but still designed to be as open as possible (possibly with glass fronts, sliding doors)?

3. Criticism of the fireplace

The fireplace pipe on the outside is indeed a serious mistake.

Question 3: How could the couch, fireplace + TV best be arranged in the living room in the current floor plan? Small adjustments to the floor plan would still be possible.

4. Criticism: square living room (hallway character) + no space for couch, etc.

We don’t quite understand this criticism. There should be enough space for the path into the dining room and out through the sliding door into the garden. In the bird’s-eye view of the room in the PDF (concept sheet) in the original thread, we placed couches with a width of 2.20m, and that was sufficient from our point of view!?

Question 4: Could the criticism be specified so that we can make adjustments?

5. Orientation

The plot is oriented NORTHEAST. However, we have many windows in the living room + the dining room is glazed. We don’t want the children’s rooms completely on the sides alone, because on both sides there are closely spaced city villas.

6. Garage

Should be 5.2 m deep. We will extend it a bit.

OG

1. Criticism: OG “completely new”

We are somewhat at a loss here as well. We would like to keep stairs and hallway in the current orientation here too. Possibly, the hallway could go not to the south, but to the north side.

Question 5: Under this premise, we would welcome suggestions for the layout.

2. Criticism bathroom

The “T-wall” was criticized regarding the room size. Does this criticism refer to the room being too small for it?

We would like to move the bathroom, for example, to the north side next to the bedroom and swap it with the children’s rooms.

Question 6: The house builder pointed out that guest bathroom and bathroom as well as utility room should ideally be located above and below each other because of the pipes. This would be the case for us. Above the utility room in the basement would be the guest bathroom and above that on the first floor the bathroom. If we swap the bathroom with the children’s rooms, which would be above the living room, would this be much more expensive and would you hear people using the toilet in the living room?

3. Criticism children’s rooms

Slightly different children’s room sizes are completely fine for our family.

Is a children’s room next to the bedroom really not acceptable for privacy based on your experience? We would reinforce the wall in terms of sound insulation and also the door from the children’s room to the balcony would not be openable.

4. Miscellaneous

We are building with Liaplan stone. Interior walls are to be 17 cm thick. What are your experiences with this in terms of sound insulation? It is very important to us that the house is not too thin-walled.

Hallway width: We currently have 2 m. Would a hallway of 1.80 or 1.90 m still allow the desired “stately” hallway character? Are there any experiences with this?

Many heartfelt thanks. A really great and helpful forum.

Best regards
TBO

Unfortunately, we are now a bit at a loss or strongly unsettled. We have invested many weeks of time here.

Yes, something like that is always disappointing.

We would like to keep the basic "DNA" of the floor plan (wide central hallway, stairs on the left),

That is bad.

but make improvements taking the suggestions into account,

So this is supposed to be some tinkering because you don't want to throw away weeks of work or you have already fallen in love with the visualizations?!

Laundry room

What is the purpose of the basement?

We would reinforce the wall here in terms of soundproofing and also the door from the basement to the balcony would not be able to be opened.

I would consider that an outrage. You could monitor the child if you wanted to, but the child may not and cannot enter this balcony.

Would also the hallway of 1.80 or 1.90m still have the desired "stately" hallway character

You want a stately house where not only the hallway but also the dining area and living room have some presence?! Even before your last sentence, I thought that this is not feasible for 300,000 with a buffer upwards. Everything bigger than standard, then the facade design... and then the basement...

And to your questions: I believe this tinkering is not feasible. It’s tight in every corner. Even the chimney should have been planned. And that’s just how it is when a layman forgets or doesn’t consider something: the time is wasted, usually only a fresh start helps without "stairs must be on the left" and such things. Or a visit to a trained architect if, as a layman, you notice that you have not considered so many things.

The chimney pipe on the outside is indeed a serious mistake.

Why should that be such a mistake?

It should be 5.2 deep. We will extend it a bit more.

Nonsense. The gate still has to be open to get around behind the car. Get rid of the stupid intermediate door, then the guest room can also stay.

Or maybe consult a trained architect,

Absolutely and anyway. In view of a "stately" house, I don't want to read here that with an architect instead of a general contractor plan submitter, a hipped roof or something similar is no longer possible.

That was a long answer now, however

Plot is NORTH-EAST oriented.

I still cannot clearly assign it to the floor plan:

So where is north? Also refer again to

The staircase is the crucial point, it is planned with a width of 177 cm without plaster. With a stairwell and railing this results in a walking width of just under 80 cm. That does not fit the standards of the hallways.

Living room, the floor plan with furnishing shows very well the "continuation of the hallway" in the LR

And, it also shows very well how cramped the dining area can be. Max. 4 m length means max. 220 cm table length, so you can still walk around it somewhat. And, look at the path from the kitchen to the terrace at the bottom of the plan.

Something like the glass wall, have you ever gotten a price quote for that?

North is approximately at the top left. You can see this by the 12 o’clock south sun, that is the shadow, in the visualization. The default setting has not been changed in the program. So, it is not considered in terms of the rooms, except that there are "enough windows" facing the garden.