Floor plan tips for a single-family house with a desired granny flat

The finished basement? Or just an empty basement? And how will the excavations around the house be retained? So later, the possibility to convert a utility basement into a living basement? The former is included in the construction service description, a living basement costs (flat rate) twice as much

The finished living basement is included in the price. So except for painting, plastering, and sanitary fixtures and the installation of these fixtures. We will do those ourselves. The living basement has windows only on one side (west/northwest) and there the slope will be cut deeper. Probably retained here with L-blocks.

I wouldn't know how the entrance from outside could be designed now. Since we have such a small property, we didn't want to have another stairway outside. And since we also have to get into the basement, this solution seemed right for us.

I have to discuss the budget with the construction company again. They offer everything from a single source and we have a contract with them for all services at a fixed price. I'll clarify this again

I understand the problem that you don't want to take even more away from the garden. But as far as my lay knowledge goes, a basement access is allowed in the setback areas. That means I would consider a stairway from which you can get from outside into the hallway of the granny flat. On the upper floor, as already said, possibly a landing stairway at the place where the stairs to the granny flat are now. This stairway once down to the basement, into the hallway of the granny flat (on the ground floor you could provide a door under the stairs to the basement entrance, so it would be closed downward and you can still go down if needed) and once up to the upper floor.

Then remove the straight staircase. The landing stairway is shorter, so the kitchen would gain in width. Rotate the guest toilet by 90 degrees and place the wardrobe in front of it. This would make the entire ground floor open.

Or then place the toilet on the right side in front of the kitchen.

Just roughly put into words, of course some things would have to be rearranged accordingly.

But tell me, how do you want to proceed?

But tell me, how do you want to proceed?

I wasn’t asked, but I’ll tell you anyway. :cool: Everything will stay as it is, otherwise you almost start over again. I don’t understand anyway how one only notices this after 8 months. How quickly did the current floor plan develop?

Regarding the topic: leave the straight staircase as it is and plan one that matches the house.
Then the big rest will also be solved.

Yes, this staircase has meanwhile become a problem. I urgently need to clarify this with our architect. I don't know what can be "changed quickly" without having to wait a long time for a new approval from the authorities and what the authorities would promptly approve.

But tell me, how do you want to proceed?

We have now received many suggestions and hints regarding the floor plan. The first thing will be to seek a discussion with the architect. I cannot estimate which changes will be approved by the authority without a long waiting time and which changes would basically mean a completely new process. That will be the first step. I just had an idea about the stairs. One could leave the stairs in the granny flat as they are and remove our straight stairs and basically place ours upstairs where the stairs to the basement go. So two staircases one above the other. Then the floor plan upstairs would also change accordingly. And the open space would disappear. The rooms would accordingly all be larger. I have to clarify that. But thanks, you gave me the idea.

I wasn't asked, but I'll tell you anyway. :cool: Everything will stay as it is, otherwise you'd almost be starting over again.

I don't understand anyway how someone only notices this after 8 months.
How quickly did the current floor plan develop?

No, it's not that simple. First of all, I started a request here because I wanted some input. I will definitely seek a conversation with the architect and see what can still be changed with little "effort" at the building regulations office.

Nothing "came to our attention" after 8 months, but after 8 months I simply no longer like the floor plan. Eight months ago, I was thrilled because of it. But this devilish app called Instagram shows you so many amazing houses that you start doubting what you have. For this floor plan that we submitted, we certainly took 5 months. There were only "3 drafts," but until the first draft was ready, it felt like forever.