Opinions, suggestions, and improvement proposals for planning

No, I'm not offended if my suggestions are not accepted. It's not my house anyway. But so far you have dismissed every improvement suggestion with some counterarguments. No matter who they came from. You misunderstand the problem. The problem is not the entrance with the glass wall, no, that is perfectly fine and I like it too. The problem is the area where there are tall coat closets on the right and left. THERE you get the feeling of walking through a storage room and THERE no light reaches. The light from the door and the glass wall is enough for about 1/3 of the coatroom, the rest is in the dark. The same applies to the stair area. Even if you leave the two passages to the living room open or install glass doors, that is not enough to illuminate the coatroom. During the day, you will definitely not be able to do without artificial light in the coatroom.

What does the postman really need to see? That I come to the door?

I can tell from this sentence that you apparently don’t understand many things here. I only wrote that the postman is happy when he can look through the glass wall into the garden. Because normally he doesn’t get further than that. The visitor will also be pleased with this first view – until he goes around the corner.

We have already taken up this suggestion and are planning a WC by the fitness room – the architect has to come up with something.

If you are still planning a WC near the fitness room, why don’t you put the guest room there as well and make the guest wing with the coatroom and WC the fitness room? The ground floor really doesn’t need 2 WCs.

But it is pointless to write anything, because apparently you just wanted to hear how beautiful your house is – at least that’s the impression I get.

What I notice:

- The entrance situation does not correspond to the planned quality that the rest of the building is supposed to achieve. This concerns both the bicycle shed, which narrows the outdoor entrance area, as well as the mentioned cloakroom solution. YPG has listed the kitchen problems well, I cannot understand why a dining room is planned and yet no direct access from the entrance area is allowed. Sightseeing through half the house is great, but quickly getting rid of the groceries is better.
- The living room is very badly designed. The undersized corner sofa is placed immediately by the window area, which is uncomfortable. It is also okay if the family tends to meet more in the cooking and dining area, but in this price range, the living room is simply too small and feels like a passage room.
- Given what the price tag will be, it should be an independent parents’ area separated from the children’s area, maybe consider a small entrance hall with access to the cloakroom and bathroom.
- Roof terrace... I can understand the desire, with good wind protection and a view it can become nice.

WD

What I notice:
- The entrance situation does not correspond to the planned importance that the rest of the building is supposed to achieve. This concerns both the bicycle shed, which narrows the outdoor entrance area, as well as the mentioned cloakroom solution.

Would it get better if the entrance was made even wider?

YPG has listed the kitchen problems well, I cannot understand why one plans a pantry and then does not grant it direct access from the entrance area. Sightseeing through half the house is nice, but quickly getting rid of the groceries is better.

Then we would basically have two doors in the pantry - one facing the entrance area and one to the kitchen. Possibly there will also be a movable window element in the kitchen area - then you can go directly from the entrance to the kitchen and thus take a short route to the pantry.

The living room is very poorly laid out. The too small corner sofa is placed immediately at the window area, which is uncomfortable. It’s fine if the family mainly meets in the cooking and dining area, but at this price range the living room is simply too small and feels like a passage room.

The sofa corresponds to our current sofa and is actually large enough for us. The positioning is just a problem in a room with a lot of window area - sooner or later something always stands by the window. Here I have already considered whether the room could be made a bit wider, then the sofa would also stand more "in the room." We actually mostly stay in our kitchen living room (at the moment) and outside in good weather. But how could the living room be "laid out" differently - if you put the fireplace on the wall to the pantry and remove the current fireplace wall, the room would also appear larger and you could place the sofa where the current fireplace wall is – but then you would have the stairs at your back and possibly cold drafts – right?

- Given what will be on the price tag, it can definitely be a parents’ area separated from the children’s area, maybe consider a small anteroom with access to cloakroom and bathroom.

Do you mean now on the upper floor? We already had that changed on Friday - I will still get the plans.

- Roof terrace... I can understand the wish, with good wind protection and a view it can be nice.

Wind protection and view are both given. We love our roof terrace. :-)

Would it get better if the entrance were widened even more?

In my opinion, yes, you could widen the garages (they feel a bit tight) and then move the bicycle shed to the front side, possibly also the bins, otherwise nicely integrate them into the garage wall. That creates a wider entrance area, looks more inviting, but you have to circle it off because of the turning possibility for cars and the impact on the garden.

Then we would basically have two doors in the pantry – one facing the entrance area and one to the kitchen. Possibly there will also be a movable window element in the kitchen area – then you can go directly from the entrance into the kitchen and thus take the short route to the pantry.

Yes, too many doors only cause unrest in rooms where you want to spend more time. If the entrance area is changed, then plan the access to the pantry directly here, i.e. open the front door and put groceries directly to the left in the pantry, or after opening the front door, stack groceries, take off shoes, and then bring them to the pantry. Alternatively, for heavy items (cases of drinks), cupboards that can be opened from two sides. Loading then in the entrance area, taking out then from the kitchen area; you don’t need this if the pantry is designed as described above.

But how could the living room be "cut" differently – if you put the fireplace on the wall to the pantry and leave out the current fireplace wall, the room would also appear larger and you could place the sofa where the current fireplace wall is – but you would have the stairs at your back and possibly cold drafts – right?

That is the architect’s task; he is allowed to plan with you as long as it fits. But you have to know what you want. Especially in the living room, I find (as written above) many openings unsettling, especially if the openings (like in your case) lead to the (too) dark hallway.

You may not be as far in performance phase 3 as you think. Moreover, there can always be problems that at least drastically overhaul the entire floor plan.

WD

However, having 2 doors in the pantry does reduce some storage space. I actually don’t think the path from the entrance to the pantry is too far. In our case, it’s handled so that all the baskets are first carried into the kitchen and from there the items are distributed to the fridge and pantry. Regarding beverage crates, of course you could place a terrace door near the entrance, but if not, I don’t find that to be a big deal. I am curious about the changes you mentioned. As for the rooftop terrace: I also think it’s nice when you have the option to sit outside upstairs. That’s a decision everyone has to make for themselves. milkie

However, having 2 doors in the pantry does take up quite a bit of space. I actually don't find the path from the entrance to the pantry too far. For us, it's handled so that all the baskets are first carried into the kitchen, and from there the items are distributed into the fridge and pantry. Regarding beverage crates, you could of course place a terrace door at the entrance, but if not, I don't find it that problematic.

we have thought about that too - although we don't really have beverage crates - at least not in the pantry - the drinks are in the basement and the mineral water comes from the Grohe Aqua-blue.

I'm looking forward to the changes you mentioned.

We discussed the changes on Friday - updated plans will be available this coming Friday. We're already excited.

Regarding the roof terrace: I also think it's nice to have the option to sit outside upstairs. Everyone has to decide that for themselves.

Exactly