Optimization of floor plan for detached single-family house 155 sqm

So we have now decided, for cost reasons and the objections mentioned here, to design the seating window only as a bench. I cannot manage to place the dining table anywhere other than at the window given the room dimensions. Since we can also mount a simple wooden board ourselves on the railing, we would save nearly €1000 here.

If I change the windows, the table will no longer be symmetrical to the window and somehow looks odd.

The dimensions from the shown illustrations are those from the floor plan. Here and there it may be 1-2 cm off, but only in places where it is not relevant.

Got it somewhat done after all. I could like it this way. In the living room, there is even some space for placement in the south-west corner.

So we have now decided, for cost reasons and the objections mentioned here, to design the seating window only as a bench. Since we can also mount a simple wooden board ourselves onto the parapet, we would save almost €1000 here.

Depending on which windowsills you will have, you could have it made from the same material (wood) in the desired size as a windowsill; that’s how we did it. Place the windows on the outside, then part of this bench already lies within the reveal and also has sufficient support. That can be used for nice decoration, plants, or similar; nobody will sit there, even if you believe that. You have marked 6 dining seats (hopefully dimensionally correct), the seventh or even eighth person sits on a stool or folding chair if that ever happens. What often happens is often, and what is rare is rare. The times when you kept space in reserve for large family celebrations are over; guests, if there are more exceptionally, will always find their place. Your picture from #32 is misleading and only serves poorly as a template for you. According to the plan from the page, I already mentioned that the bench would then protrude more than 30 cm into the room. What is not quite clear in the nice picture is that this 30cm wide overhang would then also apply to the two side parts or all around. Just hold a 30cm deep board against the wall and imagine it...

If I change the windows, then the table will no longer stand symmetrically to the windows and somehow looks strange.

Just put the table crosswise INTO the room with correct dimensions and opposite the entrance. That’s where it belongs in my opinion. Then look at the windows. I can only imagine it when I see it, but a wide window (normal height or somewhat lower) behind it fits well, and in the kitchen area only a normal patio door going outside. Maybe then a normal patio door in the living room would suffice (or fixed glass), if the central window was made to look sort of presidential. That would also certainly look harmonious from outside. Maybe you decided too early on these fixed interior dimensions of the house and are therefore going around in circles? I am also bothered by this 1m deep wall stub against which the door is supposed to hit. With such tight dimensions, 1m is indeed a lot. Retrofitting floor plans is difficult because every small change has consequences. That is why it makes sense to repeatedly go back to zero and start anew, but that does not seem to be your plan.

Just place the table crosswise INTO the room with correct dimensions and opposite the entrance.

It would then look like this. The meter of wall annoyed us afterwards as well. Static calculations etc. were done accordingly, and since this wall is load-bearing, any change would lead to additional costs (we don’t know the height).
But the advantage if the dining table is placed further in the kitchen area is that the wall visually separates the areas.

Depending on which window sills you will have, you could have them made from the same material (wood) in the desired size as window sills; that’s what we did.

Our window sills are made of stone inside.

Install the windows on the outside, then part of this sill will lie within the reveal and also have sufficient support.

We had already considered that, but then you would have to do it for all windows, otherwise it would look strange?

You have marked 6 dining seats (hopefully to scale)

The table is very generous with 2 x 0.9 m. Currently, we have 1.8 x 0.8 m with an extension to 2.8 x 0.8 m.

Retrofitting changes to floor plans is difficult because even the smallest change has consequences. That’s why it makes sense to occasionally start from scratch and rethink everything, but that doesn’t seem to be your plan.

I basically agree. However, the whole thing has already cost me so much time that I no longer want to start over. In the end, the perfect floor plan isn’t the most important thing in life anyway. Our rental apartment in Berlin was very badly laid out and yet we felt very comfortable living there.

Window sills inside are made of stone for us.

Nothing is built yet.

We had thought about that too, but then you would have to do it for all the windows, otherwise it would look strange?

What if only this one, central, large window was like that...? Maybe not after all. I meant that both in the kitchen and living room there would each be a 1m-wide door (not like the currently wide elements) and the table (180cm is already generous) exactly centered opposite the entrance. In case you want to show that again? We had approved a serious blunder, a thick post way too close in the walkway, which was drawn smaller than it actually was supposed to be. Luckily we raised a finger and that was changed; the beam was made significantly thicker, which we had to pay for but maybe such a correction wouldn’t really be a problem after all, since you want to live there for a long time.

I basically agree. However, all this has already cost me so much time that I don’t want to start over again now. In the end, the perfect floor plan is not the most important thing in life. Our rental apartment in Berlin had a very unfavorable layout and yet we felt very comfortable there.

I understand that already but with the last argument you could also live in a tent, I always found that nice too. Building a house should feel like it’s the maximum, because knowingly building weaknesses and paying for them all your life would not appeal to me.

If you want to show that again?

I did that. But the wall really gets in the way there. I removed it as a test and instead of a cupboard inserted something smaller. I find the window area facing the garden a bit too small, but otherwise it already looks bigger. However, I do miss the structure that was there with the small wall and the dining table in the kitchen.
If the table is pulled that far out of the kitchen, of course it can be planned differently. But that drags a whole chain of consequences along with it.

I get it, but with that last argument you could also live in a tent, which I always found nice as well.

There is still something between a tent and perfection. I could live with the floor plan as it is, but since we had to wait about three quarters of a year for the approval of our funding, you naturally start thinking about what else could be improved, and you probably always find something.