Single-family house 150 sqm in Lower Saxony

Unfortunately, the builders are primarily interested in symmetry when it comes to exterior views; and regarding the floor plans, the rule is: lineal meters rule. The windows then have to be deep so that even narrow ones let in light ...

I can't complain about too little light in my case. I once had that concern, but it's fine.

Why did the design turn out the way it is now? We looked at many floor plans from friends and prefabricated house providers. Changing the plans usually didn’t help, so in the end we spent nights drawing ourselves (which is kind of fun anyway). What makes it particularly good or bad in your eyes? We managed to fit our entire room program within our limit of about 150 sqm. When we mentally go through our normal daily routine, the floor plan works quite well and I think all rooms are sufficiently large.

Which program/app did you use to draw/edit the floor plans? Can anyone else recommend a good program?

Regarding the floor plan, I would strongly recommend planning the "storage" aka dressing/storage room for everyone to be wider. So that wardrobes with a depth of 60 cm fit on both sides. So at least 2.20 m wide. Whether the children's rooms then have 16.5 or 17.2 m2 is no longer so relevant with a reasonable size. This room also has a nice south-facing orientation; perhaps a swap with the study on the ground floor would be possible here, at least if it is a purely private study.

Whether the children's rooms are then 16.5 or 17.2 m2 is no longer so relevant at this reasonable size.

Whether they even have this size, we do not know. These can simply be floor areas here - and the fact that the upper floor only works with straight walls does not necessarily mean that it is not going to be a pitched roof attic.

According to which "idea"? Yes, I saw the stairs in the reference thread. Then I kept browsing and looking around here in the forum and came across a thread where the stairs were only 2x2 meters as well.

According to this one:

after reading along here in the forum for what felt like an eternity, I now also have to "drop the pants."

Of course, I then took your easy setup
But honestly: You write that you have read a lot here. Then surely also that we preach every time about a proper or well-walkable staircase. And you take the only "2x2 meters is just barely okay staircase," probably a fixed attic staircase, and plan your house based on this uniqueness. You can’t really take that seriously. What would you say in our place?
Then further:

However, so much has happened here in the meantime (several houses with 2 full floors, etc.), that I can well imagine that 2 full floors are no problem.

Property boundary (still being clarified, a lot has changed here recently)
Number of floors: 1.5 or 2 (still being clarified, a lot has changed here recently)

What does "still being clarified" mean? If only a maximum 1.80 m knee wall is allowed, then this design is for the trash.
What does the development plan say? What are those data from the building inquiry? Those are important!
On the one hand, you can’t rely on "a lot has changed" without certainty. On the other hand, you apparently own a property about which you have no knowledge.
If I don’t scold now, who will? In your own interest, you should know before purchasing how buildable the site is.
Rural always means a small floor area ratio. Two-story buildings in rural Lower Saxony also don’t really fit.
In your G*Maps screenshot, I do not suspect any two-story buildings. I see gable and half-hipped roofs, which are usually built either without knee walls or with low ones and with only one floor.

I suggest you “drop the pants” regarding buildability so that planning does not become a waste of time.

I don’t believe that. I think everyone tries to get a nice exterior view, that’s basically what you see first. And the first impression...

I’ll just say west-facing windows

But nice to read you here. Because regarding the space question with the dining table, your 150 sqm house came to my mind, and if the OP has the time and inclination, he ... you should calmly read through the last 10/20 pages of Christian to understand. You can find the thread via ’s profile

Thank you for the numerous responses, unfortunately I couldn’t get back to you any sooner

The separation between kitchen/dining and living room is fixed in our case. I still like the sliding doors on the left and right, but my wife now prefers the wide door on the right again. I had never really noticed that part of the chairs are practically standing in the middle of the walkway. But now that you pay attention to it once . If the chairs are always pushed back properly when not in use, it’s fine again . I will equip the storage room upstairs as suggested with 60 cm deep shelves and a suitable aisle.

Which program/app did you use to draw/edit the floor plans?

I probably am not allowed to post links? But apparently I haven’t made enough posts yet for private messages. We used "Floor planner." First hit when you google it.

You just can’t take that seriously. What would you say in our place?

Not really? I would definitely take the person who obviously seeks help here seriously. And if it bothers me too much maybe at least point it out in a different tone. Whatever.

On the other hand, you apparently own a plot of land you have no knowledge of.

I wouldn’t see it that radically. What I know is that here a 164 sqm house with a height of 8.50 meters was approved in the building inquiry of the previous owner. And the soil report is also positive.

I don’t see any two-story buildings in your G*Maps screenshot.

I just paid a little closer attention on my way home. At least there are 2 town villas here (one of them is the house north behind the open space next to our direct neighbor), 1 gable roof house and the large house opposite (which was expanded last year) each with 2 full stories. The street is not that eternally long and there is still one house south of us.

you should definitely read through the last 10/20 pages of Christian’s posts

I will do that, I know part of the thread.

I’ll try to catch someone at the office again tomorrow. After work today there was no one reachable anymore. As soon as I have more information I will post it.

Nonetheless - even at the risk that it was a lost cause - I just kept moving the kitchen around on the ground floor. We like it - also better than what we had before. Whether the island remains a pure work island or a sink is added on it, no idea. But with the position of the seats I would want to drop the cooktop.

Best regards!