Single-family house ~ 180 m², 2 full floors, floor plan optimization

Thank you very much for the feedback.

We considered converting the dressing room into a storage room or laundry room with the storage room being converted into a dressing-through passage. But due to the limited access options with traffic area through the bathroom or bedroom, we decided against it. The wardrobe shown there is our current existing wardrobe for size relation. The later furnishing as outlined by is being aimed for.

The point about the door is a good hint. Thank you. The attempt to enlarge the storage room and thus make it usable as a sewing room failed because of the position of the bedroom window parallel to the kitchen window. The bedroom also seems too large to me, but I see no possibility for redistribution. The office on the ground floor was initially planned as children’s rooms 2 and 3 and was subsequently reduced to enlarge the living room. I will try to enlarge the office again and approach the living-dining-kitchen complex from this starting point.

Budget probably too tight. Increasing the floor space by 10 - 20 cm was suggested by the planner. This certainly gains some area but does not change structural problems and increases the budget again.

Please consider when and with what restrictions you will move downstairs.

Due to my profession, I see many elderly people with minor physical ailments which in combination with the living situation (split level, upper floor & no elevator) strongly restrict their quality of life. (Not going outside because of the upper floor; toilet chair instead of WC). In my experience, a full care case cannot be cared for at home for staffing reasons. The opportunity costs for a disability-compliant layout according to the norm are too high, therefore I aimed for a compromise solution (bedroom on ground floor, wider doors, turning circle WC).

The utility room is planned tight. I am considering planning the controlled residential ventilation system in the attic, which will then be integrated into the thermal envelope. A fixed staircase there is not yet planned. We will reconsider the living-dining-kitchen and master complex.

The neighborhood is currently planned as a worst-case scenario within the limits of the development plan. Since the neighbors are still unknown, there is no information about their plans. For these reasons, I have already abandoned the originally planned double garage. The development plan does not allow a garage within the first 5 meters. A front entrance door facing the street makes us uneasy. Hence this configuration. Neither we nor the planner could think of an alternative for a nicer garden and also secondarily for the northern neighbor. The positioning of the garage complies with the development plan.

The kitchen is very lavish

The kitchen planning was already done very early according to the wishes of the better half. The size is among other things also due to the idea of complete storage without a utility room. Due to my profession, I do not participate in most meals. The idea is that the counter is meant for breakfast, for the evening tea and for providing company for those working in the kitchen (explicitly not only my wife). Family meals are planned for the dining table.

And where will the TV, screen, i.e. home cinema, be placed?

The screen is currently planned in front of the central window on the west side. This is equipped with a parapet for the positioning of the center speaker. Detailed planning (screen size depending on seating distance) is still pending. At the moment I would find it a pity to take away the garden view from the living room.

Many thanks again for the feedback! We will consider the points and discuss them internally and with the planner. Due to my profession, I will only be able to respond in 2 days, so please do not interpret my inactivity as disinterest.

Best regards

The bedroom is also too big for my impression, but I see no possibility for redistribution.

Leave out the south window or put it in the beautiful east, where it belongs, turn the bed clockwise and make a huge walk-in closet

I think it’s really nice how thoroughly you answer everyone - just so you know.

I can’t get on board with the garage position, but if you like it, so be it.
Regarding the floor plan:
Basically, I would consider swapping the kitchen with the guest room. At least I would have expected the kitchen there and planned it that way. But I suspect it’s too late for that. So just a few other little things:
- Narrow spot at the kitchen entrance with this furniture arrangement and the table - it will be very annoying to always have to pass by the table/chair.
- In the bathroom, I would probably swap the bathtub with the toilets. I don’t find the whole bathroom very cozy. I might even plan it completely new with a corner bathtub or something like that.
- In the bedroom, instead of the dressing room, I would plan a walk-in closet - just google it.

Otherwise, I find the house really tight for 5 or even 6 people, but still not a disaster. The living room will be very “cozy” with six people. In my opinion, you can’t afford the kitchen wall because it makes everything even tighter. The hallway is also quite large - the space is actually needed elsewhere. If it were mine, I would redesign with a different staircase, aiming to make the hallway smaller.

But it’s still not 180m², right?

The budget is not just a bit tight, with saving on the house, the kitchen, incidental construction costs, and garage are still missing.

Then leave out the half-wall shower partition on the ground floor. I wouldn’t reduce the size of the living room; it’s already small. You certainly need the space there now and not maybe a bedroom on the ground floor in the future. In 30 years you can treat yourselves to a stairlift.

I am in favor of an open-plan kitchen and separating the living room. I would like the swap proposed by YPG. Reduce the size of the office in favor of dining/cooking/living. When the children are gone and you want to sleep downstairs, you can turn an open-plan kitchen into a multi-purpose room with cooking, dining, living, and convert the living room into a bedroom.

Uhm, doesn’t anyone else besides me find the two toilets upstairs a bit odd?
I know, kids always need to go at the same time, but installing two toilets side by side for that...
In an emergency, one can just go upstairs, one downstairs, or they hold it for 30 seconds.

Walk-in closet imho is so pointless. Remove the wall and you have a very large bedroom with lots of options for wardrobe / dressers / mirrors.

Why is K1 bigger than the others? Just so the door fits? You might want to play around with walk-in closet / storage room again to achieve a smoother solution.

The space upstairs in the hallway behind the stairs is wasted. Too small for the kids to play, too big to just accept it as is.
Could be added to the bathroom, but upstairs still needs to be replanned imho.

Downstairs I also find it difficult, but the problems are less tangible there.
The table in the kitchen is bigger than the one in the dining room?
Where are 12 people supposed to sit?

The living room is somehow too small for the size of the house.
The area between the table and kitchen entrance is somehow pointless, I also find the open variant with separation to the living room desirable.

Guest room doesn’t really make sense in my opinion. Sure, it’s enough for one guest, but not for later, age-appropriate use, and as an office / retreat space it’s also difficult with the big bed.
But do you really want to sacrifice that much space for a bed that’s used 6 times a year?
Better to pay for a hotel room or sleep on the couch in the living room or in one of the kids’ rooms.

Overall I find it inefficient, you can get the same utility on fewer m² or you have to create a greater utility from the size.

The budget fits neither the size nor the requirements.

Um, doesn't anyone else find the two toilets upstairs a bit strange?

I think (like most people probably) that it is a bidet and a toilet.