Single-family house – new construction project from day one - and the planning begins

Here comes a little Update again.... We are slowly approaching the final floor plan.

The points that still bothered us (narrow hallway, narrow passage between the terrace door and the fireplace, awkwardly shaped children's rooms) could be solved with a 40cm shift in the north ground floor, combined with raising the staircase. This then gives the dressing room more space and a more square shape. It looks like this:




Here is the exterior view, whereby the window framing and the wood cladding are a suggestion from our general contractor. We would then work on the exterior view in the coming weeks.

Currently, there is an office downstairs. Since it is unclear how the needs may change, I would definitely provide the guest WC on the ground floor with the option of a shower (possibly just provisionally). If that should someday actually become a room for long-term guests (or have to) or youth, etc., I would prefer to handle that on the same floor. Many things can be adjusted later with other rooms, but this is difficult in the wet area. The wood on the windows "is currently liked," but I would probably leave it out. In any case, I would only color accentuate the protruding/recessed parts, such as the extension, the porch, bay window, etc. The counter and dining table seem a bit tight to me, and depending on the use of the property, I would probably prefer to have the sliding door at the dining table on the long side. I would definitely forgo the access from the utility room to the garage, as this space saving could already be enough for the shower on the other side, also cost-wise.

Thanks ! There are some good points in there

Currently the office is downstairs. Since it’s unclear how the needs might change, I would definitely give the guest WC on the ground floor the option of a shower (possibly just provide for it). If it should eventually indeed become a room for long-term guests (have to) or youth etc., I would rather handle that on the same floor.

I would definitely skip the access from the utility room to the garage; that space saving could already be enough on the other side for the shower, as well as cost savings.

The office is vital. I work quite a bit from home and therefore definitely need one. Should unexpectedly more children arrive than planned, we would convert the attic into living space or, in the worst case, even sell it reluctantly.

Many things can still be adapted later with other rooms; in the wet area that’s much harder.

You’re right there. If we ever have to move downstairs when we’re older, the access door between the garage and utility room can simply be bricked up and the WC can be enlarged afterwards and supplemented with a shower. It would probably be easier then to install a stair lift (also one of the reasons for a straight staircase).

The wood on the windows "is currently popular," I would probably leave it. In any case, I would only color the protruding/recessed parts, like on the extension, the porch, the bay window, etc.

We haven’t dealt with that topic very intensively yet. I don’t really like it either. I prefer the color accentuation/framing of the windows, for example.

Possibly we would fully clad the bay window facing the garden with wood. I think that would look pretty cool and it would also be easy to paint later.

The countertop and dining table seem a bit tight to me, and depending on the use of the plot I would rather have the sliding door at the dining table on the long side.

From the kitchen island to the 3m window front it is about 3.30m. That should be enough to place a table 1m wide plus chairs. The sliding door on the side leads to a second small terrace which gets sun in the morning (breakfast terrace).

I would give the bedroom a Venetian blind because of its large window: although the southern sun no longer causes glare at bedtime, it does heat up considerably during the day. Instead of wood, I would rather use clinker bricks or similar stones with a textured surface for the accent areas, possibly in the same color as the plaster in some places, so that only the texture defines the structure.

If, against expectations, more offspring arrive than planned, we would convert the attic into living space

With the chosen roof shape, there is probably nothing left to convert into attic space.

Since you don’t write anything more about the floor plan itself, I assume that it is quite consistent overall. True to the forum motto “no complaints is enough praise.”

I would give the bedroom a venetian blind because of its large window: although the southern sun no longer blinds during sleeping time, it does heat it up quite a bit during the day. Instead of wood, I would rather use clinker slips or similar stones with a textured surface for the accent areas, possibly in some places in the same color as the plaster, so that only the texture defines the structure.

During the few hot days, the roller shutter can also simply stay down. For optical and financial reasons, I would want to do without a venetian blind. Otherwise, the children’s room would also have to be given a venetian blind.

The idea with the clinker slips is simply brilliant. I really like it. Without having talked to my wife, I already know that I will have to work hard to convince her.

With my idea to clad the entire ground floor with clinker bricks, I was flatly turned down...

With the chosen roof shape, there’s probably nothing left to convert the attic.

Well, I think in a worst-case scenario, somehow a wonderfully narrow room can be squeezed in there...



However, the 1 with star solution is truly not that, I admit.