Suggestions and ideas for our single-family house

After my design has passed the most important hurdle (my wife) and after discussions with builders and architects, I assume that the whole thing can also be realized within our budget, I would still like to hear a few more opinions.

Attached you will find my designs (SweetHome 3d). I hope the important things are recognizable. I have also tried to answer most questions. I look forward to your criticism and hope that I won't have to start over again.

Development plan/restrictions
Size of the plot: 717
Slope: no
Plot ratio: 0.2
Floor area ratio: -
Number of parking spaces: -
Number of floors: 2
Roof shape: -
Maximum height/limits: 8m

Requirements of the builders
We originally approached the whole thing without any fixed ideas about style, roof shape, etc. Over time, however, more and more factors led us to decide on a flat roof.

Since we want 2 full floors and the development plan allows a maximum ridge height of 8m, there would have been no room for a reasonably usable attic above the two full floors – so the basement was set. However, we did not want to set it completely "underground". After basement and two roof floors, we were then at a height of 7.1m, which basically left only a shed roof or flat roof as options.

The somewhat elongated floor plan is due to the relatively large setback area towards the south. Our future neighbor's house is only about 50 cm from the boundary (old building from GDR times). Due to fire protection regulations, I must keep at least 5m distance (of which 4.5m is on our plot) from his house. At some point I came to the conclusion that I would rather add two meters instead of the 4.5m to be able to use the area better later on. (now 6.7m to the boundary).

Number of persons, age: 2 adults (33, 38), 1 child (2 years), + 1 child (approx. -1 year)

Space requirement on ground floor, upper floor: Currently 174 sqm GF + UF, 93 basement

Office: home office
Number of overnight guests per year: well, the grandparents come regularly, how many friends will come when we move from Berlin to Potsdam we will see.

open kitchen, kitchen island: We actually do not want a completely open kitchen. However, somehow a good "connection" between the dining area and kitchen. Originally this resulted in a sliding door running into the wall over a width of 175 cm, which, however, had to give way to a simple breakthrough at first due to the quoted price of over €3,500.

Number of dining seats: standard 3-4, but should definitely be "extendable"

Fireplace: yes ("bottom right")

Music/stereo wall: well, there definitely won't be a stereo wall. In our rental apartment everything currently runs via SONOS; we eventually threw out the TV. Here my consideration is actually to hang a projector on the ceiling and integrate a retractable screen.

Balcony, roof terrace: roof terrace facing southwest. Also one of those ideas where I'm not sure how we will use it later.

Garage, carport: garage with one parking space + shed

Utility garden, greenhouse: ??

Other wishes/special features/daily routine: A home automation system is to be installed. Currently planned is a mix of Loxone and KNX, including 1Wire, DMX, etc.

House design
Who designed it:
- Do-it-yourself by you
What do you particularly like?
What do you not like? - that the balcony is so big (long), the master bedroom & the dressing room turned out a bit too small as a result
Price estimate according to architect/planner: about €350,000 + painting + flooring for about 100 sqm + additional costs + outdoor facilities + electrical
Personal price limit for the house, including equipment: €480,000
Preferred heating technology: actually geothermal, but since water protection zone 3 and only 950m from the well, unfortunately only horizontal is allowed. I therefore tend to gas.

I like the layout of the property. I also find the basic room layout absolutely okay. And now for what I stumbled upon while looking:

[*]The dining area with the window that has a high sill height is probably around 160 cm. And then no other window on that side.
[*]Missing exit from the kitchen to the garden. So for barbecuing, etc., you always have to go through the living area.
[*]Kitchen ... peninsula with 305 cm room width, where 2 seats are supposed to be and then cabinets on the right. Either the width of the peninsula and thus the seating area suffers or the width of the remaining passageway.
Then the refrigerator position ... probably a side-by-side? That won’t work on the wall at all, consider the door opening angles.
[*]Stairs, if it is supposed to be a landing staircase, then the approx. 220 cm depth of the stairs will not be enough. For a spiral staircase it’s sufficient.
[*]One should consider whether basement 1 needs the window in that spot. A south/west terrace around the corner would be an option.

[*]The closet in the master bedroom allows space for 4 m of wardrobe... is that enough?
[*]Child 2 also has a window with a similarly high sill height.

The balcony upstairs definitely has a nice size. I could imagine it becoming a teen lounge spot.

I also think the arrangement of the rooms is quite good. But the staircase somehow doesn't quite fit in. Doesn't it make sense to place a straight staircase in the middle of the house and then put the kitchen in the southeast corner at the bottom right and enlarge the living room upwards? Upstairs, of course, you will have to adjust a bit as well. I also think the balcony is great, especially for the kids later on!

Many thanks in advance for the suggestions.

Dining nook with the window that has the high parapet height, should be around 160 cm. And then no further window on that side

Parapet height is 150 cm. The fact that there are no further windows has two reasons at first:

[*]North side
[*](the more important reason for me). I wanted to keep some wall space for bookshelves, pictures, and other things. That is also why another floor-to-ceiling window on the wall facing the garden was eventually removed

Missing exit from kitchen to the garden. So you always have to go through the living area for grilling, etc.

I really like that idea. Let’s see if I can somehow include it.

Kitchen ... peninsula with 305 cm room width, with 2 seats planned and cabinets to the right. Either the width of the peninsula and thus the seating area suffers or the width of the remaining passage.

I see the problem too. The room width has since increased to 315 cm, so I see a few more centimeters of space.

The kitchen island is mainly meant as additional workspace, not so much for sitting. On the side countertop I would like to accommodate all the electrical appliances like coffee machine, grinder, toaster, kettle, etc. We use those daily and they bother me on the normal countertop. Currently, the passage width in my Alno kitchen planner is 105 cm.

Then the fridge position .. probably a side-by-side? Doesn’t work at the wall, consider the door opening angles.

No, not a side-by-side. But I also see some need for optimization here. If a door to the terrace is added, there wouldn't be space here anyway.

Stairs, if it is to be a landing staircase, then the approx. 220 cm depth of the stairs will not be enough. For a spiral staircase, it suffices.

It should be a spiral staircase. I just couldn’t find any in the software.

One should consider whether cellar 1 really needs a window at this spot. A south/west corner terrace would be possible there.

Noted. I will definitely move the window further east (up). However, I would rather not completely give it up. Should the terrace be there, one might have to work with a light well.

The wardrobe room in the master bedroom allows space for 4 m of closet .. is that enough?

I know it’s tight, that was the point I highlighted as “What don’t you like?”.

Child 2 also has such a window with such a high parapet height

Basically the same applies as for the living/dining room

[*]North side
[*]Not completely walling up the wall. If it were up to me, I would put no window here at all. But my wife is afraid that our second (yet unborn) child will eventually resent us if it has one window less than the first child.

Don’t you think it’s not so tight with “walling up” and north side?

Teenager balcony in front of the parents' bedroom window... Well, I don't know. I fundamentally question the exits to the outside with this design: it starts with the entrance stairs (doesn't fit the building style), continues with the missing terraces and garden accesses, and ends with the balcony. However, I also haven't looked at the basement plan to be able to judge whether the basement needs these windows.

Teenager balcony in front of the parents' bedroom window... Well, I don't know.

OK, it is not planned like that. More like a balcony for stressed parents. How it is ultimately used is, of course, another question.

I fundamentally question the exits to the outside in this design: it starts with the entrance stairs (does not match the architectural style),

Are you referring only to the appearance or also to the arrangement, etc.? The current staircase design is due to the somewhat limited customization options of the software (possibly also my lack of skills in handling it), but it definitely does not yet represent the ideal.

continues with the missing terraces and garden access

Ok, I have never considered the idea of extending the terrace to the kitchen, which is why no exit was planned here. Otherwise, we have planned a 4m lift-and-slide element (alternatively folding-sliding) in the living room.

none and ends with the balcony.

What doesn't fit there?