Here is the 1st one I was referencing.

Sorry I couldn't get them both to post at once!

Facade to the first home plan. We really like the craftsman feel.

I hesitate to comment because I'm certainly not among the experts.

But, what if you pulled the breakfast room wall across the full 19' of the kitchen in plan 1 and did away with the dining room? Or, you could use just part of that space to save on ft. Having windows on all three walls would really open it up for you since 10' is shallow.

You'd have up to a 10'x19' space, which is larger than the dining space in the other house you posted, from what I can see.

Here's something similar that came to mind. It is 10x13, but the way.

With windows on all the sides, it would feel quite large. Cutting sqft is tough, isn't it?

You'd be giving up the media space, but it it's like others I've seen in his plans, it's just a lowered counter with a cabinet above it.

Is there room in the basement for a media space, or do you need it upstairs? (I know having a place where you can monitor the kiddos is probably pretty important.)

Here's the 10x13 example...

in the background, but a somewhat similar flow to yours as far as it's proximity to the kitchen and LR. Just flipped a bit...

flow...

(I'm afraid I don't know how to resize the photos)

My quick, non-professional observation is this: on the DG plan, you have what starts out as a nice big great room- 19x18. But it basically has 3 walk-ways around it. At ~3ft per walk way, your furniture has become VERY cramped.

Young-gardner - It's so hard to try to shrink things - esp when at the same time you need to add things. Not sure it's going to be possible but I am trying! As for the kitchen - that is what I was thinking 19' is HUGE. My current kitchen is a tight 10x10 which is small but 19' - I have no idea what I'd do with all of that length - seems to be awkward being so long and narrow. Thanks for the pics, that helps since I am a very visual person! I did some more modification like you suggested and then again another way in that area and it is just an odd shape to try to adjust I think. :( I haven't given up yet. I do really like having windows facing 2 sides in the kitchen (even though part of them are really in the dining area).

Kelhuk-thanks for your thoughts. I was wondering that very thing about the living room. I definitely do not want to get into that type of situation since I basically have something similar now. It has so many openings at opposite ends that you have to literally walk through the middle of living room to get from the hallway to the kitchen. There is no way to walk a perimeter. Makes for awkward furniture placement too.

Thanks for you comments - hoping others will chime in a well. I am wondering since the 1st plan (which was really the second picture) will be easier to modify since I need to add a 1/2 bath but in it's current state I have a little bit of wiggle room with sq footage. Any ideas on how to add a screened in porch on that first one?

Back to the drawing board. Every time I feel like I'm 'close' the more I look at it not so much. Good thing I'm starting early.

young-gardener: Will you let me know where you found that floorplan? It looks interesting but I can't find it anywhere.

http://southernlivinghouseplans.com/plans/sl1821

That is the plan.

Autumn 4 . . . I could have written your post. We are essentially looking for the exact same thing. We have two kids, pets, hubby works shift work, love the craftsman feel etc. However, we are planning to not exceed 2500 square feet (but the less the better, we have 1900 sq ft right now) I am determined to have two living spaces so my kids have somewhere to go with their friends, perhaps a bonus above the garage. We have one living area right now and I would just love to go sit in another room for a change =) I too have been looking at plans forever . . . I feel like I get close but then when I go back to the plan, I am not to sure what I got excited about in the first place. Ugh. Sorry not much to add but I will keep you on mind if I come across anything!

Thanks Momtoblondie. I'll do the same! I haven't figured out if it's 'easier' to start with a smaller sq. footage plan and increase or one that's a bit to big and decrease. Every time I do either I run into trouble.... Right now out home is 1450 sq foot and we have one family room PLUS one in the basement that we finished a couple of years back. I am certain we will need 2 spaces also when they get older and with how fast time goes it won't be long and we will be there!

Good luck to you also. I am now working between a 1600 sq foot house and an 1800 sq foot house and trying to 'merge' them. Spent many late hours trying to figure it out!

Momtoblondie

Here is my current plan I am working through - it's 1816 sq. ft. I feel like the master bath has a lot of wasted space. We would make the garage wider which may help in reconfiguring the master and if I can get the stairs together I'd extend the mudroom all the way to the far wall with an entry door there. Also still want a screened porch but I am a little worried about it blocking light into the house???

Yes, it's from Southern LIving. They recently renovated (rebuilt, really) an old house here in GA, and it's that plan. S.L. actually has some really nice plans in your size range. Have you looked at their site?

Younggardner - I'm not familiar with Southern Living - thought it was a magazine. I will surely check it out! Thank you.