|
| This is the second draft my designer has sent me. She said that she wanted my approval of the first floor before she updates the second floor....
I know the garage is very prominent. However, due to lot elevation (basement lot-- I have to have at front of lot)and subdivision restrictions(has to be side entry opposite main traffic flow, etc) this is where the garage has to go... I would love any feedback. This is my first reaction of updated floorplan: 1. Family room to narrow for furniture and main traffic flow to staircase. I'm thinking about having designer move staircase to where current laundry room is located but I don't know where I would move laundry room... Dimensions are hard to see but are 19'0 X 18'5 2. Kitchen. I just don't care for layout. It seems to open up to much to hallway. I did want it to have direct access to dining room but otherwise I want lots of counter and cabinet space. Dimensions are 16'2 x 12. 3. Breakfast nook to narrow: It looks like if I had chairs out at the table there would be no walking space around table. I told the designer to bump out that area but she didn't to keep the symmetry with the master bedroom.... I think it still should be bumped out to enlarge. Current dimension is 13'4 x 10 4. Keeping Room: I told designer to make it smaller and she made it larger... I was thinking about making it about 12 x 13. Current dimensions are 15 x 14. My husbands requests are a large master bedroom, bath & closet. He says that's where he spends most of his time and he wants it spacious. He also wants a large kitchen and eating area. Dimensions may be hard to read here they are listed: Entry 6'7 X 8'2
|
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| It's hard to see but I like it. Can you post a better picture? You are going to get many comments about that garage protruding that much. Very few houses look nice with a garage like that. The kitchen needs some work. |
|
| I agree with your concerns, and the kitchen really does need work. Consider your basic work triangle: sink, stove, fridge. They're way too far apart . . . And separated by an island. With all that kitchen space, your designer should be able to do better. |
|
| I agree with your concerns, and the kitchen really does need work. Consider your basic work triangle: sink, stove, fridge. They're way too far apart . . . And separated by an island. With all that kitchen space, your designer should be able to do better. |
|
| Hopefully this is a better picture... |
|
| I agree, your dining room is much too tight, esp if you plan to have bar stools at the peninsula (less so, if you don't, but still too tight). Are you going to want your guests to have to walk past the mudroom to get to a bathroom? I like the location of it, I think you might need a door. Plus, the study can really only ever be a study and never another bedroom due to the other bath location. The kitchen is odd. why is it so open to the hall? (and are you okay with seeing your laundry room from the very large opening to the kitchen?) And, can someone please tell me the purpose of a keeping room? We don't have them here. And, I see them frequently on these plans (I think they must be common in GA). What in the world are they for/used as/etc? It looks like maybe a small family room? But, almost too small to be useful in the way I use a family room... So, just wondering. |
|
- Posted by houseofsticks (My Page) on Tue, Oct 23, 12 at 16:37
| @ Kirkhll-the term keeping room is very common here in the south. I had never heard the term prior to living here (SC). It's a synonym for family room but I have noticed a big trend in having these off the kitchen and surrounded by windows. Everyone uses them for a smaller casual gathering (couch and one or two chairs with tables and benches.). |
|
| Here is what I plan on sending back to my designer tomorrow.... Keeping rooms are very popular here (southern TN) and basically are used as a casual gathering room focused around kitchen (and typically have another fireplace). With young children, I plan on using this room as the messy family sitting area/play area while I cook. The main family room is going to be "adult only" no toys allowed area... Also, we will use the keeping room as a separate space when we do have guests. Guys watch the game in Family room the gals gather in the keeping room.... etc... (or adults in family room/ kids in keeping room...) The designer made this keeping room 14 x 15 which I think is actually to big. I mainly want it as more sitting area/sunroom in the kitchen. We will have a large backyard it will overlook and then are views past the back yard is golf course. |
|
| Here is what I plan to send back to designer drawn by hand. You can reference above plan to see how it fits house. What do you think? The other scenario I was thinking about is moving the stairs to where the current laundry room is (as a "u" staircase) and then somehow relocating laundry to between keeping room and pantry/bedroom.... |
|
- Posted by zone4newby (My Page) on Tue, Oct 23, 12 at 18:20
| I like a lot of things about your plan. I'm wondering what your butler's pantry is going to look like-- they aren't typical in my area, so I don't know what is standard and if it's a dressy area or something more utilitarian, but as you have the design now, your butler's pantry will be in clear view from the foyer. I'm not sure if that's intentional because it's pretty or accidental or what... Also, I'd be tempted to connect the bathroom to the keeping room and the bedroom-- then if the kids need to run in and go they can either cut through the bedroom if they are coming in from the garage, or access it right from the keeping room, since that's going to be the place you spend most of your time. |
|
| zone4newby: Thanks, I hadn't thought about how the foyer would see right into butler's pantry. However, I think that will be okay. If I go with this version of plan, the butler's pantry would just be additional kitchen cabinets where I would store all my serving dishes, seasonal dishes, stemware, etc. So it wouldn't be messy... I will say. It says have a china cabinet (where I wrote where I could put one) but I really don't have one yet. If I had a butler's pantry, I wouldn't need a china cabinet.... I would just have the table and chairs and maybe a serving buffet instead on that wall. That's also a good idea about connecting bathroom to keeping room and bedroom. I just wonder how it would flow with 3 doors but will definetly bring up to my designer tomorrow... |
|
- Posted by still_waters (My Page) on Wed, Oct 24, 12 at 9:19
| This is a much better kitchen now. I would eliminate that peninsula and make the island bigger in the kitchen. You could put seating in the island and it would leave more room in the nook. The kitchen forum can help you with good layouts, including distance from island seating to a table with walk space between them, sink and appliance layout and details. |
|
| I like this better too One thing--do you want any kind of hall closet for front door users' jackets, etc? In my area, that is needed. Depending where in Tennessee you are, that may or may not be needed... |
|
| also, I'd want some way to close off the mudroom (maybe double pocket french doors, or similar) for when I was entertaining or had guests staying in the guest room. |
|
| okay, one more do you want access to the bath from the keeping room if that is where your kids will be? As is, they will be running through the kitchen to get there. |
|
| Here is my designers updated draft. I think I really like it.... |
|
| Second floor... |
|
| Yes! It looks great! You still don't have a hall closet (for front door guests) so that maybe isn't important to you. I am glad they got the access to the bathroom from the keeping room. I only worry that one or the other door to that bathroom will be locked when someone needs it (that is a problem with double door bathrooms.) But, overall, Nice! |
|
| Oh! And, don't forget to get your Master WC door switched to a pocket or outswing door for safety! |
|
| I like it too. I agree with the 2 entrances into the guest bath, but that is the best way to have that room accessible where you need it! I also want to second putting an outswing door on your master toilet room - we failed to do that and I never paid attention to posts here about it. Not long ago my husband was sick in the bathroom and I realized the danger of having an inswing door. If we had changed it around I would have to keep the door closed at all times and I guess that's why I chose the inswing. I'm in southern TN too! (SE corner to be exact!) |
|
| downsy: Where in SE tn? I am in Chattanooga! Kirkhall: Will look at the bathroom door swing! I will ask my builder for a pocket door there since my husband and I usually don't bother actually shutting the door and I don't want the outswing to always be open. |
|
| Yes - Chattanooga, Hixson to be exact. Are you building in Council Fire? (you mentioned golf course) If you have any questions regarding building, etc - you can email me by clicking on my name and I'll respond and give you my telephone number. We have been in our home for just under 11 months. Good luck! |
|
| downsy: Where in SE tn? I am in Chattanooga! Kirkhall: Will look at the bathroom door swing! I will ask my builder for a pocket door there since my husband and I usually don't bother actually shutting the door and I don't want the outswing to always be open. |
|
| I think the kitchen layout still needs work. You're going to walk back and forth constantly around that little island, and people who want to cut through the kitchen are going to zig-zag through your work area. I've attached a sketch of a more simple floorplan that I think is better for several reasons -- sorry I scanned it sideways: - Your major work triangle is enclosed in an efficient area. Negatives: |
|
| So first bid has come in (still waiting on other two builders) and it is 50-75K over budget. Builder said it is more than anticipated since the first floor has so much square footage versus the upstairs. We are looking at either reducing square footage and/or elimating unfinished basement. I am leaning towards elimating basement. If we did that we would only have a two car garage on main level and a storage room underneath house in tall crawl space under master bedroom. Builder said that he would pour concrete and have double doors there. We also would elminate (for now) built-ins around fireplace and mudroom, and screen on back covered porch. Downsy: |
|
| Maybe GW took away the ability to email here because I don't see my edress or yours when I click on my user name or yours. Email me at |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Building a Home Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.