Anne

jimandanne-true, but i believe the stairs are one of the stronger sturctures and we had a spot to access them. we really didn't have to have the storm shelter, but it just worked. it will probably be santa's closet:-)

what about the mudroom...should it be rearranged...i'm not sure i want that closet. do you think the friends entrance will look funny?

Nice house too.

The plan seems very well thought out and features many attractive elements. Bedrooms are well sized and allow for additional seating. Privacy entrance into the master bath is optimal. Location of fireplace on an interior wall, instead of exterior where it blocks the view, is good design.

And yes, you DO want a closet in the mudroom! Storage for outer wear should be located near an entrance, and this is the door that will be used most often, by family and friends.

A few little things...the powder room is kind of out of the way but I don't really have a geat suggestion as to where to put it.

You may want to switch your prep and clean up sinks.

Definately keep the mudroom closet. I would actually think wbout making the mudroom bigger. 3 boys means lots of backpack, sporting equipment and other stuff.

I don't see an office space anywhere. You can certainly put it in the master where the sitting area is.

If the terrace is covered, your living room will be pretty dark!

Just a few thoughts, you probably have thought of these too...

Plan on everyone using the mud room entrance. We have a similar set-up and ONE time a pizza delivery person used the front. EVERYONE else, much to my dismay uses the mudroom. I think they park at the driveway and go to the nearest entry door. I keep telling my husband I'm going to turn all the lights off, except the one by the front door and not answer the the bell at the mudroom. I'm just wondering if you could downplay that door/area unless you don't mind guest etc. using that door.

I like where the powder room is located, you'll use that as a family more than guest will use it. The boys can come in "dirty" from the mud room entrance and stay in that area while using the bathroom. We have a bath by the mudroom and it helps keep the rest of the house cleaner. We have 5 boys now:)

This is just a personal prefernce and I'm sure your fine with it, because you have it drawn out. I like a foyer to seperate the living space. Many don't, just personal preference. I like to answer the front door (that nobody uses, LOL) without someone "IN" my house.

Also, I too was wondering if you'll want a little built in desk or computer/homework area? The master definitely has room for that. With laptops, many just use it on the island, etc.

I do really like your plans and your family will sure to love making memoreis there.

i was concerned with the size of the mudroom. i know with 3 boys and sports it will be full! we already have that problem and they are so young. i was thinking i would put coats in their closets during the off season. in the winter they would hang them on the bench. by taking that closet out i could have more bench...

as for the dryer and washer-i plan on having front loading. i am also used to moving clothes from left to right, so i will swap the drawn location.

the kitchen is not really designed yet (ie cabinets and dishwasher). it shows 2 dishwashers on the island and my main sink on the island, but i was thinking swaping that too. main sink at the window and prep sink on the island. dishwasher by main sink and dish washer drawers by prep sink. i'll come back later to finish the design of the kitchen!

pps7-office space-there is a desk/calendar area in the mudroom. i was thinking about the area in the master too in the event we need a more grown-up office space, so to speak. the bath is out of the way, but it was by the front door and i thought that was too awkard and we wanted sweaty boys to be able to access it quickly:-)

mommyto4boys-5 boys! wow, what a blessing! we don't mind people using the mudroom entrance. hopefully it won't be too messy! do you think we need more bench space in there? will each boy need his own bench? i would love to make it bigger (the mudroom), but i think we will be doing good to get this built! can't wait for estimates!!!

will i regret having the toyroom upstairs? i did that more for when they are teens. everyone can gather at our house and i don't have to worry about them at other people's houses:-) but at the same time i don't want them to disappear up there...

thanks everyone!!!

Thanks everyone!

One idea I had for your plans is to swap the mudroom lockers/cubbies on your wall now that has the closet & desk. It would be just one nice row (like mine). Then I would squeeze a little desk in the corner by the window. Then put the closet on the other side of the door. Or if you don't need the closet, I would do another built in with more cubbies, hooks, shelves, etc.

pps7-I forgot to add that the terrace is not covered. I love a bright living room! I wonder if I will miss a covered back porch, but cannot give up the light for it. The front porch will work for a covered area. Wanting light is also the main reason for having the fireplace on an interrior wall. We have it on an exterior wall now and it blocks all views.

One more thought, if you bump out your back hallway into the garage (close to the gargae door) & line it up with your mudroom wall...you could use that entire wall for benches, lockers, cubby, built-ins. That is more like what we have and we love it. It would give you probably 9 extra feet of storage in that area. Unless you want that storage in the gagrage. Toss up, but I would probaly use it in the house:) DH, perhaps not!

Also, small door placement preference, but I'd move the door to Bedroom 3 all the way to the right. That way, you could bump out the wall for bathroom 2 into the hallway space about 3 feet, and that door won't then bump into the linen closet door in the closet. You might even be able to move the linen closet to be on the same wall as the door to Bath 2 and make the vanity longer. I just think it would be more efficient use of hall space.
Also, since you mentioned that you like light, I'd put in skylights in baths 2 & 3. I personally don't like windowless bathrooms.
It's a very nice and efficient floorplan overall. Can't wait to see the progress. Good luck!

Now for finishing the kitchen, getting bids and getting started!

Your foyer is very wide, you could be a closet on either end for a bit more storage.

When you walk from the mudrrom into the kitchen, you walk into the island and kind of have to go around that.

If you can't add an extra bay, then maybe bump out the garage 5' for storage. My SIL did that and she keeps bikes, scooters, lawn care material and also has storage shelves in there.

Although your set up is a bit different, the function is the same. I think you'll find that this is a great family plan and I hope you'll enjoy many years in it!

The only thing that I have a comment -and this is only a personal preference- and actually is not my preference since I am not a TV person but my DH is: the fact of watching the TV on "a skew" in the master (while on the bed)
There is a solution, if you are a TV person.

i want a central vaccum so that is why i wasn't worried about space for that. should i have told the designer i wanted a central vaccum? i really don't know anything about that other than everyone on here loves their's.

i think we will try to add some room to the garage. husband was all for that:-)

windows in the top bedrooms...i will check into that as well.

we aren't tv people right now. we don't even have cable or satellite, and never have...although i have been wanting to watch hgtv lately!

does anyone have suggestions for finding appliances, faucets, etc. online for discounts?

However, since you are building the house from scratch anyway, have you considered placing the storm room under your garage slab? You'd need to enlarge the garage for access, and it is another less than ideal place -- but if you are in a tornado prone area it is a much safer option. It doesn't need to be finished space.

And I agree -- the garage is too small unless there's a separate workshop in the plans somewhere on your acreage.

Your house looks very well planned out and the only comment I have that has not already been discussed is maybe your island is too long? I don't know but it looks like you will walk into the kitchen from your back hall and have to walk around your island?

Maybe take masking tape and put it on your floor to simulate your kitchen plan and be sure it flows - I am very visual so I have to do things like that!

I also agree the garage needs to be bigger :) A 3 car or 2 1/2 car or at least an extra 5 feet all around for the stuff boys generate! We have a battery operated jeep, 4 bikes, 2 scooters, a green machine, two big wheels, 3 skateboards, and every baseball, golf or tennis item known to man in our garage. Can barely get one car in!

And you won't regret the playroom at all - boys are loud and noisy and it is nice to have a place they can play that is not in the den with you! My youngest is 4 and he is not too loud yet but the other two - yowza~

The current design not only results in a difficult waterproofing detail but IMHO it doesn't look right on a building so faithful to history. It is basically a modern subdivision idea, no offense intended to your excellent designer. If it is done well it will require a special shape brick and a substantial water table so it will be expensive.

Pushing the brick back flush with the sheathing is much simpler cheaper and better looking solution.