Thursday, August 23, 2007
Anyone want to review my house design?
I'm looking for anyone willing to look at my house plans and give me some feedback. I'd really like to know what people think are the biggest problems with my current floor plans. I'm planning to hire an architect or home designer in the near future, but for now I just want to get informed and have fun exploring some possibilities for my dream house. So please, take a look and tell me what you think.
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8 comments:
It's a good design and I'm not a jerk. That said I have constructive criticisms. Too many windows, not enough thermal mass, insufficient S&W overhangs, move closets to outside walls, consider a basement. Too critical? These are suggestions.
Nice plans, Mike!
Some thoughts:
1. laundry room upstairs, near bedrooms.
2. the office & downstairs bathroom should be handicap-accessible with wide doorways & no narrow hallways. Bedroom s/b big enough to comfortably get around in a wheelchair.
3. Instead of laundry room & separate pantry (if you must have laundry downstairs), combine them so people can walk directly into the pantry, creating one large mudroom/laundry/pantry -- for easy unloading of groceries & "stuff" from the garage. Otherwise, I'd have direct access from garage into kitchen, without having to navigate narrow hallways, corners & doorways.
4. Since the lot is sloping, be sure to have very good drainage plans. Might want to consider rainwater & gray water recycling (underground tanks -- water can be used for irrigation & backup water supply).
5. Though I know the open bedroom-to-bathroom look is currently in vogue, consider having a proper door between the bedroom & bathroom, with the sinks inside the bathroom (no "vanity" area open to the bedroom). That way, one spouse can use the bathroom without waking up the other (lights, water, etc.) and not everyone wants their spouse to watch them trim toenails, do facials, etc.). :)
Good luck!
It’s very good for a homegrown set of plans. I agree with rob dawg too many windows and not enough overhang. With all that west facing glass and so little overhang, it will overheat in the summer and with so many windows, it will loose heat too quickly in the winter. Here’s a good article on getting the correct overhang for your area.
As for the functionality of the floor plan:
I agree with CA renter, it would be good to make sure the downstairs bedroom/office and bath are handicap accessible.
I’m not so sure about the suggestion to move the laundry upstairs. Water leaks can do more damage on the second floor and the machines can be a little noisy when you’re trying to sleep. Maybe look into a laundry shoot.
CA renter’s suggestion to combine the laundry and pantry is also worth exploring.
Your biggest problem is the master suite. At least, separate the master toilet and sink into a powder room. That large suit with an exposed toilet is just gross. You may also want to rethink how the deck relates to the master suite. It looks like the south half of the master suite lacks purpose. Try to imagine what you will do in this area and how the furniture will be placed.
Good Luck, I think your on the right track.
I like it! It has a clean simple elegance and a more functional floor plan than most of the tract home mcmansion crap the developers are building.
Did I miss info about your family? Do you have kids, pets, Etc?
I do not have backgorund in green build/LEED/etc so my comments are strictly personal opinion.
1) I have issues with the pantry/laundry area. I HATE the idea of walking through laundry when I come home. I avoided that with my house and boy am I glad.
2) The pantry is possibly a waste of space depending on how you're desinging the kitchen - those large pantry cupboards (spring for the pullouts at least on the bottom) hold a ton (watch it if you go past 36" wide - that span makes pullouts weaker)
3)the upstairs bathroom seems like it was not planned around actual bathroom usage - like it was a box and yes the stuff fits but there is wasted space - reconfigure to try to get a longer vanity and maybe some linen storage. I like to have a knee wall between toilet & tub with a long vanity on another wall. A pocket door might help you lengthen a bit to fit a vanity.
4) If you have kids please consider deeper closets - great for toy storage and all the STUFF!
5) I do not know your area but for resale here a house of a certain SF must consider a double vanity for the Master suite - you may have room if you configure carefully. We skipped the tub altogether and have a hottub with access from our room - it saved space in the home and money since we added the hottub later when funds were more available.
6) Too much wasted space in the MB - I'd rather have a second walkin closet or SOMETHING else going on...and please tell me that the bathroom will be its own room. I think its a huge mistake to have the bathroom be part of the room - again think resale not everyone wants to hear all that bathroom noise while they're fighting for those last few winks.
Those are my initial thoughts. Sorry for getting back to you so late. Please contact me for any clarifications.
Thanks for visiting my site in progress!
Hey everyone,
I want to thank everyone for the great comments and suggestions. The feedback is very helpful. I’m currently hard at work revising my plans, taking into consideration all of the great ideas people have offered. Please check back in a couple weeks, for my new improved Casa Solana design. Until then, please keep the suggestions coming.
Thanks,
Mike
Hi Mike,
Nice plans!!!!
My personal suggestion is to reconfigure your kitchen & baths so that you have minimum plumbing runs. Plumbing is a major cost and the least distance you need the better off you are. I don;t see a problem with the laundry/mudroom off the garage. Speaking of the garage, how about a workshop area on the other side of the bathroom?
I think the office on the main floor is nice and it's large enough to make into a bedroom if you get tired of the stairs.
Also seeing that you are near the beach I would have either wood flooring or tile with area rugs.
Another thought...
How about French exterior doors. I like the idea of a see-through soapstone fireplace or a glass block wall in between the master bath and bedroom. That would help to divide them. And I would make all the windows longer.
Ceiling fans in each room. I'm not a huge lover of roof windows. They're noisy when it rains and if not installed properly you have a big leakage problem. They also tend to sun-fade anything in the light's path and bring in alot of heat in the summer unless you have the one with the built in shade. Then you have to wonder why you have the window in the first place if you have to keep it shaded???
For a more subtle natural light check out the sun tunnels. They're less expensive, take up less space and radiate more light than the roof window.
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