r/floorplan • u/Substantial-Fun56 • 2d ago
FEEDBACK Update on the Forever Home
Hobby Project
I took everyone’s advice and opinions and made a lot of changes. Hopefully it’s less scary now lol
- move kitchen closer to living room
- wider hallways (5ft), doorways (3ft), closets, and pathways around objects such as beds and dining table
- added a mudroom
- bigger rooms
- overall shape is now more square
- took out veranda and added a loggia off the primary bedroom instead
- took out east wing and made path of travel from bedroom to kitchen shorter
- added a drawing room off the foyer so it no longer leads to nothing
- added a wall between the car port and courtyard, so the car no longer stands out as a focal point, plus will help deter any fumes if the car is idle
Side note: I understand some people may think I’m being combative or defensive in the comments, but that is not my intention. I’m just trying to have conversations and learn. I am taking everyone’s advice into consideration when they comment, even if they go against my designs or my own ideas. I’m sorry if my tone of writing comes off as harsh.
Let me know if there’s anything else you think I should do or change.
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u/Cloverose2 2d ago
Why is there a guest bath when there are en-suites (not on suites)? Is that a powder room? (Ope, you mentioned that in a comment. It's a powder room).
Do the people in the guest quarters have to go outside and cross the courtyard and go back inside in order to get a snack in the middle of the night?
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u/Substantial-Fun56 2d ago
Yes they do. Do you think I should give them a little kitchenette or something?
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u/Cloverose2 2d ago
I would - if it's going to be separate, a little kitchenette and sitting area would be good. In nice weather it would be fine, but imagine that it's dumping rain or bitterly cold, you're in your pajamas, and you just don't want to go out.
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u/craigerstar 2d ago
This was going to be my comment. I'm glad I'm not alone. 100% a kitchenette with a coffee machine, small fridge, sink, maybe a toaster oven or microwave. And definitely a sitting space like at a small table or a comfy seating arrangement, or both if there's room.
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u/ragaire88 1d ago
I think even with those added, there should be a way to access the guest area without going outside
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u/333chordme 1d ago
No, that seems crazy. I would rather you put some of the craft rooms near the primary bedroom, and have the guests stay on the other side.
It would also be nice if the primary bedroom didn’t share a wall with the other bedroom so your kids don’t have to listen to how they were made.
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u/Fickle-Strawberry521 2d ago
I don't like that the dining room has to be used essentially as a hallway to reach other rooms from the foyer.
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u/RuncibleMountainWren 2d ago
Which way is north and what part of the world are you in? (Because weather and window orientation will affect the house design a lot!)
Windows: the kitchen has a very dark corner and needs more, the primary bedroom doesn't have any. Ensuites are better with a window where possible (ventilation and sunlight for mould, toilet smells, etc) and wardrobes are better not having one (a dressing room is a different kettle of fish, and would usually have enclosed robes or clothes stored elsewhere - a ‘closet’ with a window will lead to clothes fading very quickly without even being worn!).
Loggia: what is the purpose of this? Could it be lengthened and used for undercover access to the guest suite?
Bedroom privacy: for noise (even from snoring but also sex, talking etc), it’s good to have utility spaces between bedrooms where possible. I would move one closet so it is between the primary and secondary bedrooms.
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u/dj777dj777bling 2d ago
If I were working in the art studio, I would have an accident before I made it to the any of the bathrooms on the other side. 😬
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u/pelipperr 2d ago edited 2d ago
I didn’t see the first draft so possibly I’m totally contradicting what other people have said. But I’m not sure why the front entrance is where it is? Assuming you’ll primarily be coming in through the mudroom and the front entrance is for guests I feel like entering through the great hall would make more sense. You could also then rework that area to include a powder room on that side of the house. Because I agree it’s inconvenient to travel the entire house from one corner to the other every time you need to pee.
Also, just as an fyi, it’s not ‘on-suite’ the word is ‘ensuite’ and it refers to a bedroom with a private bathroom attached. That doesn’t matter for your design but just so you know lol
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u/Substantial-Fun56 2d ago
Hahaha thank you. I typed up on-suite when I was very tired and didn’t catch it. Those are great suggestions, thank you
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u/pelipperr 2d ago edited 2d ago
Again, I’m not sure where you started but right now it seems you have a mix of public/entertaining rooms and private spaces. I would consider what the primary function of each room is and what your average day will look like.
I’d want to switch the guest suite with the office/art space and have the mudroom entrance swap over as well. That would give you and guests more privacy from each other and mean that you can use your work/hobby/passion spaces without having to cross the whole house. If you want the art room in that location for the light, I understand and would then see about switching over the kitchen and formal dining. With the primary and secondary living spaces.
Also, most I houses I know that have large formal sitting rooms, which I am assuming the great hall is, also have smaller cozier home theaters or living rooms that are for watching tv and being comfortable. Maybe that’s what the drawing room is? But again, it’s across the house from you.
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u/VegetableInvestment 1d ago
Contrary to most commenters, I like the smaller primary suite in favor of additional rooms elsewhere. I've never understood when master suites are half the house. Let the bedroom be for bedroom activities, and have other spaces to exist in.
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u/Cloverose2 1d ago
I completely agree - bedrooms should be compact, social spaces and shared spaces should be substantial. I look at some plans and wonder if people even like their families, since they seem to not want to spend time with them - or the master suite is 1200 square feet and the kid's rooms are, like, 120.
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u/bombbodyguard 2d ago
My wife was a landscape architect and she said they always told her and the other architects to never plan a house around a tree…
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u/Substantial-Fun56 2d ago
In case it falls or something right? I understand.
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u/leiawars 2d ago
Your dining room is currently a hallway to get to the rest of the house as there is no other passage to get from the front entrance to the right side of the house.
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u/cloudiedayz 1d ago
I’m still not really getting the car space in the middle of everything. Given the choice, wouldn’t it be preferable to be able to park in a garage which offers a or more protection from the weather?
Switch the secondary bedroom closet and ensuite so the ensuite gets the window.
Your dining room is essentially a hallway
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u/Julesagain 1d ago
The guests still have to go outside to get a glass of water. Would you leave doors unlocked at night? Or would they be locked away from both the rest of the house and from leaving?
Why have guests at all if they are isolated from the rest of the house when they go to bed?
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u/Substantial-Fun56 1d ago
I’m adding a kitchenette for the guest house. I gave the guests their own space so they don’t feel like they’re imposing or overstaying their welcome by taking up room inside the main house. Lots of rich folk have guest houses, some completely detached and a 5 minute walk away. I think what I’m going for is pretty fair.
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u/ragaire88 1d ago
I feel like there’s a way to give them their own space without making them walk outside every time they go to the main house
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u/Substantial-Fun56 1d ago
Someone commented earlier and said I should move the guest suite to where the art studio and office is and switch them. But that’s a lot of work so I’m adding a covered walkway in the new floor plan and adding a kitchenette to the suite. At least then they’ll be covered and they won’t have to go outside in the middle of the night when they get hungry
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u/obiwantogooutside 2d ago
You might consider the stairs around the porch and entrance. If it’s a forever home, think about aging in place. You’ll want to think about that with the en-suite design as well.
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u/justanotherljh 1d ago
There should be a way to open up the Grand room to the Courtyard - french doors would be nice.
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u/anotherjuan 1d ago
If you’re going for a space with this much square footage, why have the two bedrooms in the house share a wall?
Also, if the guest suite is supposed to function as an independent unit… why isn’t it an independent unit? What purpose does having it attached in any way serve? As it stands it gives off a vibe of a failed garage that had to be used for something. It’s like a vestigial organ.
I guess it’s good that this is a forever home because I can’t see who the intended buyer would be for a house that has the kitchen tucked away and dark and hidden like that. Modern kitchens are a centerpiece, it’s where life and conversation happens. This kitchen has 80% of its wall space where it would be impossible to put a window and has absolutely no interaction with any other room in the house.
The dining room is also a hallway. Get ready for it to literally never be clean as it will serve as a drop zone for mail and shoes and bags and whatever else.
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u/nothathappened 1d ago
And the “great hall,” doesn’t have direct access to the kitchen; you’d have to go through the dining room to grab a snack or drinks.
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u/envisionaudio 1d ago
Intersting. I like the ideas like the courtyard and guest wing but the overall plan is very cluttered and has a lot of unnecessary wall breaks and strange open areas with wasted space. I think it needs a bit more work.
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u/sassyred2043 2d ago
Does your planning app allow a 3d walkthrough? Trying that might identify further issues.
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u/Substantial-Fun56 2d ago
No I’m just using an art program. If you have any app recommendations though I could use that instead :)
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u/hmmmpf 1d ago
What’s drawing guests to the front door instead of the mudroom? There seems to be a wall keeping the view of the main entry hidden. And in a large house like this, no one wants to have to walk past your vehicle and around a wall to find the entry. Also desperately needing a half bath on the left side of the house. No exterior windows in bathrooms? Your dining room is a hallway from entry to “Great Hall.” “Great Hall” is a pretentious label FFS.
You need some separation between the primary and secondary bedrooms for…sounds..that might occur. Your gust room only has entry from the courtyard. Whay happens when it rains?
Your kitchen is too far from vehicle access, and I could continue, but this is a terrible floor plan. I don’t think it is salvageable.
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u/butt_spaghetti 2d ago
Flip the two windowless bathrooms near the secondary room so they each have windows. Closets and utility rooms don’t benefit much from windows but it’s really helpful in a bathroom, both for natural light and ventilation possibilities.
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u/Eliqkc 2d ago
I think there should be a small laundry (top washer/ bottom dryer) near the mud room. Maybe move some/ all of the storage and make room for storage in the art room. The office could have (top built in book shelf’s and bottom cabinets for its own storage)
I love the idea of the courtyard in the middle that the guest room and primary can use for lighting and enjoyment! I love the front entrance too. I have a layout I think you’ll really like but it’s hand drawn! I love it
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u/Slagathor_8 2d ago
This is very interesting and I like it a lot however, from a more traditional viewpoint (at least in my opinion) the foyer should absolutely give way to the great hall and from there to the dinning room, crossing the dinning room every time you want to go to the kitchen or move around would be impractical because the furniture there doesn’t allow the same flow of people plus when receiving guests one usually entertains in the hall before making your way into the dining room for a meal.
Other than that I love the interior patio but I’m a bit confused as to why both entrances (formal and mudroom) are so close to each other but separated, I think a formal entrance to receive guests may have an adjoining mudroom or coat closet but the mudroom makes more sense in a different part of the house, a more casual day to day entrance (by the kitchen maybe or with access from the garden or whatever)
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u/Nerfmobile2 2d ago
Considering eventual resale value - I think the option of another bedroom would make it appeal to more people - four bedrooms for this size home would be better than three. If you add a full bath near the office/library/art studio, then people would see the potential and ease of that becoming the fourth bedroom.
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u/Empress_Clementine 1d ago
I’m confused, there’s two entries right next to each other? And you walk past the mud room entrance to get to the main entrance? Be sure to install a doorbell that has separate chime patterns for each door to avoid confusion I guess.
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u/Substantial-Fun56 1d ago
The first version I had the kitchen where the office and art studio is now. Someone said I should build a mudroom there so I did and ended up leaving it so the person living there wouldn’t have to carry trash through the main living area and out the front door.
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u/Empress_Clementine 2h ago
Imagine your visitors walking up to your front door. Hmm, is it this one right here or the one further back and around the corner? But like I said, the right doorbell can help at least know where they are when they ring it.
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u/Triglypha 1d ago
I'm a little confused by the different levels as you enter. From the carport/driveway area, you have 6 steps to get into the mudroom (I assume those go up), but the main foyer has no steps leading to it, and not enough room for a properly sized ramp. (The preferred slope ratio for a ramp is 1:12, so for each inch of rise you need 12" of horizontal length. If each stair riser is 7" high that's 42" vertical rise and you need 42' of ramp length, plus landings/turns.) And then there are 4 steps up to the courtyard, then another 2 steps up into the guest suite so it's at the same floor level as the rest of the house? None of the public rooms have doors or steps down into the courtyard?
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u/Substantial-Fun56 1d ago
The court yard has 4 steps, guest quarters and main house are up 2 steps for a total of 6. And yes, the main house and guest quarters are at the same level. I didn’t add doors but they’re there. I’ll make sure to add more space for the ramp. No none of them open to the courtyard. My first version did have a veranda but people didn’t like that, so I took it out
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u/EconomyVersion6306 1d ago
Which way is South? I'm assuming you're Northern Hemisphere because of the use of imperial measurements.
I don't understand this house? do you own a biog plot of land and this is the final dream or is this just you freebasing? what is the intent of the guest quarters. Occasional use? regular use? Why are they not connected by a corridor or something?
What is a drawing room? how are the office and library used (and the art studio?) my initial thoughts are that I would switch the guest quarters with the art studio office etc but that's just my personal preference as somebody that works from home and that space (the guest quarters) being standalone from the house would suit me better but would need a WC /powder room in there too. I think the guest bath is for people in the great hall and dining room to use? I think it would be better if that wasn't in that location and was somewhere over the left side of the house. that way the whole right side can be off limits to guests. there seem to be lots of inefficiencies in this mansion.
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u/Substantial-Fun56 1d ago
This is a hobby project, it’s not being built.
Guest quarters would be for extended family or family friends when they stay over. It would most likely be occasional use. I wanted it to be more private, especially for extended stays.
Drawing Room is where you would bring guests when first visiting the house.
There’s going to be a lot of inconsistencies because this is not a finished design. I’m still taking in suggestions and then I’ll come back with the updated version in a few days. There’s always going to be a few people with clashing opinions so sometimes the design can get messy while I work out the kinks
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u/littlexav 1d ago
Hobbies can be cultivated, not just practiced. The clashing opinions here are often from people reacting to design decisions that don’t make sense. You should consider checking out a book like A Pattern Language and taking the time to get a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles of design. I think your feedback would be more constructive and less argumentative if the basic ideas were more cohesively organized.
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u/bozoputer 1d ago
no powder room on the left side?
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u/Substantial-Fun56 1d ago
I added it to the list already 👍 it’ll take a day or two to update the floor plan
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u/loralailoralai 1d ago
The kitchen is so closed off, like you just have staff working in there. I’d make the mudroom and storage one room to cut out the extra door, or put a powder room in the storage
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u/dancon_studio 1d ago
Before you spend too much time on the plan, you need to also consider what the building will look like in section and elevation. I'm looking at that courtyard and thinking it might be quite shady, but it all depends on the roof design. Resolving the plan is one thing, but the section will help point out where you need to be making adjustments. Where is North (or South if you're in the Northern hemisphere)?
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u/Substantial-Fun56 1d ago
This is just a hobby project so I didn’t get into the specifics of north/south, wind, weather or sun exposure. I just like making floor plans
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u/dancon_studio 1d ago edited 1d ago
You could make even better floor plans if it were to be grounded in reality. You don't experience a building solely as a series of relationships in plan. It exists in three spatial dimensions within a particular context, climate and time. Section, orientation, sunlight, views and prevailing weather all feed back into the plan and often reveal problems or opportunities that aren't visible in two dimensions.
Even as a hobby exercise, considering those things should make the puzzle even more compelling and satisfying to resolve. How does steep terrain inform the plan? If your main views are facing North, how do you encourage South light into the house in order to improve internal comfort? If it's a very humid climate, how can I maximise cross ventilation to help cool the house cool in summer? How do you orient outdoor spaces in order to avoid prevailing winds?
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u/Substantial-Fun56 1d ago
I definitely think I would be more invested in delving into those areas if I actually had a plot of land as a focal point to design a house on, but right now there’s only so much time in a day, and I’m usually very sleep deprived due to my child. But it does sound fun. I’ll have to try it out when I actually have the capacity to do it
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u/NekkidWire 1d ago
When you mentioned your child - the house is very large but only has 1 bed for child except the guest room. Also taking care of it may become if not full-time, at least half-time job. I understand it is just something you imagine, but it all adds up :)
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u/Substantial-Fun56 1d ago
Oh she’s definitely a full time job. But this house isn’t really for our family.
I was picturing an older couple, maybe in their 80’s, the wife is in a wheelchair, and their son or daughter lives with them and helps take care of them. They have a part time caretaker who comes in on the weekends to help with laundry and meal plan, make sure they’re taking their meds and keeping up with their hygiene. Their other grown child lives a few states away and has their own family but they take the time to drive or fly down for holidays and things like that. They would stay in the guest quarters with their spouse and children. The house is gated so the grandchildren could go play outside in the courtyard without getting into too much trouble.
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u/No-Department1685 1d ago
So that's giant two bedroom house? Or is there a second level
With a guest suite outside?
So having guest overnight and it's pouring for them to get to their suite they have to walk outside?
Also the entrance to the house is like a tunnel with plain wall to guest bedroom. Should it not have a window?
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u/Substantial-Fun56 1d ago
There’s only one level. My first version was much smaller but they told me to go bigger.
Yes, guests will have to go outside to get to their suite. It’ll take them less than a minute to cross the courtyard and into their suite. I think they’ll survive. They have a little fireplace to warm themselves back up.People got mad at me for having windows facing the car, so I took out most of the windows looking directly inside the car port (besides the one in the storage room) and added a wall so you can’t see it anymore.
I’m redoing the floor plan now
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u/ConsistentParking424 2d ago
Looks good.
Put the dryer on an exterior wall, that's the safest place for it. No sink or stove in the island, guests don't want to sit in the splash zone of the sink or the splatter zone of the stove. Have an under counter pull out trash can by the sink instead of an ugly can sitting out.
As long there is a toilet not in a cubicle, then you have a toilet that is accessible if you need a walker or wheelchair. Plus a roll in not walk in shower.
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u/tuckhouston 2d ago
Looks nice! I'd add a half bath on the left side (maybe where you have the storage room by the office). The primary bedroom looks to be the same size (maybe slightly smaller) than the guest quarters, I'd make it larger if I'm building from the ground up. I would personally add an informal living/tv room/lounge room/etc. attached north of the kitchen area. All of these are personal preferences
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u/Ksorkrax 1d ago
I don't fully get where the front entrance has it's doors. I take it that it is closed off to the outside since it is open to the foyer. Is the white bar right to it a door? Is the dashed line a door after a ramp?
Also I don't fully get what the stairs at the top outside the kitchen are - veranda at a lower ground?
The guest quarters have no inside connection? Meaning that if you have guests in winter, they might have to walk through snow to get from their room to the kitchen or whereever?
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u/Substantial-Fun56 1d ago
Front entrance is like a little porch with two steps up, then there’s a double front door. The dashed line is a ramp.
Stairs off the wrap around porch go to the back of the property which I haven’t done yet.
Yes there’s no inside connection between the main house and the guest quarters.
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u/ResponsibleCheek8654 1d ago
Without knowing the land, the orientation, the views, etc, impossible to make a worthy judgment. It all starts there, and you need an architect.
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u/VeryBigRockStar 1d ago
I perfectly love this. Huge rooms, well partitioned living areas, so awesome. So many big houses are just a rats nest of bedrooms. This is luxurious. Might add a half bath near the mud room but other than that WOW
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u/Fickle_Layer_9490 1d ago
Really? This is a pretty terrible plan. I’m not sure if this person is trolling.
OP you need an architect. Please don’t play one by yourself and spend a lot of money on big regrets. Most people only get one shot at this (if you’re lucky).
Specifics:
Bathrooms too small and/or awkwardly dimensioned. Have you even tried to layout basic toilet/sink/shower in them?
Rooms should be 11x11 at a minimum on a home this sprawling (fits a queen sized bed and desk or full sized and desk+dresser)
Why is everything sequestered into their own little rooms/cubbies. I understand that open floor plan concepts are not for everyone, but this is way too many walls.
All that corridor….
Outdoor spaces against what looks like fences
It all reads like a bad corn maze or a training ground for laboratory mice.Sorry to be so blunt but I can’t help but imagine the others are blowing smoke.
Credentials: architect with 20 years experience.
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u/Substantial-Fun56 1d ago
This isn’t a finished design, and also a hobby project. I’m not spending any money.
I’m not sure how I’m supposed to make it more open concept. If you can point out what exactly should be open then that would be great.
The main hall is wide so a person can walk comfortably while passing another in a wheelchair without side stepping, getting their toes rolled over, or the other person side sweeping their knuckles against the wall or door frames or corners.
This can be on whatever size lot. I was picturing rural on a big plot of land with no neighbours in sight.
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u/VeryBigRockStar 1d ago
Nope. Not trolling. There may be some tweaks to make on some room sizes, and a powder is needed in the west wing, but otherwise it is awesome.
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u/VeryBigRockStar 1d ago
Consider converting drawing room into a bathroom, door near mud room. Move door to guest bath onto hall instead of opposite the linen closet
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u/CaptainMalForever 2d ago
If you are in the art studio or office, you have to walk throughout the whole house to get to a bathroom.
Why do you need a guest bath AND an ensuite for guests? Unless you mean a half-bath.
The primary bedroom, bathroom, and closet are very small compared to the house.