Suggestions on my floor Plan

[stang]

Originally Posted by Madman

Ensuite toilet that it right beside your master bedroom - I would move that. I have that setup right now is our new house and wish we would have moved it away. I'm a, "don't want to hear you pee......or worse", kinda guy.

It looks like I'm in the minority, but I like the kitchen that big and spread out. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and I demand an ass load of usable space. Bigger pantry though.

I agree with you about having a big kitchen.. However when you have to go that far and around your island to go from the pantry to the sink.. I would hate it.

We have a huge Island and thats where all the prep gets done. You can easily have 4 people sitting at the island and still be making supper.

And Main floor laundry is the main reason why all my clothes stay clean.. its so easy to do laundry while watching the game.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

You could just insulate the interior wall that divides the toilet/bedroom. That cuts down the sound quite a bit.

Yeah, I did that - but I must be hypersensitive so I can still hear it.

[nik-]

no one has suggested an extension cord safe room?

On a serious note, it seems like you're going to have a very nice home. Congrats.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by nik-

no one has suggested an extension cord safe room?

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpos...2&postcount=14

[nik-]

Originally Posted by fredr123

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpos...2&postcount=14

holy crap, I noticed everything else in that pic except for that room

[Ethaniel]

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

i would change most everything. i design and draft houses for a living, and i see a lot of things that don't work well. here are only a few;

closet prutrudes into the foyer, sink it into the den.
reverse the swing on bathroom door between bedrooms 2 & 3.
pantry in poor location in kitchen.
stairs should be more in central core of the house.
laundry shute should actually land in the laundry room.
laundry room should be seperate from mudroom.
in basement get the toilet away from the door.

there are many other things that are small and drive me crazy, but if i keep going, i'm just doing his work for him. you should have come to me in the first place! i give CP discounts!....i'm probably less expensive anyway. i've done homes upwards of 15,000 ft2 and $5 million construction cost.

where are you building, are there design guidelines, restrictions, lot size etc....?

ps; i'm afraid to ask, but could you post the elevations? (shudders in fear)

I agree with most of what is said here as well. A couple other things that just by looking at it may pose a problem and should always be thought of. Where does the Big screen TV go in the living room and couch? Gotta watch those flames games in a good comfort. If no TV in there (i say why have it but my wife says otherwise) make sure the furniture you have will fit well in each room.

Also for the Stairs would you be against bringing the wall by the den/stairs cantilevered out of the front of the house with the stairs running on the outside wall of the Den, but would be very close to the front door? I agree with the more central location for the stairs.

Others have talked about the Kitchen and i agree with most maybe just some re-arranging there would help better the function of that kitchen.

Not sure how old your kids are, but when they are 18 and going to bars/clubs and come home at 1am do you want them making pizza pops right next to your bedroom, =) I know this always annoyed my parents and they were upstairs.

Don't forget to think about things like Towel racks and bathroom design because when you get out of the shower you want a towel usually pretty close so you don't have to clean up water every day in the bathroom.

For the front foyer closet, you could think of many possibilities to make it function better. By moving the entrance door over 2 ft to the right and extending the closet towards the door and adding a bench to finish the space would even work. Maybe a half sunk closet would be the best of both worlds. We personally have a walk in front foyer closet and it is wonderful for room.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

i echo Fobs opinion on the front coat closet that protrudes into your foyer

your kitchen is a very nice size, 18 feet long. You have your fridge at one end and your sink at the other. If you are doing a lot of food prep (eg big dinner party) you might do a lot of walking back and forth. Personally, i like to have an island cooktop - you can cook your food while your family/guests face you, and then have your fridge where your cooktop/range is currently located.

also agree with above idea of a flat island, rather than a raised bar. gives you a lot more counter space and work area

the basement bath with the toilet next to the door looks out of place

I would never go back to having my cooktop anywhere but on my island. You don't have your back to anything, it is just so much easier to clean, and it does not mean that you need a hood hanging from above, mine is a downdraft that is recessed in the island, unless it is being used, sort of like a movie screen that you can pop up when you want to use it.

I have my sink and dishwasher in the same location, BUT, I have my fridge where your oven is, my oven is where your cooktop is, and my cooktop is in the middle of the island that is close to the cupboards, not on the end where the seating is of course. And I have a whole wall of walk in pantry where your fridge is located.

I agree with a few others who have concern about the placement of your stairs. Now it is ok unless you want to develop your walk out and actually use it. On our previous house, we had stair placement as yours. So every time you want to go downstairs, you first of all have to walk to one end of the house, and then when you are actually downstairs, you have to walk back to the other end of the house, not that functional. We have a curved stairwell going down off our front foyer, which is central in our house. Then when you arrive downstairs, you are in the central part of your basement as well.

Personally, I would keep the width of your present foyer, BUT, knock the closet into the den AND add a half bath into the other half of that wall. Then if you want to keep the same sized den, just add on to the length of the house at that end, you would then increase the size of your master bedroom too.

When you have visitors over, they are either going to have to walk to one end of the house and use your master bath, or walk to the other end, through the kitchen and eating area and then into the bedroom wing to use the bathroom on that side of the house. Actually, so will you((

We had a sunken living room in our other house too. Keep in mind, that if you wish to utilize that part of your basement, you will need to sink the basement there too. The way your present plan stands, the fireplace is there, so do you want a 6 foot high basement there? Otherwise, basicially that fireplace in the basement is for naught.

You will NEVER regret doing two sinks as well as a vanity area in your master bath, trust me on this. And you will NEVER regret going for a nice large open kitchen.

[mots]

Regarding the front closet, i would have to say it would depend on which wing will be always in use in the french doors and which will be locked. If you enter through the left side, the closet is fine, as you are directing the attention straight and to the right, but if you are going to use the right door, then its opposite, and you might want to change that closet. I would even consider putting in one solid wood door instead of French doors, as the door is the first impression, and should be nice and big (although i cant tell the dimensions of french doors, and how tall they would be, which would depend on your ceiling height)

I would eliminate the door to the toilet in Master, but i would put a door to the bathroom. (unless you have a pocket door there.) If one person wakes up way earlier then the other, you dont want the light waking them up.

Think of furniture placement. Very important. Cut out scaled pieces and play around with them.

Vaulted/coffered ceilings. Think about introducing those in other areas of the house.

Add skylights in the bathroom

I would eliminate the wall between the kitchen and living room and make the concept a little more open. Doesnt appear to have the 'airy' feel at the moment.

edited for clarity.