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Housing - New Build: space efficiency

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorralphd
    • CommentTimeMar 2nd 2009 edited
     
    I searched the forum archives and couldn't find any threads on efficient floorplans. Although I made several revisions to my plans, I think I could have done much better with the layout. The main floor layout is here:
    http://ralphdoncaster.googlepages.com/Floor1.png

    The dining room turned out to be bigger than necessary. I think I could have done away with the 4x9' jut-out for the stair landing (and pushed the stairs in toward the center of the house).
    I think I could have done better with the master bath/closet layout, at least by eliminating one of the 2 doorways into the bath.

    Anyone have good examples of innovative yet practical (and easy to build) floorplans?
    Even though I haven't even finished building, I'm eager to start designing the next house I'll build...

    -Ralph
  2.  
    O
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeMar 2nd 2009
     
    Oh I thought this was about more frugal use of cosmic void, which is in short supply.
    • CommentAuthorTuna
    • CommentTimeMar 2nd 2009 edited
     
    Hmmm..

    My personal preference would be that your master bath and closet arrangement is over-complex and takes space from the bedroom. The toilet by the front door is tiny, which is a pity as it's the one guests will see. I'd also put the kitchen where the family room is, which would put your family room and dining room together so you could divide them proportionately. You could possibly then swap the dining room and family room - but without knowing what your plot is like, it's hard to position rooms with respect to outside views. Certainly the flow within the house appears odd to me - but then Canadian homes have a different style to British ones.

    You could also do with a decent shower room in the pool area, so you can wash, change and dry without going back into the house.

    There are books of house plans you can buy - try Amazon?
    • CommentAuthorralphd
    • CommentTimeMar 2nd 2009
     
    Posted By: TunaHmmm..

    My personal preference would be that your master bath and closet arrangement is over-complex and takes space from the bedroom. [...]

    There are books of house plans you can buy - try Amazon?


    Thanks for the comments.

    I've looked at lots of house plan books; I'm looking for info more specifically on space-efficient design. I like some of the european stuff I see, but they tend to be too small, and often lack things like mud rooms or large foyers (nice to have when you have 4 kids coming in from playing in the snow in the winter).

    -Ralph
  6.  
    Mud rooms? Isn't this taking beauty therapy a bit far?

    What's wrong with the efficiency of the circle, anyway?
  7.  
    Posted By: biffvernonMud rooms?
    It's not for your face, it's a room between the entrance door and the core of the house where you can put muddy boots and such like. Pretty useful in a snowy climate like ours.

    Paul in Montreal.
    • CommentAuthorStuartB
    • CommentTimeMar 2nd 2009
     
    Posted By: Paul in Montreal
    Posted By: biffvernonMud rooms?
    It's not for your face, it's a room between the entrance door and the core of the house where you can put muddy boots and such like. Pretty useful in a snowy climate like ours.

    Paul in Montreal.


    You mean a porch but on a much larger scale. Or in the countryside they are sometimes called boot rooms.
  9.  
    Posted By: StuartBYou mean a porch but on a much larger scale.
    Over here, a porch is on the outside, not the inside. A boot room would be the equivalent I think.

    Paul in Montreal.
  10.  
    Posted By: ralphdEven though I haven't even finished building, I'm eager to start designing the next house I'll build...


    Nice one :wink:

    J

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