please rate this floorplan (floor, windows, sinks, furniture)

[dadb]

Hi, I'm a newbie here, my name is David and I live in Europe. We are currently in the process of buliding our new house and I have to say I really like the american style of 2nd floor (I mean the spearete closets in each bedroom, the walk in closet in MBR an the separate bath for the MBR) so I tried to fit all these things into our house. The bedrooms are exactly 11x12 (excl. closets), the MBR is about 12x13. The orientation of the house is perfect north/south, the childs bedrooms facing south, the mbr to the north. The third room to the south (about 10 1/3 x 11 1/3) is planned to be a hobby room (computer, piano etc). The only thing I am a bit worried about is the size of the kids bath being about 12x4. Attached is the picture of our projected 2nd floor and you opinions are welcome.
Thank you very much.

[studedude]

Nice plan. A few things that I would change, but keep in mind that I'm an old retired guy. I would enclose the toilet , in the master bath. That would allow you and your wife to use master bath and still allow some privacy. That may be an American thing. I would also have the door to the master bath open into the bedroom instead of into the bath. As it is now if you need TP and ask your wife to bring you some when she opens the door it would hit you on the knee. The 4th bedroom, which you do not appear to be using, could be used as a retreat room, attached to master suite, if you install a door in the hall.

[Briolat21]

I think its a nice floor plan. 12x4 might be a little small for a bath, as in America the standard tub/shower is 5ft. However, I believe European fixtures are a little different, so as long as you have room for the shower or tub that should be okay.

I think its a nice use of space - your hallway is minimal and functional with the second bath being located in close proximity of its users. The hall closet will allow you some needed common storage (bath towels, linens, cleaning products), and the bonus room will allow you an area for games, or relaxing, or hobbies.

I really like it! Good luck with your building!

[HEATHER72]

I used to draft floorplans a long time ago. Hmm I'm not too fond of the bathrooms. Their layout is awkward. I'd expand the size of the master bath/bedroom by moving out that North wall and that will allow for more space for that central bath too. In tight spaces such as bathrooms, you might want to look at using pocket doors. I also think the placement of a window in the shower is asking for trouble. I'd put 2 windows around the corner surrounding the tub. Don't think you need double doors for a linen closet either.

On the bonus room, typically a bonus space is open with no door. Since you have placed a door, I'd put in a closet too. For resale value, people would be looking at that space as a possible bedroom. I'd also cut down on the number of windows in that space. Move 2 of them to the master bedroom.

[southernnaturelover]

4ft seems awfully narrow for that hall bath, you'd barely have room to open the door without hitting the sink. You may have to borrow some room from the master bath and trade the separate tub and shower for a combo unit.

[littlelou]

Originally Posted by HEATHER72

I used to draft floorplans a long time ago. Hmm I'm not too fond of the bathrooms. Their layout is awkward. I'd expand the size of the master bath/bedroom by moving out that North wall and that will allow for more space for that central bath too. In tight spaces such as bathrooms, you might want to look at using pocket doors. I also think the placement of a window in the shower is asking for trouble. I'd put 2 windows around the corner surrounding the tub. Don't think you need double doors for a linen closet either.

On the bonus room, typically a bonus space is open with no door. Since you have placed a door, I'd put in a closet too. For resale value, people would be looking at that space as a possible bedroom. I'd also cut down on the number of windows in that space. Move 2 of them to the master bedroom.

I agree on the pocket doors....I love them and they really free-up more space...

[SuSuSushi]

The master bedroom is too small. Ditto the previous comments on the bathrooms.

[texdav]

I frankly am not that fond of pocket doors for heavy use unless they are of very good quality. I also see double sinks side by side that are not really pracatical in american homes.I also would insist on cast iron sewer pipes in the walls coming from the second floor to eliminate water noise as they drain.

[harry chickpea]

Bathrooms typically have a common plumbing stack to minimize costs and potential problems. Plumbing stacks on interior walls are less subject to freezing and burst pipes. Closets on exterior walls act as added insulation for a room. Beds on exterior walls can have sheets of cold air drifting down on them. Getting a mattress and furniture around corners and through 30" doors can be an issue. During the summer, those double windows on the south side will turn the kids bedrooms into ovens at bedtime.

[dadb]

Thank you very much for all your comments.

studedude - I did a small redesign of the master bath, now we can have a bidet too; the toilet remained in the bathroom. I really like the idea of private toilet, however the only solution I can see is to place it instead of the hallway closet. According to local regulations this would be a bit complicated thus every bath/toilet must be ventilated (good idea anyway) - this can be only done by some powered fan and piping.
I also like the idea of the retreat room - adding another door to the hallway would make the whole area more private. On the other hand the room will be also a playground for the kids... I am now thinking about another tweak - adding the door on the other side of the master closet too, making in walk though. We think this could be quite useful when having the baby cot here before the baby will be old enough to move to the bedroom.

Briolat21 - thanks a lot! I spend few month (starting September 08) thinking about the floorplan (drawing in ArchiCad almost every night) and I believe this is the final version.

HEATHER72 - changing the overall design (moving the North wall) is not possible since the house is already finished from outside, now we can only change the interiors. Also the north windows are fixed - our house is a part of 6 very same buildings and all must look identical to the road side. We could only change the windows to the southern garden site.

southernnaturelover - agree about the 4 ft, however I believe the 4x3 shower should be a good solution - this will look very good compared to the standard 3x3 shower. Another option is to have tiny 4x2.1/2 tub - and this will look too small compared to standard 6 ft tub.

littlelou - must agree the pocked doors look great, unfortunately the price here is about 300% of the standard door...

harry chickpea - I believe the cold-hot-oven problem should be eliminated by the construction. The walls are 30cm bricks + 10cm insultant (polystyrene) from outside. The windows are 3 layers of 4mm glass filled with Argon that reduces the thermal transfer.

Please keep posting, all ideas are welcome.

Just a two more images - the house renderings right from the building company

From the street (the car bay is missing on the render - the garage is in the middle of the house)


From the garden/south (only two bedrooms here in the 2nd floor, we have changed to three)