Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Sep 12, 2013 12:23 pm Hello all
Our designer and hubby and I are trying to work out a house plan. I have jigged one up (from another plan we liked and purchased) with LOTS of pencil, eraser marks and liquid paper. It does have a hallway and by swapping 2 of the rooms we can get back 12sq mts of living area. I really like my design (I am no expert though) probably because I have been dreaming of it for the past 2 years and walking through it in my head and changing it is breaking my heart. So it is bad to have hallways, a waste of space, or what? Sandra Re: Is hallways a waste of space in a house design? 2Sep 12, 2013 12:35 pm Hi Sandra I have a huge long hallway, I love hallways but that's just me - Mine is on the outside of the house and is all glass along the edge so its become a bit of a feature - we are also on 5 acres so space isn't really a consideration. However if size is a consideration then maybe a hallway is a waste of space but I would take a hallway and have my house set up the way I want. Good Luck AKB <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=62083">viewtopic.php?t=62083</a><!-- l --> Re: Is hallways a waste of space in a house design? 3Sep 12, 2013 1:09 pm I think people who say a hallway is a waste of space are insane. In my opinion hallways are essential for separating different areas of the house, while also providing easy access to all 4 corners of the house at once. Feel free to look at my thread and our house plans to see what our hallway is like - not as fancy as AKB's hallway by the sounds of it!! I see so many houses with bedrooms directly off living areas and I really dislike it. I also see houses where the master (parent's room) is separate from the minor bedrooms without a hallway but it usually means you have to walk through the living room, kitchen, dining room and entry in order to get to the kids' rooms, and in the middle of the night it's not very practical. Of course the budget limits floor space a lot of the time but if the budget is fine then go the hallway! Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 5Sep 12, 2013 2:03 pm I think if you are tight on space (block size) or budget then giving up hallways is prudent thing to do. If on the other hand, size and budget are not restrictive, then hallways are great. The separate zones of your home, are good as an architectural feature to lead you into an area or room, they creating acoustics 'blocks' between living and sleeping areas and are good for controlling ventilation throughout your home. ----------------------------------------------- http://pab34newdigs.blogspot.com.au/ ----------------------------------------------- Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 6Sep 12, 2013 5:31 pm I have a very large entrance/hallway - we needed it as one of the walls is actually the garage wall and is 11.5meters. For aesthetic purposes we made the entrance large and then narrowed the hallway down in the continuation. We also have a smaller typical hallway that the minor bedrooms are off. As Emy mentioned, I prefer that the minor sleeping areas are "zoned" off from the living area - I prefer that they're off in their own little space. Can you post a picture of the design you have in mind? Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 7Sep 12, 2013 7:44 pm IMO, not at all. Frank Lloyd Wright made it part of the journey, smaller and darker opening up to a large brighter space. Let you designer know your concerns and ask for their thoughts as he/she should know your needs, budget, land dimensions/constraints and efficient use of space which all contribute to the many choices when it comes to design that suit you as their client. Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 8Sep 12, 2013 7:59 pm Hallways lead you in a direction and give privacy to spaces. Some homes can do with out hallways, they may have a breezway, usually there will be a hallway of some sorts in a home unless you live in a large box with only 4 walls. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 10Sep 12, 2013 8:14 pm .....yes, can see how that reads now! LOL Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 11Sep 12, 2013 11:43 pm I agree with Ari, it all depends on the design... There is definitely such a thing as too much open plan. There needs to be a definite "path" through the home, without having to weave through furniture and so on. But I dislike lots of doors leading off a long hallway. It makes me feel like I'm in an institution, not a home, as if the rooms have been "tacked on" to the plan. Having said that, a well designed and proportioned hallway or foyer can add space for storage, and be architecturally beautiful as well. And if it leads the eye towards glimpses of the main living areas, it can also create the impression of spaciousness. Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 12Sep 13, 2013 9:06 am Agreed with treesachanger, hallways act as the balancing agent between the private and public space, ensuring there is a transition from one to the other. Furthermore, they are great great great for storage! I would do my best to fit even the small hallway/separation into my house to avoid doors of living areas. Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 13Sep 13, 2013 9:27 am Depends on the floorplan. My New house has no hallways (other than the small entrance I guess) and I like it. Current house has hall way from entrance to living and again to kids rooms and I do view them as waste of space - but needed for the design. Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 14Sep 13, 2013 11:16 am OK, I will try and add the design plan. I have done it before in the custom house plan thread so I will try to see if I can do it again. Land size is not really an issue as we have a 1000 sq block of land. It is in a weird shape though. Sandra Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 15Sep 13, 2013 11:26 am Giving this a go. So we are a building a 2 storey place. The image is not too clear, it has my scribble all over it. I don't mind our hallways, and I have made the narrowest one 1300 wide. http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm2/sandra77_photo/house_Page_2.jpg Sandra Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 16Sep 13, 2013 11:59 am Here is where I posted it 2 years ago in the custom house plans thread. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=33027&p=700651#p700651 It has the original plans that I chopped down. The designer has said that I really could do anything I want as long as we were paying for it, it wouldn't matter. She has suggested swapping the media room around with the family room. Sandra Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 17Sep 13, 2013 12:59 pm Which way is north on your plans Sandra? Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 19Sep 13, 2013 2:01 pm Here it is on our block of land. http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm2/sandra77_photo/house_Page_1-2.jpg Re: Are hallways a waste of space in a house design? 20Sep 16, 2013 11:07 am From Houzz is a recent article on just this topic. I must admit I don't mind hallways at all and if they are designed right from the get go with the right treatment they can become like another room. Foyers are an offshoot of hallways that can really make the front of a house too. Do You Really Need That Hallway? http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/17320457 ... t=gallery4 Stewie dimensions on your original plan are inconsistent and with accurate dimensions (including site plan, upstairs and down) i could make a proper scale drawing with furniture… 3 7513 You can really use anything you want the main consideration would be how it looks once painted/finished - or the look you want. Cabinetmakers use MDF because its cheap… 2 9957 Cupcake.girl This really depends on your local council. Each one has different definitions and ways to calculate contributions. This is called a contribution… 1 3580 |