Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 15, 2020 1:25 pm Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Hi everyone. I need some feedback on our floorplan. -Its a 36sq house. -5bed (4Bed in FF and 1 guest bed in GF) -4 bathrooms (master ensuite, a main bath, a smallish second ensuite, a shower in the powder in GF for guests and for pool users) -removed all of theatre to achieve a large open plan living that we’ve always dreamt off. I see a bit of problem on the FF. They are: 1. Bed sizes are too smallish, we would love the master bedroom and one more bedroom a bit more spacious 2. No space for linen in FF 3. Voids, bathroom are eating up most of the space. We love the voids and also would love to have a bit more spacious bedroom with sliding robes GF problem: too much space in laundry and less in pantry. I would tale some space from laundry to put into pantry. Options: What would you suggest? 1. Give up void at the front and take that space inside bed 2 to turn into an WIB? 2. Convert the large main bathroom to a smallish bathroom with no bathtub? No need for 2 large bathrooms when bedrooms are compromising? Hubby needs having 2 bathrooms with bathtub is more important for resale value. I think keep the void, decrease one bathroom size and utilize that space into a bedroom Please share your suggestions. What will be the most off putting thing of you are buying this house (I know the open plan in GF will be off putting for many, but we want to keep that, maybe raise false wall if we need to sell in future). Re: Please comment / review this floorplan! Need ideas 2Mar 15, 2020 3:29 pm Master ensuite is really poorly laid out. You really are lacking storage space. I wpuld forgo the second ensuite upstairs and put a robe in there. There is also no robe in guest bed - I thought if there is no wardrobe its not really considered a bedroom and will likely affect resale? All bathrooms you seem to be squeezing to much into a small space. If you make them cramped, it kind of negates the fact you have so many. Re: Please comment / review this floorplan! Need ideas 3Mar 15, 2020 3:44 pm If you’re concerned about resale value, I think just one bathtub in the main bathroom is sufficient. No need for 2 unless you particularly want one for yourself. And do you need the second en-suite in br4? It seems odd to prioritise bathroom over wardrobe. If you have to put a freestanding robe in that room it will make the space even smaller. Take the space from laundry for the pantry. Unless you are building this house to flip, you’re going to be living there and it will drive you crazy! Re: Please comment / review this floorplan! Need ideas 4Mar 15, 2020 5:21 pm alymei Master ensuite is really poorly laid out. You really are lacking storage space. I wpuld forgo the second ensuite upstairs and put a robe in there. There is also no robe in guest bed - I thought if there is no wardrobe its not really considered a bedroom and will likely affect resale? All bathrooms you seem to be squeezing to much into a small space. If you make them cramped, it kind of negates the fact you have so many. If we make main en-suite smaller and get rid off the bathtub from, we can take that space to master ensuite and create a robe at the entry to master ensuite. Then we can decrease the current robe at master bedroom, that will create space for a robe in bed 4. Would the below changes make more sense? 1 master ensuite with bathtub 2 smaller bathrooms (no more large main bathroom with bathtub) Bed 4 will get a robe Decrease the laundry space, get more room for pantry and room for a robe in guest room Re: Please comment / review this floorplan! Need ideas 5Mar 15, 2020 5:26 pm Hillsbuilds If you’re concerned about resale value, I think just one bathtub in the main bathroom is sufficient. No need for 2 unless you particularly want one for yourself. And do you need the second en-suite in br4? It seems odd to prioritise bathroom over wardrobe. If you have to put a freestanding robe in that room it will make the space even smaller. Take the space from laundry for the pantry. Unless you are building this house to flip, you’re going to be living there and it will drive you crazy! Thank you so much for your feedback. We are working on it. We will make one bathroom smaller and get rid off one bathtub. Either the master or the main bathroom. I love having a bathtub in my master ensuite usually 🤢. If we keep the master size as it is, but make the main bathroom smaller getting rid of the bathtub and using a smaller shower, is it a odd feature? Is it expected that the main bathroom needs to be the one with bathtub? Please comment / review this floorplan! Need ideas 6Mar 15, 2020 5:29 pm firstdream Is it expected that the main bathroom needs to be the one with bathtub? No I don’t think so! As long as there is one in the house. If you like a tub in your en-suite, I say go for it, and get rid of the one in the main bathroom. I think all your other changes make sense too. Re: Please comment / review this floorplan! Need ideas 8Mar 15, 2020 8:36 pm I think you are trying to fit too much into this space. I just dont like it (sorry), no linen upstairs would be a deal breaker for me. Do you need ensuite to bed 4? There is no point having voids when the function of the house is compromised. The toilet in the ensuite is just not right, it seems that whoever has made these changes is not qualified to do so. Put a wardrobe in the guest, and you’ve lost 500mm at the least, all of a sudden the guest room (and also bed 4) will likely not fit a queen size bed, so becomes a useless space. The main bathroom is to small, sitting on the loo legs hitting the vanity! If you have children, I would keep the bath in the main bath, and remove from the ensuite. Re: Please comment / review this floorplan! Need ideas 9Mar 16, 2020 1:10 am thanks for your feedback. We know the plan is not looking functional hence we are seeking feedback and ideas to change and make it more functional. If we were going with this plan and didn’t want to change, obviously we wouldn't have posted here asking for suggestions. We’ve done our first attempt of correction. Please take a moment and have a look for us. What change would you keep, what would you cancel? What other changes would you suggest? Getting rid off the void? What to add in that space? Thanks heaps Re: Please comment / review this floorplan! Need ideas 10Mar 16, 2020 1:22 am Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We’ve gone through our first lot of changes 1. Added a robe to the ground floor guest room, added 2 way door. Took some robe space from master ensuite 2. Bed 4 gets a robe, not very big 3. Added a wide linen in hallway 4. Deleting the bathtub from master ensuit. Hopefully that frees up some space adding another smallish robe of sliding robe Would any of these changes work for the floorplan? What would you suggest as alternatives? If you suggest taking off the void, how to utilize the space? Finally thanks everyone for all your inputs. I know the plan just didn’t seem right so I am so keen on working on it. In our cultural background, grown up/ growing up kids use their own ensuite, specially grown up girls. Sharing one bathroom between many family members just doesn’t work for us. Hence tried to add one extra ensuite. Re: Please comment / review this floorplan! Need ideas 11Mar 16, 2020 2:49 am Hi firstdream, I have a few questions that really need to be answered, before anyone can really give you meaningful advice. 1. Where are you located? Local climate should be a major consideration when designing a home. What is appropriate for hot, humid Cairns certainly differs greatly with what is appropriate for Canberra, with its cold winters, & hot, dry summers. 2. What is the orientation of the block? Where is north? Orientation of a home has a HUGE effect on comfort & thermal efficiency (think energy bills!). North facing living areas will be bright throughout the year, heated by the sun in winter & shaded in summer (with appropriate length eaves). South facing living areas are likely to be uncomfortable. They will be dark throughout the year. They'll receive no winter sunlight, which will lead to much higher heating bills for most climates. Eastern bedrooms will get morning sun for early risers. Southern bedrooms will be cool & dark. While western bedrooms will cop hot afternoon summer sunshine, which can make them unbearable in most climates. 3. What is your family make up? Do you truely need a 36 sq, 5 bed / 4 bath home? Australian build the largest homes on the planet, averaging somewhere around 240sqm. This house size is unsustainable. In the cities leading to further urban sprawl - threatening native species like the Koala, & replacing valuable fertile farmland. While leading to astronomical greenhouse gas emissions - from higher embodied energy in the build (the energy to manufacture the components of the home), to higher operational emissions for heating & cooling the home, & maintaining the home. Will all the bedrooms be occupied most of the time. Or does this home include a guest room, that will be very rarely used? I think I probably know the answer to that one. Would you rather a large home? Where, along with the negatives I've listed above, you may also have to make sacrifices to keep the costs down. Sacrifice in design, in materials choices, in outdoor space. Or would you rather have a smaller, well designed home? A smart, smaller home. It may incorporate multi-use spaces to save room. Such as a second living area (for childrens'activities), that can also be used for the of first staying over. A home with smart storage options. Spending money on design means you'll have a home with no wasted space. A smaller space will be much easier to heat & cool, saving you money & increasing your comfort. A well designed home will work with your climate. Orientated correctly, to keep cool in summer, & warm in winter. Again, increasing your comfort, & lowering your bills. Using quality building materials. Increasing insulation levels, to keep the home cooler in summer, warmer in winter, again lowering bills & keeping you comfortable. Using vapour permeable wall wrap, to keep the home airtight, again, keeping it warm in winter, cool in summer. Improving glazing, which may mean adding double glazing in cooler climates, or low-e glass on eastern & western windows. Spending money on energy efficient appliances. Like extremely efficient heat pump hot water systems, reverse cycle air conditioners, an induction cooktop. Powering it with a good sized solar system. Meaning the electricity company's will actually be paying you at the end of each quarter, not the other way around. If you're interested, I'd highly recommend reading the Australian government's guide to environmentally sustainable home design, the 'Your Home' website. https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design Start with the passive design section, learning about what's appropriate in your climate, & how to orientate a home correctly for comfort & lower energy use. How to passively heat & cool your home. What levels of glazing, thermal mass & insulation are appropriate...... and so much more. Personally, I'd strive to build a beautiful home, that achieves its most important goal. To shelter you comfortably, & affordably. Not the average, poorly designed cookie cutter home. A McMansion built to the bare minimum 6 star standard (which is woefully poor compared to overseas standards). Compared to an 8 star home, a 6 star home will require more than double the energy to cool it/heat it. A home built by builders & tradespeople (often very poorly), who just want to get on to the next job. With no interest on your comfort, or your future build. I know which option I'd prefer 😁 Oh, & be careful with voids. A poorly designed void will just act like a giant chimney (as will a poorly designed staircase). Leaking heat from your living areas. Which you've spent energy warming up in winter, up to your bedrooms, which are comfortable at cooler temperatures. In summer, up goes that heat again. This time, not making your living areas uncomfortable, but making your bedrooms hotter, not a good thing in summer. Oh, & don't forget the coming smells, & noise, traveling throughout the home. Again, good design is critical! 2 5253 i thought the flipped plan initially but bec i want narrow pathway from entry to dining (dont like bend), also cannot fit the… 7 12785 It is true that a builder can ignore your independent inspection report as it is not part of the contractual arrangement but that is stupid because he cannot avoid fixing… 9 39914 |