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New build - what would you change?

67 replies

NeedingAGoodNap · 07/07/2021 12:16

We are planning on building a new family home. We have never built or even owned a house before and have mostly lived in small appartments over the last 10 years. So I guess we don't know all the pain points a poorly designed house can have.

Is there anything in this floor plan that you would change? Anything that sticks out as annoying/poorly designed?

New build - what would you change?
OP posts:
singlehun · 07/07/2021 12:19

No advice bit I just wanted to say congratulations - looks amazing!!

TryingtoBuy2021 · 07/07/2021 12:22

The sitting room upstairs is a little strange, how do you imagine using it? I’m no expert - also an apartment dweller - but your kitchen counter space also looks small to me. I would personally want a separate downstairs sitting room with doors as well as a large open plan kitchen / diner and would want it to be bigger than what you have marked as theatre. Do you need a two-space garage or would that give you back some space?

Palavah · 07/07/2021 12:23

Looks good. Does the 'theatre' have a window? It looks like it does?

Floralnomad · 07/07/2021 12:24

I suppose it depends how you live and how you use a house , I would probably change most of your plan because I don’t like everything open plan downstairs , I wouldn’t want a cinema room , I wouldn’t want an upstairs sitting room and I would want at least 2 bedrooms to have a proper en-suite ( bath /loo/ sink ) .

TryingtoBuy2021 · 07/07/2021 12:24

Also if you’re building it for you to live in forever and you just want a sitting room upstairs, go for it! But if you need to factor in resale value it might not appeal to everyone.

Ylvamoon · 07/07/2021 12:25

Not sure about the double garage... but then, I don't really like "build in" garages.

Bibbleybetto · 07/07/2021 12:26

You have two tvs in the same open space and especially if you are having hard floors sound carries easily.

It wouldn't suit me to have a dining table where I can still see my dirty pots/kitchen mess - but I know open plan is popular (or you might just be tidier in the kitchen than me Grin)

TheDuchessOfBeddington · 07/07/2021 12:27

Looks amazing. But the kitchen is tiny for the size of house. But maybe you don’t cook/host much so it might not be important?

MaverickDanger · 07/07/2021 12:29

I’m going to assume you’re based in Australia.

I’d probably put a wall on the sitting room upstairs so it’s a more functional room - friends have an open room like that and it just doesn’t get used.

burritofan · 07/07/2021 12:30

There’s no “grown-up’s escape” sitting room anywhere – the one upstairs is open plan to the hallway (sorry, I can’t ever imagine using something like that without feeling antsy and open to the elements), and downstairs everything is open plan then a theatre room and a garage – as I cast my eye down I was surprised to see the garage as I would want and was expecting the grown-up’s sitting room: you know, no toys/homework/detritus/kitchen mess, etc. The end/of-the-day retreat.

emmathedilemma · 07/07/2021 12:30

For me the kitchen area doesn't look very big in relation to the rest of the house. Does that room really need a "rumpus" and another seating area?
The lounge space upstairs I guess could be made into an office / study space if required but I think I would be tempted to push the family bathroom into that space and add another en suite onto the 4th bedroom.

WatchingTheRaindrops · 07/07/2021 12:30

Looks great. Things which stuck out to me were the "study" in the porch and only one en-suite upstairs? Is the garage a good use of space?

BunnyRuddington · 07/07/2021 12:31

I would remove the sitting area upstairs and try and incorporate a utility room instead with a Washer & dryer. It will free up space downstairs and save you years of carrying laundry up and down the stairs.

Think you also need a pantry, boot room/area and a pantry. Depending on how many years you're planning on living there, you'd probably be best having a shower as well.

BunnyRuddington · 07/07/2021 12:33

Just realised I mentioned Pantries twice. I really like pantries Grin

parietal · 07/07/2021 12:35

I'd consider

  • more storage - do you have space for winter coats / sports kit / camping kit etc
  • no need for 2 seating areas in the big open plan room. I'd have a v. bid dining table & rotate it 90deg from the current location, plus a big dresser on the wall nearest (between cinema room & open-plan room) to give more kitchen/dining storage

agree the upstairs sitting room is odd. if it had a wall across, it could be a study or craft room?

TimetohittheroadJack · 07/07/2021 12:40

I'd make every room en-suite and do away with the upstairs seating area.

TimetohittheroadJack · 07/07/2021 12:42

Also, it's quite narrow, can you not build out to the width of the garage?

ReviewingTheSituation · 07/07/2021 12:44

Looks like a great space to work with! Lots of points jump out at me though...

Do you need 4 separate sitting areas? The main room looks pretty crowded - I'd make one bigger sitting area in the open plan space, and not sure what you'd do with an upstairs space like that? Maybe make that the cinema/gaming area and have the downstairs room as a snug.

Is there a 'back door' somewhere? I assume some of the glass in the big open plan space is sliding/bifold doors, but I'd have a door from the utility too, so you're not traipsing out through the living areas when you're gardening/hanging washing out etc. I'd make the utility a bit bigger too. Also think about the noise from a full spinning washing machine next to your TV room/snug. I wouldn't necessarily move it, but put good insulation in that wall.

The kitchen looks a bit pared back for a house of that size. Looks like plenty of storage (I assume the cupboard area is a walk-in pantry type thing), but where are you going to put 'stuff'? Some kind of dresser/sideboard next to the kitchen maybe, but the focus seems to be on living-room style furniture.

Have you thoughts about having a focal point, like a fireplace, downstairs? Can really make a difference.

If you're going to have a home cinema room (I assume that's the Theatre room), make sure you can lay it out so the seats face the screen - currently everyone is either looking left or right to see the TV.

Living in a house with an internal garage, I resent how much floor space it takes up. Do you really plan to park 2 cars in there? I'd use the space for people rather than cars.

Why is the downstairs bigger than upstairs? If you're building from scratch, why not use the full footprint? Either with an amazing double height element somewhere, or with a balcony from a bedroom (depends on your outlook of course!).

If I was building/designing from scratch, I would 100% build some 'hobby' space into it. We are lucky to have spare bedrooms, so I have an office/sewing room, and DH has an office/guitar room. Ideally I'd separate them and have a tiny corner for an office somewhere and then space to enjoy for hobbies.

That's more than I originally intended, but new things kept occurring to me! I assume an architect designed it? It feels a bit unambitious and lacking in creativity - more what I'd expect to see from a house builder building an estate, rather than someone designing a one-off home. Don't get me wrong - it's a great space, and you could certainly live in it as is with no major issues, but it feels like you could do a lot more with it.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 07/07/2021 12:46

I'm presuming from your language that you're in Australia? It's difficult for UK posters to comment as our style tends to be different.

Personally, I would create a more adult/ formal sitting room away from the main open plan room. I wouldn't have a cinema room. I'd also put in a second en suite.

How do you envisage the upstairs seating area being used?

BarberQueue · 07/07/2021 12:52

What an exciting project to embark on!

Obviously everyone has different requirements but it feels like you are a little short on worktop space. I'm very envious of your pantry though! I don't understand the two separate lounge areas in the main room. It depends on where your garden is but I would probably close off the top left area into a separate room but I have teenagers and so would want some separate spaces. If I was building a new house I would also have a large boot room.

Upstairs I would rather have room for another en suite instead of the sitting area.

RubixRubicon · 07/07/2021 12:58

I wouldn’t have a sitting room on the first floor and I would put my laundry room and airing cupboard on the second floor. If we are talking forever home, I would also have ensuite bathrooms to all double bedrooms and lots and lots of storage and sockets. I have always wanted a big built in closet in the hall for all the coats and shoes. Plus a cupboard in the kitchen/laundry for hoover/steam mop and all that sort of stuff.

NeedingAGoodNap · 07/07/2021 12:59

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Was more than I was expecting. Yes I agree that I would like the kitchen to be larger and I will look into that one.

The upstairs sitting room is a bit of a waste of space but is very much the done thing. We were considering reducing its size to add more space to the ensuite and walk in robe in the main bedroom.

OP posts:
Blowingagale · 07/07/2021 13:05

Incorporate plugs/lines so people can work from home. I prefer door on the kitchen to minimise smell.

SwimBaby · 07/07/2021 13:05

I’d make it a lot less open plan, I do like the open plan kitchen, dining, seating concept but I’d like extra separate rooms too.
The upstairs living room does not look relaxing to sit in.

NeedingAGoodNap · 07/07/2021 13:06

@Bibbleybetto

You have two tvs in the same open space and especially if you are having hard floors sound carries easily.

It wouldn't suit me to have a dining table where I can still see my dirty pots/kitchen mess - but I know open plan is popular (or you might just be tidier in the kitchen than me Grin)

@Bibbleybetto I think I would consider myself as aspiring to be tidy in the kitchen!

The furniture isn’t a real representation of where things would go and we only own one tv now haha. The idea was to use the rumpus space as a play space for 1 year old dd with the hopes we could keep her toys/mess there rather than around the dinning table.

We can add a dividing wall or something to make this space more zoned off but I really want to be able to see the backward from the kitchen

OP posts:
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