Custom Home Series Part 4 – Designing First Floor of Two Story Home.

When I meet clients I do not look at floor plans we discuss their lifestyle and how they will use the home. In the process I answer the following questions.

1.How many people will be living in the house; couple, children, extended family
2.On a typical evening when everyone is home where is everyone? Is the whole family together in watching TV in the family room or is the family spread out with one family member reading and others watching action movies on a big screen TV?
3.If the family wants a den is it a formal office for greeting customers or guests? Is it a quite work area or is it really a first floor floor guest room or bedroom or potential bedroom for extended family?
4. How many times a year does the family use the dining room and how big a group is likely to be attend?

The number of people determines the size of the eating are in the kitchen. You want it least big enough for one more than the number of bedrooms. If the den is a bedroom then allowances need to be made for those family members.

If the family is generally together then the family room and living room can be designed in the same area such as the Hampton plan illustrated. This provides a larger living area for bigger groups. If Dad likes to watch action movies and Mom like to read quietly then the living room and family room would work better on opposite sides of the house like the Rosedale model.

If the den is a formal work area then it is best placed at the front of the home away form the main living areas. By the front entry it can also welcome guest and still isolate the guest from the more cluttered family living areas of the house. If the den is a bedromm then it it best placed in the rear, perhaps behing the garage area. In our Hampton model we have an option to place a den/bedroom behind the garage and often add a full bath in this area.

Most people use the dinning room rarely so it is usually not the largest room in the house. If large groups are expected the dining room can be designed to extend into another room such as the Rosedale plan. When the dining room is used the table can be extended into the living room. Uncle Joe might be sitting in the living room but he is at the table.