Seeking Floor Plan Advise

14 years ago

We recently purchased a 1977 Contemporary home in the mid-Atlantic. The property and the surrounding neighborhood is heavily wood. The house sits on a little less than 1/2 acer and we recently had to take down a dozen or so trees to fix the grading around the house. The house has never been updated and when we purchased we knew we wanted to make updates.

Attached is a draft of the first floor plan that shows the new (proposed) plan. We are seeking any advise, opinions and comments from the Garden Web Community on the new plan that can help the flow and open up to more lighting in the house and stay somewhat true to the contemporary theme of the home.

Note - we are open to adding more windows.

Thanks!

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Comments (4)

eastcoastpeyton
Original Author
14 years ago
Here is the current floor plan to compare, if it helps any.
virgilcarter
14 years ago
Looks like some major structural reframing may be necessary. Have you verified the support for the floor/roof above?
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User
14 years ago
This won't be an inexpensive remodel.

You are creating redundant spaces. A den, living room, and family room. A breakfast table and bar stool area. The kitchen layout isn't so great, especially since you are thinking about doing a downdraft, which is particularly ineffective for the extra dollar amount spent to create it. You're also taking down the barrier wall around the stair? It's not that attractive to open a door right into a living space when you can have an actual entry way that give you a sense of transition between the outside world and the home.

You'd better think about the ramifications of taking down that center support wall. Not only will you have to engineer support for the roof, but each of the ends of the beam that supports it will need new footings or support in the basement if you have one. And you've placed a fireplace right in the middle of where the beam will need to be. That's not going to work. It will have to shift one way or the other so the vent can clear the support beam.

You can do SO much better! I'd suggest contacting an architect that specializes in remodels and has some sympathy for mid-century or contemporary home designs. And clarifying your actual spatial needs to avoid duplicating them.
lyvia
14 years ago
Some questions -
Which way is south? Which way do storms come from?

How many people (pets?), and what do they do in these rooms (Den, Family, Living) and how are they different in function? Is there a family TV somewhere? What kind of entertaining do you do (or want to do)? Barbecues for 20? Coffees for 3? Thanksgiving? Elderly visitors? Dining space for only 3 is unusual, how does it fit you?

For example, my family of three, with 17 yr old daughter, needs a small living room for chatting, a large dining room for extended family meals, a dark no-glare TV room with speakers, and a computer room with 3 large desks, so we can share the latest videos. Besides the front door and a door to an outside eating area, we need another door to let dogs out.