I can't see the dimensions on anything. Do you have a link to the inspiration plan site?

http://www.highlandhomesliving.com/Model/Orleans-Model

See the hyperlink I just added. On this page the plan photo is shown. Click on the plan and it will enlarge so that you can see the dimensions. Thanks!

Do you have setbacks or other lot constraints that drove your choice of such a narrow floor plan? Are you saying you do not have an alley for rear entry parking? Is it important that the house be one story?

I have a huge lot. It is 5 acres. The lot is 150 wide and 600 feet deep. So, I can rearrange the layout. I just don't want to look out my back deck/screened porch and see the house on one side and then see the garage on the other side. I want an unobstructive view of the yard. This will be in a rural setting.

Also, I would prefer to stay on one level because my daughter is afraid to be upstairs by herself. Looking forward, I know this will change but that is when I will need my eyes on her the most.

I do realize that the plan is a stock plan for a narrow, city lot. I just like the great room layout. Basically, I want to use the core shell of that plan and make tweaks from the core because I do love the great room layout and it meets my needs. I want to take that and ideas I gather from individuals such as yourself to my designer to draft my new plans. I am thinking about turning the bedrooms so that they face more like a ranch style with two guest bedrooms facing the front of the house and the master facing the rear. I do like your ideas for the laundry room and pantry.

That is a fairly standard great room layout. It may seem different because they have opened it up more than you typically see but that really is just replacing walls with columns. Far more rare is that central great entrance and bedrooms on the same side.

I don't mean to tell you how to build, but you seem to be making your daughter's desires the central theme of your new home. I don't claim to be an expert on raising kids. My kids can be described by the statement, "and they still turned out OK." However, one thing I do know is that kids change, one day they are needy and the next they are fiercely independent. I encourage you to design space in your house for your daughter today and allow for the fact that your daughter may change. I would suggest at least two bedrooms on one side and one bedroom or free space on the other side of the house.

Thanks for your comments. I do want my daughter's room beside my master. I've built before and lived in another house where I overlooked this for the same reason you described and it was a nightmare. This is a personal preference and I am choosing not to build a split plan. Most people prefer a split plan and that is just fine. Each family has to adjust to their needs. Thanks for your suggestions.

When she's a teen you may regret wanting her room next to yours. Just saying from experience.

Just an observation in case it is important to you, 150 by 600 is 90,000 sq. feet or approx 2.07 acres (43,560 sq ft. in an acre). Still a nice sized lot though.

Yes...meant to say 2 acres. Sorry.

I have to agree with the above posters: This plan is designed for a narrow, city lot, and although two acres isn't a huge lot, this house plan will appear ill-proportioned for its surroundings. One of the main rules of house building is, The house you build should fit into its surroundings.

Also, you're crystal clear on cluster-bedrooms, and this house plan can't provide that -- the staircase prevents it, and if you're moving a staircase, you might as well move on to another plan. For what it's worth, we've lived in two houses with our now 18 and 21-year old children. We've always had clustered bedrooms, and it's neither a good nor bad thing. I wouldn't have minded if they'd been farther away when they were children, and they haven't been "too close" as teens.

From what you say, I think you're attracted ONLY to the layout of the main living areas, and they aren't really all that unique. Here are a couple to check out -- all have the kitchen on the exterior, mudroom, etc:

The second is the Avant and is 1856 sf.

The third is Devon and weighs in at 1972 sf.

I'm not saying, "Oh, you should use one of these." Rather, I'm sharing them as an example of something that fits your main criteria AND would work better on your lot; being wider than they are long, they'd appear more proportional to the space.

Finally, a note: When you find a house plan that you like, see if your website offers "other houses by this designer" or "house plans with similar floor plans". These will take you to house plans similar ... but slightly larger, slightly smaller, with slightly different features, and that'll be a help in finding that'll work for you.

Thanks, you have offered lots of great advice.