I would just double up soundproofing insulation between the powder and the DR I would not do a doorway into the kitchen I would just leave that open and the DR seems to be a long way from the kitchenI would swap the DR for the LR

I think the plan needs a full rework, unless you find this layout working for how you live. A lot of Wasted hallway space. Oddly Closed off rooms (is this what you want?). Dining room many steps from kitchen.

Thank you so much for your comments.

Patricia, yes, I intend to do just that but I was hoping there would be a better solution.

Carol, a closed layout is very much standard where I am from. I live in a cold area where heating the whole house all the time is just too expensive. The kitchen/family room will act as primary living space during cold season.

Jerome, thank you for taking the time to rework the plan. I like what you have done with the powder room, which does improve privacy by adding some transition space and hiding the door from view. The added powder on the other side is also something to think about.

You have all pointed out the distance between the kitchen and the formal dining. Thing is, the current locations of the formal and family living offer the best views in the house. I am trying to come up with a solution that takes that into account.

Plan needs a serious rethink. You have multiple "living" rooms and what appears to be your dining table (upper right) is way too far from what appears to be the kitchen (bottom left). Carol Johnson is right and Jerome DeMarco Architecture has the beginning of the right idea to correct the problems she noted.

For your consideration:

Put your powder room -- better yet, also include a shower -- where the storage room is shown on your plans. If your washer and dryer are not located elsewhere, put them in the same room or adjoining space. You could create a closet specifically for them rather than a laundry room. If your kitchen is moved to the upper left corner of your plan, then after you enter from the garage and pass the powder room / bath door, the next door on the left would go to the kitchen and you could create a short hallway entering that room by creating two facing closets -- one with a washer and dryer and the other as your pantry (and/or other storage).

Move your bonus room -- your office or guest bedroom -- to the lower left corner of your plan, with a hallway between that office and the powder room or bath. That hallway would have four doors: An exterior door that enters from the garage, and, as you walk in from the garage, an interior door to the right to your bonus room / office and two doors to the left -- one to the powder room and one to the kitchen, perhaps via a short hallway w/those closets on each side.

If need be, you could make that left wall a straight wall rather than having that angle, lengthening the great room in the back half of the home, to accommodate your laundry and pantry.

Utilize the entire area shown in your plan to the right of the powder room and on the back side of that center weight bearing wall AND that area on the right side of the entry as an "L" shaped great room -- kitchen, dining and living room.

Have that hallway from the garage "stop" at French doors at the left wall of the stairs. The objective is to create an entry room where the entry is now shown that includes the stairs and separate that entry room from the rest of the house by adding three pairs of French doors: add the second pair of French doors, perhaps with sidelights, (and in what appears to be a center load bearing wall shown by a broken horizontal line in the approximate center of your plan) directly across from the front door . You'd add another set of French Doors to enter the space to the right of where your entry is now drawn -- they'd be directly across from the first French doors mentioned (across from the French doors at the end of the hallway that leads to the back entrance.

By framing for supporting leaving the center weight bearing wall open from the back half of the house to the front of the house -- from where you now have the dining table drawn to where you have the office now drawn -- and using that space now as your separate office room, your office would be away from the noise and activity of the living room, including tv noises and, importantly, you'd have more options for later:

By keeping your great room an "L" shaped open room now you keep open the option to build a wall later where you now have the wall between the dining table and the powder room IF and when you want to later add another, separate, bonus room.

After you retire and as you age and become an "empty nester" (perhaps with arthritis and/or other health problems), you could use that downstairs bonus room (in the lower left across from the powder room / bath) for a master bedroom rather than climbing stairs.

By creating an entry room that includes the stairs but is separated from the rest of the house by three French doors, the temperature and cost of heating your home can be better controlled because you can close the French doors to better control what heat/cooling remains downstairs and/or upstairs.

You could put your storage under the stairs and have that storage accessible from both sides -- the entry and the room on the lower left part of your floorplan:

https://www.google.com/search?q=storage+under+stairs+images&biw=1366&bih=673&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiO-e2Fr7DKAhXEaD4KHev9B7AQsAQIGw

By accessing the storage space under the stairs from both sides, you can more easily reach more of it.

The doors to the entry could be upscale:

http://c0263062.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/content/images/sized/under-stairs-storage-wine_f4712143b98af34e2aaedb656fc6d6c5_3x2_jpg_570x380_q85.jpg

and you could still have a coat closet under the highest part of the stairs. Then you could add drawers, including filing cabinet sized drawers intended for documents, in what would become your bonus room -- office or spare bedroom -- on the other side of the stairs.

http://residencestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/staircase-design-ideas.jpg

http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/graphics10/workbench-under-stairs-storage.jpg

http://smartstoragesolutions.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/smart-storage-collage.jpg

Keep us updated.

Good luck.

Thank you suezbell for your suggestions. I tried to update the plan as per your suggestions. Did I get it right?

Also, what do you think of this other plan below? Is it any better?

Thanks again for your help.

You need an architect. You don't have the training and skills necessary for DIY here. Unless you have 8 years to devote to study to get where an architect starts from.

Hang in there. I designed my own house; 3800 sq feet and have lived in it 22 years. I did learn from my Mother who designed all three of her houses, last one 12000 sq feet. When I found myself changing walls by a foot THATS when I took it to a guy who drew out my plan with elevations, roof line. ( my son is a newly graduated architect, so if u r stuck, by all means they are helpful!) A DIY though can be done, you just have to take the time and really think about your needs and how you want to use the space. We did open up our original layout 7 yrs ago (took a wall down between kitchen and fam room) when styles changed and love it. I'd definitely open up the kitchen to living area and is that a formal dining room or your eating space way off to the right of original layout you posted? Jerome's layout is similar to my kitchen/fam layout but the covered porch would be our dining area. I was trying to focus on our backyard as well. Would you consider closing in the covered porch? That area would be awesome if closed in as the informal eating space. Nt sure where you live but our layout gives us beautiful views AND I can sit in it, spring, summer, winter and fall. Keep trying! PS sorry I figured out how to blow up the graphic. Do you need a living room? In our area they are rarely in a design anymore. I'd put my formal dining room where your living room is unless of course a living room is highly desirable in your neck of the woods. Then, make the kitchen/dining/living space all open and keep your covered porch.

Thanks all,

Actually, I have an architect who proposed the plan below, but I didn't really like it. I am trying to come up with my own plan and then have it finalized by the architect.

There is a difference between a ''home planner'' and an architect. You don't take a sandwich to a banquet, and any home planner that needs you cutting and pasting is the wrong person to hire. Hire someone else.

I'll put in a good word for architects. Over the holidays we spent time in 2 different homes, both of which had been expensively and substantially renovated in the last year. What a difference!

The one without architect involvement just wasn't as pleasant to be in. The main floor had been renovated with one idea - we want a big kickass kitchen. You enter the house directly into the kitchen - they removed the wall that created the foyer. The central island was oddly square - too deep to reach the middle from either side, and not long enough to seat enough people for its size. The space between the island and the industrial range felt cramped - maybe it was at the "minimum recommended" but it felt too tight given the large size of the room. The island was too far from the dining table. And the upstairs was even worse - a disproportionately large master bath shared (Jack and Jill style) with a guest bedroom. The architect-designed one was a welcoming place to spend an afternoon with family. Nothing seemed too cramped (and there were lots of people) and the flow of people was pleasant throughout the space.

If you're unhappy with your architect-designed plan, tell them and they will address your concerns. There may need to be compromises. But honestly that plan is much better than yours.

I just wanted to wish you luck. Some of the comments here are rude and assume a ton about you, what you want and who you are working with!

If you want a closed plan, due to heat concerns, as you indicated then I think this plan is as good as it gets unless you move the powder over to between kitchen and family area and give up space in one of those rooms as a result. Otherwise I like the extra soundproofing idea.

We are going to embark on this same process soon and it's overwhelming. I've met with a couple design/build firms and it's great but the reality is someone can't see in your head so when they try if they fail they need to try again till you do like it!

great but

If heating and the associated costs are a concern where you live, rather than designing a standard house which takes lots of energy to heat and cool, I would seriously encourage you to talk to your Architect about building a home based upon the Passive House standard. These homes use up to 90% less energy to heat and cool. They are far more comfortable than a standard home. Here is a link to a booklet that you can download that explains what Passive House is and how it works:

http://www.passivehouse-international.org/index.php?page_id=70

This is becoming the standard for construction and is beginning to be required by areas in Europe and we're beginning to see building departments move towards making it a requirement here in North America. Worth a look if you're at all interested in being ahead of the curve.

I think sound proofing will be enough for your powder room. I would open up the area in front of the stairs with a large doorway to the family room instead of a door and add a doorway direct to the kitchen. I would also suggest turning the island to put the backs of the stools to the empty wall, the island could probably be longer that way. Good luck with your design and be sure to see it in 3D before you decide.

Have you considered radiant heat in the floors? (I think that's what it's called where they install tubes in the floor and pump hot water through the tubes) I hear that they are expensive at first but are more efficient in the long run since heat rises. They are in my dreams!!!! Also, spray foam for insulation is supposed to be the best.

justbeckyg, I have created a rough 3D rendering that you can see below. It is not complete yet, especially some windows/doors are missing or misplaced and there will be a rooftop deck that is not shown here.

cmelton1124, I am considering it but i am worried about potential maintenance/repair costs.

Thanks to all,

We have something called nuheat which is in floor heating but not hot water. It is electrical. Wasn't overly expensive and very nice :)

Thanks Alison and tedixby, I will look into nuheat and Warmboard as possible heating solutions.

tedixby, you're maybe right. I have to discuss this with my architect.

wael1980, what program did you use for your 3D rendering? I see these everywhere, but I'm totally out of the loop! Where did you say y'all are building? I'm in the middle of snow-mageddon in Western KY.

Hi cmelton1124, I used Chief Architect.