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m_bowlin437

Just another modern farmhouse...need floorplan critique!!

9 years ago

My husband and I are building a house in north mississippi, and are just about finished tweaking the floorplan. I'd love to get some feedback from a fresh pair of eyes though before we finalize everything.


Some background information:

young family - 1 baby and another on the way!

conventional foundation/hardi siding

slightly sloping wooded lot - shallow and wide


Things we're not so sure about:

vault living room ceiling or no?

only 1 bathroom upstairs (long term functionality)


We'd love to hear any suggestions you might have!

Comments (13)

  • 9 years ago

    Which direction faces north?

    Which direction is your backyard?

    Are you ok with a house where your living room and your kitchen and dining room will get absolutely no natural light because of the layout and porches?

  • 9 years ago

    I love your plan. The one bathroom upstairs is okay, but when you have two girls using the same bathroom....watch out! You will wish you had two, and they will, too!

  • 9 years ago

    Will the scullery have doors? Traditionally, the point of a scullery was to keep the mess separate from everything else and sight lines (and also the "help" working in the scullery, but we'll be more modern than that), but in your plan, you can and will see right into the scullery from the foyer.

    The playroom is a nice idea, but unlikely to function as a playroom. All the toys and the "plastic explosion" will be in your living room--also open by sight to the foyer.

    Will you use this house to live in, or just sleep? (I mean that nicely). I live in my house (home, but not home 24 hours a day, running kids too and fro, getting to my volunteer assignments, etc.) My house is well lived in. And, not tidy enough for a house this open to the front door. Will you "live in" your house too? Or, will you be home for dinner, sleeping, and breakfast only?

  • 9 years ago

    vault living room ceiling or no?

    In this layout, I think no. You called this a farmhouse, and farmhouses don't have vaulted ceilings. I wouldn't vault the bedroom either.

    only 1 bathroom upstairs (long term functionality)

    One bathroom to be shared by two children is plenty. You have three full bathrooms in this house, and they're spread out -- you're already committing an hour a week to cleaning those bathrooms; I wouldn't sign on for even more.

    I'd lose one sink in the upstairs bathroom. Kids never use the bathroom at the same time, and the drawer storage that could go into that space would be move valuable than a duplicate sink.

    I don't like that the plumbing is so spread out. Expensive to install, lots of water running through lots of walls (more opportunity for leaks), and a long way for the hot water to run.

    We'd love to hear any suggestions you might have!

    It's very nicely designed ... good sight lines, good flow ... much to like.

    This is a small point, but I'd flip-flop the washer/dryer and the folding cabinet. In our first house, the washer/dryer "backed up to" the living room, and I hated hearing thump-thump-thump of the dryer. I don't love the location of the laundry; it's not convenient to any of your three bedroom locations; this'll mean many steps back and forth.

    Four separate porches ... lovely, but do you have specific plans on how they'll be used? This is a very expensive feature. Where will your kids' swing set and sand box be placed? You want your outdoor area on that side of the house ... you're not likely to use the porch on the other side of the house.

    I'd do away with the small porch /door into the mudroom. I wouldn't want to funnel guests in through the laundry ... I'd want them to come to the front door, which would be visible from the parking area ... the front porch will be inviting, and with some nice flowers and landscaping, this could be a very nice welcoming spot for guests -- don't divide it with a second door.

    I like the look /concept of the scullery area in the kitchen, but I wonder how functional it'll be from a work standpoint -- just to say one thing, the sink is not convenient to the island at all, yet you're probably going to want to do your prep work on the island so you can watch the kids in the living room. Take it to the kitchen boards and see what they say. One thing I'd definitely do: You have a ton of cabinets /counter tops, but pantries are better storage -- cheaper too. I'd make the back side of the scullery -- the spot where the refrigerator is now -- into a large pantry.

    I don't care for the dining area. A table squished up against the island isn't appealing to me.

    The upstairs hallway is wide -- I know, it's the curved roof line that's making it so -- I'd do built-in storage of some sort. Shelves, cabinets, whatever. You're paying for this area -- make it work for you!

    Finally, this is a large house, and you'll soon have two babies. Are you sure you're ready for this much house at this point in your life? This much money, this much maintenance, this much time?

    Are you ok with a house where your living room and your kitchen and
    dining room will get absolutely no natural light because of the layout
    and porches?

    "Absolutely no natural light" is strongly worded. The rooms won't have beams of light pouring in, but neither will the rooms be dark caves. My great room is similar to this set-up, and it's not unpleasant in terms of light; incidentally, my windows face east.

    I'd add a window between the living room and the back porch to bring in light from two sides.

  • 9 years ago

    Mrspete I made the comment about the light because of the covered porch where the kitchen windows are and because of the screened in porch where the living room is.

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    It's an interesting and well organized plan, but somewhat unusual in its outdoor orientation to the right side of the house. I assume that's where the view and the usable outdoor areas will be found. I hope that direction is south.

    Quick observations:

    1. Not much room or opportunity for entertaining family or friends at meal time, since it looks like the island is the only eating area;

    2. If two children will be using the two upstairs bedrooms, a compartmentalized bath, where two people can use the bathroom simultaneously, will be a significant improvement.

  • 9 years ago

    I rather like it, except...yes, add a window from LR to back porch, and conside solatubes or skylights. Walking in the front door is a straight view to the master bedroom, though there's a lot of space and the two doorways to divert the eye first, so that might not be so bad. And I agree, one sink upstairs so they get more storage space.

    The kitchen, though: I think you might be better off pushing the kitchen to the left a bit so that the range and island can be in the kitchen, then have cabinetry in the dining room where you have it now for china, serving pieces, etc.

    The access from the house to the garage takes you right in the middle of a car, doesn't it? That might be inconvenient. I don't see measurements so I'm not sure how much maneuvering space you have there.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    The upstairs bath looks like enough room to be a jack/jill with the tub/shower in the middle and a sink on each end with entry from each end. I disagree about kids using the sink at the same time, at least in my house (boys) and in my sis in law's house (girls) they always seem to be trying to crowd in at the same time.

    That also looks like a huge landing area to walk into that bedroom, maybe consider a way to expand that so that the closet could be a reach in and along the entry way into the bedroom..

  • 9 years ago

    Your lot is wide and shallow. The with and depth of the house are almost equal. If you are still shifting things, look into making the footprint wider than deeper so your backyard is not too small. Your screen porch is large and nice but, I'd be concerned with the view if it is just the side of another house. I'd look into connecting the screen porch to the playroom.

    A house like this deserve a better access to backyard (and better connection) and not thru a laundry (the scullery tells me you like neat)

    There is no porch at the back. If it is not covered (hard to read) is more like a stoop or deck. To better connect the social areas to the back yard you can place a single French door instead of a window. The GR will also benefit with the extra light.

    You said your house will be modern. I do not like the idea of a cathedral LR but I like the idea of clearstory windows above screen porch roof. This will solve the lighting issue. Do not do this if the screen porch faces south or west.

    Is going to be a very nice home. Congrats


  • 9 years ago

    CP, yes, it can be done with a wide overhang.

  • 9 years ago

    I like the plan and especially the scullery, personally I would go for some type of door on that or reconfigure the setup so sink is not visible from foyer. I have planned for kitchenette/scullery in my plans too.

    I would also propose some transom or window in bath 1 and toilet room in master bath. Also another window in bedroom 3 overlooking the backyard.

    I would also suggest a second look at number of doors leading in the house, I count 6 at this time.

    It is a nice plan, can't wait to see progress on your build. Good Luck.

  • 9 years ago

    I like this plan, except for a couple things. The scullery is great. Will it have doors? I would worry about not having enough eating/dining space and the living area being too dark. Also, maybe make the upstairs bathroom entrance more central? I think one bathroom upstairs is fine.

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