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shavahn_major

Need help designing and laying out a 1200sq ft house.

5 years ago

I'm currently beginning the process of building. I had a few ideas in mind for a floor plan but I am leaning in this door direction. this is the general idea of what I'm going for.

the main areas I'm having trouble laying out are the master bath which is 9'2"×8' and the combined living room and kitchen which is 15'×24'. I want a separate soaker and shower in the bath. in the living kitchen I just need efficient functionality.

Comments (25)

  • 5 years ago

    Perhaps consider a local architect. You'll get a skilled professional who can figure out a layout to meet your specific needs and wants.

  • 5 years ago

    Where is the entry to the house?

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    What is the site like?

  • 5 years ago

    You aren't planning on eating?

  • 5 years ago

    Why are you splitting the sleeping areas into both ends of the house? Group them together and give the living area 3 exterior walls. Tuck the kids' bedrooms as far away from the living area as possible so that you don't have to be so quiet after you put them to bed. This layout ignores practicality and usability, which are so important in a compact space.

    And without a sense of the land and access (we don't even know where the front is), nobody can give any meaningful input.

    Keep in mind, with a house this simple, you're just reinventing the wheel..

  • 5 years ago

    I’m assuming you planned for kitchen to be in great room? Good to have some ideas but time to take your thoughts to a professional who can tease it out and make it a reality specific to your lot. Exciting project!

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Front door? Left side or right side, and where? (Centered or to the side?) Did you want a back door on the other wall, that might lead out to a patio or grill? (I think it might be code in most places to have two door egresses, but I can't actually answer that.) I do guess you probably are planning to keep all the water on the right side, so I'm also guessing the front door would be on the left - but do confirm.

    I am assuming you don't entertain often and your kids are noisy and you want a place to go hide on the other side from them? (Hey, it happens.)

    Sometimes the smallest homes are the hardest to design for, and you have to take into account your family's specific needs. Do you like to cook? Do both or more of you cook? Do you prefer to eat in the kitchen at a counter or island, or do you prefer a table in a dining nook/area? How many are there of you?

    I am going to assume you are planning to be on a slab since I see no basement access - will you be able to fit laundry facilities into that utility room along with the water heater, and other necessary elements for heating your home?

    Oh, what is your lot like?


  • 5 years ago

    Point of reference. The property is about 20000 ft². Also, this is just a rough draft that I came up with. I live in the Bahamas. This particular floor arrangement is common here (master ensuite on one side and other bedrooms on the opposite side). I'm not 100% on where the kitchen door willl be placed, which is why I stated that I need help on Laying out the space. I will probably opt to have small dining table in the area nearest to the kitchen nothing major. None of what I added in the kitchen is definite I just did it as a point of reference.

    What I mainly needed help with is laying out the kitchen in an efficient way and setting up the living Room. Also, fitting a soaker and shower in the master bath.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Looking at your second layout, why not:

    - Switching the shower and the tub

    - Center your bathroom door

    - Get a longer vanity

    You may want switching the closet with the bathroom so you can have a bedroom door that opens in the large area. If you do this, I would put a larger window in the bathroom and center it. Note that if you switch the bathroom and closet, you would lose a window on the West wall. This is the price to pay for the bedroom door opening to the large area. So only you can tell if it is worth it. A pocket door for the bedroom is also a possibility.

    I am assuming that the front entrance is by the great room, correct?

  • 5 years ago

    I'm sorry but what do you do normally for a living?

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    15 X 24 is a reasonable size for a living room. It is very, very small to be used for kitchen, dining and living room. Can you increase the size?

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    I would really suggest you get a professional. I would imagine that at some point you will need a full set of plans for permitting and building. That being said, it would be smart to contract with a professional early. I would hate for you to put a lot of time in to this and then find out a majority of the layout will not work. All the best!

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    I might add, this is not your best resource for this sort of help. I doubt professionals will lend you their services here for free. Thus, the input you receive will not be extremely credible.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    This is one idea but I agree with every body, you need a professional:



    Actually, I don't see a real advantage of switching the tub with the shower. If you keep your shower on the North wall, you may consider an angle door for your shower.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    If you are fine with a smaller study, you could have a bigger great room by removing the huge entrance closet:



  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    If you really want a tub in your master bedroom, I would access your closet from your bathroom. I am not sure if you lose hanging space, I believe not but if you do it would be a matter of few inches only. This would also allow for a regular door for your bedroom.

    I REALLY recommend you talk to an architect but this might give you one idea to talk about.

    Also in the latest floor plan I narrowed your utility room by about 6 inches.

    I would probably, after all, remove the small wall between the kitchen and the dining room.

    Also, if you can I would move the great entrance door closer to its closet on the left.



  • 5 years ago

    I moved the kitchen on the West wall because I feel it aligns better with the study room. The kitchen is reduced by one foot on that wall but the counter on the North wall is longer by about one foot.


  • 5 years ago

    thanks for the awesome feedback everyone. thank you Suzanne_m for the images. I am consulting with an architect.

  • 5 years ago

    The way you placed the appliances in your kitchen looks fine to me. I would place the sink about 18 in. towards the right end of the counter top on the North wall (I like to have my dirty dishes on one side of the counter and have the clean dishes on the other side). Having the sink on one side allow to get a longer continuous counter top on the left.

  • 5 years ago

    Three random thoughts:

    - Reality check: In 1200 sf, you're not going to get 3 bedrooms, a 4-piece master bath, a walk-in closet, a second bathroom, a studio AND a walk-in utility room. Just not gonna happen. You must either plan for more space OR prioritize what's most important.

    - Google 1200 sf house plans. You'll find a ton. I'm not saying they'll all be wonderful, but consider them a starting place /a learning tool.

    - You've pushed your bedrooms to the exterior, which leaves your main living space (where you're awake), to the dark middle of your house. Especially in such a small space, ample windows on two sides of the room will make your space seem larger.

    This particular floor arrangement is common here (master ensuite on one side and other bedrooms on the opposite side).

    It's common here too. Common doesn't mean good design.

    Actually, I don't see a real advantage of switching the tub with the shower.

    It places the tub, where you're more likely to linger, closer to the window. Is that enough reason? Eh, I dunno.

  • 5 years ago

    For sure looking at other floor plans and working with a professional will give you the best layout you can get for a 1200 sf house.

    Personally, I don't mind having the living space in the middle, you can still put a lot of windows if the exterior of the house permits.

    Having two walls to put windows in your 2 small bedrooms is an advantage .

    Also, Mrs Pete reminded me why I switched the tub and the shower in the first layout. That was exactly for the reason she mentioned. I just forgot my reason when I made the comment of not switching the tub. I must have been tired at that point.

  • 5 years ago

    My current 2 bed 1 bath home is 1100 sq feet. There is no way I could add a master bath, a studio and a 3rd bedroom to it.

  • 4 years ago

    how are people able to copy your floorplan?

    i want to do that so I can edit/reconfigure it for you.

  • 4 years ago

    @Mrs Pete, @suedonim75, i think it's possible to fit what the OP wants and he included a photo of the floorplan. It really depends on how the space is laid out.


    I'm currently redesigning 1300 SF condo that has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, large LR/DR/kitchen area.

    The public areas (foyer/LR/DR/kitchen) takes up about 550 SF, and the remaining 750 SF are private areas ( 3 bedrooms, 2 baths).