Software
Houzz Logo Print
pbj19

Lakehouse layout review

5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

Hi! I'm building a simple farmhouse style lakehouse with the following layout. It will be an investment property, primarily used for short term rentals. Here is the main floor and upstairs. There will be a garage mudroom built in that's not shown. The upstairs will have a king, queen, and bunk room. Basement to be finished at a later point. I know that there isn't a pantry space, but plan to have tall cabinets on either side of the fridge for dry foods and maybe make the small closet by the garage door a space for dry foods too. What do you all think of the overall layout for a lake house (not full time living).








Comments (10)

  • 5 years ago

    I would want more large windows/sliders so I could see the lake. One of the reasons we love our tiny lake house is because of the view.

    PB thanked maddielee
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    In the hall bath upstairs, put only one sink. Visitors will have stuff with them and will need the counter space and drawers on either side, and they likely won’t be brushing their teeth at the same time.

    If I were staying in a lake house, I think I’d want the laundry to be convenient for throwing in beach towels and clothes dirty from fishing, and a place to drop gear etc. so, maybe an enclosed breezeway and protected paved area between Garage and house.

    PB thanked bpath
  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Is it an ugly lake? Is there a second garage that you indicate is not shown? Trash the barn door on the laundry room. A local architect with experience in designing lake houses will be a better investment for you.

    PB thanked Mark Bischak, Architect
  • 5 years ago

    What struck me was that most of the windows and garage entry are on the front of the house. Normally most windows would be on the lake side with the garage opening on the other side. Depending on how steep the yard is and where it is located having people drive around the house to enter may not be the best idea. You also need to check to see what type of rooms are allowed above a garage. Some areas only an open area will be allowed. Plan in advance for egress windows in the basement. Easier to put in when building than later.

    If allowed a place for parking boat trailers would be needed.

    PB thanked maifleur03
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I should add that the house is in the midwest. It's going to be a little bit up on a hill from the lake and unfortunately, no great views of the water from the house. You have to walk about 150 yards to the lake, where there is large boat dock with 2 slips, kitchen, and top deck also.



  • 5 years ago

    Particularly full or larger beds should not be against the wall. If two people are sleeping in them, someone must be climbed over.

    PB thanked mainenell
  • 5 years ago

    You'd significantly increase the function if you added a generous combination laundry/mudroom/pantry to the first floor. People need a place to dump stuff when they walk inb, especially a lot of people in a small house.


    Is it your intention to rent only to one household at once? I could see this working for parents (they get the master), a teenager (they get the full/queen), and little kids (they get the bunk room). But I don't see this working well for any group with two sets of adults who don't usually share a room. Like, say you want to rent to two couples and their kids. Or to parents, grandparents, and kids. Or two single moms and their kids. Or whatever. For those groups, someone gets the generously sized master with a large private bathroom, and then whoever gets stuck with the cramped queen room sharing a bathroom with the kids has seriously drawn the short straw.


    I think you'd probably have broader appeal if you had the same bunk room for kids, plus two bedrooms roughly of equal size, both that fit a king, and both with their own bathrooms. Both those bedrooms could be smaller than the current master and still be adequate, and the bathrooms could be small and basic as long as they're not shared.

    PB thanked Jillius
  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Ask your drafter to show you sections through the stairs and how the first to second floor stair will encroach on the first floor space and stair to the basement.

    PB thanked Mark Bischak, Architect
  • 5 years ago

    Please, if you are going to rent no full size beds, do at least queen size!