This is the floor plan

These are 2 google maps images of the existing house

These are some basic markups I was thinking of, I don't know if they are clear.

I will explain in the next post

So some changes I would like to incorporate in the plans:

I want a proper mudroom. I don't like how the planner put it directly across from the front entrance, I would like it somewhere else, as you can see instead I portioned off part of the study for a large coat closet and I would like to incorparate it somewhere else.

A thought I had was to portion off part of the garage for that, possibly. We do want to keep most of the garage for tax purposes but it might be possible to take part of it off.

Another thing is a large "Costco" closet/pantry for bulk storage preferably somewhere near the kitchen or off the garage so that its accesable for post shopping trips.

I am also worried that the kitchen and family room/dining room areas are not large enough and am thinking about enlarging the back and side portion of the house even more.

I want to remove the wall the planner put in by the dining room and leave it open with pocket doors.

I think these are my main questions right now and I'd appreciate any advice or critique.

Thanks!!!

It sounds like you're going about your renovations intelligently, although the one professional you don't mention is a certified kitchen designer. Since that is critical to you, that is someone I would suggest adding to your team.

My one immediate impression, given the size of your family and your requirements, is you might focus on one large eating area and one large family room, rather than two smaller eating areas, a family room and living room. That way there is space for everyone to gather.

If you do that, you may be able to find soace for a mudroom and pantry.

Post the plans again in format that allows a click and blow up. Cant read the dimensions.

By "space planner" do you mean interior designer? Or kitchen designer?

Something this major benefits from a team:

You. The architect, the kitchen pro, and yes an interior designer...add the builder.

With eight kids at home ? I'd want to get it right. Probably need a room just for Costco TP : )

The plan needs to be able to be enlarged a lot more and all the measurements need to be clearly marked . I agree to have 2 eating areas is a waste of space but since I have no idea of room size it is impossible to help with any other ideas. I do not know what a space planner is but a KD is a must IMO I have a MCM ranch and a huge LR, a walkout with the media room in the walkout. I think the walkout will be your saving grace with the large family but I need the plan .

Thank you all for commenting.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting The plan was a pdf so I screenshotted it, I converted it now to a jpg through adobe, is it better?

The space planner as I call him, I guess he's a designer that isn't a licensed architect but helps with ideas and planning. He is working hand in hand with my architect once we come up with concrete plans.

I will be hiring a kitchen designer, but I am not up to that stage yet. Right now we are working on initial plans so that we can start the permit process. Here in NJ it will take at least 2 months for us to get permits to begin the work.

In regard to 2 separate rooms, we do like a formal dining space and don't want to give up on that.

We eat large family meals weekly (Saturday) and its important for us to have the extra space for that.

The dining room will be not be used during the week unless for a special occasion so I like that it can be semi closed off.

I am concerned about the kitchen/family room areas being too small, that is why I was thinking to bump out the expansion more.

I will try to convert the plans it should be more readable and I'll appreciate any advice thereafter.

Especially where I can incorporate a mudroom. I don't love that they'll have to go through the garage for that, but the main entrance isn't ideal either. And we are closing off the 2nd entrance where the kitchen will be.

And another point I forgot to mention, if you notice over the entryway it says open to above.

We will be opening the attic to have cathedral style ceilings for the entryway and dining room so it will have a more expansive feeling.

The plan is still not readable .My advice it to do the floor plan on graph paper jpeg format and then see if the measurements are at least readble. IMO the KD is a must at the beginning of this . I aslo do not agree to go to the architect with preconceived ideas .I fin it best to give the architect your needs list and then take it from there . If help here we need a plan we can read since all measurements are a must. IMO cathederal ceilings waste heating and cooling $$$$ also have weird effects on sound so IMO I would not waste money on thta but use that money to get things that will make the sapce work better for your family.

What did you like about the house? Because it sounds like the answer is "nothing". Scrape the lot and build new.

I see this is a kosher kitchen, with Pesach kitchen as well. Is the Pesach kitchen completely closed off when not in use? With the open side to the kitchen, and windows on the other walls, where will yiu position furniture and books and art in the family room? and perhaps a tv?

If yiu close off the dining room, the living room is also closed off. It seems like a good portion of the home, right in the middle, is closed off during the week. You might want to keep the door to the family room, so that when you do use it, there isn’t a traffic jam and you have better circulation.

The mudroom isn’t a mudroom, it is a closet. What will be your most common entrance to the house for your family? will it be from the garage or will it be through the front door?

The toilet does not have a sink, it appears to be across the hall. I’m not sure if there are rules for that? But also, the toilet door is directly across from the dining/living room door. You might want to reposition it.

For the family bathrooms, a friend’s large family had an interesting solution: the shower was shared between two half-baths, so someone could use the bathroom while someone else was in the shower.

In general, there isn’t much storage in the bathrooms. I realize that with 4 children sharing a bathroom, two sinks are handy, but children have storage needs especially as they grow, and might find countertop and drawer space and an overhead cabinet above the toilet to be more useful, And, in your bathroom, the same applies. The sinks have very little space around or below.

A Costco pantry is nice, but is just as well located in the basement. Yes, it’s a walk from the garage, but yiur stairs are centrally located, and, gee, isn’t that why we have children, to fetch things from the basement for us?

The flaws enlarged

Must ask.......... did the Architect put you with the space planner to save you money? Or did you engage the space planner thinking it would be a shortcut and helpful to the architect?

In either case.......you're wrong, or the architect is commercial,not residential, and doesn't want to be bothered. Tip? Many many commercial firms, do not relish residential. This is fact. One of them to me? "I hate residential........too much emotion, too much hand holding "

As if I DIDN'T KNOW, and I don't care you are giving your brother in law a $$$$ "break". It is not that. At all.

It’s a pretty house. Does the service door currently open to the kitchen, or does it open to a utility room? I love a front-facing kitchen (it was high on my wish list when looking for our current house, and I got it!), but I wonder if you might be better served by turning the existing kitchen into the mudroom (and perhaps powder room), and moving the new kitchen back, or perhaps behind the garage?

Thank you so much for all your comments.

You've given me a LOOOOT of food for thought. ;) and some great ideas.

I need to discuss all this with some of the other decision makers and I'll be back with some updates.

Especially the whole architect/space planner thingy, I really need to reaffirm what the roles are and will be working on getting the kitchen designer asap, thanks!!!

If the laundry room stays there (and it’s a good spot), just have a straight run of washer, dryer, and sink/counter along the long wall. It will be more efficient. Then you can use the walls on either side of the door to hang up the broom, mop, and other things that can hang on hooks. Don’t do double doors, have a single door.

Is it worth doing a Pesach kitchen for only 8 days a year? Yes I realize cleaning out your regular kitchen for Pesach is quite a chore, (I used to help my grandmother do her kitchen when I was a child) but the other takes up space that could be better utilized as well as the expense.

I think there's a better overall redesign there.