The floor plan for this small country home only needed a gentle tweak. The proportions were incorrect for the family's uses and the house size.
The kitchen was small, included the euro laundry and was on the very best passive solar design: the north/west corner.
The one bathroom, which included the toilet, was huge and bedrooms diminutive.
The laundry in the kitchen, although common in England, is quite unhygienic. The bathroom is the much more convenient place for the laundry as this is where the majority of the washing is generated. Its own room is always the preference and with this plan it worked very easily.
The kitchen, while open to the living room which had access to the alfresco, had an additional unnecessary external door that then turned the cabinetry and created a dead corner and the awkward kitchen layout resulted.
An ensuite was on the wish list but not included in the original plan.
A formal entry was not a requirement as this is a home proposed for acreage and the alfresco was a definite required for removal of wet clothes, work boots, put down for small tools etc. But also a great place to dry clothes, enjoy the afternoon drinks and relax after the day is done.
IMPROVEMENTS:
Firstly to design the kitchen to the south side, away from the best of the day sun.
Include a servery to alfresco.
The dishwasher across the corner ensures no dead corner and more benching at the servery.
Separate laundry is created and includes storage.
Direct access to from laundry to the alfresco for clothes line and put down area.
Toilet and vanity close to laundry for workers' use.
Access to bathroom very convenient.
Inclusion of ensuite.
All the wet rooms are to the south. Being a small home they are all together too for plumbing and hot water convenience.
Sitting/dining to the north for best passive solar heating.
Cross ventilation is assured for maximum summer cooling.
Second and third bedrooms are intended to be used as guest rooms and or studies so their position on the north side is ideal.
The master bedroom has windows to the east including one directly ahead of the hallway. This allows a lovely view anytime to the fields beyond and for the sun to shine down the hallway and brighten the whole home in the mornings.
"Margot Kirke thanks for your valuable feedback. We surely will change few things according to your suggestions."