Remodeling Floor Plan for a Kitchen
If you’re planning a remodel of your kitchen—the heart of the home—it’s probably because you want a larger space with more flexibility. For example, you may want to entertain guests, have a place to do projects or homework with children, or gather for a family meal.
It will be easier to take out the recycling or bring in the groceries if the kitchen is accessible from the outside. If enjoying a meal together is the most important use, lay out a dining space large enough so everyone will feel comfortable. If you need a separate space for paying bills or working on crafts with the kids, build a desk with storage out of the main traffic flow, but where anyone working there won’t feel isolated.A couple who entertain frequently and have no children might want a larger workspace where others can join in preparing food or spend time visiting while they cook.
Remodeling Floor Plan for a Primary Bedroom
A primary bedroom should be as luxurious and private as you want. List everything you’d like to have in the suite:
If you’ll watch television in the primary bedroom, include a sitting area with an armoire for the TV set at an adequate distance for comfortable viewing. If you want to exercise, have ample, open floor space for a yoga mat or a partitioned area for a treadmill or exercise bike. You’ll need a nightstand and reading light, but what about a music system?
Remodeling Floor Plan for a Home Office
A home office must meet your specific work style: For example, whether you’re a massage therapist working from home or a parent working remotely, you’ll need quiet working space, though you’ll want different types of setups.
The massage therapist might need an area away from the main house that has the feeling of a tranquil retreat. A stay-at-home working parent, however, might want to be close to the central part of the house to keep track of the family. Plan accordingly. If you’ll see clients at the home office (where zoning ordinances permit), you should provide a separate entrance, so they don’t have to walk through the house. A bathroom should be nearby for clients and your convenience during the workday. How many people does the space need to serve? If you install more than one workstation, or if you’ll set up a temporary workstation from time to time, allow extra space. Make sure you have enough storage for office supplies—built-ins are great for stashing supplies and displaying books and awards. They can also serve as partitions to break up the space.
Remodeling Floor Plan for a Sunroom
A sunroom might be a place to grow plants year-round, soak up the sunshine on a bright but chilly day, or simply take advantage of the lovely view.
Locate your sunroom on the south side of the house to maximize the heat from the sun’s energy. Insulated glass will limit heat loss. Adding operable windows will provide ventilation when needed.
Remodeling Floor Plan for a Bathroom
A bathroom should be close to the rooms it will serve the most.
The best place on a second story for a bathroom is where it has a vertical path down to the first story’s plumbing lines. If the new bathroom will be on the same floor as the old one, locate the new room nearby to share lines. The plumbing rough-ins will determine where fixtures can go in the bathroom. Remember that it will be expensive to change if the plumber roughs in the room based on your floor plan. When you lay out the floor plan, make realistic estimates of locations for the supply and drain rough-ins. If the bathroom will feature a Roman tub, whirlpool, or elaborate shower stall, plan the room around that feature.
