Design an Addition! (Update 1st post)

[sangtarah]

updated with actual plans! 
———————————-

We need to add on. We will have professionals draw real plans, but I’d like creative ideas!

The upper “north” wall is the existing house wall.  I designed one way. 

Must Haves: 1) full bathroom in the upper right hand corner (plumbing is there)

2) 2 bedrooms 

3) schoolroom space

Edited February 10, 2021 by sangtarah

[Amethyst]

I like what you have so far. 
 

There seems to be only one doorway, and does that connect to the main house? I don’t know what the surrounding area is like but would it be possible to have a door (possibly with a little patio) in one of the bedrooms?

Creative ideas? How about skylights? Or a specialty window? 

Edited February 2, 2021 by Amethyst

[Amethyst]

Some ideas for specialty windows. 
 

https://www.andersenwindows.com/windows-and-doors/windows/specialty-shape-windows/

[Jaybee]

In the homeschool space, would you like a comfy window seat/reading nook? Is that a window in the closet of a bedroom?

[Annie G]

Love what you’ve designed. Not sure I’d like a window in a closet, especially if that’s a kid’s room (another thinking about kid doing anything sneaky, just a kid getting scared). If you want more window in that room, you could do a pocket door - making it roll behind the linen closet-then make the window in that room larger. With a pocket door you’d gain 2.5 ft of open wall space by not having a door there. 

[sangtarah]

1 hour ago, Amethyst said:

I like what you have so far. 
 

There seems to be only one doorway, and does that connect to the main house? I don’t know what the surrounding are is like but would it be possible to have a door (possibly with a little patio) in one of the bedrooms?

Creative ideas? How about skylights? Or a specialty window? 

Yes, there is only one doorway into the addition. I don’t think I’d want the kids having access outside from the rooms, but it’s possible to access from the schoolroom. 

[matrips]

I’d put full wall length closets (instead of walk in) along the bedroom walls that meet each other (to help provide a better buffer for privacy/quiet). 

Edited February 2, 2021 by matrips
Missed where your existing house is

[Bootsie]

How will the bedroom space be used?  One child each?  Multiple children sharing?

I have generally found that long, reach-in closets are more efficient in children's room.  A walk-in closet is a lot of space to just stand in but not get square foot storage, I would do long closets, especially to prevent have major outside wall space devoted to closet and losing a window in the bedroom.  We did a similar second story addition and opted for two, small bathrooms.  It wasn't much more expensive--really one bathtub, one toilet an minimal plumbing differences.  And it really didn't take up much more space the way we configured it.  

[sangtarah]

32 minutes ago, Jaybee said:

In the homeschool space, would you like a comfy window seat/reading nook? Is that a window in the closet of a bedroom?

The window in the closet was more about symmetry on the front of the house, LOL

[sangtarah]

13 minutes ago, Bootsie said:

How will the bedroom space be used?  One child each?  Multiple children sharing?

I have generally found that long, reach-in closets are more efficient in children's room.  A walk-in closet is a lot of space to just stand in but not get square foot storage, I would do long closets, especially to prevent have major outside wall space devoted to closet and losing a window in the bedroom.  We did a similar second story addition and opted for two, small bathrooms.  It wasn't much more expensive--really one bathtub, one toilet an minimal plumbing differences.  And it really didn't take up much more space the way we configured it.  

One child per room. Hopefully!

I would love to see a quick sketch of the layout - I’m a visual person! 

[Jaybee]

21 minutes ago, sangtarah said:

The window in the closet was more about symmetry on the front of the house, LOL

Lol, I figured.

[Spy Car]

Maybe?

Bill

Edited February 2, 2021 by Spy Car

[Sherry in OH]

I would modify Bill's design by putting washer-dryer where he has placed the toilet. (Yes, in the bathroom.) I would select a smaller single basin vanity and put it and the toilet in the space allocated for a double vanity.   I would make the space Bill allocated for linens and washer-dryer a large closet.  One section for linens, the remainder for homeschool supplies.    I would want a solid core door for the bathroom.  

Reasons: 1) You really do not want the view into to bathroom to be the toilet.  2) Do your children share bathroom time or do they take turns? If taking turns, there is no need for a second sink. If sharing, the sink is used for washing hands and brushing teeth.  They can take turns. If it is mirror space they need, put mirrors in the bedrooms. 3) Washers and dryers are loud.  A solid door and large closet provide a noise barrier.  4) You need storage space for school supplies.

I would also remove the L-shaped wall at closet A.  This wall could impede getting furniture into and out of the green bedroom.  Use furniture to define the space.

 

 

[Storygirl]

I agree Sherry's ideas with having only one bowl for the sink, unless you have a specific need for two. And having a closet in the flex room and moving the bedroom closets to the inner walls, as in Bill's redesign.

[sangtarah]

We talked to an architect today! I’m excited to see what they come up with. 
We decided to give up a washer/dryer, to save on sq ft. There will be 9 people sharing the current washer and dryer, so it was a nice idea to add them, but not necessary. Building prices are so volatile! $100-150 per sq ft! so we have to keep it under 750. 
Here’s the plan I showed them: 

 

[Laurel-in-CA]

Wow.....here it's more like $400/square foot. But then, it's a very expensive area.

Good luck with your expansion!

[KungFuPanda]

If it helps, a friend who did an addition said that having an interior designer create her space before blueprints were drawn up was the best money she ever spent.  Had she done it the other way around, the dimensions she thought she needed would have been all wrong.  

[Scarlett]

6 hours ago, sangtarah said:

We talked to an architect today! I’m excited to see what they come up with. 
We decided to give up a washer/dryer, to save on sq ft. There will be 9 people sharing the current washer and dryer, so it was a nice idea to add them, but not necessary. Building prices are so volatile! $100-150 per sq ft! so we have to keep it under 750. 
Here’s the plan I showed them: 

 

I like it a lot.  But not sure why you would give up the washer dryer. Seems like an easy add and it would help a lot with that many people in the house.  I would much rather have that in the area you have marked as closet off the main room.  

[sangtarah]

41 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

I like it a lot.  But not sure why you would give up the washer dryer. Seems like an easy add and it would help a lot with that many people in the house.  I would much rather have that in the area you have marked as closet off the main room.  

I would love to have it, but it requires 6 sq ft - bigger than a normal closet depth. This isn’t the final version, of course, so we may change our minds again. But it does add extra cost and with building costs fluctuating, we need to make sure there is margin. 

[matrips]

I would cut 2’ off the bedroom on the right bedroom (or split the difference between the two bedrooms) to put a wall of regular closets on the wall that adjoins the left bedroom.  Reclaim that walk-in closet space and hall closet to use for the washer/dryer space.  

[matrips]

For the bathroom-

I’d put the tub along the window/outside wall (you have it along the adjoining house wall).  So that the length of the tub is along the outside wall.

I’d then put the toilet to the left of the tub, on the adjoining house wall. 

I’d put the sink where you originally had it.

it’ll be the same size room as you had, but you won’t be looking at the toilet from the flex room if the door is open.

 

 

[Bootsie]

55 minutes ago, sangtarah said:

I would love to have it, but it requires 6 sq ft - bigger than a normal closet depth. This isn’t the final version, of course, so we may change our minds again. But it does add extra cost and with building costs fluctuating, we need to make sure there is margin. 

Are there options for a combined washer/dryer that are smaller?  My mom has one of those washers with the dryer attached to the top (not two separate stackable pieces).  I know that the space she has it in is much smaller than 6 sq ft.  

Another option I would consider (if there is a tub somewhere else in the house) is just putting in a shower rather than a shower/tub combo.  By the time my kids were able to take a bath unattended, they were taking showers.  The shower is easier to clean and could be done for with less space, to help carve a washer/dryer space.    

[Innisfree]

For our family, having closets between the two bedrooms as a noise buffer would be extremely helpful. Or, if closets just won't fit, some sort of soundproofing within the wall, maybe? The fact that they can hear everything from each other's rooms is my kids' biggest complaint about our house. It means that they effectively have no real privacy.

The idea of substituting a shower plus a stacking washer and dryer for the tub sounds very good. I've used the w/d that's designed to be one unit, back when dd1 was a baby. It was good enough that I'm considering another for a cramped laundry room.

Edited February 4, 2021 by Innisfree

[Amethyst]

5 hours ago, Innisfree said:

For our family, having closets between the two bedrooms as a noise buffer would be extremely helpful.

This. I just came to post this very thing. I believe a lot of houses are designed this way. 

[sangtarah]

There’s a plan! 
 

(see first post)

[Scarlett]

Very nice!  The only thing you weren't able to get was the closet between bedrooms for privacy.  But if this is kids bedrooms that should not be a  big deal.  I like it.  This is very exciting.

[Amethyst]

Very nice! Exciting. 

[Spy Car]

Sorry, I don't like it.

Not enough windows. Closets in strange places, and worst of all no retention of privacy for trips to the bathroom.

I'd reject this plan myself.

Excuse my honesty.

Bill

[4atHome]

7 hours ago, Spy Car said:

Sorry, I don't like it.

Not enough windows. Closets in strange places, and worst of all no retention of privacy for trips to the bathroom.

I'd reject this plan myself.

Excuse my honesty.

Bill

Agree.

Bedroom1 will be dark with the one window with closet surround.  And I think the room will look very odd to have one window with a door on either side, not to mention, 2 small closets seems an inefficient use of space.  I like a separate water closet, but the bathroom layout is strange.  I don't like the washer/dryer in your room space.  Seems very noisy and makes the entire space a utility room.

Your first draft was better.  I would rethink this.  

[sangtarah]

Thanks for the opinions! 
We are designing two different closet spaces in keeping with different children. One needs a walk in and one wants the symmetrical window seat with 2 closets. 
We will definitely tweak this draft. More windows in the bedrooms is a must. Probably will change the closet doors. It’s possible that neither the A/C nor the washer/dryer will be needed, so that space may be able to stay a large storage closet. 
The bathroom really needed a separate toilet. I suppose there’s a million ways to build such things! 
A professional designer would be super great, anyone know one? We looked! 
Anyway, it’s good to have feedback! 

[DawnM]

Sorry, not meaning to hijack this thread, but did you use a software program for the design.    As you know, I am renovating for my dad and would love to have something online I can work with to design/sketch something.

 

[sangtarah]

26 minutes ago, DawnM said:

Sorry, not meaning to hijack this thread, but did you use a software program for the design.    As you know, I am renovating for my dad and would love to have something online I can work with to design/sketch something.

 

No, I gave my humble graph paper to the professional drafter/architect and they returned the preliminary plan to us. 

[4atHome]

2 hours ago, sangtarah said:

professional drafter/architect

A drafter is not an architect. You could say architectural drafter if the drafter works for an architect.  A drafter just draws what someone tells them to draw.

Edited February 11, 2021 by 4atHome

[Storygirl]

With just one window flanked by two closets, will there be enough space there for a window seat? I would think a seat worth sitting on would need to be wider. No one will sit on a window seat like a chair; there needs to be space to sit sideways with feet also on the bench area.

I don't think having two closets flanking the windows is a bad idea, really, but I'm not sure there is enough space there to make it function as desired.

[sangtarah]

2 hours ago, Storygirl said:

With just one window flanked by two closets, will there be enough space there for a window seat? I would think a seat worth sitting on would need to be wider. No one will sit on a window seat like a chair; there needs to be space to sit sideways with feet also on the bench area.

I don't think having two closets flanking the windows is a bad idea, really, but I'm not sure there is enough space there to make it function as desired.

I've also thought about this. I may have that closet moved to the Flex Space wall. That would give a much larger closet, and we can build a window seat afterwards. I have to convince the kid, though! LOL

[sangtarah]

3 hours ago, 4atHome said:

A drafter is not an architect. You could say architectural drafter if the drafter works for an architect.  A drafter just draws what someone tells them to draw.

Yeah, now we know that. I'm not sure what the correct title is in this case.