Great Location - Horrible Floor-plan (Any Architectural Suggestions)
Liam Alban
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
1980s, long and skinny space: any suggestions?
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (15)
Tribbletrouble44152k7 Trek
4 years agoLiam Alban
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Would love any comments on our plans for an extension to our home
Comments (34)the reno programs i've seen show a very unrealistic idea of how quick and easy it's supposed to be... your rooms are so generous that re-arranging the fridge, extra storage and seating at the kitchen bench is easy and i've attached an idea for a walk in pantry for your consideration?? BTW i meant the actual structure of the floor, concrete or timber framed in case you want to try the stove or sink away from the outside walls. I'm glad you like the ensuite and wiw and happy to attempt any variations but, much as i like planning kitchens and bathrooms, i suggest you need to confirm the overall construction, especially the roof, before finalising ideas about the internal fit out eg the yellow gable roof in my last suggestion would probably cost as much extra as the bathroom fittings and neither can be changed easily. The new kitchen cupboards would probably cost as much as the plumbing, electrican and windows but maybe the new kitchen could wait...so its' best to decide where you need to economise before you commit...See MoreSouth facing House - Flore plan suggestion required regarding sunlight
Comments (19)To quote Missy Elliott, I'd flip it and reverse it! ; D Contrary to some others, it sounds like a great block, with a north-facing rear, and 14m width is great to work with! I also live in Melbourne and my previous home's rear faced north. Although small (only 4m wide), it was such a beautiful home to live in as our living area at the rear had trifold doors and was flooded in sunlight through Winter (lovely and we rarely used the heater during th day) and in summer was bright but not blinding or too hot at any time of the day. Conversely the bedrooms at the front were lovely, dark and cool through the year. So when looking to buy our current home, a north-facing rear was literally top of my priority list, my family thought I was mad! So ensure you use the opportunity for a lovely, light-filled home to live in and to save on heating and cooling. I would put your living at the rear where the current bedrooms are, with windows/doors right along the northern (back wall), kitchen where the rear bathroom etc are, and dining further along the eastern wall adjacent to that. I also don't like the glare of a western dining room late in the day as the sun is low in the sky when you're typically having dinner. Furthermore, it's lovely having the (eastern) morning sun streaming in a kitchen and where you're having your breakfast in the morning! Alternatively, stretch your Kitchen, Dining, Living across the full width of the house at the back, I think it's almost 11m wide, which is a comfortable width to arrange that, with windows across the back, and trees at any side windows on the west. Finally, I'd flip the garage and master bedroom, so your bedroom isn't on the hottest side of the house going into the evening. Put rooms you spend a brief amount of time in on that side - bathrooms, laundry etc. As for the alfresco area that seems so popular on new builds, I'm not a fan of them in Melbourne at all. They merely block the valuable sunlight from entering, brightening and warming the house, and I'm sure they don't get used that much anyway. If you need the covered shelter, then it's likely too cold to sit outside anyway, you're better off to have it uncovered, or have a retractable awning or umbrellas for nice days when you would sit outside. And having this on your western side will only make the dining area shaded until the very late (& hot) time of day when you'll be blinded by the setting sun (unless you have neighbours on that side which shadows the afternoon light anyway). As for mould etc, just ensure you have good ventilation, good sub-floor drainage etc, I don't imagine it should be a problem usually. So glad you're considering aspect though, I see so many project homes that don't take the aspect of the home into consideration at all. With some moving around, you could have a lovely home ahead of you....See MoreAny advice on my new floor plan?
Comments (139)Hi there Dave, sorry for not responding sooner, I have been a bit unwell. I would like to add the following ideas. 1) You mention going to a kitchen company and showing your current kitchen plan, the better thing for you to have done would to have taken your floor plan with measurements and asked them what they would suggest, as long as they didn't want to charge you. This way you would get more ideas, not just them politely agreeing hoping to get your business, and why not, 2) I would contact several builders to come on site and give you their ideas of what needs to be done and advise if you would need to involve council and the building costs involved in doing this. The builders will have their own trades electrical and plumbing that work as a team 3) You mention flat packs, they are a great option and can save you a lot of money, Bunnings will do a kitchen plan and cost in store at no charge, Ikea will do the same but not sure about any charges. You can also go online to both and work out a plan, but I would strongly suggest you speak face to face them as they know their product. Bunnings run in store programs where they show you how to assemble their cabinets, both stores have video tutorials, believe me it's worth watching as flat pack anything can be a nightmare. If you can assemble your own cabinets in your own time it will save you a.lot of money, starting sooner than later would be a very good idea I didn't get up to mentioning in planning the layout of your kitchen that the larger the cabinets you use will also save money, ie 2 x 900 as against 3 x 600, the cost per unit plus instead of paying for 3 cabinets to be installed it's 2. It's also makes for a simpler looking design. Most of our Bunnings kitchen is made up of 900 units 2 x Drawers & 900 units 3 x drawer. The exception is 800 cabinet for the sink. 5) Cook top, I would strongly suggest you work a 900 into your kitchen (this would mean having to use a smaller cabinet either side or just between the cook top and the wall). 900 cook tops give superior space to use especially when using large pots/woks and fry pans, they also help to protect laminated bench tops from accidental put down and burns, 6) Range hood, the best look for your kitchen wouldn't be a large stainless wall mounted unit and that's good news as the intergrated ones in over head cabinets would not only look better, give more storage and would cost less. 7) The Island, you have been trying to decide what size, well if you don't have plumbing installed, the island can be free standing with or with out plinths and can be moved if you decide you need more space. You do need to have a couple of power points but make sure they have a longer connection. Our Island is 2.7 x 1200 and has both a cook top and oven with power points and can be moved approx 500m in each direction due to having longer connections. 8) Bench tops, you mention laminate due to cost, we had that problem what with the size of the island. So we went with Plywood (not Marine) We went to Mr Plywood who when the next delivery came in chose a piece with a beautiful grain, had it cut to size and delivered. The plywood sheet came in a 3 meter length but not all do, we had enough to do the sink bench and a top for a tressel table & legs my better half made. cost with delivery 2hrs approx $400. We did a shadow line bench top which had a smaller size white set back under lay. You need to use a good two pack pot sealant on the Plywood. Finally I don't know where I got the picture of the retro coloured kitchen cabinets, but look online at both Bunnings and Ikea cheers...See MoreAdvice on my floor plan
Comments (36)Also, if you are interested in how to use cooling breezes, it's a good idea to look at the Bureau of Meteorology site. There's lots of information here on wind directions & strengths through the seasons. Again, your local conditions may vary somewhat from the BOM site used (MACKAY M.O.), so if you're a local you may have a better idea. The BOM (most commonly) records wind data for its sites at both 9am & 3pm. The data is presented as a wind rose. A description of wind roses, & how to use them, can be found here, http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/wind/wind_rose.shtml The 9am wind rose is shown here, http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/cgi_bin_scripts/windrose_selector.cgi?period=Annual&type=9&location=33119 The most common wind at 9am appears to be from the SSE, & of moderate strength. The 3pm wind rose can be found here, http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/cgi_bin_scripts/windrose_selector.cgi?period=Annual&type=3&location=33119 The wind is a now SE to ESE, of moderate strength. Unfortunately, these are yearly wind roses, so won't show seasonal variations. If you'd like to investigate seasonal differences, monthly wind roses, for both 9am & 3pm, can be found in pdf format on the following BOM page, http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_033119.shtml...See MoreLiam Alban
4 years agoTribbletrouble44152k7 Trek
4 years ago
PROThe Design Mill
4 years ago
PRORenovatePlans | Building Designers Pty Ltd
4 years agoLiam Alban
4 years ago- PRO
RenovatePlans | Building Designers Pty Ltd
4 years ago 
Vy
4 years ago
rwalton5
4 years agorwalton5
4 years ago
PROEnvirotecture
4 years ago
Homesight
4 years agoTribbletrouble44152k7 Trek
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
Tribbletrouble44152k7 Trek