Room Relationships and Sizes Chapter 8 Room Relationships and Sizes

Links for Chapter 8 Floor Plan Design Kitchen Area Living Area Traffic Patterns Sleeping Area Accessibility Service Area Related Web Sites

Floor Plan Design Considerations Number of inhabitants and their age and sex Family activities Desired number of bedrooms and bathrooms Desired kitchen appliances Budget and home style Intended length of stay

Living Area These rooms include: entry/foyer living room family room dining room den/study/office nook

Entry Main entry is the focal point of the house and provides protection against the weather Service entry is used by the family between the house and garage, yard, or service areas

Foyer Used to greet guests, hang coats, and provide access to the rest of the home Should create a warm, inviting feeling and enhance traffic flow Keep foyer proportional in size to the rest of the house

Living Room Designed according to the needs and interests of the homeowner Size is determined by the typical number of guests that will be entertained If there is no family room, this room is used for formal entertaining and quite conversation Usually placed near the entry and a few steps down

Family Room Most used room in the house Used for many different activities for a variety of people Minimum size should be 13’ x 16’ Air must be able to circulate if there is a wood stove or fireplace

Dining Room Located near the kitchen for easy serving and the living room for easy passage Small dining is 9’ x 11’ minimum Formal dining is about 11’ x 14’ Maintain room to walk (about 42”) around an occupied chair at the table

Nook and Den/Study/Office Nook needs to be near the dining and kitchen areas for family meals Den, study, or office is used for quite reading and study Home theaters are used to show high-quality movies for about 8 to 12 people

Sleeping Area

Sleeping Area Number of bedrooms will depend on the size of the family and the ages of the children A minimum of two sleeping rooms should be provided Keep plumbing away from bedroom walls by placing a closet between them

Bedrooms Place on the southeast side of the house Minimum size is 70 sq. ft. and 100 sq. ft. if financed by the FHA Master bedroom should have additional space for sitting and bathing Minimum of 24” on each side of the bed should be provided

Closets Closets are not required according to code Males need at least 48” and females 72” Minimum of 30” is needed to prevent wrinkling of clothes Can be used to buffer noise between rooms Master bedrooms should have a walk-in closet

Service Area These rooms include bath, kitchen, and utility rooms and garage Keep service areas together to minimize plumbing needs

Bathrooms Types of bathrooms Half-bath - lavatory and toilet Three-quarter - half-bath plus a shower Full bath - half-bath plus a tub/shower Bathroom suite - full bath plus enlarged tub

Bathrooms Each bathroom should have an individual access Two-story house needs two full bathrooms Place bathrooms back-to-back to reduce the amount of plumbing

Kitchen Locate near dining area Windows usually allow for supervision of children Keep near garage or carport for easy grocery unloading

Kitchen Areas Storage Area Preparation Area Needed 18” beside refrigerator Upper cabinets are 12” wide and base cabinets are 24” wide Preparation Area Includes sink, cooking units, and clear counter

Kitchen Areas Cleaning Center Includes sink, garbage disposal, and dishwasher Double sink is 32” x 21” and wider Dish storage should be near the dishwasher Do not include a garbage disposal in a septic system

Work Triangle Formed by drawing a line between the preparation, storage, and cleaning areas This maintains traffic flow and efficiency in preparing food Additional appliances will affect the management of the kitchen areas

Work Triangle No side should be less than 4’ or more than 7’ long Sum or the triangle sides should be at least 15’ but not more than 22’ Traffic flow should not pass through the triangle

Work Triangle

Counter Arrangements Straight - Used in small units Corridor or Galley - Cabinets are on two parallel walls that are at least 48” apart L-Shaped - Cabinets are on adjacent walls and helps eliminate traffic

Counter Arrangements U-Shaped - Ideal for large kitchens with at least 60” between facing cabinets Peninsula - An additional leg is added to an L- or U-shaped kitchen design

Counter Arrangements Island - Added to any kitchen design and provides additional counter space

Cabinet Sizes Overhead Cabinets Base Cabinets 12”-18” deep 30”-33” above counter 12”-18” above appliance 9”-48” wide Base Cabinets 24”-36” deep 36” high 9”-48” wide

Appliance Arrangements Sink in front of a window Sink should promote easy movement between the other work areas Avoid placing sink and dishwasher on different counters Place refrigerator near service area and sink

Utility Room Space needed for cleaning and caring for clothes and long term storage Place near the kitchen or bedroom Include a laundry chute if possible

Garage or Carport Minimum space for single car is 11’ x 20’ Minimum space for two cars is 21’ x 21’ Additional space may be needed for other equipment or a workshop Blend into the rest of the residence

Traffic Patterns Traffic Flow - The route people follow as they move from one area to another Circulation pathways should be between 36” and 48” A sunroom or solarium is used to bring the outside into the interior living areas

Traffic Patterns - Inside/Outside A court is at exterior grade level and enclosed by three or more walls A patio is a ground-level made of concrete, stone, brick, or treated wood

Traffic Patterns - Inside/Outside A balcony is above ground that projects from a wall or building with no additional supports A porch is an enclosed patio or deck

Universal Accessibility 9’-0” parking space is required Doors need a 32” clearance A 60” square required for a 360° wheelchair turn

Universal Accessibility Countertops should be 30” to 32” high Refrigerator should have side-by-side doors Install grab bars next to toilets, tubs, and showers Include nonskid floor surfaces in bathroom

Universal Accessibility Changes in elevation between outside and the front door require a ramp of no more than a 1:12 slope with 30” maximum rise

Related Web Sites International Interior Design Association - www.iida.com Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers - www.kcma.org National Spa and Pool Institute - www.nspi.org National Sunroom Association - www.glasswebsite.com/nsa