Room Relationships and Sizes Chapter 8 Room Relationships and Sizes

The Floor Plan The number of inhabitants The ages and sex of children Future plans to add on to the dwelling A list of general family activities to be done in the home Entertainment habits Desired number of bedrooms and baths Planned length of stay in the residence Live-in guests or requirements for people with disabilities The budget for the house The style of the home

Living Areas Living areas consist of the living, dining, and family rooms, den, and nook. The rooms or areas of the house where family and friends will spend most of their leisure time. Rooms should be clustered together close to the entry.

Entries Two points of entry Main entry to draw guests into the house Service entry that is used by the family for access between the garage, yards, and service areas

Main Entry Provides an outside focal point to draw guests to the front door Serves as a hub for traffic to the living areas A raised ceiling is a common accent for accenting the front door. Single entry doors are usually 3’ wide Larger homes may have doors that are 42” or 48” wide Double doors are typically 5’ or 6’ wide Single and double doors are usually 6’-8” but are also available in 8’ and custom heights. Second major consideration is the weather Direct sunlight, rain, snow and wind

Foyer Ideal entry will open into a foyer rather than directly into one of the living areas Provides a place to Welcome and say goodbye to guests Provides a place to put on and remove weather related clothing Should provide access to a closet for seasonal clothing Provide access to each area of the home A small foyer with tall ceilings will create the feeling of an elevator shaft

Service Entry Links the garage, kitchen, utility room, bathrooms, and patios or decks Typically the family’s main entrance

Living Room The purpose will vary depending on the size of the home and the preference of the owner How will the room be used? How many people will use it? How often will it be used? What type and size furniture will be placed in it? Rectangular rooms are easier to plan for furniture arrangments Minimum of 12’ x 14’ An area of approximately 9’ in diameter should provide for primary seating arrangement

Family Room Most used area of the house Used to watch television, informal entertaining, sorting laundry, playing pool, or eating. Should be separate from living room, but still be close enough to have access to the living and dining rooms for entertaining Should be near the kitchen 13’ x 16’ minimum

Dining Room Often part of, or adjoining the living area For formal dining, the area will be near but separate from the living room – minimum 11’ x 14’ Should be near the kitchen without providing a direct view of the kitchen work areas Casual dining as small as 9’ x 11’ if open to another area Allow a minimum of 32” from table edge to any wall or piece of furniture for chairs and minimal passage area Allow 42” for walking around a chair when it is occupied

Nook Breakfast area – is where the family will eat most meals and snacks Dining room becomes an area for formal eating only Should be near the kitchen and family room

Den, Study, or Office Typically located near the entrance or the living room Serves as a buffer between the living and sleeping areas

Home Theatres Usually unfinished space or a bonus room above the garage Points to consider Size and type of television or screen The number of viewers Type of seating Space should be provided for snack preparation

Sleeping Areas Should be placed away from the noise of the living and service areas and out of the normal traffic patterns The arrangement of bedrooms will vary greatly depending on the needs of the family Common arrangements – placing all bedrooms together, or placing the master bedroom separate from the kid’s bedroom Common to plan a bedroom-living unit for long term care of a live-in relative Generally located near a bathroom Keep bathroom plumbing away from bedrooms

Bedrooms Function best on the southeast side of the house to bring morning sunlight into the rooms. 2 story houses – Bedrooms are placed upstairs away from the living areas Provides quiet sleeping areas Bedrooms can often be heated by the natural convection of heat rising from living areas. A window or door to the outside must be provided in each sleeping area for emergency evacuation.

The national Building Code requires a minimum of 70 feet for bedrooms. Each room should have space for a twin bed, a bedside table, and a dresser. Plan for 24” on each side of the bed Plan for 36” in front of dressers Approximately 12’ x 14’ room

Master Bedroom Serves as a bedroom, sitting area, and bathing area Provide room for a queen or king bed, room for a fireplace, sitting area, direct access to a closet, and bathing areas, and access to a private deck or balcony. Should be at least 12’ x 14’ with additional closet area. Think about window placement went planning bedrooms in relation to the location of the bed.

Closets Recommended 48” of closet space for males Recommended 72” of closet space for females. Minimum closet depth is 24”. 30” is preferred. Can be used as a noise buffer between rooms. Master bedrooms have walk in closets. Minimum of 6’ x 6’

Service Area The service area consists of the bathroom, kitchen, utility room and garage. Three of the four areas have plumbing. Consider grouping these areas together because of the plumbing needs and because of noise.

Bathrooms Bathrooms are often reached by a short hallway apart from the living room to provide privacy. Options for bathrooms include Half-bath – Has a lavatory and a toilet Three –Quarter Bath – Has a shower, toilet, and a lavatory. Full Bath – Has a lavatory, toilet, and a tub/shower combo Bathroom Suite – includes the features of a full bath with a separate tub and shower. If windows are places around a tub or spa the glass must me tempered.

Bathroom The style of house affects the number and location of bathrooms When a residence has two or more baths, they are often placed back to back or above each other to reduce plumbing costs. Families with small children must have a tub.

Kitchen Used not only for meal preparation, but often includes areas for eating, working and laundry. Should be located near the dinning room, family room, utility room, and garage. For a family with young children, the kitchen should have a view of indoor and outdoor play areas.