puntloos

Yep, but in particular I've been fairly (met/rid)iculous on top floor design because I figured once PP is granted I can't go moving windows around in any major way. At this point I'm quite close to happy with both my floors, so we should be good to go soonish. Very interesting though that the kitchen discussion got kicked off again and highlighted things we didn't realise before, in particular the walking space to the garden room..

Thanks Dan, frankly many parts of the kitchen have not been reasoned through very well. I literally just dumped a bunch of things in there, and then only modified things as I went along. Your point about the fridge is well made - I'll update. I haven't deeply thought about the total space, where to store everything. Sure, some things I know, e.g. dishwasher near cutlery/crockery, and probably also near the actual table, and I've given a decent amount of thought to the island. But where e.g. the kitchen devices (blender etc) should go.. dunno. Maybe I shouldn't care and wait for a kitchen designer on such details..

I'll take the suggestion to the architect, she what she says. IMO I've already added almost a meter to the walking space, like Dan says, at some point it simply gets 'too' spacious and you are starting to run into practical downsides. (not to mention that I want to keep my living space as large as I can.

Are you sure? I don't see the words 'optional' anywhere? (update: ah, yes found it. Optional. Hm, it's still not a terrible idea but at least I don't have to bend over backwards to hit it.. ) With my current island design that wouldn't really be the case, but .. I'm tempted to indeed aim for 1100.. Pretty similar to my current design then? You might well be on to something. How movable are islands that have equipment embedded? Would it be possible to design it in such a way that it can easily be moved 10cm in any direction? Or would that overcomplicate things everywhere? Given that I'm planning a hob with 'built-in hood' I don't need the hood positioned above..

A fair point. I'll consider it for sure. Off the cuff I'd note that this would always be true for handles sticking out to the front. Sticking out to the side is for sure a new problem not to be taken too lightly, but I have a sense it wouldn't meaningfully increase the way to think about risk.. (the rule- 'be careful with handles' doesn't change). In a way it's a stunning sentence to me - "such a restricted kitchen" given that it's 4.2x5.5m in its current design (not counting the garden room..). This is going to be my first self-built home, up until now I've never lived in a house that even had a 4x5 livingroom.. You're not wrong of course.. but .. well.. the island is *just* large enough (taking your point about handles..) to do what I hoped: Have a place to rinse, then prep, then cook ingredients, all while theoretically sitting or standing behind the island.

So far I've used my arch program's "default pocket door' mode, which simply moves a door into and out of the wall. And my current design roughly fits a 2m50 gap without doing strange things to external walls. But - it seems like there's such a thing as telescopic pocket doors! You learn something every day. Given that I have about 4.8m worth of wall, am I reading this spec sheet correctly, that I can indeed fit 3.1m worth of passage? Not bad... I do like @Jilly's door suggestion (open for more suggestions) but indeed the problem with a single pivot to me seems that to achieve even a 3m gap I'd need 1.5m worth of distance. Not insane but it feels a bit limiting where you can not really move behind the door..

Interesting. So if it pivots you basically have two "halls" that you can choose to go left or right side? Just trying to picture it.

Of course even if theoretically I can insert it into a external wall it will punch through a window... But indeed more realistically it would mean the wall -window would have to be smaller..

I think I have to do 1200mm https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/540330/BR_PDF_AD_M1_2015_with_2016_amendments_V3.pdf 2.24b - "A minimum of 1200mm clear space is provided in front of and between all kitchen units and appliances" Updated my design.

Pocket doors are great for certain situations, in particular if they are intended to be "mostly open" - which is the case for my kitchen. Reason for it being there in the first place is to close off any smells and perhaps reduce the view of mess if we are in the livingroom. My question: How deeply can you hide pocket doors into walls? (and should you?) See below: In particular: - In the top, the PD is entering into the external wall.. How deep, if at all, can you do this - At the bottom, the PD is entering into the stair side wall. I realise that would block putting any (other) doors in there, but are there other downsides? Any other suggestions? Other types of doors? (of course we've debated bifolds but they store a lot of stuff in the way of walking paths..

Agree it's a bit early, but a good idea to spin some ideas. Indeed letting an Architect kick it off with the 'obvious' design is perhaps a good idea. - WC too far from some important locations - Some way to separate kitchen from Entrance is probably good - The points on the windows, do they serve a purpose? Did you think about what they look like from inside? - You didn't mention light direction, but don't you want a living area at the rear? Or do you consider 'dining' sufficient?

For what size basement? Perhaps I should consider getting separate 'basement guys'...

Quick(?) topic this time ? In short: when will the build start, and when will it be ready, given current covid situation? Longer? Same? Shorter? In detail: Let's assume we file for planning permission 'today'.. Is PP faster/slower during covid? (typically 2-3 months here.. but now?) Then, no need to wait for approval, we can start planning stuff. How long does it take an architect to work up designs to full detail? Presumably the same time as before? Tendering.. We have a builder shortlist, but no tendering etc done yet. We could perhaps go for our #1 choice.. Is covid-style tendering complicated somehow? Do builders still respond in the same turn-around? More interest? Less? Timber Frame Co. - the two I've spoken to say they are in business fairly normally - so they can have everything done by Sep 1st Structural engineers, govt clerks helping out, checking things, mortgages Any other roles that are meaningfully slowed or sped up because of covid? And finally: 'internal design' - paints, doorknobs, hobs, etc Has anyone done this recently, and is the process slower than normal (many things harder to find, sold out?) or as normal?

1400 I strongly doubt that's the same in england. Eg this is a new build's kitchen in my area Eyeballing this, the equipt is 60cm, and the island is only halfwayish down the side.. No way that's 1400. Even if centered, you'd have 0 - 60 - 1400 - 1000 - 1400 is already over 4.2. I suspect the rules are so generous in scotland because houses and land are cheaper, so people can afford larger things?

I have it cold today, and agreed the door sees a LOT of use, is a major source of cold, but that's sort-of a good thing? It feels a good place to store stuff, have freezers there so they don't have to struggle in summer.. but either way, the house works out a little better with it warm.. Yup, we both shower at night. Of course personal preference but effectively both of us need the dressing first thing we go in, and last thing we go out into the world. Not bad.. eh.. at some point 200 is fine, with the same reasoning as before (that it's easier to shrink a wall than increasing it)..

Are you sure you're looking at the right one? The island now has 1.2m circulation around it at any point, which feels very generous. (for one my current kitchen is much more cramped and is allowed, however it contains a movable table rather than a fixed island) What regs do scotland require?

Here's an updated design after a day or 2 discussions. Changes: - 1200mm anywhere between island and wall - Moved kitchen pocket door forward into living - Island modified to: 30cm sink (w/ quooker) 90cm prep area 88cm hob (Novy Panorama is 88cm wide) - Utility into thermal envelope. (slight reshuffle of hall) - Garage renamed utility. Resuffle. - 1.2m carport - Removed side door, created oversize(1100mm) main door - Aligned many walls with top floor - Updated wall widths, thicker walls for kid+master, and around bathrooms. Thin everywhere else. - Slight reshuffle of walls to align with below - BR2, M-Ensuite taller, BR5 slightly thinner. BR3 slightly thinner - BR3 removed one window Checkout the animated changes (after all comments) here! [drive.google.com] Design by Buildhub Committee.. Cool

Seems to me you'd need 200 between two baths for proper shared plumbing? You think you can get away with 100? Agreed, done. Worth considering, will discuss with my wife if she thinks this would work. (of course we can mod our bathroom for ages before we have to commit ) True.. but I think we'd lose a certain flow of life, in particular dressing/undressing is the first thing you do in evening, last thing you do in morning. So I'd say you would want to walk from walkin into the rest to the house. Also, if we use your door, then there is only one wall of separation between the 'master suite' and the rest of the house. With a door in the walkin (and then a door into the bed section) you have two. Feels more protected.. Also, Yep, but we already have the kid ensuite too, so I guess you will have to do pipes everywhere anyway., Tiny room for WC? I've seen that done more often, but why? Not a privacy thing I assume, I don't think i'd be happy with my wife rummaging around the bathroom if I'm on the toilet regardless.. ? What does walk in have to do with doors to clean? If anything walkins have more doors than over-bath ones? Good tip, will consider..

The main point they were making is that for a small basement the 'start up costs' are steep. The larger you go the cheaper per sqm.. but yep, that's what I heard.

Interesting point. Implemented this to see how that works. Are you saying to include part/most of the 'garage' into the insulated envelope? Yup, as noted above I'm close to giving up on the whole "It could be a garage" story. It might have some other impact though, since I'm required to provide 3 parking spaces on the property, but I think it should be fine. I guess I just would want one more quote how much a small basement for this heating equipment would cost.. I heard a LOT lower in this forum Well, hm.. I think it would make sense to have the ASHP not obstruct the path to the ... ha now I'm reconsidering.. but basically as you can see in my updated drawing, the external part could just sit out of the way to the front.. but perhaps I value access to the rear more. (to be clear, there's a clear path to the rear on the other side of the house..

Just reviving this for a second. Anyone have a rough quote for: - 3x3 basement. - Only for heating equipment - Simple stair into garage My current quote from one builder is 72000 GBP but it feels this is pretty.. pessimistic

To clarify, my dream would be having: - A 'room' that is outside of the thermal envelope - At least 3x5m - water + power (washers, freezers) - Thin wall somewhere halfway down, to shield internals from elements - Car port for the rest - open to air And separately, elsewhere, the permanently fixed 'heating/cooling/water storage' stuff -> If someone *really* needs it to be a garage, it can be turned into one. (resale, or maybe when I hit midlife, I need a ferrari..) But at this point the only builder we spoke to so far says that even a small 3x3ish basement for that permanent heating stuff will cost a *serious* amount of £ - depending of course on water table etc, the estimate for a 3x3 basement would be 72000 gbp, so I guess that solution is out... (unless they are somehow waaay off but they were fairly reasonable in most other estimates..)

Ooh cool.. Sure The passivhaus builder gave me a rule of thumb that they would appreciate 3m of 'utility wall' to fit the arsenal of heatingcoolingcirculating stuff. I think you're right that at least one of the devices probably needs to be against the outside wall or else it'd be a ducting hassle. To be honest I've kind-of given up on the whole full garage thing although I might not have admitted it to myself yet. I still think a carport would be a great idea but I don't think the space is ever going to store a proper car. "Eh" for our own use we'd just want the bath in master ensuite. For kid, shower is fine although he might start to enjoy baths. Perhaps a showerbath could be a doable compromise in the family bathroom?

Ha, you said it. Thing is, even though I have no right to complain, the features I'm hoping to achieve typically only start showing up in much larger houses. Given my footprint (10x13 on 27x15) you don't normally have a grand hall and an 8x5 livingroom... This house is too big for its britches, as they say.. but I might be able to pull off those britches most of it.. We're very close. Help me, buildhub, you are my only hope!

WHEW You guys(m/f) are great Took me an hour+ to go through everything. So much stuff to think about, great advice, many things I agree with, some I am a bit stubborn, I know, but please know I very much appreciate all of your comments so far, keep em coming. In general, please keep me true to the core philosophy: Grand living spaces, and compromises on everything else. In particular we expect the kitchen, living, hall and kid's room to be the highest use, everything else is utilitarian and can be tight, small, etc. (and now.. please continue to tell me where I failed )