Chapter 8

1. Chapter 8 Room Relationships and Sizes

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

3. 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

4. Client Needs • Have clients write a specific list including: - minimum number of rooms - minimum room sizes - how rooms will be furnished - wishes • Generate bubble drawings and preliminary sketches

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

6. Entry • Main entry is the focal point of the house and provides protection against the weather • Clearly define access to the front door by raised ceiling and good landscaping • Door size of the entry will be influenced by the number of doors

7. Entry • Single entry doors are generally 3’-0” wide • Larger homes may have doors 42” – 48” wide • Double doors are typically 5’-0” to 6’-0” wide • Single and double doors are usually 6’-8” but available in 8’-0” • The weather must be considered • Service entry is used by the family between the house and garage, yard, or service areas

8. 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 • Provides access to each area of the home

9. 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 • Should be placed so that other areas of the home can be accessed without having to pass through

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Sleeping Area

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. Kitchen Areas • Storage 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. Work Triangle

26. 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

27. 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

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

29. Overhead 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 Cabinet Sizes

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

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

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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