We are currently designing a home for a client in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. The "radical" new floor plan is based upon our Willowbrook Country House Plan; which we modified by relocating the front entry directly between the public and private zones of the house. We also placed a smartly sized two sided fireplace between the Living and Dining areas. This provides for more intimate space while maintaining visual connections and a predominantly open floor plan. Check out the interior house plan video below.
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Ok - perhaps the concept is not radical; however there is a technique to achieving successful "open yet connected" spaces. Design elements considered included size and location of fireplace, bulkhead and beam locations, built ins and display elements, material connections, window positions, furniture arrangements, etc.
We have had a flurry of interest and activity for our Stillwater Craftsman recently. Seems to me it might be appropriate timing to discuss what makes this home design so darn good. Here are a few highlights:
It's smart and efficient. A really great new floor plan at just under 2100 square feet.
It's darn cute
It's adaptable
Great mudroom
Open but intimate living spaces
It's 3d
The proof is in the pudding. Take a look below.
An open and efficient main level floor plan with well organized circulation patterns. Great connection with the outdoors, both front and rear. If desired the plan could also be adapted to incorporate a main floor owners suite.
Three right sized bedrooms including Owners Suite.
You can't say this is not cute! Just the right amount of ornament - not too spare and not over the top decorative.
Open floor plan while remaining intimate. Ingenious!
If you want to see more of this home design just go ahead and visit the following link at Simply Elegant Home Designs: Stillwater Craftsman
Many of today's home designs incorporate open floor planning - with kitchen, dining and living areas all very open to one another. Open planning is great for entertaining and family gatherings because it allows people congretating within these "zones" to remain connected with one another.
One problem with open planning however is that sometimes the combined space becomes too large and begins to lose a sense of intimacy. Also, how about that kitchen clutter? Many clients want to remain "connected" with their guests while in the kitchen, but do not necessarily want all of that kitchen clutter exposed to their guests.
There are a number of ways to combat these issues. I will try to illustrate in the following examples designed by Ron Brenner Architects in Stillwater, MN.
Photo below illustrates dining area and adjacent front foyer. A dropped soffit in the foyer and hallway helps to define the edge of the dining space (ceiling elevation changes are a great way of defining space). Cabinetry placed between the hallway and dining serves as china cabinet and buffet counter. The position of the cabinet also reinforces the edge of the dining area. Windows on two adjacent walls help to define the center of the space, where the dining table is positioned.
Photo below illustrates a dining area and adjacent front entry foyer beyond. The cabinetry is now engaged between walls. This method provides a little more "enclosure" for the dining space. Double thick wall with "bulkhead" opening provides space for ductwork and creates a more dimensional separation from the adjacent kitchen and stair.
Here you can see that double thick wall opening between the dining and kitchen areas. Kitchen island has 3 surface heights. The 42" high eating bar and 48" high display cabinets conceal the primary kitchen work / clutter surfaces behind. The island itself defines the long edge of the kitchen.
In this example a kitchen is separated from the dining room with a full height cabinet. The cabinet has a "hole" in the middle to provide space for a serving counter and to maintain visibility between the spaces. Circulation flows around either side of the cabinet. The cabinet engages at the top with a bulkhead which further helps to define each of the two spaces.
View from kitchen side. Again the raised serving bar helps to conceal kitchen clutter from the adjacent dining space.
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