Two-story, 2-bedroom house designed for a small family

Overview

This floor plan represents a small but efficient two-story, 2-bedroom house designed for a small family or a couple, housing the residents in a way that helps create efficient space use, natural circulation, and contemporary open-plan living on the lower level. The total floor area represents a depth of 30 feet and a width of 40 feet, allowing for such a small residence to adequately accommodate a small lot within a city or town. Architectural styles included in the design are standard components of a home, such as a sliding door, cabinetry, and en-suite bathroom access, as the floor plans highlight the location of a north-facing design, which is appropriate for the living spaces. Both of the provided diagrams appear to be the same design, only projected from a slightly different angle or perspective, assisting the reader in obtaining an overall view of the subject structure from both the front entrance and the back of the property.

Ground Floor Layout

The ground floor functions as the heart of the home, where the living, dining, and kitchen spaces have been incorporated into an open floor plan that occupies a total area of 800-900 square feet. Access to the home is realized through a central front door, approximately 3 feet wide, located centrally on the southern facade and opening directly into a comfortable foyer area that measures 6 feet by 8 feet. This area functions as a natural divider, where the floor tiles, as hinted at by the hatched floor plan, transition smoothly into adjacent spaces

1. Living Room: Right away to the right of the entrance (East Side), the living room enjoys a spacious 15 x 12 feet area, facing the north for illumination. It possesses built-in units or possibly a media wall along the eastern edge, with a comfortable seating arrangement flanked by two couches facing a central coffee table. Floor-to-ceiling sliders along the northern edge, opening to the rear patio or garden area, characterize the large windows in this space. The southern extremity of the space flows easily into the foyer, with a half-wall or open archway dividing it from the adjacent dining space without interfering with the view.

2. Dining Room: The proposed dining room is centrally located west of the living room and kitchen. The room is 10 feet by 8 feet in size. Space for a rectangular dining table which sits 6–8 people is provided parallel to the south wall. Above the table, pendant lighting should be installed for lighting. Let there be side chairs that can be pulled out. In this condition, the space will already be near the kitchen to facilitate serving meals without much effort. Also, let there be a serving counter or buffet on the dividing wall.

3. Kitchen: In the southwest corner, an L-shaped kitchen, measuring 10 by 10 feet, has been efficiently designed with a "workflow triangle" consisting of a sink, a stove, and a refrigerator. The major features are:
A double sink under a window to provide ventilation from the west.
Upper and lower cabinetry on two walls, as well as an island or peninsula (suggested by extending the countertop) used as a Breakfast Bar.
Appliances such as the built-in oven, cooktop, and dishwasher included in the design scheme.
Use the adjacent closet used for the pantry, which is only 2 feet deep
"The east side of the kitchen opens up to the dining area, and in the small utility nook, there are hookups for laundry."

4. Bathroom (Powder Room): This tiny half-bath, measuring only 5 feet by 6 feet, nestled to the immediate west of the kitchen near the southwest corner of the building, includes a pedestal sink, toilet, and potentially even a small shower stall. The bath has been placed within the house for the convenience of guests, complete with a pocket door and tile work continuing from the kitchen.
5. Staircase: Presently, a straight-run staircase, 3 ft in width, leads from the foyer, which is positioned just east of the entrance and just west of the living room. There are 10 to 12 carpeted stairs with a rail on one side, which extend directly to the top floor without taking any space. Storage may be provided around the stairs by cabinetry.

The southern and western facades of the ground floor feature small balcony/porch additions (represented by the 2 to 3-foot overhangs), which would be great for comfortable outdoor sitting areas. The layout is also simple to understand. The plan features a hallway down the middle (4 feet in width), connecting all areas centrally while maximizing space. The livable space on this level is approximately ~850 square feet, excluding mechanical closets.

Upper Floor Layout

The top level focuses on rest and privacy and has a simple rectangle block plan similar to the ground level floor plan (approximately 700 to 800 square feet). The small landing at the top of the stairs is a small 6-foot-by-6-foot box that feeds access to all bedrooms, and a linen closet is built into the wall for convenience.

Master Bedroom: This primary bedroom, located to the west (left side as viewed from the north), is 14 x 12 feet in area, allowing a king-sized bed to be placed against the southern wall. Amenities:
Dual windows on the north and west walls for cross breezes and vistas.
A walk-in closet, dimensions 4x6 feet, along the east partition, with built-in shelving and hanging rods installed therein.
An en-suite bathroom (6 feet by 8 feet) adjacent to the closet, with a double vanity, a walk-in shower (no tub to save space), and a water closet. The door to the bath opens inward to insure privacy. Space for nightstands, a dresser, and an armchair reading nook near the window.

Guest Bedroom: On the eastern (right-hand) side, the smaller bedroom measuring 12 feet by 12 feet, a queen bed fits nicely by the north wall. Highlights:
Two windows in the north and east facades for natural lighting.
A reach-in closet (3 feet deep) on the southern wall.
Access to a shared full bathroom through a jack-and-jill style door, identical to that in the master bedroom, although differently configured, 5 by 7 feet, single vanity, combined shower and tub.
Space for a desk or more seating, making the space flexible for a home office.

Both the eastern and western sections of the upper floor's extremities have small balconies or "Juliette" doors, which not only look nice but do not extend the living area. Normal lighting and ceiling fans adorn the hallways. Upper Floor Area: ~750 sq. ft.

Additional Design Notes

Materials and Finishes: The plans seem to indicate the use of hardy and easy-to-maintain finishing materials, with hardwood or laminate being acceptable for areas such as the living space, ceramic tiles for areas with moisture, like the bathrooms, and carpet for bedrooms. The walls are a standard height of 8-9 feet, with vaulted ceilings possible for areas like the living room.
Mechanicals: The HVAC, electrical, and plumbing can travel up and down the building quickly using the spine (stairwell system), and the primary water heater would be placed in the basement or utility closet somewhere. Energy-efficient systems, like windows and lighting, are also suggested.
Accessibility and Flow: It includes age-in-place accessibility, such as large entries ( widths of 32 to 36 inches), as well as ground-floor bathing. The total square footage is approximately ~1,600, with 2.5 baths overall

Outdoor Integration: Rear access from living room sliders; front porch depth=10 feet to enhance entry appeal. This is a balance between cozy and functional, which is suitable for the first home, balancing affordability and comfort. Further customizations such as optimal closet space or a home gym in the guest bedroom would help to beat that.