2 design worries: kitchen & TV

2 years ago

Hi there, our new apartment will be open plan.

I never designed a kitchen before and I am not 100% convinced about the suggested solution. Wouldn't it make more sense to have a breakfast bar facing the big room, sort of like a divider? Please note that at this stage we are free to move power outlets around freely, including the kitchen. The sink, ideally, should remain in the position where it currently is.

Second, the architect somehow ignored that there are people out there who enjoy watching TV. The TV outlet right now is tucked in the corner behind the fireplace. Would you think of a better solution in regards to placement? Right now I believe the TV is supposed to go over the fireplace (is this even possible? I don't know!) but the area is a thoroughfare for 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom, and it's right in front of the kids' rooms too, so no peace and quiet in the evenings. Again, we are probably free to move the TV to any position in the living room, but I struggle to find a good solution since there are hardly any walls.

Note: This is a top floor apartment with mansard roof. There is a huge skylight window which can be turned into an access point to the rooftop terrace (indicated by violet lines), hence the space underneath may be needed for a stairs solution later on.

Thanks for you ideas / input on these 2 points!

Featured Answer

Jonathan

2 years ago

Personally I think you should be demanding solutions from the person who has designed this and therefore stuck you with this problem.

If there is insufficient room to put a sofa in front of this fireplace the fireplace is in the wrong position.

You might also ask the architect to put full sized furniture on her plan when showing how it might work

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Comments (26)

rinked
2 years ago
New build? Can you post a larger floorplan?

And indeed, that architect does not have a sense for interiors.. Walking in on the sofa, tv behind a fireplace..
HU-479511125
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks for your comment. yes, it's a new build. Complete floorplan attached. Sorry, it's in German but I think most is self-explanatory.
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Hi John, I think it's a clever solution you have come up with to allow the play/toy area you wish to be including within the space. As has been mentioned above, I would agree that the bar is on the wrong side as you'd be looking back into the room, away from the view... that said, if you were to open up the downstairs then this could be debatable. Looking at your the second picture you attached, have you considered a t-shape setup... losing the bar area all together? Having two seating areas next to each other won't be your best use of space. You could have a larger/longer island (more storage, front and back) with a decent table coming off adjacent, centralised to the island. Regards, SA Designs
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I definitely like that you’ve gained a clear run from the hall way so you can see out to the back. I don’t think having the dining space diagonally really matters and as you say you gain extra light there. Also depends how much you use the table/living room/kitchen. I often Potter in the kitchen so would want that to be light enough to not always need to turn on lights, and often sit on the sofa and read so the same, but only eat evening meals at the table so it’s less of an issue, but if you use it all day, or have kids drawing there then you’ll have different priorities. I think if you can block off a small corner to create a utility cupboard that might be useful to help reduce noise in the open plan space. I think you could potentially do well discussing with a concept planner for the room. Many people on here have used OnePlan and recommend her. I think there are lots of options and everyone will have opinions of what works better but Presuming you’re doing this for you and not to sell then there’ll be additional considerations of your preferences and how you’d live in the space. :-)
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HU-479511125
Original Author
2 years ago
PS I found another floor plan elsewhere - I think this is a revision after they decided to add a fireplace. The other plan had the kitchen in a U shape where the fireplace is now, and the lounge room was under the rafters where you have the breakfast bar now. Dining would have been in the centre.
rinked
2 years ago
And you NEED the 4 bedrooms to sleep in? Or will one be a study? And 3 full bathrooms or could you do with less?
HU-479511125
Original Author
2 years ago
That's right, the fourth will be a study. And no, we don't need the third bathroom but alas it's already been built. We can only make changes to electricity at this stage. Doors, walls etc are fixed.
rinked
2 years ago
Ah, schade.. I had just turned the floorplan into a blanc canvas. :')
HU-479511125
Original Author
2 years ago
Oh how sweet of you! I guess we have to work with what we have. My current solution is to place the TV somewhat to the side of the fireplace facing the centre space but it's not ideal. As for the kitchen - we are free to do whatever as long as we don't move the sink/dishwasher. And maybe not add an island stove since floorboards are already laid.
rinked
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Is the washing machine in bathroom 2? Where do you keep hampers? Food storage? Where will shoes, coats and such go? Why is the only bathtub in an ensuite? So many questions.
HU-479511125
Original Author
2 years ago
Yes, the washing machine is in the bathroom (a common solution in Germany).

Storage and wardrobe will be in the square, windowless room with the yellow door opening (why yellow, I have no idea!).

As for shoes - before you enter the flat proper there is a short section of the hallway which is separated from the rest via a glass door. So it is public and outside, but it's nobody's business to walk through that glass door unless they want to enter the flat. I hope this makes sense. Anyway, this is where we can set up shoe racks.

Why is the only bathtub in the ensuite? That's a good question! I don't mind as we won't use the room that is attached to is as a bedroom, so it will be sort of a family bathroom anyway. The normal way would be to have the bathtub in the bathroom off the family room.

Either way, it's an upgrade for us because currently we live without a bathtub (2 baths) since the owner didn't want to have one included (house was built in 2018). (Probably the reason why we were able to secure that flat in the first place because most families with small children would have preferred a bathtub solution).
rinked
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I did change quite a bit. Hoping the bathroom hardware+tiles haven't been installed yet.

I also changed a wall, and fireplace is gone. Kitchen isn't huge, but the peninsula can have shallow units for storage. Spacious lounge area, table centered in front of the windows. Moved bathtub to shared bathroom, as the washing machine in the 'study ensuite' makes more sense, as you can place laundry baskets in there, put up a hanging rack, etc.

The sofa in the middle of the room isn't optimal (aside from tv location), as interior design has a psychology aspect as well; people feel more at ease when having a wall behind them, and when they can see the doors/windows.
rinked
2 years ago
And one with the kitchen still in the top left corner, other changes stayed the same as the previous layout. Tv on a 'custom built half height pony wall'. Dining table under the window. Plenty room to move around.

I like this one better than the previous one. :)
Jonathan
2 years ago
Alternative
HU-479511125
Original Author
2 years ago
Hi Jonathan & rinke, Thank you so much for taking the time to work out some solutions! ... While it is all very inspiring (I do like rinke's second suggestion), unfortunately nothing can be done to the internal walls, the doors, the bathrooms or the fireplace. The flat is almost finished (we came late to the game) and the only thing that is now missing is the power sockets and the doors with their frames. I need to find a solution with the current layout without adding major works ... so the question is rather how to arrange the furniture (kitchen and TV) and not so much how to change the layout of the plan. Thanks!
rinked
2 years ago
Are the walls all plastered and ceilings sprayed? As the only wall I changed is the study. It will give you loads of extra space for a lounge. If you don't change it now (ok, extra costs) there is a chance you will never.
christineacy
2 years ago
Good morning, HU-479511125

I agree the layout is interesting but there are always solutions... But wow a new home to make amazing memories and do what you want to in ... :)

Re: Sockets

I would say get double sockets with USB sockets. Get as many as you think then add one more.

Sorry just realised you are in Germany. But an example...

Re: TV

A TV can be fixed on the chimney Brest. It is not a problem.

If already fixed: You can get a large extension cable that can be hidden in the skirting or there are flooring fixings to hide, disguise, protect the cables and there are angle bracket too, so you can place the TV where you want .

You could put the TV on a cabinet that acts as a partition/ false wall too. You could always add shelving to the other side to make it flexible.

Put the TV on an easel.

Re: main walking area.

1.If you have all hard flooring you can have a no shoes in the house rule which means funky slippers and socks.

2. Soften that area with ( depending on you style) integrated coir, seagrass, pure wool etc flooring, or a long rug extending from the door to the bathroom. That will zone off the area as a quiet zone.

All one level so no slips and trips eg.

3. Add soundproofing to that area. There are more modern options then in my day with egg boxes!!!

4. Add plants they clean and can be a sound barrier too. By bedroom 3 and bathroom.

5. At the long "entrance" to the main living area place a move-able screen, concertina type or one on wheels or something like an open bookcase that can act as partition but shelving too and the books will absorb sound.

I hope these help to solve some of your questions.

But have fun :)
christineacy
2 years ago
Oops forgot this image :)

The very last image is a solid sliding wall. Which can be retro fitted.
HU-479511125
Original Author
2 years ago
Hi rinked - thanks again!

Unfortunately, we cannot make any changes to walls and fireplace. I have attached a photo to show you the state as it is right now. Apart from the costs, we really love the fireplace, it is a very uncommon feature in Germany, even rarer in an apartment. In fact, it is one of the key selling points for us.
HU-479511125
Original Author
2 years ago
Christine, wow, that's a ton of ideas, thank you very much!

We already thought of these sockets with USB included, and will definitely get those for all desk and bed areas. It's such a small improvement but I am so excited about it already!

Also love your suggestions for hiding cables. I hope we won't have to (rather have all cables in the walls and have them come out where we want them to) but if that's not possible, in particular around the fireplace area then this will be very valuable, so thank you.

Not so concerned about soundproofing the floor - we live in a similar flat right now, hardwood floors and underfloor heating, and we walk around in socks with no issues. It is more the kids' bedrooms that are facing the fireplace that I am concerned with. Son is playing online games with kids from around the world and well, yes, there is a lot of screaming that comes with that. Sitting right in front of the doors won't be very relaxing for us when he yells on top of his lungs "FXCK YOU!!!" (and yes, I do tell him off).

I love the partitioning, wall slider, shelves gallery - definitely something to investigate later. I think we may have to move in first to get a feel of the space. I don't want to cram it with furniture and create a maze if not needed. But it may help regulate the space and make it cosier.

As for the TV placement, if you have a look at the photo I just shared, we are thinking about either having a TV shelf with a smaller TV (not 55 inch as we have now) or maybe a bracket or pole solution which we mount to the side of the fireplace if the brickwork (I believe it's bricks, will need to check) does support it. This would allow us to move the TV set around so that we can watch from different angles. But when looking at the fireplace as it is right now I think the architect envisioned the TV mounted right there on top.
rinked
2 years ago
I'd really love to say more positive things, but I'm so sorry I do not know what.. A tv above that fireplace needs to come with a physiotherapy membership..
HU-479511125
Original Author
2 years ago
Ha! So very true! We are still trying to get hold of that architect. I hope she comes up with a plausible solution!
rinked
2 years ago
Traffic lines are .. well.. bad.
rinked
2 years ago
Band-aid and patchwork:
HU-479511125
Original Author
2 years ago
That looks so much neater, lol. Oh well, if only it were so simple... I cannot wait to speak to that architect.
christineacy
2 years ago
Hello, HU-479511125

I have a few more years before the eldest gets into games Oh what Joy awaits ! :)

Thanks for the image. A bit of a ways to go and it puts the flat into proportion. Mmm I agree with rinked and Jonathan about space furniture ratio. It will be fine as you are in a position to negotiate and voice concerns. ;)
rinked
2 years ago
And I understood bedrooms need to be a certain amount of square meters, so if the builder/architect says they can't do it because of code, here's a solution:

Keep the master wardrobe open on both ends, so it's floor surface can be bed2 on paper. Keep the study corner open.

I know all if if if, but get that fireplace sorted out, as it would be nice to sit together with your family and not take shifts watching a movie..