Ideas and practical notes
Planning decisions, drawings and project costs, explained through the questions people face while building.
A table can fit on a floor plan and still block the room when it is extended and people pull out their chairs. Test the furniture at its real sizes, in use, before approving the layout.
Read articleA cabinet plan should start with the room you have, the appliances you will use, and what happens between the fridge, counter, sink and dining area. Test those decisions before choosing cabinet sizes or finishes.
Read articleA sink, toilet and bath can all fit on a drawing while the bathroom is awkward to use. Test where the door, open drawers and a person each need to be.
Read articleBefore adding a store room, check what you need to keep, where you use it and how much space each storage choice takes from everyday life.
Read articleA larger bedroom is not always the better place to sleep. Check the activity around each room during your actual sleeping hours, the view from the entry, and the route to the bathroom before choosing its position.
Read articleA two-storey house can leave more ground free, while a one-storey plan keeps daily rooms on one level. Compare both on the same site, with the same room list, and check the stair and ground-floor options before choosing.
Read articleA 3-metre height between floors does not give you a 3-metre-high room. Check the finished ceiling, floor build-up and any lower areas before choosing tall furniture or signing off a plan.
Read articleTwo rooms can share a floor-plan label and still have steps between them. Match each room to its finished floor height, then check the crossing before agreeing to a split-level layout.
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