Sometimes I think it would've been nice to have a starter home to screw up and learn from, but building was not an opportunity we could pass up. Since Andy is a farmer, location was priority number one. The perfect lot came on the market when Andy was a senior in college, it's just a mile away from his parents and next door to the two major farms they operate out of. We couldn't pass it up.
The house that was there was not functional to say the least. It was extremely old, had six tiny rooms total, and would not be appropriate for a family. It made the most sense to tear it down and start over before we got married so we didn't have to move in and out and back in again.
We had been planning for this for years and had a good idea of a floor plan right from the get go. It was important to us to do it right. If we're going to live in this house till we die, we didn't want any regrets. We tried to put a lot of thought into every decision and did A LOT of research. Our number one priority was the sizing of the rooms, since it isn't so easy to add two feet on to rooms here and there.
With input from our families, we were ready to go. Here is approximately what we came up with (this was the layout we made on our own and not the official one, but the overall design is the same).
I'll start from right to left with the explanation.
I had wanted a slightly-bigger-than-normal garage. I wanted to be able to easily unload the car of groceries and kids without having to worry about denting or squeezing around Andy's truck. Andy wanted a monster size garage. Now that it's complete, it's gigantic. We seriously could've shaved a few feet off both directions, but I guess that's a good problem to have. We will easily be able to store bikes and toys if need be. We also have a fridge and deep freezer in there with no problems.
I also wanted a mudroom that was tucked out of the way. Andy comes home from work dirty and greasy almost every day. I wanted to be able to tuck away the boots and have a space to drop the muddy clothes. It was also important that we have a space to keep shoes and coats. They always land by the garage door anyway so why not plan for it ahead of time? Plus there is a large closet in the corner (not shown) which stores all his dirty Carhartts and all of our winter coats - easy access for when we leave the house!
Andy's parents pretty much insisted we needed a bathroom by the garage, and I am so thankful that we have one. If Andy needs to use it any time throughout the day, he can come inside without tracking mud throughout the house. It will be nice when we have kids playing outside too - they can just run in with their shoes on and I won't have to clean up. The shower doesn't get much use but that may change as the years go on.
I had always envisioned the kitchen to be in the back corner of the house, overlooking the back yard. It will be easy to take food outside if we ever have a back patio. Plus my parents made a note that it's easiest to unload groceries when the kitchen is close to the garage. We don't have to schlep them across the house.
It made sense to have the dining area adjacent to the kitchen. I always pictured it in the back of the house, too. Plus when considering the location of other rooms, this spot made the most sense.
I wanted the living room to overlook the front. It's nice to see when people are pulling up to the house. Plus, I wanted it close to the front door so guests don't have to trek far. We knew we didn't need a formal living room and family room, so we opted for one larger space.
We knew we needed a separate designated office. There was no need to add an extra "bedroom" when we knew fully that it would never be used as such. Plus, I'd always wanted a library of sorts. It was a necessity that the office be off the front door. Not only did it make most sense with the layout, but we were also considering if Andy has seed clients over, it's easy to go into the office to meet (not now though since the office currently looks atrocious).
Laundry is usually an afterthought for most people, but I didn't want it to be. I wanted a good size space that could keep plenty of laundry baskets and had room for folding clothes. Notice how we don't have any random hall or linen closets? People comment on the size, but honestly, we just opted for no small closets and made this room larger. We can keep all our cleaning supplies and linens in this space. I think it's smart and makes a lot of sense, at least for us. Plus it's in a really convenient location and I don't have to lug clothes very far.
The master bathroom and closet locations were up for debate. People kept telling me it'd be easier to run plumbing on the inside of the house, but I was adamant I wanted a window in the bathroom. We wouldn't need a window in the closet because the wall space would be needed, so it made more sense to me to put it on the inside of the house. Plus, it landed next to the laundry room so we were able to put in a pocket door connecting the two. Best. Idea. Ever. Putting away clothes is so much easier. I literally walk two steps.
I love that the master bedroom is in this corner of the house. We are able to have two good sized windows so it is glorious to wake up in this bright and cheery space. We have plenty of room for two dressers, two night stands, and a king sized bed (although now we just have a queen) - we even have some room to spare.
The other guest bedrooms fell into their respective places. It will be convenient to be close when we have kids, but our doorway is tucked a bit down the hall so we have (sort of) some privacy. Each room is just big enough to be shared by two kids if necessary, but in my opinion is perfect for one child to have on his/her own. The guest bathroom fits perfectly across the hall - super convenient for guests and future kiddos.
Not bad for a layout designed by two kids! So far it has worked well for us and I'm not kicking myself for any bad choices made.
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