Homes have gone from an average 1,695 sq. ft in 1974 to 2,349 sq. ft. in 2006, even though family size has decreased. 19 % say the kitchen is the most.

Design and Function of Interior Space

Homes have gone from an average 1,695 sq. ft in 1974 to 2,349 sq. ft. in 2006, even though family size has decreased.

19 % say the kitchen is the most important but kitchens occupy about 12% of most homes.

Children’s room matter least.Prior to the 1970’s, the average bedroom was

9’x10’ (about the size of today’s walk-in closets). By the ’70’s they were about 11’x11’. Today it is rare to find bedrooms smaller than 12’x12.

Walk in closets and plenty of storage is critical57% of homes today have 2 and ½ baths.New buyers consider the family room as the

most important feature

TRENDS IN HOMES - FYI

Living rooms and dining rooms are less popular today than they were in 1970

In 1974 only ½ had room for two cars….1/2 were 1 car garages. And now On the west coast alone, 1/3 of all garages are 3 car garages.

“Flex space” is popular in homes now.

Rooms that can do double-duty are important

Open floor plans are more common now

43% of starter homes built this year will contain high-speed wiring.

Flat screens are helping to replace the “dedicated media room”. Flat screens are often hidden behind art work, cupboards, etc.

In the 1970’s average ceiling height was 7 feet 9 inches. Today the standard is 9 feet on the first floor, 8 feet on the second.

7 out of 10 homeowners prefer a newly built house to a previously owned one.

A. 3 Basic Interior Living Zones

Living and Social Area

Used for activities and entertainment

Living room, dining room, family room, game room, great rooms, entry ways, porches, dining etc.

Sleeping/PrivateArea

Quiet, comfort, and privacy Bedroom, Bathroom,

Closets, and Dressing rooms.

Service/Work Where household work is

done. Kitchen, Garage, Office,

Basement, Utility/Laundry

room.

Circulation - the route that people (Family, Work , Service, and Guest) follow as they move from one place to another throughout the home. Generally 3-4 feet in width of space is allowed for major circulation paths and

2-2.5 feet of space for minor circulation paths.

Circulation Frequency - refers to the number of times a route is repeated in any given period of time. Generally routes with high circulation frequency are short and direct

in a good floor plan.

THINK Frequency of use, Location, and Length – when

deciding which pattern will provide the easiest access from

point A to point B.

B. Traffic & Circulation Patterns

of the Home

Family – follows each member of the household throughout the home (hardest to predict, most complex)

Service – relates to the movement of people in and out of the home as they make service calls, deliver goods, read meters, take garbage out, …

Work – Common household tasks. kitchen is generally the hub of the work circulation

Guest - involves movement from the entry to the coat closet and to the living room with access to a powder room. (easiest to predict)

4 Basic Types of people to circulate

Bathrooms should be located next to bedrooms with easy access.

Easy access from entry to other parts of the houseIndoor living areas have easy access to outdoor areasRelated rooms are close together.High frequency routes are short, direct, and simpleExcessive hall space is avoided.Rooms should not be cut in half by circulation routesDirect access from the main entry of the house to the

social / living areas and bathroomsLocate the kitchen near the garage and service

entrance. Easy access to the basement, garage, and storage

areasClothes and care center should be in a convenient

location since many trips are made to this work area

Effective Circulation Guidelines

Can the cook prepare a meal without worrying about constantly walking into someone going by?

If people can eat in their rooms or living areas, can they get there without leaving a Hansel and Gretel trail through the entire house?

If you spend a lot of time grilling outside on the patio, is it convenient to the inside food prep area? Do you have to walk through to the other end of the

house to reach the outdoor grill? Can you bring the groceries right in from the

outside without having to go through the living room?

Ask yourself these Questions

Entry, living/entertainment, dining, patio, or ½ bath are not in private area’s of the home.

Service entrance should have easy access near the kitchen and basement stairs

Guests should be able to move from the entry to the living area without having to pass through other rooms

Ask Yourself How do guests travel to the living room when you are entertaining? Do they have to go through private areas of your home? How do they get to the powder room (1/2 bathroom)? Is the kitchen handy for serving food and drinks to your guests when you are

entertaining?

Guest and Service Circulation

http://www.home-decorating-room-by-room.com/trafficpatterns.html

How to Draw Traffic Patterns (family, work, guests, service)

Guest Circulation PatternPro’s and Con’s of this

Traffic pattern.

Bathroom & BedroomKitchen & DiningMudroom & GarageGarage & KitchenKitchen and outdoor living spaceLiving and dining areasCan you think of others?

C. Important Room Relationships

Dictate how functional a space will beBathrooms should be located close to

bedrooms for convenience and privacy**

Kitchen by garage and the service entrance**

Kitchen area adjacent to the dining room for ease in serving food.

Dining area adjacent to the living room for convenience in entertaining.**

Plumbing lines located near one another** This will save you money, water, and fuel.

Room Relationships

Related rooms should be close to one anotherFireplaces/closets back to back or stackedEasy access from garage to kitchen and

storage areasLaundry room close to bedroomsBathroom near guest areaCoat closet by living roomClothes closets between sleeping and activity

areas provides a good sound barrier.Storage should be incorporated throughout the

home**

Room Relationships Cont’d

Room sizes will be set bythe number of rooms needed the cubic footage possible for a certain amount

of money that the rooms fit into.housing type of construction and style.amount of furniture and its arrangementactivities that will go on in the roomnumber of people to use or occupy the room.

D: Sizes and Shapes of Rooms

SEE THE INFORMATION IN THE STUDY GUIDE FOR THESE

MEASUREMENT GUIDELINES

Storage should be incorporated throughout the house – not just in one area.

Storage space needs to be adequate—10-15% of the homeFood, kitchen utensils, clothes, linen, laundry,

miscShould be convenient and easily

accessibleEasy to clean, to see into and to reach

Storage Types:Built-in—cannot be moved around the room,

an architectural detail of the roomCupboards, closets, pantries, etc….

Furniture—can be moved from one room to anotherDesks, chests, dressers, trunks, armoires, etc…

Storage Adequacy and Considerations

An effective floor plan consists of useable wall space that is not broken up with windows and doors.

Consider location of electrical outlets, television cables, phone plugs, etc…

Enough wall space potential furniture arrangements.

Wall space for using and hanging interior decorations

Wall Space

LET’S EVALUATE………

FLOOR PLAN #1

FLOOR PLAN #2

FLOOR PLAN #3

FLOOR PLAN #4

FLOOR PLAN #5

Group Floor Plan analysis

1. Use that attached handout and floor plans to evaluate Circulation, Living Zones, Room Relationships, Sizes, Shapes, Storage, and Wall Space

2. Walk through a house and evaluate it for the

design and function of interior space Walk through your house or another house (like a

model home) and evaluate it using the attached checklist. 3. Complete the Floor Plan for a family attached

page.Read the scenarios of 2 families and decide which

floor plan fits their lifestyle, needs, and wants.

Interior Space Assignments

1. What things are included in a work triangle A. Refrigerator, sink, and garbage compactor B. Sink, garbage compactor, and stove C. Microwave, stove, and refrigerator D. Stove, refrigerator, and sink**

2. Bathing and dressing are two activities associated with the ___________area.A. Living/social. C. Service/work.B. Sleeping/private. * D. Utility/storage.

3. Which one of the following statements about a full bathroom is true?A. It should be visible from the living area. C. It should be on the main floor only.B. It should be located near the garage. D. Be easily accessible from bedrooms

*

4. A well-planned living room could have:A. More than one conversation area. C. A centrally placed fireplaceB. Areas for social as well as quiet activities. D. All of the above. *

18. Which of the following rooms would be the LEAST important to locate the kitchen near?

A. Dining area. C. Service entrance.B. Living room. * D. Storage/pantry area.

BELL QUIZ #3FLOOR PLAN KEY

1. One of the major advantages of drawing floor plans is to: A. Judge space dimensions in a room. **

B. Judge the cost per square foot. C. See how the outside of the house will look when finished.

D. Identify elevation details.

2. Floor plans are used for all of the following EXCEPT: A. To study architectural details of the home.

B.To study a room/home for suitability to lifestyles of the family. C.To assemble a decorating plan.

D.To study the color and design of backgrounds. **

3. A floor plan shows: A. The layout of the rooms. ** C. The orientation of the

home. B. The proper level for the footings. D. The elevation

drawings.

4. What scale is most commonly used for residential plans? A. 1/8” = 1’ C. 1/3” = 1’ B. ¼” = 1’ ** D. ½” = 1’

BELL QUIZ #2 Understanding Floor Plans KEY