In With the Old: The Human Factor

​Last week, I wrote specifically about different floorplans, and the pros and cons of open versus closed plans... and the options in between.  But I didn't include the most important factors in choosing a plan: the people living inside.  ​Some old homes have exactly what anyone would need, and some - though beloved - leave something to be desired.  No plan is perfect for every situation, but it takes assessing your needs and wants to choose and set up the perfect space.

​What Spaces are Needed? 

​Beyond the kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, there are a lot of other factors to consider for including in the ideal plan for a situation.  That starts with the family make-up, interests, and even stuff.  Different people have different needs.  Likewise, some hobbies just require space, and others require certain types of space for specific uses.  So, who is living in the home and what they do are the big driving factors for determining needs.  

The "who" is driven by making spaces safe and accessible for all people who live there and who frequently visit.  Can cabinets easily be secured for small children?  Is the plan accessible for visitors with mobility aids?  Can every one access a toilet?  

What kinds of activities do people do?  Someone who quilts or sews regularly would do well with a wide table space, storage for sewing equipment, and good ventilation for steaming days.  A knitter needs a good way to keep yarn and needles organized. And a scuba diver needs a place to clean, dry, and store a lot of equipment (and some people... do all of these things).

Standards

Every house has at least one kitchen and one bathroom.  Determining what the right plan for a family is really does center these two areas.  The flow of the kitchen, while highly personal, has a huge impact on the rest of the space.  A separate kitchen can be a great thing for a lot of people: a cook who consistently creates smoke, parents who need to be able to separate kids from equipment, pet parents who need to keep large animals away from guests or out of the pantry... Plus, more wall space in a kitchen can mean more storage for the wide variety of specialty appliances that line modern counters.

As for bathrooms, I personally think the ideal plan has a toilet on each floor (every other half for split-levels).  No one wants to run up or down stairs in a toilet-related emergency.  This is the biggest downside to my favorite plan: the American Foursquare.  Most of these had a living, dining, parlor, and kitchen on the main floor.  But no powder room.  In order to find a bathroom, a guest needs to pass into private spaces. Luckily for one of favorite plans, powder rooms have been incorporated into many a foursquare.  

A bathroom on each floor and a kitchen that meets resident and frequent-flyer needs guarantees that a home can adapt to changes in mobility, and help allow for aging in place, accommodating guests, and fulfilling needs day to day. I don't personally think primary suite bathrooms are necessary, but I recognise that goes back to the specific "who" accomodations for choosing a home!

Accessibility

​Accessibility is a huge part of modern design as aging in place and universal design becomes more standard among builders and designers.  Creating accessible spaces helped every one!  And emphasizing accessibility can be beneficial in choosing a plan.  

Ultimately, I find that open floor plans and bungalows are some of the best for creating fully accessible dwellings.  A bungalow has every need available on the main floor, but may need a zero-entry shower instead of a tub to meet a 5' turning circle and some widened doorways.  A separated kitchen can help keep noise, temperature differences, and smells contained for those with sensory processing needs.  And a well-designed open floor plan provides easy transitions and movement among all spaces.

Accessible spaces beyond mobility also include meeting the sensory needs of everyone as well.  A quiet space can be helpful for almost anyone, and even some separated entertaining spaces can be great for limiting the noise (and shouting) in large groups.  Split-level homes are just starting to come into their "old house" status in the US (homes hit historic status at their 50th birthday), and these are really great for large families or anyone entertaining big groups.  With pockets of entertaining space spread across different areas, it's easy to make connections across spaces or in more intimate ways.  

Home Office

​With so many shifting to work from home, a home office space has become a key player in how we live.  This goes back to the "who" needs the space.  Is the home office a homework station for students?  An IT person (or radiologist) with multiple huge monitors?  This one is really industry-dependent, but even for people who can work in more public areas of a home, it's important to remember to put away the stuff at the end of the day, and have a designated spot for it.

With so many things to keep in mind when choosing a plan, the biggest question is always "Who is this for?" While there may be conflicting desires, there are always going to be plenty of overlapping needs.