Interior Design Designing Functional Interiors & Floor Plans October 2017

Types of plans: Floor Plans 101 Floor Plans – Shows a design space from above Elevations - An “elevation” is a drawing that shows the front or side of something. A floor plan, by contrast, shows a space from above – as if you are looking down on the room from the ceiling. You see the tops of everything, but you cannot view the front, side or back of an object. An elevation gives you the chance to see everything from the other viewpoints.

Traditional Floor Plan Floor Plans 101 Traditional Floor Plan

Elevation Drawing Elevation

Housing Zones Well-designed homes divide the space into zones. Floor Plans 101 Housing Zones Well-designed homes divide the space into zones. Each contains areas with similar functions. When a home is zoned, activities are less likely to cause conflict.

3 Most Common Housing Zones: Floor Plans 101 3 Most Common Housing Zones: Private Zone Service Zone Social Zone Turn to page 378 to see the activity zones

Private Zone Quiet Comfortable areas for sleeping & relaxing Floor Plans 101 Private Zone Quiet Comfortable areas for sleeping & relaxing Privacy for bathing & dressing (usually bedrooms & bathrooms)

Service Zone: Household work Kitchen Laundry room Workshop Garage Floor Plans 101 Service Zone: Household work Kitchen Laundry room Workshop Garage

Social Zone: Activities & entertainment Entrance hall Floor Plans 101 Social Zone: Activities & entertainment Living Dining Family and recreation rooms, Entrance hall Patios, decks & other outdoor living spaces

Floor Plans 101 Floor Plans: Open Page 379 Open Floor Plan: when few dividing walls separate rooms (typically in Social Zone) Advantages: Entertaining, lighting, easy to move furniture Drawbacks: hard to heat, no privacy, noise

Floor Plans: Closed Page 379 Closed Floor Plan: Rooms are separated & self-contained Advantages: Privacy, contains heat & noise Drawbacks: less community feel, not as good for entertaining

Evaluation of Home Design Floor Plans 101 Evaluation of Home Design The best way to evaluate space is to look at the floor plan. One of the most important considerations when evaluating a floor plan is the traffic pattern Turn to page 381 in your text

Floor Plans 101 Traffic Patterns the paths people take as they walk from room to room during everyday activities. A well-designed floor plan provides convenient pathways to all areas of the home (p.381)

Floor Plans 101 Floor Plan Options (p.380) One-Level homes: Many apartments, manufactured & ranch-style homes Advantages: No stairs increases usable space; it is an example of universal design Disadvantages: need a lot of land for sprawling design; increased cost of lot, foundation & roof construction

Floor Plans 101 Two-Level Homes: Many single-family homes & multi family units (including homes with lofts). Usually social & service zones on the 1st floor; bedrooms on the 2nd floor. Split-Level Homes: 2 or more levels of living space, separated by a short flight of stairs. Uses space very efficiently. Entrance, living room, dining area, kitchen 1 or more bedrooms & bathroom andirs: garage, laundry room & another bathroom.

Split Level

Split Entry

2 levels of living space, with the lower level partially above ground. Floor Plans 101 Split-Entry Homes: 2 levels of living space, with the lower level partially above ground. It is named because the entrance is located midway between the 2 main floors. You either go up or down a short flight of stairs to reach one of the main levels.

Floor Plans 101 Split-Entry Homes: Advantages: the entry is separate from the living room. - Upper level: living room, kitchen, dining area & bedrooms. - Lower level: has laundry, utility area, family room and perhaps a bathroom & bedroom Disadvantages: no part of the home is accessible to someone who cannot climb stairs