Elements of a Great Floor Plan
by Casey McCabe

   What makes a floor plan exceptional? Simply put: good use of space. And within that space there are certain features that make a floor plan not only functional but also appealing to homebuyers. How that space is designed is critical to the appeal of a home.
   In a competitive market, home designers and builders push the envelope to reach the most discriminating of well-versed homebuyers. In Florida, we’re all familiar with the open floor plan. Homebuyers in the Sunshine State want to enjoy the outdoors – with interior views and a great lanai – year-round. Over the past 20 years, the open floor plan has experienced an incredible evolution.
   Years ago, the outdoor area was a simple screened-in porch, maybe five or six feet across. Now we have verandas as deep as 16 or 18 feet with beautiful upholstered furnishings, dining areas, fireplaces and fully equipped outdoor kitchens, all overlooking a gorgeous pool pavilion. All home designs place great emphasis on this natural experience.
   Americans are known for a “bigger is better” mindset. According to U.S. Census data, the average home size in 1973 was 1,660 square feet. Today, that figure has jumped 40 percent to about 2,330 square feet under air to include 9-foot ceilings, two stories, four bedrooms, three baths, a study and a two-car garage. In the upscale market, homes exceeding 5,000
square feet are the norm.
   “A bad floor plan can’t be overcome with a beautiful elevation. That’s why floor plan is essential, that its design be thoughtful and spacious. When a plan looks and feels bigger than it is, the customers feel they’re getting a good value,” said Steve Peel, co-founder of Gulfstream Homes, a residential builder of luxury single-family homes in Collier and Lee Counties.
The ultimate goal is to achieve the clients’ needs as far as what they’re looking for. It starts with being able to listen closely to the individuals and provide a layout that includes everything they want. The result should be a reflection of the way they like to live and enjoy life. It’s paramount that the plan has an open and continuous flow from room to room.There should be ample room for furniture placement and architectural detailing, which creates drama in a home. People should be able to move freely through-out the home without feeling crowded.
   Within a design, there are particular elements that enhance the appeal of a floor plan, including the elimination of certain spaces and the addition of others. Somewhere along the way, the living room has fallen by the wayside. A grand salon is usually an elegant formal space close to the entryway that can set the tone and capture floor-to-ceiling views, but it’s not the heart of the home. Sure, there might be a wet bar and room for a piano and spectacular fireplace, but the living room is no longer the primary entertainment space. As we watch the shrinking living room morph into the fancier grand salon, we’re also seeing the kitchen/family/entertainment areas take center stage in the overall scheme of things.
   “In the average home, the formal living room and dining rooms are vanishing in favor of a bigger family room and kitchen,” said Gopal Ahlkuwalia, Southwest President for Research, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). “And in the luxury home market, we see more people adding media rooms, exercise rooms and home offices.”
   Tremendously important is the kitchen, one of the favorite spaces of Donna Musumano, a principal of Cornerstone Developers, Inc. with models in Collier and Lee Counties. “It’s truly the heart of a home. It’s where everyone gathers and family memories are made,” said Musumano. With that in mind, she says her customers are looking for a bigger center island so they can take advantage of that extra space for cookbooks, pots and pans, and lay out of food for presentation.
   Additional features desired include a separate space for cooking, a vegetable sink with a disposal, a pasta faucet over the stove, warming drawers and a second dishwasher. Clients want plenty of space to easily store pots and pans, small appli-ances, and to display their favorite dishes and glassware. There is also a higher demand for shelves that slide out, making it easier to get to items.
   Peel added that when his company designs these areas, they keep in mind things such as how the space is good for unloading and putting away groceries, and how an owner likes to cook, right down to considering if the owner is right- or left-handed. The kitchen is based more and more around the idea of convenience.
   In the open kitchen and family areas, materials used to integrate the various dining and lounging spaces are many. Plans that favor arches, circles and octagons over the traditional square or rectangular shaped rooms are conducive to a soothing free flow. Columns, dramatic ceiling treatments, and attractive floor selections subtly define boundaries between spaces. Stone and wood floors and wood ceilings can be used effectively with zero-pocketing walls of glass to open outdoor living spaces to interiors.
   The master bedroom suite is also an important element of a successful design. Often taking up an entire wing, the suite enjoys views, a comfortable seating area, sometimes a morning kitchen and, occasionally, an exercise room. First-floor
suites usually feature doors opening to the pool pavilion and second-floor suites often enjoy generous balconies. More and
more, walk-in closets in this sanctuary include stackable washers and dryers. The master bathroom is more like a Roman spa than the “necessary” of yesteryear. With all of these “extras,” this luxurious space is taking on mammoth dimensions.
   Looking ahead, specific features will continue to gain appeal. More people are entertaining at home, so the trend to incorporate fireplaces in outdoor spaces will grow in popularity. Also gaining favor is the importance of outside living and creating a strong connection between outdoor and indoor space. In order for the transition from one to the other be seamless, interaction among the architect, interior designer and landscape architect is essential.
   “You’re going to see even better utilization of space, with fewer hallways and more tech niches,” said Glenn Midnet, ASID and president of Design Group West in Naples.“The master baths will be more like a retreat because the space will be larger and include things like steam showers.”
   Kitchens will continue to increase in size, flexibility and functionality, and open floor plans will continue to be popular. Since many people are moving from areas of the country where the home designs are much more sectionalized, the great room design is appealing to them. And, more and more people are requesting specialty rooms and play rooms.
   Clearly, on the high end of the market, customization is key. Builders report that homebuyers are not looking for Plan A or B, but rather they want their own personal look. The most obvious result is that home designers and builders work closely
with their clients from day one of the building process and offer options galore.
   From discussion, to drawings on paper, to blueprints and then construction, creating a floor plan is a creative process.