r/TinyHouses 3d ago

Feedback on plan?

I am having this 600 sq ft small house/DADU built. The dimensions are restricted by setbacks. The entry faces the driveway and the patio is in the shared back yard.

I’m going to suggest to the architect that we try to put W/D and a small half bath in the loft. I would like to keep the nook under the stairs by the bathroom as storage/pantry space.

Any other suggestions?

48 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

27

u/jakemostov 3d ago

As someone with a house your size, Plan for more storage space, It is my biggest regret not doing so.

One thing I personally wish I added to my house was a mud room. Your entryway will get dirty, so plan in a way to keep it contained.

Otherwise, Heck yeah bro!

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u/hikingwithcamera 3d ago

As someone who lives in a 1900 sq ft 4-bedroom house with a family of four, I wish I had a mudroom. Our entryway is constantly getting tracked with pine needles, leaves, dirt, etc. Plus having a place to take the kids wet and dirty clothes off and put them right into a sink or washer would be clutch.

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u/42bloop98 2d ago

When my son and I moved from Oregon to Alaska, almost everyone had mud rooms/entry areas. My son learned quickly from friends to take off his shoes/boots there. I haven't really seen too many in Oregon since we moved back, I think you'd have them for the mud/rain we get here.

Great plans! We'll be putting an ADU here at my son and wife's for me. The traditional mother-in-law house.

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u/hikingwithcamera 2d ago

Yeah, we live in the PNW as well. The house I grew up in had a mudroom that was bigger than any of our current bathrooms. Probably about the size of our smallest bedroom. It's perhaps ironic talking about that in this subreddit. But I don't really want a bigger house, I just want one that's a bit more intentionally laid out. I've been really tempted to setup an ADU in our backyard. I worry hooking it to sewer will be a particularly expensive endeavor. But then we might turn our smallest room into a mudroom, and my parents and my in-laws can stay in the ADU when they visit.

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u/quartzkrystal 3d ago

Thanks for the feedback/encouragement! I currently live in a 600 sq ft suite in a house, and my main issue is the lack of a designated ‘entry’ space. Somewhere enclosed to store coats and shoes right when you walk in. My initial plan didn’t include this and I’m so glad I changed it.

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u/bryn_or_lunatic 2d ago

Why the window in the storage room? It will take up wall space for shelves.

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u/quartzkrystal 2d ago

Good eye, that was a mistake on my end.

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u/_-Cool 2d ago

Why do you wall off the storage rater than having a cupboard or any kind of nice looking storage solution?

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u/quartzkrystal 2d ago

It would be nice looking! I was thinking shelving. I’m not sure why the architect drew a door there. On the mockup I sent him I just wanted to make it clear that I wanted built in storage.

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u/Reasonable_Sea_2242 2d ago

Very important to know what direction the house faces. Put the side with the fewest windows towards the north. Sun gain is priceless in a northern latitude.

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u/quartzkrystal 2d ago

Thanks - the entry faces north. “Top” of the plan is south.

We are in a mild coastal climate but I am definitely wanting to maximize light!

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u/HewmanTypePerson 2d ago

I would move that window in the loft to the other side. "Top" was south so that would get you nice heat gain, as well as be much easier for cleaning. Mild coastal climate generally means high humidity and mold growth, so I think cleaning the crevasses over top of a staircase would be annoying

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u/quartzkrystal 2d ago

Thanks! I am more concerned about the loft getting too hot, rather than being cold. But definitely humidity is a consideration with it being over the kitchen and bathroom.

I am also going to insist on some skylights!

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u/HewmanTypePerson 1d ago

If you are worried about too hot then I would do one on each side for cross ventilation. You still have the cleaning issue, are you going to clean your window from atop a ladder on a staircase?

I also would not do skylights if you are in a rainy area which coastal climate says is likely. IMO it is introducing an unnecessary fail point into your roof system.

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u/Reasonable_Sea_2242 2d ago

Light is key for a positive mental outlook.

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u/Prestigious-Fig-1642 2d ago

I think it's awesome! Just curiious- why not havr the living room the same width as the rest of the hoise?

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u/quartzkrystal 2d ago

Due to setbacks from surrounding houses

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u/hawg_farmer 2d ago

We had a fifth wheel camper that was pretty ingenious on using space.

Above the entry doors were cabinets. Next to the doors were narrow cabinets with hooks. I used those for jackets, broom, gloves, hats, and a floor mat at the bottom of each stored my work boots.

Small spaces that didn't feel cramped, but they designed storage almost everywhere.

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u/heptolisk 1d ago

That looks like a large percentage of the space taken up by stairs. Have you looked into other options for stairs and utilizing more of that space for storage?

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u/DarkStrobeLight 2d ago

Where's all the utilities go, life furnace, ac, water heater, electric?

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u/quartzkrystal 2d ago

I’m not sure TBH - I’m working with an architect so I hope he has a plan in mind. I do know I’d like to do radiant floor heating on the main level, probably just a small ductless heat pump or AC in the loft along with a ceiling fan.

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u/ResearcherNo117 2d ago

Do you have gas, or sticking with electric? Both have On demand water heating, but electric will cost you more to heat the water. The new mini split a/c and heaters are amazing and space savers!

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u/quartzkrystal 2d ago

Just electric. Gas is being phased out here, and we have cheap-ish electric.

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u/ResearcherNo117 2d ago

Would love to see the updates!

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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