Finalized Layout - Not!

I had a meeting with the architect last Friday - my comments on the layout:

• need a 2nd staircase at the back - easier for family members to access the kitchen from upstairs. No need to cross over the dining area & avoid the crowd during a function/usrah.
• separate toilet for each bedroom
• re-positioning of prayer room
• expand the dry kitchen.

On Wednesday, they sent me the proposed layout. Not one, not two - but three! Efficient sungguh!!

Option 1
2 staircase with bigger built-up (4460 sf)
Pros - All bedrooms except for master will have more width (3.6m instead of the originally 3.3m). Spacious.

Cons - Bigger built-up = higher cost









Option 2
Only 1 staircase but at the back (4075 sf)
Pros - The house is not that huge, ideally a single staircase should suit us fine. Bedrooms are still 3.6m in width. Upstair family area can overlook the living area downstair. Dining & Living area will be spacious enough to accommodate usrah and solat jemaah.

Cons - Smaller master bathroom (4m width instead of 4.5m). Dining & living area will be too close to each other (might need a divider).



Option 3


2 staircase (4160 sf)
Pros - Looks nice. Not too big, not too small.

Cons - Bedrooms are smaller (w - 3.3m instead of 3.6m).








So, after discussing with wifekins, we both agreed to go with Option 3. At 3pm today, the architect called & i told him to proceed with perspective design for Option 3. At last, we have finalized the layout after nearly 2 months of brainstorming. Yeay!

We usually have a family gathering every Thursday night. So just now, I eagerly showed the layout to my parents. Normally, they would just look at it & say "hmm ok la.. ni ape ni? oOo hmm ok la". But not this time. hehe

Bapak "Kenapa nak ada 2 tangga?"
Me "Sbb senang nanti kalo ade usrah or kenduri, orang atas boleh turun naik tangga belakang & vice versa"
Bapak "Nak senang buat 1 tangga je kat belakang.. umah bapak ni kalo boleh, bapak nak tangga terus ke belakang.. tangga ni utk family naik turun je.. kalo kat depan makan space jee"

betul jugak haha
i've actually thought abt that.. but doesn't it seem weird to have the main staircase at the back? Then, i started belek2 my old magazine 'ID', 'live', 'Impiana'..
And yes - most of the terrace & semi-d houses have staircase sandwiched between the dining and the living area. But for bungalow - there isn't a standard design. Each is unique. You can have more than 2 staircase if you really want. Or none. Do you know the cost for a 2-level personal lift is roughly about RM150k? ;)

So, tomorrow i need to call the architect.. again.. for another re-adjustment hehe
the fun part is - back to the drawing board!