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43
Living Rooms
Chapter 3
Planning Living Areas
Location
The living room in a newly built home is often
located in the front or back of the home, depending
BED 2
11' 12'
BED 1
16' 16'
BED 3
11' 10'
BATH 1
KITCHEN
11' 21'
BED 4
11' 15'
BAR
BATH 2
Objectives
Key Terms
patio
grade level
porch
deck
court
3 CAR GARAGE
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BATH 3
FOYER
UTILITY
living areas
closed plan
open plan
main entry
foyer
special-purpose entry
FAMILY
18' 20'
3-2 A foyer at the main entry prevents constant traffic through the living room.
DINING
12' 16'
LIVING
18' 22'
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Dining Rooms
WCI Communities, Inc.
3-5 This secondary furniture grouping allows an area for games away from the main conversation circle.
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COV. PORCH
68'-0"
QUIET PATIO
PATIO
Location
WOODBOX
NOOK
9'-4" 6'-0"
PLANTER
CL.
MASTER BEDRM.
16'-3" 15'-8"
HALL
B.C.
BEDROOM
10'-4" 13'-4"
CLOSET
BEDROOM
12'-0" 10'-0"
CLOSET
LIN.
FAMILY ROOM
17'-4" 12'-0"
PLANTER
Cl.
MUD ROOM
LAV.
STORAGE
FR. RM
FOYER
64'-0"
DINING ROOM
12'-0" 13'-6"
DN. 2-4"
30'-0"
D.W.
CLOSET
BATH 2
KITCHEN
11'-4" 12'-0"
LIVING ROOM
16'-0" 22'-6"
RAN.
DN. 2-4"
BATH 1
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W. D.
50'-0"
GARAGE
23'-4" 23'-4"
3-10 In this floor plan, the dining room is conveniently located between the living room and kitchen.
3-9 The open dining room plan gives a home a more spacious appearance.
Family Rooms
Many households need space for actionoriented pursuits. Having a family room in addition
to a living room makes possible the separation of
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Location
No set rules exist for the location of family rooms.
In some homes, the family room is separated from the
rest of the home. For example, many basements and
3-11 This medium-size dining room has ample space for a large dining room table, hutch,
and buffet.
14'-0"
BUFFET
36"
36"
11'-8"
44"
HUTCH
36"
3-12 Ample clearance space for seating and service should be allowed around a dining room table.
3-13 The family room may be used for special activities, such as hobbies or crafts. Family
rooms generally have more casual furnishings than living rooms.
BED RM. #2
12'-4" 11'-4"
CLO.
BED RM. #3
11'-0" 10'-1"
CLO.
BC
LAV.
DINING RM.
11'-6" 11'-0"
GARAGE
21'-8" 22'-0"
GUEST
CLO.
KITCHEN
10'-6" 11'-0"
REF.
WET BAR
MASTER BR.
12'-4" 13'-8"
WH
FUR.
TUB W
NOOK
10'-0" 10'-6"
BATH #1
FAMILY RM.
13'-8" 19'-6"
Entryways
Entryways control circulation to different parts of
a home. From the entryway, people should be able
to move to other parts of the home without interfering with activities in any area. Careful planning of
entryways adds to the convenience and comfort
that a family derives from the home. There are three
basic types of entryways: main or guest entries,
special-purpose entries, and service entries.
(Service entries are discussed in Chapter 5,
Planning Service and Work Areas.)
The main entry opens to the living area of the
house, often a foyer. It is the part of the home that
most guests see first. An attractive main entry
welcomes guests into a home and makes a good
first impression.
To establish better circulation patterns inside a
home, the main entry is usually located near the
center of the dwelling. The floor plan in 3-15 shows
how a well-located main entry provides access to
various areas of a home.
A main entry that opens into a foyer is preferred
over one that opens directly into a living room. A
foyer is an entry hall that functions as a place to
greet guests and, in colder climates, remove coats
and boots, 3-16. The foyer lends privacy to the
visitor and household.
The size of the dwelling and the number of
people using the entry determine the space it
needs. The minimum space required for one person
to fully open a door is 3 by 5 ft., but 5 by 7 ft. is more
convenient and comfortable. The minimum foyer
size is 6 ft. square, not including closet space.
An entry closet is convenient for storing coats,
hats, gloves, umbrellas, and other outdoor accessories. The minimum closet size is 2 by 3 ft., but a
closet that is 2 ft. deep and 4 ft. wide is more desirable. For convenience and easy access, the closet
should be located 4 to 5 ft. from the doorknob side of
the door, not directly behind the door.
The floor at the entry of the house should be
durable, water- and soil-resistant, and easy to
clean. Slate, ceramic tile, asphalt tile, and vinyl floor
DRESSING
RANGE
CLO.
70'-0"
BATH #2
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LIN.
34'-0"
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FOYER
LIVING RM.
17'-0" 13'-6"
ENTRY
3-15 A centrally located main entry helps to establish good circulation patterns throughout a house.
Patios, Porches,
and Courts
Therma-Tru Corporation
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Patios
A patio is an outdoor extension of a homes living
area usually built at grade level, but not structurally
connected to the house. Grade level is the level of
the land surrounding the building. Patio materials
should be durable and maintenance free. Brick,
concrete, stone, and redwood are among the materials often used, 3-18. Patios can be categorized by
function as play, living, and quiet patios.
G
Play patios are usually located adjacent to a
family room or service area to provide an area
for play activities.
G
Living patios are located near the living areas of
the home: the living room, dining room, and
family room.
G
Quiet patios are located on the quiet side of the
dwelling, near the bedrooms. They are used for
relaxing, reading, and even sleeping.
If the patio will be used for dining, access to the
kitchen or dining room is necessary, 3-19. The living
patio is usually the largest of the three types of
patios and may be connected to, or serve as, a play
patio as well.
Patios vary in size and shape. The size of the
patio is determined by the activities planned for the
area, the equipment and furnishings needed, and
the size of the home. When an in-ground pool is
designed for a home, it becomes an extension of
the patio, 3-20.
Porches
Like patios, porches vary in shape, size, and
purpose. A porch is an outdoor extension of a
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Courts
Courts were an important part of early Spanish
architecture and are still designed for homes today. A
court is a patio-like structure that is partially or
completely enclosed by walls. Courts are used for the
same purposes as patios and porches: relaxing, entertaining, and dining. Courts are more prevalent in warm
climates where heating is not a major consideration.
Adaptations for
Special Needs
Attention to certain details can make the living
area of the house accessible to everyone in the
household, including small children, the elderly, and
individuals with physical disabilities.
Dining Rooms
Clearance for wheelchair armrests and sufficient leg space are the two primary conditions for
making a dining room accessible to disabled family
members and guests. Tables with widely spaced
legs or pedestal supports provide the open legroom
needed. A space at least 32 in. wide is necessary
for guiding a wheelchair between furniture pieces or
around furniture near walls.
In frequently used dining areas, flooring should
be durable to withstand daily wear. Nonslip, hardsurface floors or low-pile carpeting are good
choices for areas used by children, the elderly, or
disabled individuals.
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Chapter Summary
Review Questions
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Suggested Activities
Internet Resources