Before and after: Revitalizing former best-selling plans

Reload, Restructure, and Renew

Architect
Donald F. Evans, AIA
The Evans Group
devans@theevansgroup.com
407.650.8770
www.theevansgroup.com

A regional builder came to us with 11 of their current plans to update, or as we like to call it, “reload, restructure, and renew.” With 2,300 square feet, three bedrooms, and two baths, this home is the perfect “right-sized” home for the lifestyle of today’s family.

BEFORE - Deficiencies in the old plan:
A. Need to create a defined casual eating space; kitchen doesn’t make sense.
B. Closets need to be bigger and should never be on the outside wall where there is an opportunity for views and light.
C. A one-room master bath provides no privacy. Also, the vanity is too small and there is no window or light into the space.
D. Placing the utility room off the foyer is a big no-no.
E. No entry from the garage to the kitchen, so the groceries are carried into the foyer, past the dining room, and around the corner into the kitchen. I can just see mom’s reaction to this.
F. Enter home and look into the secondary bath and see the toilet, another no-no.
G. Dining room is too large and not well defined.
H. Never provide 10-foot bedroom dimensions.

AFTER - Solutions and improvements in the new plan:
A. Large kitchen with defined casual eating in the café, bar seating at the new island, and a view of the grand room.
B. New master bath configuration with a large dual vanity and shower with lots of light, as well as two large walk-in closets.
C. Utility room is centrally located, exactly as it should be.
D. Defined lounge space in the master suite.
E. Well designed secondary bath with privacy from the foyer.
F. Defined dining salon, separate from the circulation and gallery.