This winter we are hoping to start putting up walls and with the new tub in the master bathroom, I wanted to tweak the floorplan to accommodate the larger tub and create smaller closets in the entry and family room.
I have been able to work on the floorplan with a free downloaded CAD program called DraftSight. This is one of the few free CAD programs for Mac users. It is free to students, hobbyists, and individuals. I am not very proficient with CAD software but I’m able to make rough changes in the original dwg file from the architect.
This floorplan is the original from Humanature Architecture.
Dibble Floorplan 11-14-12
I have tweaked it a few times, most recently to change the closets in the entry to allow more room for the doorways. I also tried a different layout for the bathroom and closet doors to allow more space for the bed to be against the bathroom wall. It doesn’t work as well to have the bed against the hallway wall. It is a feature bed and would be nice to see it when entering the room, and I don’t want to have to walk around it to get to the bathroom and closet. I also moved the bar to the circular table that we have at the end of the kitchen counters.
Dibble Floorplan 12-04-15
In the latest drawing, notice the laundry sink in the utility room is gone–too close to the electrical box for the well pump–and there is a bar sink in the dining area. The other major change is the master bedroom closet. Although everyone likes a larger walk in closet in the master, I am thinking of reducing the size of the master closet in the original plan in order to move the bathroom door out of the east bedroom wall. The size of the closet interior is now about 5’x 5′. With the large walk in closet for seasonal clothes across from the bedroom, I think the smaller closet and the space gained in the bedroom itself are worth the change.
Dibble Floorplan Update 12-11-15
This new design is about the size of the original closet in the bedroom with the door changed from the south side to the west side of the closet.
Original Master Bedroom Closet
The interior of the original closet was adequate for two people.
Original Master Closet Interior
The Arvada Building Department told me that the interior walls can be built anywhere and do not have to conform exactly to the architect’s drawing. For the new windows and doors I did submit the changes to the building department as well as paying extra for adding the windows and doors to the building permit as they were not part of the original scope of work. I felt good about adding them, even though I probably wouldn’t have had to. I wanted to be sure the house was credited with professionally installed windows and doors for future sale. But these wall changes will not require that I submit new plans.