Spousal argument over floorplan--you decide whose right

[JessC]

We are trying to finalize our floor plans.  Our house burned down and we are rebuilding.  Due to shape of our lot and setback requirements, we are designing the house to fit within the old footprint so that we don't have to meet the new setbacks (plus a few other issues which led to this conclusion). 

The issue my husband and I are having is where to place the family room.  The precon plans we just received has the living room down a 19 foot hall.  So basically, you enter the house into a 19x6 hall/"foyer".  On your left is two bedrooms, with a bathroom in the middle.  On your right is the den/bedroom then open dinette and kitchen.  The patio is 6x6 in between the 1st bedroom and den. 

I want to put the family room in the front of the house so it is on the left when you walk in.  This means losing 36 sq ft in the family room b/c of the patio and the hall becomes a bit longer, but further back.  But, you could also narrow the hall to 4 ft and make the bedrooms 2 feet longer.  You would also be able to see from the 1/2 wall/buffet in the kitchen into the family room, instead of looking into the bathroom hall as you would with the other layout.

I am worried about flow and thus resale (even though we don't ever plan moving) and my husband is concerned with the 36 sq ft. lost from the family room.  I am not b/c I see us using the full finished basement more than the family room. 

What do you think?

[Webmaster]

Hi JessC. I've put a poll up that hopefully people will vote on!

Sadly I voted for your husbands plans I like a long hallway to the living room, if anything it acts as a good 'airlock' for keeping cold air, dirty feet, coats, hats, boots etc away from the nice warm clean living room.