We designed the interior layout ourselves.  We also did this drawing ourselves, which means it is not to scale.

The primary drive behind our design choices was our family. We have 4 children and we homeschool 2 of them. We really LIVE in our house. We wanted everyone to have private space, but still keep the size of the house to under 2,500 SF.

Three of our kids are female, so we wanted to make sure there was adequate "vanity" space. We entertain a lot and cook a lot and those needs were addressed as well. There are many design features that support our family. These are the most helpful:

The kids sink and bathroom are separate.
This is especially helpful when everyone is getting ready at once.

We sound-proofed the master bedroom.
Our bedroom is the one place in the house that is "adults only" and I consider it my sanctuary.

Its where I go to re-charge, hide-out, love, and most importantly: SLEEP. Soundproofing board was very inexpensive and makes a huge difference in the "quality of quiet" in that room. Image courtesy of Alan Howell, Star Path Images.

The kids have sleeping nooks and share a common room.
Each of the kids has a small (6x10) nook that fits a built-in single bed, a dresser, and a table or shelf for treasures. The nook-space is designed to meet the children's' needs for privacy and security. Rather than give everyone a bigger room, we opted to create a very large common room for the kids. This way, there is plenty of room for slumber parties, crafting, rat-mazes, and imaginative play. Plus, the kids don't disappear into their rooms and that supports our relationships. Image courtesy of Alan Howell, Star Path Images.









The bulk of the square footage goes to the Great Room.
We do not have separate kitchen, living, dining, or den space. Instead, we have one Great Room (approximately 36x22). This space is totally open, not a single wall dividing it. In every house I've lived in, the kitchen is the heart. Eventually, everyone ends up in there, no matter what size it is. By combining the spaces into one, we are able to work, cook, and nap along side one another without getting in each other's way. 











Image courtesy of Alan Howell, Star Path Images.