!

"#$ %&

How We Turned an Awkward

Floor Plan Into a Functional
Home

#'()%*+',%-+%./012)%)23(%'-+(/4+%(53%6'.37
37%)2+%-//8(9%%:2,/012%4*%8,+'4*%+*+(;%3)
-'(%<0==%/<%62',4;%6/7)+4>/,',*%,0()36?7+((
'78%>/)+7)3'=9%%@0)%37%,+'=3)*%3)%-'(%'%>//,=*
8+(317+8%AB%*+',%/=8%40()*%2/0(+9
%C-2/4>%-2/4>9C%%

D+%./012)%)2+%E;ABF%(G0',+%<//)%2/0(+
57/-371%)2')%3)%-/0=8%.+%'%HI+,%0>>+,%'78
.+1'7%4'5371%34>,/J+4+7)(%'(%(//7%'(%-+
4/J+8%379%%K376+%LM4%'7%',623)+6);%L%()',)+8
-3)2%2/-%-+%6'7%HI%)2+%='*/0)%/<%)2+%2/0(+
)/%4'5+%3)%<076)3/7%.+))+,9%%:2+,+%-+,+
'-5-',8%'78%070('.=+%(>'6+(%'==%/J+,%)2+
2/0(+9%%:23(%>/()%3(%1/371%)/%-'=5%*/0
)2,/012%)2+%+I3()371%N//,%>='7;%'78%2/-%L
'=)+,+8%3)%)/%13J+%3)%.+))+,%N/-%'78
<076)3/7'=3)*9%%L%-3==%'=(/%+I>='37%2/-%L
</60(+8%/7%'%='*/0)%)2')%-3==%>,/4/)+%'
2+'=)2*%=3<+()*=+9

FREE GUIDE: 20 WAYS

TO CREATE YOUR
HEALTHY HOME

Download your FREE photo

inspiration guidebook to start
creating a home that enhances your
family's health and well-being.

Grab It Here

!"#$%&'LM4%(2',371%)2+%H,()%1=34>(+%/<%)2+
6/4>=+)+%53)62+7%,+7/J')3/79%%K)365%',/078
)/%)2+%+78%)/%(++%)2+%),'7(</,4')3/79%

Existing First Floor

O+,+%3(%2/-%)2+%H,()%N//,%-'(%='38%/0)%-2+7
-+%./012)%)2+%2/0(+9

28'-0"

BATHROOM
TILE

BEDROOM3
13'-4"X9'-0"
CARPET

CLOSET
CARPET

COUNTER
DN

BUILT-IN
CAB
32'-0"

KITCHEN
13'-6"X10'-2"
SHEETVINYLFLOOR

LIVINGROOM
EXTERIOR
13'-4"X18'-2"
DECK
WOODFLOOR
9'-O"X25'-6"

DINING

13'-6"X9'-2"
SHEETVINYLFLOOR
WOODSTOVE

MAINENTRY

DN

Why This Floor Plan Doesn't Work

Main Entry

D+==;%)2+,+%'6)0'==*%3(%7/%4'37%+7),*9
%$/0%+7)+,%)2+%<,/7)%8//,%83,+6)=*%37)/
)2+%837371%',+'9

:2+,+%3(%7/%6/')%6=/(+)%/,%(>'6+%</,
()/,'1+%')%)2+%<,/7)%8//,9

:2+%4'37%+7),*%3(%')%)2+%./))/4%/<%)2+
>='79%%:2+%.'65%8//,%3(%')%)2+%)/>%/<
)2+%>='79%%:2+%.'65%8//,%7+J+,;%+J+,
1+)(%0(+89

Kitchen

:2+%53)62+7%3(%'%6,'4>+8%"?(2'>+8
='*/0)9%%:2+,+%3(%7/)%+7/012%,//4
.+)-++7%)2+%)-/%6/07)+,(%)/%<076)3/7
(4//)2=*%37%)23(%(>'6+9

:2+%3(='78%>/,)3/7%/<%)2+%6/07)+,%3(
070(0'==*%2312;%4'5371%3)%83P60=)%)/
0(+%)2')%>/,)3/7%/<%)2+%6/07)+,%)/
>,+>',+%<//89

:2+,+%3(%7/%,//4%)/%(3)%')%)2+%3(='78
.+6'0(+%)2+%837371%)'.=+%3(%37%)2+%-'*9

:2+%()/J+%3(%)37*%'78%8'71+,/0(9

Q/()%/<%)2+%53)62+7%()/,'1+%3(%',/078
)2+%6/,7+,%37%)2+%2'==-'*9

Living Room

:2+%=3J371%,//4%3(%=/71%'78%7',,/-;
4'5371%3)%83P60=)%)/%',,'71+%<0,73)0,+9
%:2+%:R%3(%'./0)%'%43=+%<,/4%)2+
6/0629

K>+'5371%/<%:R;%)2+%/7=*%,+=')3J+=*
1//8%>='6+%</,%3)%3(%37%<,/7)%/<%'
-378/-9

:2+%6+7)+,%/<%)2+%=3J371%,//4%3(%)2+
>')2-'*%)/%1+)%0>()'3,(%'78%/0)(38+
/7%)2+%8+65;%83J38371%)2+%(>'6+%37%)-/9

:2+%-//8%()/J+%(++4(%)/%.+%,'78/4=*
>='6+8%/7%)2+%.'65%-'==%?%7/)%G03)+
6+7)+,+8;%.0)%7/)%/S?6+7)+,%+7/012%)/
=//5%8+=3.+,')+9

:2+%.31%(=38371%1='((%8//,%=343)(
<0,73)0,+%'78%()/,'1+%>='6+4+7)%(376+
3)%)'5+(%0>%(/%4062%-'==%(>'6+9

:2+%=3J371%,//4%2'(%8',5%6/,7+,(%4/()
/<%)2+%8'*%(376+%)2+,+%3(%J+,*%=3))=+%=312)
6/4371%37%<,/4%)2+%(/0)2%T(/0)2%3(%')
)2+%./))/4%/<%)2+%>='7U9

Main Bathroom

:2+%/7=*%<0==%.')2,//4%T'78%/7=*
(2/-+,U%3(%/7%)2+%H,()%N//,9%%:2+
4'V/,3)*%/<%)2+%.+8,//4(%',+%/7%)2+
(+6/78%N//,9%%:23(%3(%'77/*3719

L<%(/4+/7+%/>+7(%)2+%8//,%/7%*/0
-23=+%*/0M,+%/7%)2+%)/3=+);%*/0%2'J+%'
>+,<+6)%J3+-%)/%()',+%)2+4%8/-79%%:2+
)/3=+)%3(%<'6371%)2+%.')2,//4%8//,
-2362%3(%'-5-',8%'78%076/4</,)'.=+9

:2+%.')2,//4%<++=(%,+'==*%7',,/-
.+6'0(+%/<%)2+%>='6+4+7)%/<%)2+
.')2)0.9

W/)%4062%7')0,'=%=312)%1+)(%)/%)2+%(375
',+'%.+6'0(+%/<%)2+%-'==%/<%)2+
.')2)0.9

First Floor Bedroom / Office

X%<++)%-38+%3(%)//%7',,/-%</,%'
.+8,//49

:2+%6=/(+)%3(%)//%(2'==/-9%%L)%3(%EXY
8++>9%%Z=/(+)(%7++8%)/%.+%[\Y%8++>%</,
6=/)2+(%)/%H)%37%)2+%6=/(+)%!"#$</,%)2+
8//,%)/%(20)9

Existing Second Floor

Hallway / Balcony

:2+%2'==-'*%3(%/>+7%)/%)2+%H,()%N//,
.+=/-;%'78%3)%3(%=/71%'78%7',,/-9%%L)%3(
)//%7',,/-%)/%0(+%)2+%(>'6+%</,
'7*)2371%.0)%()/,'1+;%.0)%*/0%8/7M)
-'7)%)/%0(+%3)%</,%()/,'1+%(376+%3)%6'7
.+%(++7%<,/4%)2+%H,()%N//,9

Bedroom 2

X%<++)%-38+%3(%)//%7',,/-%</,%'
.+8,//49

:2+%6=/(+)%3(%)//%(2'==/-9%%L)%3(%EXY
8++>9%%Z=/(+)(%7++8%)/%.+%[\Y%8++>%</,
6=/)2+(%)/%H)%37%)2+%6=/(+)%!"#$</,%)2+
8//,%)/%(20)9

Master Bedroom

:2+%,//4%3(%=/71%'78%7',,/-9

:2+%6=/(+)%3(%/7%)2+%(/0)2%-'==;
+=3437')371%)2+%>/((3.3=3)*%/<%2'J371
.31%-378/-(%)/%)2+%(/0)29

#35+%)2+%,+()%/<%)2+%6=/(+)(;%)23(%/7+%3(
7/)%8++>%+7/0129

:2+%6=/(+)%6,+')+(%'%-+3,8%7//5%')%)2+
6/,7+,%/<%)2+%,//49

D378/-%(3==(%',+%)//%2312%/S%)2+%N//,9
%:2+,+%3(%J+,*%=3))=+%J3+-371%(>'6+%/0)
/<%)2+%-378/-(9

:2+%.')2,//4%3(%G03)+%6,'4>+89%%L)%3(
)//%(4'==%</,%)2+%8//,%)/%(-371%37)/
)2+%.')2,//49%%:2+%8//,%(-371371%/0)
37)/%)2+%.+8,//4%6,+')+(%'%>,/.=+4
</,%4/J+4+7)%)2,/012/0)%)2+
.+8,//49

:2+%/7=*%0>()'3,(%.')2,//4%2'(%)/%.+
+7)+,+8%)2,/012%)2+%4'()+,%.+8,//49
%W/)%<07%-2+7%)2+%>+,(/7%(=++>371%37
.+8,//4%[%7++8(%)/%>++%37%)2+%4388=+
/<%)2+%7312)9

Proposed Floor Plan Fix

L%6'==%)23(%)2+%>,/>/(+8%>='7%.+6'0(+%-+
8+638+8%7/)%)/%1/%)2,/012%-3)2%)23(%/>)3/79
%:23(%/>)3/7%3(%'%6/4>=+)+%),'7(</,4')3/7%/<
)2+%+7)3,+%2/0(+9%%K376+%83(6/J+,371%)2')%-+
-/0=8%2'J+%)/%>0)%'%=/)%/<%4/7+*%37)/
34>,/J371%)2371(%-+%-+,+7M)%+I>+6)371%)/
34>,/J+%T-2362%-3==%]#D]$K%2'>>+7%80,371
'%,+7/J')3/7U;%'78%-+%57+-%)2')%-+%-+,+7M)
1/371%)/%=3J+%')%)23(%2/0(+%</,%J+,*%=/71;%-+
8+638+8%)/%(6'=+%.'65%)2+%,+7/J')3/79%%:2+,+
-'(%7/%-'*%-+%-/0=8%,+6/0>%'==%/<%)2+
4/7+*%37J+()+8%3<%-+%-+7)%-3)2%)23(%/>)3/79%

L%-'7)%)/%(2/-%*/0%)23(%/>)3/7%(/%*/0%6'7
(++%-2')%3(%>/((3.=+%3<%-+%-'7)+8%)/%4'5+
)2+%H7'763'=%37J+()4+7)%'78%=3J+%37%)23(
2/0(+%</,%)2+%=/71%2'0=9

Proposed First Floor Plan

Main Entry

]%4'37%+7),*%3(%6,+')+8%-2+,+%)2+
837371%)'.=+%0(+8%)/%.+9

K)/,'1+%.+762+(%',+%'88+8%'=/71%)2+
+I)+,3/,%-'==%)/%>,/J38+%'%>='6+%)/%(3)
-2+7%>0))371%/7%(2/+(%'78%)/%()/,+
(2/+(%'78%'==%)2+%,'78/4%)2371(%)2')
+78%0>%37%'7%+7),*9

Z/')%2//5(%',+%'88+8%)/%)2+%(38+%-'==
)/%2'71%)2+%4/()%0(+8%3)+4(9

()*+,-.'("/)'0123
$/0,%4'37%+7),*%3(%)2+%H,()%1=34>(+
37)/%*/0,%2/4+9%%D2+7%*/0%-'=5%37;
*/0%-'7)%3)%)/%<++=%(>'63/0(%'78%6=0))+,
<,++9%%^,/J38371%'4>=+%()/,'1+%')%)2+
4'37%+7),*%'==/-(%'==%)2+%)2371(%)2')
6/4+%'78%1/%<,/4%)2+%2/0(+%)/%.+
)065+8%'-'*%07)3=%7++8+8;%'78%3)%=+)M(
*/0%-'=5%37)/%'%(>'6+%)2')%8/+(7M)
(),+((%*/0%/0)_%%

$/0%'=(/%-'7)%)/%>,/J38+%'%.+762%(/
>+/>=+%6'7%+'(3=*%)'5+%/S%)2+3,%(2/+(
0>/7%+7)+,3719%%:23(%5++>(%)2+
>/==0)'7)?H==+8%83,)%<,/4%.+371%),'65+8
',/078%)2+%2/0(+9

Kitchen

`3)62+7%1/+(%<,/4%'%"?(2'>+%)/%'7%#?
(2'>+%)/%>,/J38+%4/,+%6/07)+,%(>'6+
'78%'==/-%'%>='6+%</,%)2+%837371%)'.=+9

:2+%837371%',+'%'78%53)62+7%',+
6/4.37+8%)/%+I)+78%)2+%=+71)2%/<%)2+
53)62+7%6/07)+,9%%:2+%6/07)+,%+I)+78(
37)/%-2')%-'(%)2+%837371%',+'9

:2+%53)62+7%3(%(+)%0>%37)/%-/,5%a/7+(9
%:2+%a/7+%6=/(+()%)/%)2+%+7),*%3(%)2+
6=+'7371%'78%.,+'5<'()%>,+>%a/7+
T6/S++%'78%(4//)23+%()')3/7_U9%%:2+
7+I)%a/7+%3(%</,%<//8%>,+>9%%L)%3(%'%AM?\Y
6/07)+,%(>'6+%-3)2%6=/(+%>,/I343)*%)/
)2+%(375%'78%)2+%),'(2%6'79%%W+I)%0>%3(
)2+%6//5371%a/7+9%%]78%H7'==*%)2+%',+'
)/%)2+%=+<)%/<%)2+%,+<,31+,')/,%3(%'%8,/>
a/7+%</,%>0==371%)2371(%/0)%/<%)2+
<,381+9%%:2+%837371%)'.=+%3(%'%1,+')
>='6+%</,%'((+4.=*%-2+7%4+'=
>,+>>3719

b0==%2+312)%()/,'1+%3(%'88+8%)/%)2+
,+<,31+,')/,%-'==%(/%)2')%)2+%53)62+7
()/,'1+%3(%7/-%'%>',)%/<%)2+%53)62+7
,')2+,%)2'7%)2+%2'==-'*9

^0==%/0)%8,'-+,(%',+%0(+8%')%.'(+
6'.37+)(9

()*+,-.'("/)'0123
D/,5%a/7+(%-3)2%>=+7)*%/<%6/07)+,
(>'6+%4'5+%4+'=%>,+>>371%4062
+'(3+,;%'78%>/((3.=*%+J+7%+7V/*'.=+_
%Q+'=%>,+>>371%3(%'%1,+')%-'*%)/%1+)%'==
/<%*/0,%J+113+?H==+8%2+'=)2*%4+'=(
>,+>',+8%')%/76+%(/%)2')%*/0%6'7
+'(3=*%1,'.%'%>,+?4'8+%2+'=)2*%4+'=%37
)2+%4388=+%/<%)2+%-++59

O'J371%'%)'.=+%37%)2+%53)62+7%>,/J38+(
'%1,+')%>='6+%</,%538(%)/%2+=>%/0)%')
8377+,%)34+%(376+%3)%3(%)2+%>+,<+6)
2+312)%</,%)2+4%)/%-/,5%/79
%c76/0,'1371%538(%)/%.+%37J/=J+8%-3)2
4'5371%2+'=)2*%4+'=(%3(%<07%'78
.+7+H63'=%</,%)2+3,%2+'=)29

^0==%/0)%8,'-+,(%4'5+%3)%+'(3+,%)/%1,'.
)2+%3)+4(%*/0%7++8%-3)2/0)%2'J371%)/
.+78%/J+,%'78%(),'37%*/0,%.'659%%^=0(
3)%3(%4062%+'(3+,%)/%5++>%'%8,'-+,
/,1'73a+8%)2'7%'%)*>36'=%.'(+%6'.37+)
-2362%-3==%4'5+%*/0%2'>>3+,9

Living Room

:2+%-'==%3(%,+4/J+8%.+)-++7%)2+
53)62+7%'78%=3J371%,//49

]%2'==-'*%3(%6,+')+8%.+2378%)2+%=3J371
,//4%)/%'66+((%)2+%()'3,(%)/%)2+
(+6/78%=+J+=9%%:2+%=3J371%,//4%3(%7/
=/71+,%37)+,,0>)+8%.*%>+/>=+%),'J+=371
0>%'78%8/-7%)2+%()'3,(9

D//8%(6,++7371%3(%'88+8%)/%6,+')+%'
(+43?>,3J')+%<++=371%37%)2+%=3J371%,//4
-23=+%()3==%'==/-371%)2+%7')0,'=%=312)%)/
6/4+%37%<,/4%)2+%53)62+79

:2+%(=38371%1='((%8//,%3(%,+4/J+8
-2362%>,/J38+(%4/,+%-'==%(>'6+%</,
<0,73)0,+9

K)/,'1+%.+762+(%'=/71%)2+%(/0)2%-'==
>,/J38+%2388+7%()/,'1+%'78%+I),'
(+')3719

:2+%-//8%()/J+%(23<)(%6=/(+,%)/%)2+
438%=37+%/<%)2+%2/0(+%'==/-371%)2+
2+')%)/%4/,+%+'(3=*%4/J+%)2,/012%)2+
2/0(+9

()*+,-.'("/)'0123
]88371%()/,'1+%8,'-+,(%)/%'%=3J371
,//4%3(%'%>+,<+6)%-'*%)/%238+%)/*(%'78
1'4+(%-2+7%)2+*%',+%7/)%37%0(+9%%d+?
6=0))+,371%*/0,%=3J371%(>'6+%4'5+(%*/0
4/,+%')%+'(+%'78%4/,+%>,/806)3J+9%%L<
*/0%2'J+%'%(4'==%2/0(+%=35+%)23(%/7+;
6/4.37371%()/,'1+%'78%(+')371%3(%'7
+P63+7)%0(+%/<%(>'6+9

K/=38%-//8%N//,371%3(%'%('<+
'=)+,7')3J+%)/%6',>+)%</,%*/0,%=3J371
,//49%%Z',>+)%),'>(%62+436'=?H==+8
80()%-2362%),'J+=(%37)/%)2+%=071(%/<
=3))=+%5388/(%>='*371%/7%)2+%N//,9
%D//8%N//,371%3(%+'(*%)/%(-++>%)/
,+4/J+%'7*%N/')371%80()9%%^=0(%-//8
N//,371%3(%'%7')0,'=%4')+,3'=%-2362
.,371(%<++=371(%/<%6'=47+((%'78
2'>>37+((9

Bathroom

:2+%+I3()371%.')2,//4%'78%()/,'1+
,//4%6/4.37+%)/%.+6/4+%'%='078,*
,//4%-3)2%()/,'1+9%%T:2+%+I3()371
='078,*%,//4%3(%37%)2+%1,/((
.'(+4+7)U

Z/')%'78%(2/+%()/,'1+%3(%'88+8%</,
/J+,N/-%/0)+,%-+',%)2')%8/+(7M)%H)%37
)2+%+7),*9

:2+%.'65%8//,%3(%,+4/J+8%'78%'
>/-8+,%,//4%3(%'88+8%')%)2+%+78%/<
)2+%2'==-'*9

()*+,-.'("/)'0123
Q'I343a+%()/,'1+%(>'6+%)/%5++>
6=0))+,%')%.'*9%%$/0%4312)%.+%7/)36371%'
),+78%?%6=0))+,%3(%'%4'V/,%8+)+,,+7)%)/%'
2+'=)2*%2/4+9%%L)%3(%34>/((3.=+%)/%.+
6'=4%'78%</60(+8%-2+7%*/0%',+
=//5371%')%>3=+(%/<%>'>+,(%'78%)/*(%'78
'==%)2+%/)2+,%)2371(%)2')%4'136'==*
'>>+',%/7%'==%)2+%(0,<'6+(%/<%*/0,
2/0(+9%

d+(317')+%'%(4'==%6=/(+)%</,%6=+'7371
(0>>=3+(%=35+%'%J'6004;%.,//4%'78
80()+,9%%Q'5371%)2+(+%3)+4(%+'(3=*
'66+((3.=+%-3==%4'5+%*/0%4/,+%=35+=*%)/
0(+%)2+49%%d0()%3(%'%.31%6/7),3.0)/,%)/
'==+,13+(%'78%'()24'%(376+%3)%6',,3+(
62+436'=(%'=/71%-3)2%80()%43)+(;%(/
80()371%'78%J'6004371%<,+G0+7)=*%3(
7+6+((',*%</,%'%2+'=)2*%2/4+9

Proposed Second Floor Plan

Master Bedroom

:2+%6=/(+)%3(%,+=/6')+8%)/%)2+%+I3()371
2'==-'*%)/%0)3=3a+%-'()+8%(>'6+%'78
<,++%0>%)2+%+I)+,3/,%-'==%/<%)2+
.+8,//49%%

]%7+-%-378/-%3(%'88+8%/7%)2+%(/0)2
-'==%)/%.,371%37%4/,+%(/0)2+,7%=312)9

()*+,-.'("/)'0123
L<%3)%3(%-3)237%.081+);%0(+%(/=38%-//8
N//,371%37%=3+0%/<%6',>+)%37%*/0,
.+8,//4(9%%L<%*/0%6'7%/7=*%'S/,8
-//8%N//,371%37%(/4+%,//4(;%4'5+
623=8,+7M(%,//4(%'%>,3/,3)*%(376+%)2+*
>='*%6=/(+%)/%)2+%N//,%'78%)2+3,%=071(
',+%J+,*%(0(6+>)3.=+%)/%>/==0)'7)(9

^='6371%.+8,//4(%/7%)2+%+'()%(38+%/<
)2+%2/4+%'==/-(%*/0%)/%-'5+%0>%.*
7')0,'=%(07%=312)9%%$/0,%./8*%'78%4378
-3==%)2'75%*/09%%`++>371%*/0,%./8*
'=317+8%-3)2%7')0,+M(%6=/65%4'5+(%</,%'
.+))+,%7312)M(%(=++>%'78%'%4/,+
>,/806)3J+%8'*9

Bathroom

:2+%2'=<%.')2%3(%,+>='6+8%.*%'%<0==%.')2
)2')%3(%'66+((+8%<,/4%)2+%2'==-'*9