r/architectredesigns

EDIT: Added a photo of the actual stone ruins in the comments to show the current state of the facade (and lack of existing windows)!

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working on the layout for our future house and wanted to get some fresh eyes on the design. I have included screenshots of our current digital plans below.

Just to clarify the walls on the plans: the thick walls are existing, structural stone walls that we are working within. All of the other, thinner internal walls are the new partition walls that have yet to be built.

This is the current layout for the top floor wing, which acts as the private bedroom and bathroom zone for ourselves and our kids.

Upstairs Layout Details:

- The core main block inside the existing stone perimeter is roughly 8.5m x 6.0m. It holds the primary suite, three individual kids' bedrooms (8.4m², 8.4m², and 8.6m²), and a central hallway so every child has independent access.

- The stairs lead straight up to a corridor serving a 9.0m² Gaming/Streaming Studio and a 3.7m² shared bathroom. Having this localized near the stairs acts as a great acoustic buffer to keep gaming noise away from the kids' rooms.

- The primary bedroom is 13.0m². The 5.0m² closet at the top is actually an extension spanning over a previously open gap (we have planned to expand the kitchen up to the outbuilding wall) to a separate outbuilding on the property (which houses a traditional Portuguese bread oven downstairs). The plan is to build our private ensuite bathroom on the second floor directly above that bread oven building, which will connect right through the walk-in closet. Because I don't have the exact dimensions of that outer building yet, the ensuite isn't drawn into the software yet!

This is the layout for the ground floor, which handles our daily family living spaces and the multi-generational accessibility needs.

Downstairs Layout Details:

- Houses the main living zones, kitchen, and dining area.

- Features a dedicated ground-floor bedroom and bathroom for Grandma so she has a complete private living setup without ever having to navigate the stairs.

What We Are Looking For Advice On:

1. Flow & Traffic: Does the upstairs hallway layout make sense, or does it feel too tight for three growing kids?

2. Working with Stone: For anyone who has renovated a traditional stone home, are there any structural or layout blind spots we should look out for before finalizing the new partition builds?

3. Optimizing Space: Any advice on door swings, furniture placement inside the kids' rooms, or window locations to get the best natural light? (we're considering skylights for some of the rooms)

Any other feedback or general adjustments will also be hugely appreciated! Thanks in advance!