One of the popular solutions when looking for a house project is two-story cottages, as they are spacious and convenient for seasonal and year-round country life. Two-story houses give wide scope for imagination, allow you to implement all the most daring and original ideas, without exception, and can be implemented in both classical and high-tech styles. We offer a wide selection of ready-made modern projects of two-story houses with photos and prices for turnkey construction for plots of any size. House designs may include additional structural elements - a balcony, terrace, garage, swimming pool.
Advantages of two-story houses
The construction of two-story houses has a number of advantages:
- The occupied area on the site is smaller, and this allows you to use the land with maximum benefit - to place a recreation area, bathhouse, veranda, summer kitchen, garden, etc. on the territory.
- Reducing costs during foundation and roof construction.
- Saving on heating due to the energy efficiency of two-story houses.
- The layout of the cottage on two floors allows you to zone the area: into day (kitchen, living room, etc.) and night (rest rooms) zones.
Construction of two-story houses in St. Petersburg
Developers are increasingly using plans for two-story houses to develop suburban plots of land. Buildings of this type can be considered as a golden mean in terms of dimensions, usable areas, and type of placement of rooms in the building. Structures with two floors are considered classic. They assume a traditional type of placement of premises with the organization of kitchens and general purpose rooms on the first floor, bedrooms and bathrooms on the second.
Plans of two-story houses, their features
Traditional placement of interior spaces has its pros and cons. Plans for two-story houses are presented in a wide variety, and the developer can adjust them at will:
- select materials (construction based on aerated blocks, wood, foam blocks, bricks, ceramics, etc.);
- independently set the dimensional parameters of each room;
- add additional structural elements to the building (terrace, veranda, attic, garage, attic, bay window).
Advantages of buildings with two floors
Building a cottage with two floors has the following advantages:
- saving area - this issue is especially relevant among owners of small land plots. Thanks to saving space, it becomes possible to install additional structures in the local area for household purposes (a shed for storing firewood, a carport) or for recreation (a gazebo, a canopy, a bathhouse, a summer kitchen, to organize an area with benches and flower beds);
- ample opportunities for design solutions affecting the exterior. Using the services of professional designers or architects, you can build an interesting building, design the entire local area and garden in the same style or using the same materials;
- the opportunity to diversify the facade and architecture of the cottage with beautiful balconies (as a material for railings, you can use natural stone, wood decorated with carvings, durable glass, metal, complemented by artistic forging, or use combinations of these materials);
- There are more possibilities regarding the design of interior spaces and their decorative improvement.
Disadvantages of two-story construction
To build a cottage with two floors, a larger budget is required than in the case of one-story buildings.
This point is determined by many factors. First of all, these are the features of the construction of the foundation part. To support the weight of several floors, you will need a reliable and durable foundation. For these purposes, strip-type foundations made of concrete are provided. The cost of their construction is very high. But the characteristics make it possible to maintain the weight of a house with furniture and an attic, even on a small building area.
The presence of a second floor obliges the developer to create a staircase structure. This not only entails additional costs, but also complicates the technology of building a house.
Statistics of accidents on stairs for the last 6 years:
A certain number of falls is associated with careless operation by the owners of the already completed staircase leading to the second floor, as well as with violation of technology and safety standards during its construction, which leads to the collapse or breakage of individual parts.
This can be easily avoided if you entrust the work to professionals who will draw up the correct drawings, calculate the parameters, and select the appropriate materials for the railings and other parts and their fastenings.
How complicated is the layout of two-story houses?
The cost of construction also increases due to other factors. Let's look at them in more detail:
- the large weight of the building requires additional reinforcement of the interfloor floors, otherwise future living in the house will be accompanied by increased danger;
- elements of communication systems and heating in two-story buildings have a more branched and complex scheme. Because of this, it will be necessary to lay additional water pipes, supply sewerage, and install special circulation equipment that will facilitate the normal movement of the coolant within the circuit in order to provide adequate heating. Such equipment includes a circulation pump;
- at the stages of construction, as well as finishing and facade work, the installation of scaffolding will be required to ensure the ability to lift materials to the required height;
- Special projects are being developed for families with elderly people, children, and people with disabilities. It is not possible to use absolutely all types of layouts. In such a house, rooms belonging to the specified categories of residents must be located on the ground floor, since moving up the stairs can be problematic and dangerous;
- the cost of purchasing insulation increases due to the fact that the wind load on the walls increases.
Photos of two-story houses: projects with plans of different sizes
In fact, it turns out that building a cottage with two floors has more disadvantages than advantages. But basically all the disadvantages relate only to additional costs. If you have the necessary budget, constructing a building will be a profitable solution in any respect.
Part of the costs relates to documentation related to:
- creating a strong foundation;
- arrangement of staircase structure;
- increasing complexity of design solutions;
- strengthening the floors between floors.
Having sufficient budgetary resources for construction, you can build a truly reliable and comfortable house on a small plot of land. To do this, you can use free projects or use the services of a specialized company engaged in design development.
Projects of two-story houses and cottages, free drawings and photos
Using the example of the layout of a two-story house 6 by 8 m, you can see that even a small building can offer normal living conditions and comfort. The main entrance to the cottage is located from the porch. For convenience, a dressing room is equipped here. A large living room is combined with a compact kitchen, which is adjacent to the bathroom.
From the living room, a staircase leads to the second floor, where there are two bedrooms. One of them can easily be converted into a nursery or guest room. The rooms are separated by a dressing room intended for common use.
Project 1. First floor plan: 1 – vestibule, 2 – living room, 3 – kitchen, 4 – bathroom, 5 – terrace. Second floor plan: 1 – bedroom, 2 – dressing room, 3 – bedroom, 4 – staircase hall
An example of a convenient layout of a two-story house 6x9 meters
The rectangular layout is no less convenient than the square one. In this project, with dimensions of 6x9 m, the first floor is a reception area. There is a kitchen with a small dining room, a full bathroom, and a large living room, which solves the problem of placing the stairs to the second floor. The rooms have an optimal location, thanks to which you can rationalize the movement of people around the house. The kitchen and living room have access to the street.
On the second floor, the layout provides for two bedrooms, one of which could well become a children's room, the other a parent's bedroom. The nursery is adjacent to a small room that can be equipped with:
- under the dressing room with sliding doors;
- for a small gym;
- under the pantry for storing things.
This layout option, like any other ready-made projects, can be adjusted taking into account the wishes of the future owner. You can always change the purpose of the rooms, as well as their placement and size.
Layouts of two-story houses 7 by 7: photos and drawings
The layout of a two-story house 7 by 7 m, shown in the project below, is quite functional. It includes all the premises necessary for a comfortable stay for a family with two children. The lower floor of the cottage is reserved for receiving guests.
Here is located:
- kitchen;
- dining room;
- living room;
- full bathroom;
- hallway and dressing room.
The cottage has two porches. One acts as a main entrance from the street: immediately upon entering the house through the hallway there is a dressing room where you can leave outerwear and shoes. The second porch is located at the exit from the living room on the other side of the building.
This solution is beneficial for many reasons. Firstly, you can always set up a relaxation area or a small garden with a flower bed in your backyard, where it will be pleasant to relax with guests. Secondly, the backyard can have a play area for children that they can access through the living room. This eliminates the need to walk around the building.
Project 3. First floor plan: 1 – entrance hall, 2 – corridor, 3 – kitchen-living room, 4 – bathroom. Second floor plan: 1 – corridor, 2 – children’s room, 3 – bedroom, 4 – bathroom
The plan of a two-story house 7 by 7 m takes into account the needs of the whole family, while the total area of the building is small. On the second floor there are recreation rooms: a parent's bedroom with a large bed and a children's room. The children's room was intentionally left large, which allows you to organize two beds, a work area and a wardrobe at once. There is also a large bathroom with a jacuzzi and shower.
Features of the layout of a two-story house 7 by 8: photo and drawing
In construction, shapes close to a square are often used. Externally, such buildings, as shown in the example of the project below, look square, but the extra meter allows you to freely install a staircase without cutting down on the usable area of the living room and providing the opportunity to organize an additional bathroom on the second floor.
This project is notable for the fact that the main building has a small extension at the main entrance, where a porch with several convenient approaches is installed. The building is also equipped with another entrance from the porch located behind the house.
The space on the second floor is completely occupied by bedrooms. The two large rooms are separated from each other by a small hall leading to the bathroom. Thanks to this, none of the rooms intended for relaxation is a passageway, which ensures comfort, peace and privacy. The plan shows that one of the bedrooms is equipped with a large bed. Therefore, this room can be considered as a parent's bedroom. While the second bedroom is reserved for a children's room with two beds.
Materials for the construction of country houses
For the construction of two-story cottages, various building materials are used, which are presented in a huge variety on the modern market.
For these purposes the following is used:
- beam;
- piece materials (foam blocks, bricks, gas blocks);
- log.
Frame construction technology is most common among developers today, but other options are also used. The choice of raw materials for building a house is limited solely by budgetary possibilities, as well as the taste preferences of the future owner.
Features of cottages built of wood
Wood is considered a traditional raw material used for the construction of suburban housing.
It has several advantages:
- reliability;
- warmth;
- environmental friendliness.
Cottages made of wood retain heat well. The building heats up very quickly even after it has completely cooled down. This benefit will be especially beneficial for owners of homes used only seasonally.
As for interior decorative finishing, wooden cottages practically do not need it, since the material of the house itself looks beautiful and very natural. Most developers prefer to leave the building in its original form, since complete repair work may require a significant amount.
The following materials can be used as raw materials for building a house:
- laminated veneer lumber;
- log;
- solid timber.
Even a small width of the walls can retain heat inside the house quite well. The disadvantages of buildings of this type include the need to maintain the assembled box for 3-12 months. During this period, work stops, since it becomes impossible to install double-glazed windows and door structures in openings that can still move to the side due to shrinkage.
Features of the layout of a two-story house 9 by 9: photo and plan of a building made of aerated concrete
Structures built from brick, foam blocks or aerated concrete, as in the layout of a two-story house 9 by 9 m, are reliable and durable. But this is only possible subject to strict adherence to construction technology.
The construction of such structures assumes that the finished building will have an impressive weight, which means that a thorough approach should be taken to organizing the foundation. It is worth considering that houses made of piece materials will not allow you to save money. A foundation of poor quality will lead to the fact that the cottage will “walk”, which will ultimately lead to cracks and make further operation not only dangerous, but also impossible.
In such a house the temperature is well maintained, but this can only be possible if the building is not cooled. Like any other stone building, the two-story house 9 by 9 m shown on the plan needs to be heated for a long time to ensure comfortable temperature conditions, since the material is able to absorb heat for a long time.
Buildings made from piece materials provide a certain freedom in design matters. A stone structure can be supplemented with architectural elements:
- arch;
- bay window;
- balcony;
- rounded corner areas.
Houses made of timber or rounded logs can also be built using these elements, but it will be extremely difficult to complete such work.
Using frame construction technology
Frame building construction technology can be characterized in three words: cheap, fast, simple.
Advantages of frame-type cottages:
- low construction costs;
- lightweight structure;
- the opportunity to save money at the stage of organizing the foundation;
- high construction speed;
- no need to hold the box, giving it time to shrink;
- practicality and ease of operation;
- almost complete absence of restrictions regarding the shape of the building and its dimensions.
If construction is accompanied by the use of environmentally friendly materials, the cottage will be no worse than a wooden one.
Features of designing cottages by floor
The minimum building area with optimal dimensions is equal to a square zone with parameters of 8x8 m or a rectangular plot on which the plan of a two-story house 8 by 10 m can fit.
These dimensions allow the construction of a small country-type house with a rational distribution of interior spaces. It is possible to use a smaller foundation, but in this case the layout will be ineffective and not very convenient.
The layout of a two-story house 8 by 10 m fully accommodates a staircase. There is enough space to accommodate not only the kitchen and living room on the first floor and the master bedrooms on the second, but also to receive guests.
The upper limit of sizes is limited only by the wishes of the owners and the size of the suburban area. For a comfortable stay for a family consisting of two adults and several children, you will need a cottage with an area of 110-130 m2. This figure can be increased to 200 m? by organizing a garage.
Building a larger home will entail additional costs, not just during the construction process. Maintenance and operation of large cottages is very expensive, and most of the rooms will be rarely used by the owners.
The first floor of a country house and its layout
In most cases, the set of premises for the first floor is the same for all layout options. Rooms for various purposes can be located here, but some of them are mandatory:
- living room;
- kitchen;
- guest bathroom;
- hallway or hall;
- boiler room
After adding the required premises to the layout, you may still have free space. It can be used to organize additional rooms, for example:
- office;
- guest;
- dining room
The layout of a two-story house 10x10 m may include a garage. This room is included in the general drawing of the first floor and is included under the roof of the building, and is also equipped with a separate entrance to the cottage. In most cases, the garage space offers two entrances. One of them can run directly from the house (through the hallway), the second - from the street (through the roller shutters).
It is not difficult to achieve successful placement of rooms. The main condition for success is to exclude narrow and long corridors from the plan. This can be achieved by combining the spaces of several rooms. As for corridors, the space they occupy cannot be considered useful and functional.
How to combine several rooms correctly
The problem of the small area of the first floor is solved by removing some partitions, which will maximize the free space. This method of combining rooms is called a studio layout. In practice, it turns out that the living room, kitchen and hall spaces are connected into one large room, which has a purely visual division into functional areas.
The combined spaces simultaneously serve as the same corridors, from where you can get to the guest room, bathroom or office, if the layout provides for the presence of these premises on the ground floor.
In rare cases, the kitchen is a passage room. In such conditions, the workspace has an island type of arrangement. It must be equipped with a bar counter, the design of which depends on the shape of the room itself.
Most often, bar counters are installed in the following shapes:
- triangular;
- semicircular;
- U-shaped;
- arbitrary.
The classic version of the distribution of internal spaces, where each room has clear boundaries, is only possible if the rooms have a large area. Then it becomes possible to complicate the structural shape of the rooms by adding internal partitions that will not be able to create the effect of closed spaces. The kitchen and living room can be combined, while the latter of them can be a completely independent room.
Second floor of a country house and its layout
In classic layout options, the second floor of the building is designated as a recreation area for the whole family.
Here are located:
- bedroom premises;
- full bathroom with bathtub for shared use;
- children's;
- additional bathroom for parents.
If there is enough space, a room for family recreation is set up upstairs, which is analogous to a living room, but used exclusively by people living in the building. A dressing room is also installed here.
Layout of a two-story house: rules for combining rooms on the second floor
Just as in the case of the first floor, the formation of corridors should be avoided. The most common solution to this problem is to organize a small area with free space. It can be located in front of the stairs and serve as a passage room between other rooms on the floor.
Much less often, the patch is used as a passage room between the children's and parent's bedrooms. This is due to the fact that such a solution is only possible if there is a sufficiently large amount of space. In small two-story cottages, only one bathroom is installed downstairs, so that the area upstairs can be used exclusively for bedrooms.
The parent's bedroom is often adjacent to one of the small rooms. Such planning methods are relevant for families with small children. The smaller room is set up as a nursery for a child up to 3-4 years old. As the child grows up, he moves into his own bedroom, which may also have an adjacent room.
If the layout includes bedrooms with adjoining smaller rooms, each family member can have their own dressing room. The small size of the house will not allow such a decision, so the option of arranging one dressing room for everyone, divided into sectors, where each section is intended for an individual family member, is allowed.
Examples of successful layouts of cottages with two floors
When developing the layout, it is worth considering the fact that residents spend most of their time on the ground floor. This allows you to use the living room as a common room, office or nursery. The family goes up to the second floor only to sleep, so it is recommended to provide common spaces with the most comfortable conditions in order to create convenience for everyone.
Two-storey cottage with attic and veranda
Layouts with an attic and veranda are considered the most successful. And if you also equip a basement in such a cottage, there will be space for storing things or conservation. On the layout of a two-story house 10 by 10 m, you can see how advantageously the basement space under the house can be used. And the presence of an attic floor allows you to improve living conditions and add an office on the first or second floor.
Attics are used to accommodate bedrooms. Their number depends on the size of the attic floor, as well as the needs of the family. Other premises are often set up here:
- guest room;
- billiard room;
- gym with exercise equipment;
- cabinet;
- jacuzzi, etc.
In houses with an attic, the first floor has a more massive structure than the second. If the layout involves placing several rooms upstairs at once, do not forget that the cottage will be subject to a high weight load. Therefore, for safety reasons, it is recommended to carefully make all calculations, taking into account the total area of the building, as well as the size of the site where construction will take place.
Features of a building with an attic floor
Great attention is paid to the layout of the attic floor. Since this space is intended for people to live and relax, the attic should be as comfortable and convenient as possible. The material for roof construction deserves special consideration.
The most common roof designs:
- single slope;
- with two slopes;
- broken line (with two slopes).
Roofs with two slopes are very simple to implement and require lower construction costs. This point is determined by the fact that the roof slopes are used as sides, and the end zones are used as gables.
Advantages of the attic:
Advantages and disadvantages of an attic in the layout of a two-story house 10 by 10: photo
The layout of a building with parameters of 10x10 m, which is presented below, has both advantages and disadvantages associated with the construction of an attic floor.
The house plan provides for the placement of three bedrooms (parent's and two children's) on the attic floor. Due to this space under the roof, a family with two teenagers can comfortably live in a cottage. Each bedroom is equipped with a wardrobe and a work area. All rooms open onto a long hall.
The placement of the rooms is done rationally, but there are a number of disadvantages associated specifically with the attic. Most of them appear during the construction stage.
Firstly, the installation process of the ventilation system, as well as all thermal insulation elements, becomes more complicated. Any error in technology can cause rooms to freeze or excessive humidity to appear, which will lead to disruption of the comfortable climate and the formation of condensation and mold.
Secondly, there are difficulties with natural light, which must reach each room in the required quantity.
Disadvantages associated with the operation of premises
The attic space is called the “dead zone”. Despite the fact that the attic rooms are no different from similar rooms on the ground floor, they have much less usable area, since the sloping walls do not allow furniture to be placed closely. The way out of this situation will be custom-made furniture. These products are designed taking into account the structural features of the room. On the one hand, such a technique will allow you to furnish the room in an unusual way, on the other hand, it will entail additional costs.
The attic is almost always used as a space for bedrooms and children's rooms, but this area cannot be called a suitable place. This is especially true for offices and children's rooms, since sloping walls can create a feeling of anxiety, inner restlessness and threat in a person.
Features of the layout of a two-story house with a garage
Wood is often used to build country houses. If this is what is chosen for construction, then the plan for a two-story house with a garage will require some additions. In this case, the wall panels will need to be covered so that the garage does not visually stand out from the general appearance of the building and is in harmony with it.
The garage can have a separate room, but this is only possible if there is a large local area. To organize the roof of the cottage and garage, you need to use the same materials so as not to disturb the overall exterior of the yard. In addition, unity should be observed in terms of roof construction. The slope should be the same.
It is difficult to develop a project for a two-story building with a garage on your own. It is recommended to use a ready-made plan, which can be ordered from any construction company or downloaded for free online.
Plan of a two-story house 12 by 12 m with a garage
The project presented below takes into account the needs of families with children. The first advantage that catches your eye is the presence of two entrances to the house, located on different sides of the building.
One entrance is located at the front of the cottage. Having climbed onto a small porch, the owners of the house and their guests find themselves in a vestibule where they can take off their outerwear and shoes. This zone serves to retain heat in the house and is separated by a door from a small hall into which all other rooms on the first floor open. For convenience, a wall hanger with hooks for guests’ clothing can be installed in the vestibule. In the hall there is space for a wardrobe belonging to the owners.
The second entrance to the house is located on the opposite side of the building. The large porch can be used for outdoor dining. It wouldn’t hurt for the owners of a country house to purchase a set of garden or folding outdoor furniture for the summer. The convenience of placing the second entrance is due to the fact that you can get directly into the living room from the backyard. This is the best combination if home owners like to relax outside and receive guests.
Combining the living room and kitchen: advantages and disadvantages
The layout shows that the large living room is connected to the dining room and kitchen. Quite often, this type of placement is recommended by the designers themselves, who see many advantages in this solution.
Advantages of combining spaces:
- increasing space and usable area;
- visual expansion of boundaries;
- comfortable conditions for communicating with family during dinner or relaxing together;
- comfortable conditions for receiving guests;
- During the cooking process, people in the kitchen are not separated from other residents.
This technique has several disadvantages:
- the frequency of general cleaning will have to be increased;
- Unpleasant odors from the kitchen can spread throughout the house.
Methods for visual division of space
- installation of a bar counter;
- a certain placement of kitchen furniture, as a result of which a kitchen hood with a protruding structure will play the role of a separator;
- installation of different types of flooring. For example, stone tiles or tiles are suitable for the kitchen; it is better to decorate the floor in the living room with laminate;
- the use of unusual colors when decorating walls. In addition to this, colors can be duplicated on the floor.
In this case, the demarcating element is a closet, partially separating the spaces of the dining room and kitchen from the living room. It is better if the pieces of furniture have the same or similar colors. This will allow you to avoid mistakes when decorating the interior of the living room, kitchen and dining room. Using accessories, you can focus attention on certain areas of the room or individual objects.
Specifics of garage placement
Depending on the size of the local area, as well as the specifics of its use (whether additional structures will be installed on it or a garden will be laid out), the garage room can be separate or included in the building of the house. In our case, the layout provides for a garage room, which is adjacent to the house as an extension.
During the design process, it should be remembered that it is recommended to place the garage on the north side. Don’t forget about a high-quality ventilation system, which will prevent exhaust gases, unpleasant odors and fuel fumes from entering the house.
Advantages of a garage combined with a house:
- saving money spent on construction;
- quick and convenient access to the residential part of the house;
- the formation of a usable area above the garage, which can be used for various purposes;
- saving space on the site.
The only disadvantages include the possibility of gases entering the living rooms from the garage.
The garage, attic and veranda are far from the only elements that can improve the layout, make it functional and comfortable. On large plots, you can add a winter garden to the building plan. Most often this element is attached to the kitchen.
Such premises are accompanied by high energy and heat costs. If you install a fence from other rooms and increase thermal insulation, these problems can be avoided. Thanks to the winter garden and other structural additions, you can create a unique home that will be a pleasure to live in all year round.
A two-story house has its advantages and disadvantages over. Some people choose this option because a two-story house looks more solid and presentable than a one-story house; someone chooses it due to the lack of technical ability to build a one-story house of the same area. In any case, in order for the constructed structure to be convenient to use, careful preliminary planning of a two-story house is needed.
Project, facade and layout of a two-story house 8x8
Only proper distribution of premises and installation of utilities will allow you to feel comfortable in a house with two floors.
Layout of a two-story house 6x6 with dimensions
You can build a two-story house from any modern building materials that are on the market today: from logs, from timber, from piece material - a brick house, foam blocks, gas blocks, etc. The choice is limited only by your financial capabilities and taste preferences. On the technological side, there are no restrictions.
Wooden houses
Traditional material for the construction of a country house. Wood in all its forms remains a warm, reliable and environmentally friendly material. They are light in weight, which allows them to be placed on lightweight foundation options. A finely buried strip foundation, solid slab or pile foundation with strapping is ideal for these purposes.
Wooden houses can be assembled from solid timber, laminated veneer lumber, or logs. And with a small width of the walls it can be very warm.
Project and layout of a two-story cottage 10x10 made of timber
Wooden houses retain heat well and heat up very quickly even after complete cooling, which is important for country houses that are used seasonally or only a few times during the winter.
The interior decoration of a wooden two-story house can be minimal, since the wood itself looks very natural and beautiful. This advantage attracts many homeowners, since finishing repairs account for a significant portion of the entire construction budget.
One of the main disadvantages of two-story houses made of timber and logs is the mandatory conditioning of the assembled box. It must be left for a period of 3 months to a year, and only after that make window and door openings, install double-glazed windows and begin the next stage of work. This is necessary so that houses made of timber or logs finally settle and take on their unchangeable shape.
Houses made of piece material
Houses made of brick, foam blocks or similar materials are reliable and durable if built strictly according to technology.
Layout of a cottage with an attic 6x9
Such structures have an impressive weight, which means that a high-quality foundation must be prepared for them: there will be no savings at this stage of work. Since a poorly made foundation will lead to the fact that a two-story house will walk, cracks will appear on the walls and its further operation can be completely dangerous.
Houses made of foam blocks and other piece materials that require laying with a special mortar are more suitable for permanent residence rather than for summer cottages.
Such a house retains its temperature well, but only if it is not allowed to cool down. Like any stone structure, such houses need to be heated for a very long time to achieve a comfortable temperature. The stone is able to absorb heat for a long time.
The advantage of two-story houses made of brick and other piece materials is freedom in design.
Detailed house plan 6x8
A stone house can be of any shape, with various architectural features: balconies, bay windows, rounded corners, arches and other elements. It is possible to repeat similar things when building a house from timber or logs, but it is extremely difficult.
Houses using frame technologies
In a nutshell, it’s simple, fast and inexpensive. Freedom in construction, as when working with bricks and blocks, and performance qualities are similar to houses made of wood. The main advantages of such a two-story house will include:
- Low cost of the entire structure;
- Light weight, which will save on the foundation;
- Fast construction, building materials do not require curing;
- Simplicity and practicality in operation;
- When using environmentally friendly materials, the house will not be inferior to a wooden one;
- Almost any size and shape of the building.
Optimal dimensions of a two-story house
The optimal minimum building area is considered to be a 7x8 meter rectangle or an 8x8 square.
Project of a two-story 8x8 cottage with a terrace and balcony
It is these dimensions that allow the rooms to be rationally located, where they will be located comfortably rather than in the attic, and there will also be room not only for the kitchen, living room and master bedrooms upstairs, but also for guests to have a place to stay.
With a smaller base, the structure can also exist, but then the layout of a two-story house will be inconvenient and non-functional. The living room will turn into a walk-through room, most of the usable space will be eaten up by the staircase, and upstairs, provided that not a full floor is built, but an attic one, only one bedroom will fit. 
This option can be considered as a country house for one person or a married couple without children.
The upper limit for the size of a two-story house is limited only by common sense and specific needs. For a family of two with two or three children, a two-story house with a total area of 110-130 square meters will be sufficient. If we consider the total area of the house with a garage, then we can talk about an increase. Houses larger than this area will be very expensive to operate and maintain, and most of the premises, as practice shows, simply will not be used.
First floor layout
The drawings of the first floor of a two-story house must contain all the necessary premises for living. Among the obligatory ones:
- Kitchen;
- Living room;
- Entrance hall, also known as the hall;
- Guest bathroom;
- Boiler room;
- Tambour.
If the area of the first floor allows, then the following may also be present:
- Work office;
- Dining room;
- Guest room.
- gable;
- gable broken line;
- pitched roof.
The first two options can be classified as cheaper types in terms of cost, and they are also easier to implement. In these cases, roof slopes will be used for the sides, and pediments will be used for the ends. The latter should be lined with the same material as the first floor. The type of roof and roofing material must be determined at the stage when the project is being prepared.
You should also think in advance about how you will arrange and what you plan to place on the attic floor.
Is it worth making an attic floor in a house?
If you nevertheless decide to start building such a house, but are still thinking about the need for an attic, then it is better to decide for what purposes you are going to use it. For an accurate solution, it is worth considering in detail all the pros and cons of such a structure, but only from the point of view of its attic part.
Pros
- Significant savings. Building a two-story house with an attic is considered a more economical option when considering the construction of a three-story house, even though there will be costs for constructing a roof.
- Appearance. With the help of a complex gable roof with a break, as well as slopes at different angles, you can achieve an interesting appearance and attract attention.
- Interior. Using the attic space you can create an original, unique interior. However, to do this you need to correctly play with its shape. That is why, if you are a supporter of originality, then the attic is exactly what you need.
you can make an original attic like this in your home
Cons
Unfortunately, the attic has its own disadvantages:
- It is necessary to take a more careful approach to the arrangement of not only ventilation, but also thermal insulation. If technology is not followed, problems with freezing and moisture condensation may be identified.
- Problem with natural light. In the event that daylight can enter through typical vertical windows, which are installed in a structure called a “birdhouse,” then it will not have a sufficient level of illumination. However, there are special windows that will help solve this problem.
- "Dead zone". The area of the attic part is practically no different from the area of the house, but its useful part is much smaller. This refers to a space near an inclined wall that cannot be approached closely. There is an option to order special furniture for this space, but then the “zest” of the room may disappear.
- You cannot work in this space or place a children's room. This is due to the fact that a person living in a room with sloping walls will feel a constant threat and internal anxiety.
General characteristics of the house
The total area of the entire structure is 185.5 square meters. m. The material for the walls is a 400 mm aerated concrete block or brick. A monolithic slab will be required for the foundation. The roofing will be carried out using wooden beams. Metal tiles or soft tiles are used as roofing material. Siding of various colors is used for exterior decoration.
Now we can conclude that this scheme and layout of a two-story house with an attic and 3 bedrooms on the second floor is a structure that is not suitable for every family due to its technical features. However, this is an economical option, because the attic will serve as an additional floor.
Layout of a two-story house with a garage and veranda
The layout of the two-story house that will be presented in this project is completely new. It has many features, including living rooms on the ground floor. Such a project is perfect for a large family that values coziness and comfort.
So, you can get into the house through two entrances:
- The first (main) starts from a small porch and leads to the vestibule (3.1 sq. m.) then directly to the hall (7.6 sq. m.), from which you can go to the remaining living rooms.
- The second entrance begins with a small porch, the area of which is 2.3 square meters. m. From the porch you enter the veranda, which can be used as a winter garden.
Combining kitchen and living room
One of the features of this layout is the combination of a kitchen-dining room with a living room. Thus, the total area of the room is 61.2 square meters. m. Such an interior is often recommended by professional designers.
Advantages:
- A real increase in space.
- The boundaries of the room visually expand.
- Communication will become more convenient.
- Receiving guests will be more comfortable.
- While preparing food, the hostess will not be separated from other residents.
Disadvantages of this approach:
- You will have to do general cleaning more often.
- It is possible that aromas from cooking may spread, which are not always pleasant.
However, the biggest disadvantage is that the living room must be coordinated with the kitchen, that is, the design should be similar, but it is necessary to clearly separate the zones. The following techniques can be used for this:
- Using a bar counter.
- Placement of kitchen furniture so that in the center there will be an island-shaped hood.
- Application of lighting.
- Try to use different floor coverings, for example, tiles in the kitchen and laminate in the living room. It is then that you get a dividing line that can be drawn even on the ceiling.
- Unusual color schemes on the surface of the walls, which, by the way, can be duplicated on the floor.
Try to choose the same and similar colors for furniture to show that this is, after all, a single room. However, do not forget about simple accessories; they will help focus attention on what you want.
Surrounding layout
You can exit from the kitchen-living room into the hall, not through ordinary doors, but through arches. They can be decorated beautifully and elegantly, or, conversely, brightly and catchily. It is recommended to insert multi-colored lights into them. You can also go from the hall to the bathroom (3.7 sq. m.) and the garage (22.7 sq. m.). From the street you can get into the boiler room (7.4 sq. m).
Most often, there are utility rooms on the ground floor, but this scheme violates all standards and includes the location of a guest bedroom on the ground floor. Its size is 14.4 sq. m. It is recommended to reserve this bedroom for small children or for elderly family members who find it difficult to go up and down the stairs.
Combined garage
And another “highlight” of the first floor is that. Usually its location depends on the size of the site, and what the territory may be useful for. This layout includes the fact that the site will be completely dedicated to the garden, so to save space there will be a garage combined with the house. It is worth noting that such a solution and construction work on this matter will cost less than the construction of a detached garage.
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Features of plans for two-story houses with an attic
When thinking about construction, you should immediately decide for what purpose this superstructure will be built. In order to make a final decision on the need to develop such a project, it is worth knowing in advance all the advantages and disadvantages of construction. The advantages include:
- Presentable appearance. A gable roof with a break and slopes made at certain angles can add attractiveness;
- Possibility of creating an original interior, with the right choice of attic shape.
The disadvantages of such a house include:
- Increased requirements for the quality of ventilation and thermal insulation. If the technology for performing the work is violated, during operation the walls and roof will freeze and condensation will appear;
- Difficulties with natural light. Installing vertical windows will not provide sufficient lighting. The installation of special windows will be required, which will increase the cost of construction;
- Presence of a “dead zone”. With the same total area of the first and attic floors, the latter has much less useful space due to the presence of a sloping wall. Standard furniture cannot be installed in this area.
Despite these disadvantages, such plans are somewhat popular. We invite you to get acquainted with the projects and photos of houses with an attic that have already been built. They will help you decide on the feasibility of building a two-story house of this type on your site.
Related article:
Buildings with an attic floor are a practical and very attractive idea for an individual plot. Projects, photos of successful interiors and recommendations from experienced builders are in our material.
Features of projects of two-story houses with a garage
If the family has a car, a garage on the plot becomes important. With a limited area of the local area, the option of a separate building must be abandoned immediately. In addition to the squares for the garage itself, you will have to provide additional meters for the passage between the house and the garage.
Projects of two-story houses with a garage help to wisely manage the available space. The solutions proposed by the designers will allow placing not one car, but two or more, under one roof. The space above the garage can be allocated for one of the rooms or.
Features of a two-story house with a veranda
If there is no desire to install on the site, it is worth considering the possibility of erecting residential buildings with an open area. Large groups can gather here to drink tea or just chat.
The dimensions of such an extension and its design must be consistent with the size of the house and the chosen stylistic direction. This is thought through at the stage of developing a plan for the future structure. In this case, the finished building will have a presentable appearance.
Review and drawings of two-story house projects
It is not always possible to decide on the design features of future housing the first time. Currently, you can find drawings of house and cottage projects for free. They can be used as an idea for subsequent implementation.
Advice! When studying standard designs of two-story houses in the catalog, it is worth paying attention to the size of the building.
House layout 9 by 9 m: possible options
When constructing buildings with similar overall dimensions, construction technology must be strictly observed. The impressive weight places increased demands on the base. The foundation must withstand the applied load.The layout of a 9 by 9 house is developed taking into account the equality of the walls. Bedrooms on the second floor are made of equal area if the flight of stairs is located on the other side.
When developing the layout of a two-story house 9 by 9 meters, you should pay attention to each floor. After this, you can begin decorating the facade.
Plan of a two-story house 10 by 10 m: standard solution
If the area of the plot allows, the design of a two-story house 10 by 10 meters will be the best choice. This area will be enough to develop a suitable solution and select the optimal layout. The plan of a two-story house 10 by 10 m allows you to increase the square footage of individual rooms.
Project of a two-story house 7 by 7 m
It is difficult to erect buildings with large dimensions on a small site. In this case, it is advisable to consider the possibility of building a house with a small area. With a small occupied area of the plot, it is possible to provide all the main rooms: kitchen, bedrooms, living room.
A typical design of a two-story house 7 by 7 m allows you to become the owner of comfortable housing without significant financial investments. However, you should not skimp on the materials used.
Advice! It is better to entrust the layout of a 7 by 7 m house to professionals.
House layout 6 by 8 m: an interesting solution
The rectangular shape of the house imposes certain requirements on the layout of a 6 by 8 m house. On the ground floor there is a kitchen with a living room, and on the second floor there are bedrooms.
If the parameters of the site do not allow placing a two-story building 6x8 m, it is worth considering a house project 8 by 6 m.
House layout 6x10 m
Another example of a rectangular layout is the design of a 6 by 10 m house. It involves placing rooms oriented towards guests on the first floor, and bedrooms for people living in the house on the second floor. The area is enough to provide a dressing room and even a small gym.
House layout 9 by 6 m: standard solutions
A typical house layout of 9 by 6 m allows for a rational arrangement of all main rooms. In this case, the office can be located not only on the first floor, but also on the second.
When working on a house project of 9 by 6 meters, you should add personality to the house. Especially if the family has small children.
Layout of a two-story house 12 by 12 m
The large area of the house allows for a garage. In a two-story house 12 by 12 m, you can plan a garage measuring 6 by 6 m.
The cost of building a two-story turnkey house - design, construction
It is not necessary to carry out all construction work yourself. You can order turnkey construction. Projects of two-story houses with plans and photos will allow you to evaluate the final result. We suggest you familiarize yourself with the average prices for such services:
| Photo | Peculiarities | Company | Price, rubles |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Frame, 6×6 | "Tree" | 515 000 |
 | Frame, 7×7.5 | "Tree" | 695 000 |
 | Frame, 10×11 | "Tree" | 2 300 000 |
 | Djv-cottage XL29 - 136 m² (9×8 m) made of planed timber | RIFT | 1 900 000 |
 | Zx51, 7.7×9.3 | ODiDO | 2,295,000 from aerated concrete 2,601,000 made of brick |
 | 58-49, 12.9×12.95 | ODiDO | 2,691,000 from aerated concrete 3,050,000 made of brick |
 | 41-46, 11.9×13.40 | ODiDO | 2,708,000 from aerated concrete 3,069,000 made of brick |
House projects: photos of interesting solutions
We invite you to familiarize yourself with photos of house projects that implement interesting solutions.
Beautiful designs of two-story houses: photos, catalog
Layout of two-story house projects: advantages
We make any changes to the designs of two-story houses, create unique individual designs of two-story houses, and offer reliable construction contractors so that your home will delight you for many years!
Two-story projects have a number of advantages and remain popular in 2017.
- First of all, the layout of two-story houses is more convenient than the layout of attic ones - there is no need to play with sloping ceilings, the living area of the second floor is larger. In addition, the cost estimate, as a rule, is not much different from an attic house.
- Two-story cottages take up much less space on the site than one-story ones.
- All projects of two-story houses require clear zoning: the second floor is dedicated to the night zone, and the first floor to the day zone.
- Although we should not forget that stairs can become a risk factor for young children and the elderly. Therefore, if space allows, the best solution would be to design an additional bedroom, or even two, on the ground floor.
Projects of two-story houses, photos, videos, diagrams and sketches of which are presented in this section, can be divided into two types according to style: modern classic and modern high-tech.
Regardless of the design of two-story houses, they are all ergonomic and cozy. There is convenient quick access to almost any room; they are logically located, depending on their purpose. A pantry next to the kitchen, technical rooms in one block, often next to the garage, closets and bathrooms next to the bedrooms. To make the most efficient use of space in small houses, they try to make the rooms more spacious due to the smaller area of connecting and technical rooms.
Project plans for two-story houses Z500: design documentation and characteristic differences
When ordering plans for two-story houses from our company, you receive all 5 sections of project documentation: structural and architectural parts, water supply and sewerage wiring plans, ventilation and heating wiring plans, boiler piping, as well as electrical wiring plans (engineering sections are paid additionally). You can see detailed information about this.
Below is an example of a finished project for a two-story house.
Below, see a selection of popular two-story Z500 projects:
All projects of our company are protected by copyright and guarantee legal security to clients during the construction of private houses according to Z500 projects. Below we have placed a certificate that confirms that our company officially represents the international architectural bureau Z500 in Russia.
You can buy our individual and standard designs of private houses at average market prices and order their turnkey implementation on the company’s website or in companies that are presented in the partners section.
The original projects of our company are characterized by the following differences:
- On the cover of the architectural project there is a wet stamp with the identification number of the project documentation. The identification number belongs only to this instance of the project.
- The name of the project owner is applied diagonally on each project page in the form of a watermark.
- The explanatory note on the first page contains the wet seal of the company and the signature of the director.
If at least one of the specified elements is missing, you can be sure that you purchased a pirated version of our project, which is not protected by copyright. In addition, the use of such a project for the construction of a new cottage is subject to penalties. We will be grateful to everyone who informs us about an attempt to sell fake project documentation in the name of our company.
We wish you to find in our rich collection a design project for a two-story house that meets your requirements. Enjoy watching!
