GRAPHIC GUIDE TO
RESIDENTIAL
SPACE
PLANNING
Graphic Guide to Residential Space Planning by Luis Furushio
Self-published by Luis Furushio
www.Luisfurushio.com
© 2022, Luis Furushio
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic
or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval)
without permission in writing from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
For permissions contact: luisfurushio@gmail.com
Author's Note
Hi there, I am Luis, and I got inspired to create this book from questions I usually get from
clients during the early stages of the design process.
In architecture, there is always an intention behind each design decision, and this needs
to be communicated throughout the entire creative process.
In this book, I try to answer some of these questions, showing the "whys" behind
residential design with simple drawings that are visually easy to digest.
Whether you are an architecture student yearning for sources beyond basic textbooks, a
homeowner searching for tips on how to remodel your house, or even a contractor wanting to improve your residential design knowledge, this is the book for you.
Good design is not accomplished when you provide your own vision and what you think
is best for your client. Good design is accomplished when you take your client's vision
and elevate it in order to improve their quality of life while communicating your intentions.
What's Inside
THE FIRST SKETCHES.....................................................1
From Diagrams to Plans..................................................................... 2
EXTERIOR DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS..........................6
Exterior Environment.......................................................................... 7
Mass, Scale, and Proportions........................................................... 10
Grading and Hillside Construction.................................................... 13
House Styles in North America......................................................... 19
LIVING AREAS.................................................................21
General Analysis.............................................................................. 22
Foyer / Entry Hall Design.................................................................. 26
Living Room Design......................................................................... 32
Dining Room Design......................................................................... 42
Guest Bathroom Design................................................................... 47
SLEEPING AREAS...........................................................50
Bedroom Arrangements................................................................... 51
Bedroom Design............................................................................... 54
Bathroom Design.............................................................................. 62
KITCHEN AREA...............................................................69
Kitchen Design................................................................................. 70
UTILITY AREAS...............................................................92
Laundry Room Design...................................................................... 93
Garage Design................................................................................. 96
STAIRCASES...................................................................99
Types of Staircases........................................................................ 100
Design and Location of Staircases................................................. 101
Chapter 1
THE FIRST SKETCHES

THE FIRST SKETCHES
FROM DIAGRAMS TO PLANS
Bubble diagrams are a helpful start for placing the different areas of a house in relationship with the
orientation of the lot, the weather, the view, and how you can access the property. This first step will
avoid any drastic modifications during the developement of the final floor plan.
The most used areas of the house should be kept fairly close as much as possible to avoid
unnecessary steps. Living areas should be kept close to the kitchen area due to the high traffic
volume. Sleeping areas should be kept as far as possible from the noisy parts of the house like the
utility areas, and their access should be through a transitional space like a hallway to provide more
privacy.
The following are bubble diagrams showing common traffic patterns between the different areas of a
house. I have divided these into Living Areas, Kitchen Area, and Sleeping Areas. For the purpose of
simplicity, I am not showing the utility areas. The width of the arrows represent the relative amount of
traffic between the areas.
S
K
K
L
L
ENTRY
DIAGRAM 2
Acceptable traffic flow. This is an improvement
of Diagram 1. By just swaping living and
sleeping areas, the linear traffic flow improves
considerably.
DIAGRAM 1
ENTRY
Not recommended. The traffic flow from the
kitchen to the living areas is too far, and the
location of the sleeping area in between
creates problems of traffic, noise, and privacy.
K
K
S
ENTRY
S
L
L
S
ENTRY
DIAGRAM 4
Very efficient traffic flow. As in Diagram 3, there
is a strong connection between living and
kitchen areas. The resulting “T” shape
generates easy access to the sleeping areas.
DIAGRAM 3
Efficient traffic flow. Sleeping areas are
provided with privacy, and the resulting "L"
shape generates a potential space for an
outdoor area like a deck or patio.

THE FIRST SKETCHES
FROM DIAGRAMS TO PLANS
There are several ways to arrange the different rooms in a house. The best way to approach this is
by giving priority to the effcient use of the space and traffic flow. However, a particular client may
request changes from the most efficient arrangement and may resist all logical argument. Always
remember that a big part of the designer's job is to satisfy the needs of the client, but always make
sure to communicate how these changes are going to impact their quality of life in the long run.
STAIRS
UP
STAIRS
DN
K
ENTRY
L
S
1ST LEVEL
2ND LEVEL
DIAGRAM 5
Traffic flow for a two-story house. The most used areas of the house, the living
room and the kitchen, are located on the first level. The private areas are
located on the second level. This diagram provides easy access to the stairs
that are located between the living and kitchen areas.
S
STAIRS
DN
STAIRS
UP
S
L
K
ENTRY
1ST LEVEL
2ND LEVEL
DIAGRAM 6
A variation of Diagram 5 with sleeping areas on the first level. The kitchen and
living areas are close to each other, providing easy access to the sleeping
areas and resulting in a "T" shape, similar to Diagram 4. The location of the
stairs, next to the sleeping areas on both levels, provides privacy and good
flow between the two levels.

THE FIRST SKETCHES
FROM DIAGRAMS TO PLANS
The following is an example of how you can develop your first schematic floor plan. The process
starts by drawing your bubble diagram and finishes with a schematic single-line floor plan. In this
phase, you can also provide schematic elevations, sections, and all the sketches to help
communicate your ideas and design intentions. It is important to make sure that you explain the
"why" behind each design decision throughout the entire process.
BUBBLE DIAGRAM
We start by locating the living and
kitchen areas close to each other.
The sleeping and utility areas are
placed on opposite sides, keeping
the sleeping areas far from noises
and with more privacy. The resulting shape is a linear arrangement.
K
U
S
L
ENTRY
SITE PLAN ANALYSIS
Based on the existing conditions of
the site, we start locating our
resulting bubble diagram.
The orientation of the lot, the
existing climate conditions, the
views, and the location of your
neighbor's house are all crucial
factors that can impact the final
design.
N
VIEWS
The linear arrangement oriented in
the same direction of the sun path
with minimal openings on west and
east sides helps protect the house
from the heat generated by the
sun.
WINDS
WINDS
K
U
The arrangement also takes
advantage of the winds coming
from the south and north to provide
cross ventilation through the
narrowest side of the house.
L
DRIVEWAY
The use of natural barriers like
trees and shrubs helps control
solar heat gain during the
summer months and provides
privacy to the sleeping areas
facing the front of the lot.
WINDS
WINDS
STR
EET

S
TREES
PROVIDE
PRIVACY
TO THE
SLEEPING
AREAS
THE FIRST SKETCHES
FROM DIAGRAMS TO PLANS
LIVING
KITCHEN
LAUNDRY
BEDROOM 1
PRIMARY
BEDROOM
GARAGE
BEDROOM 2
BATH.
BATH.
BATH.
DINING
ENTRY
TRAFFIC DIAGRAM
Room-by-room traffic diagrams help to demonstrate the traffic patterns of the future
residents of the house. This will become the basis for the first rough scale floor plan.
The scale of the bubbles is not important in this phase.
CL.
LAUND.
LIVING
PRIMARY
BED.
BED. 1
KITCHEN
CL.
CL.
GARAGE
CL.
FOYER
DINING
BATH.
CL.
BED. 2
CL.
BATH
BATH.
ENTRY
SINGLE-LINE SCHEMATIC FLOOR PLAN
After you define the traffic pattern, you can start creating a single-line schematic floor
plan to scale. The design process is a constant exchange of ideas, and a single-line-floor
plan provides the flexibility to easily make changes to your drawing. After you define the
schematic floor plan, you can start adding wall thickness and creating a more
finished-looking floor plan to scale.

Chapter 2
EXTERIOR DESIGN
CONSIDERATIONS

EXTERIOR DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
PREVAILING WINDS
Prevailing winds are the direction that the wind blows predominantly at a particular place or in a
particular season. Wind direction, frequency, and speed can greatly impact the design of your house,
including the exterior design, the shape of the floor plan, and the type of roof you want to use.
CROSS VENTILATION
In hot climates, a linear floor plan
takes advantage of the winds
coming from the south and north,
generating a cross ventilation
system and providing the necessary
natural method of cooling.
PREVAILING WINDS
PREVAILING WINDS
HIGH WIND REGIONS
Gable roofs with overhangs and
patio covers are prone to damage
from strong winds. Wind forces on
a roof tend to be uplift. A strong
connection between the roof
structure, walls, and foundation is
necessary to avoid damage to the
house structure.
UPLIFT
LOAD
TREES AS NATURAL WIND
BREAKS
The use of trees and vegetation
combined with earth dunes serve
as a natural windbreak,
redirecting the wind over the
house structure.

EXTERIOR DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
CONTROLLING SUN RADIATION AND HEAT GAIN
USE OF VEGETATION
Trees and vegetation provide many
benefits controlling solar penetration.
The shading that they offer helps
make homes energy-efficient by
creating a cooling effect during the
hot summer months and allowing
passive solar gain during cold
winter months.
USE OF ROOF OVERHANGS
Sometimes we undervalue the
importance of roof overhangs as
a functional part of the design of a
new house. They help to shade
windows, controlling heat gain
and sunlight during the summer
months.
USE OF LOUVERED PERGOLAS
OR AWNINGS
If a roof overhang is not possible,
the addition of a horizontal awning or
pergola over the window will provide
the required shade for controlling heat
gain during hot months.
USE OF VERTICAL STRUCTURES
In some cases, the use of roof
overhangs is not enough to provide
the desired shading for large
windows. The addition of vertical
structures like timber batten screen
walls or wood lattice screens helps to
improve the control of heat gain.

EXTERIOR DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS ON HILLSIDES
Appropriate design on a sloped lot includes stepping the building massing with the terrain, breaking it
into multiple volumes, and avoiding large rectangular footprints with poor proportions.
Y
INAR
IMAG
INE
DE L
GRA
MASSIVE
ROOF SHAPE
CUT
HIGH SKIRT
WALLS
INCREASING
VERTICALITY
EXCESSIVE
SUB-FLOOR SPACE
FLOOR LEVELS DON’T
RELATE WITH EXISTING
TOPOGRAPHY
THE PROBLEM
INITIAL DESIGN
The initial design does not blend well with the hillside, and the high skirt wall, used for supporting the
house, emphasizes its prominence. The overscaled roof shape does not relate to the existing terrain
and increases the mass of the proposed building, making it look monolithic and out of proportion.
USE ROOFTOP DECKS
OR BALCONIES
TO MITIGATE
BULK AND MASS
RY
INA
G
IMA
DE
GRA
LINE
STEP OR
SLOPE ROOF
WITH TERRAIN
CUT
FILL
EXCAVATE AND
INSET FLOOR LEVELS
PARTIALLY
INTO GRADE
FILL
STAGGER
FLOOR LEVELS
PLACE FLOOR
LEVELS CLOSE
TO GRADE
CUT
THE SOLUTION
REVISED DESIGN
The revised design steps the rooflines with the slope to blend with the existing terrain. The floor levels are placed close and partially inset into the grade to avoid the need of a skirt wall to support the
house. The cut and fill process keeps both masses approximately equal, avoiding unecessary earth
work.

Chapter 3
LIVING AREAS

LIVING AREAS
GENERAL ANALYSIS
The living areas are the social core of a house where most of the interaction between the members of a
social group happens. These groups can include family units of all kinds, roommates, and their guests. It's
a place where you get together, eat, entertain your guests, or just relax. These areas include the foyer or
entry, the living room, and the dining room.
The transition between these spaces should be flawless so that a person is able to move from one
place to another without any obstacles. In the following examples, I am also including the kitchen
area in some of these drawings, as it is strongly related to the dining room and living room areas.
TO
BACKYARD
DESIGN 1
In this typical arrangement, you can
clearly identify four formal areas
divided by partition walls: a foyer with
a guest bathroom and coat closet, a
large living room, a kitchen, and a
formal dining room.
TO LAUNDRY
AND GARAGE
KITCHEN
LIVING
All the formal rooms are connected
through openings where size
depends on the amount of traffic
required to go from room to room. This
traditional layout maintains the home
classic style.
TO BEDROOMS
DINING
Formal enclosed spaces provide
privacy and coziness to each room.
Sound and temperature are also
easier to control, and the high
number of walls allows you to
decorate the space with art and
more furniture.
FOYER
ENTRY

COAT
CLOSET
GUEST
BATHROOM
LIVING AREAS
GENERAL ANALYSIS
TO
BACKYARD
LIVING
DESIGN 2
The enlargement of the openings
emphasizes the visual connection
between rooms without losing the
sense of separation between them.
The kitchen and dining area share
a common space, but the location
of the kitchen island defines the two
spaces.
TV
KITCHEN
NEW
HEADER
TO LAUNDRY
AND GARAGE
The sliding doors in the dining room
provide privacy to the space and
flexibility for access to the guest
bathroom via the foyer area.
TO BEDROOMS
COAT
CLOSET
FOYER
DINING
GUEST
BATHROOM
ENTRY
TO
BACKYARD
DESIGN 3
The removal of the existing partition
walls provides a better traffic flow
between the spaces and more
flexibility to accommodate furniture.
You can easily convert the dining
room into a living room and vice
versa.
On the downside, open floor plans
don't provide a sense of privacy,
and the spaces are visually hard to
control and define.
KITCHEN
LIVING
TO LAUNDRY
AND GARAGE
Because of the removal of load
bearing walls, a structural beam
may be required to support the
ceiling and roof structure, which
could increase the cost of the
project.
NEW
BEAM
TO BEDROOMS
COAT
CLOSET
DINING
ENTRY

GUEST
BATHROOM
Chapter 4
SLEEPING AREAS

SLEEPING AREAS
SIDE BY SIDE BEDROOM LAYOUTS
In design, there are situations where you can take many advantages in terms of the efficient use of
space. Having two rooms next to each other that share the same use of the space is one of them.
The need for both bedrooms to have a closet and the way you access them can help you provide an
efficient design solution, replicating it for both of them. Keep in mind that all these solutions have their
pros and cons.
8’-7”
2.62m
3’-4”
1.02m
3’-4”
1.02m
8’-7”
2.62m
11’-7”
3.52m
2’-0”
0.61m
QUEEN
QUEEN
12’-5”
3.78m
12’-5”
3.78m
DESIGN 1
A simple design solution with closets along one of the walls. The downside about this design is that it
does not provide sound control between both bedrooms, and a hallway may be needed to avoid doors
opening directly to the living and dining room areas.
14’-0”
4.27m
11’-2”
3.40m
2’-0”
0.61m
QUEEN
11’-2”
3.40m
QUEEN
25’-3”
7.70m
DESIGN 2
Placing the closets along the shared wall of both bedrooms can be a very efficient solution. It helps
provide sound control, but it reduces the size of the closets in length. As in design 1, a
hallway may be needed to avoid doors opening directly to the living and dining room areas.

SLEEPING AREAS
PRIMARY BATHROOM DESIGN
144”
366cm
16”
40cm
RAINFALL
SHOWERHEAD
72”
182cm
NICHE
52”
132cm
88”
223cm
36”
91cm
56”
142cm
PICTURE
WINDOW
FREE
STANDING TUB
BENCH
36”
91cm
72”
182cm
36”
91cm
CURBLESS
SHOWER
WALL
HUNG
TOILET
FLOATING VANITY
WITH SHELF BELOW
DESIGN 3
The location of the plumbing fixtures on each side of the space allows the creation of a center aisle,
generating an efficient linear flow. Although the circulation space may feel cramped, the bathroom
fulfills its basic purpose.
144”
366cm
72”
183cm
RAINFALL
SHOWER
HEAD
WETROOM
88”
223cm
66”
167cm
22”
56cm
72”
183cm
MEDICINE
CABINET WITH
MIRROR
PICTURE
WINDOW
FREE
STANDING TUB
NICHE
36”
91cm
36”
91cm
72”
183cm
FLOATING
VANITY WITH
SHELF BELOW
LINEAR
DRAIN
WALL
HUNG TOILET
DESIGN 4
Wet rooms are considered a high-end bathroom option, but in some cases, they can be a solution for
small spaces. This bathroom has the exact dimensions as in design 3, yet the space seems
bigger. The biggest challenge for a wet room is that the entire room enclosure gets wet, so it needs to
be entirely waterproofed.

KITCHEN AREA
Chapter 5
KITCHEN AREA

KITCHEN AREA
KITCHEN WORKING ZONES
Like I mentioned before, the kitchen working
triangle is a good point to start your kitchen, design
but it has some limitations and doesn’t work for all
kitchens.
Kitchen zones are separate workspaces within a
layout, each intended for a different task, and if
they are well located, it can improve your workflow
and efficiency.
Kitchen zones are based on your own workflow
and preferences, and additional zones can be
added according to your needs. These ma ones
for working or studying, or even a kitchen zone for
watching TV.
FOOD STORAGE
The food zone is the area around the refrigerator and the pantry closet where you store
most of your grocery shopping food items.
CLEANING
The sink and the dishwasher are the central
point of the cleaning area, and it is
recommended to have countertop space on
each side. The use of this zone is not only
limited to washing dishes and utensils, but it
also includes washing up vegetables,
unpacking frozen items, filling up pots, etc.
PREPARATION
This is the countertop space where you cut,
chop, knead, etc., which requires ample
surface space. Keep all the cookingware
and utensils that you are going to use to
prepare the ingredients as close as possible
to the preparation area.
COOKING
The cooking area is located where your
range is, and it is recommended to be adjacent to your preparation zone. You should
have your cookware, utensils, spices, and
condiments within easy reach. The oven
is also part of this area, but it doesn’t have
to be in this area, since it is not used that
often.
86”
218cm
24”
61cm
24”
61cm
24”
61cm
SERVING
If your kitchen design includes a seating
area like a peninsula, this is the zone where
you serve food, drinks, or place snacks for
your family or guests.
STORAGE
127”
323cm
15”
38cm

This is where you keep kitchenware,
appliances, trays, and other utensils. Keep
the things you use every day within easy
reach like mugs, cereal bowls, dinner
plates, etc., and store larger items like pots
and pans in your base cabinets.
KITCHEN AREA
TYPE OF RANGE HOODS
SUB-FLOOR
SUB-FLOOR
WALL MOUNT THROUGH ROOF
The most common type of hood. They
are mounted against a wall in the
kitchen and vented directly out the roof.
RETRACTABLE DOWNDRAFT
This system is a great solution for
kitchen island cooktops and for creating
a modern and minimal look, but they
have a lower efficiency of drawing steam
from taller pots and pans.
SUB-FLOOR
SUB-FLOOR
WALL MOUNT THROUGH WALL
If your kitchen is located on the first level
and you have a second floor above,
running ducts through your roof may not
be possible, and you will need to vent
through an exterior wall.
CEILING FLUSH MOUNT THROUGH ROOF
This is also a great solution for kitchen
island cooktops but not the most
functional. For maximum efficiency, they
require a higher flow rate, and the hood
needs to be larger than the cooktop
because they are installed far from the
cooking surface.

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