cool --but you can see the entire floor has been raised--do you have the ceiling height? a closet 'step up' would be less of a structural commitment, OR a buildup under builtin furniture--like bookcases flanking a fireplace, also some great ideas on HOUZZ i'd never have thought of. sorry i'm not tech-ie enough to paste the site:) of course if you go 'structural' --all walls and ceilings are fair game as well. remember that ease of access [or lack thereof] can affect stealth mode greatly--as in your pic: every time you step onto the 'box' in your pic you would hear a 'different' sound.

Tsilanko, I would always recommend professional installation where needed. But what I am doing here is suggesting that WHEN you are planning to build or renovate, to consider how your plans will affect you in 20 or 30 years time. Split levels are very hep when you are young. A kitchen 3 steps down at 30 is rarely a problem, but might be a hazard at 60, or, as Marjie1059 suggested, if you break a leg. ... All my parents' homes were terrible for old people. They were forced to move to a bungalow in extreme old sge because the location and design of their home was more suitable for an active young couple with a large family than for an elderly couple with stroke disabilities. I would not want to move again, so my present home has features built in that make ageing in place simpler. Mostly small changes, like grab rails, and lever handles on doors and faucets. A major disability suddenly suffered requires major changes if permanent. I did look at this because it came up in the discussion, but if you look at the heading, Planning for Disability, it means just that. Plan ahead so you don't have to make expensive changes later on. But thank you for your advice, yes, major changes are not in the DIY domain.

For the living room, the focus should be the balcony area. So flipping the couch to face the wall and not the dining table will help. Kind of like this pic. Even if you already have the sectional that is in the diagram, you should be able to flip it. In fact a sectional would probably work better than the couch in this pic. I also really don't like the style of this pic, but it showed what I meant, For the girls' room: No matter which bedroom you choose, you should maximize floor space so that they have the biggest play space possible in their room (as they get older you can add desks for school work and such). To get this space, I would give them bunk beds. This configuration gives them an open feel and more storage, essential for girls. You posted two different kitchen designs. This makes it hard to give you advice. I agree with other posts that your sink should be away from the wall. This allows you to have stuff to the left of you (drying dishes in my house), while you wash vegetables on the right of the sink. You need the same space on both sides of the stove, also. At least 24 inches on both sides is good. 36 is better, though. The first design has a nice little countertop space that adds a place for your daughters a space to sit a watch/ talk to you while you're in the kitchen. When they added this to the first design, you lost cabinets on the other wall. This is bad, as the space is already storage limited. Try making the rounded countertop bump out into the living space more. If you play with the shape, you could make it work without losing the cabinets on the other side. It doesn't have to be rectangular or a perfect circle. You can see how this one isn't confined to the floor plan of the kitchen. I think this is what you would need to do to make it the most functional.

Hi Padmaja, im pooja talwar, for maximum utilization of space u need to break in balconies if u have one and get french windows right till ground level. so you can have a lovely dining area there or low ground sitting area where u can get outside view and spacious look too. doors which open inwards or outwards can be split into 2 so the door flaps become smaller . use mirrors huge ones carved ones on walls to reflect a larger room. also u will have to place furniture which is smaller in size . shoe racks , and cabinets can be made tall instead of having it on ground .... place on the wall hanging shelves , tall cabinets , and storage cabinets. tv can be placed on wall done up with wooden pannel. have storage up on ceiling edges rather than any where down. hope these lil suggestions help you