The two story country home remains a popular choice for families who want traditional exterior charm combined with efficient interior layouts. At 1,668 square feet with three bedrooms, this design demonstrates how moderate sized homes can deliver comfortable living without excessive square footage. The inviting front porch, dormer windows, and contrasting shutter details create a facade that fits equally well in established neighborhoods and developing subdivisions. When evaluating mid century modern house plan design options alongside traditional layouts, homeowners often find that the classic two story configuration provides better space efficiency on narrower lots while maintaining curb appeal through familiar architectural details.
Traditional Two Story Design and Exterior Character
This country home draws from Colonial and Craftsman architectural traditions, combining crisp white siding with contrasting black shutters for a timeless appearance. The dormer windows projecting from the roof plane serve both aesthetic and functional purposes, bringing natural light into upstairs bedrooms while breaking up the roof mass for visual interest. A country craftsman house plan with similar detailing often incorporates the same front porch and dormer window combination to achieve a welcoming streetscape that appeals across generations of home buyers.
Exterior Character and Curb Appeal Elements
The front porch serves as the defining exterior feature of this country home. At approximately 6 to 8 feet deep and spanning the width of the front elevation, the porch provides shelter at the entry and creates an outdoor room where residents can sit during pleasant weather. The porch ceiling is traditionally painted a light blue or soft gray, a practice rooted in Southern tradition that deters wasps and creates a calming visual transition from outdoors to in.
| Exterior Element | Design Feature | Functional Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Front porch | Full width, 6 to 8 ft depth | Weather protection, outdoor seating area |
| Dormer windows | Two shed style dormers on front roof | Natural light for upper bedrooms |
| Shutters | Black louvered, operable or fixed | Visual contrast, historical authenticity |
| Siding | Crisp white horizontal lap siding | Reflects heat, traditional appearance |
| Roof | Asphalt shingles, moderate pitch | Snow shedding, affordable material |
Dormer Window Design and Placement
Dormer windows must be proportioned carefully to look intentional rather than added on. The standard ratio positions the dormer ridge at least two thirds of the way up the main roof slope, with the dormer width spanning two window units. On this 1,668 square foot home, two dormers spaced evenly across the front roofline provide balanced illumination for the upstairs bedrooms while maintaining the structural simplicity that defines traditional country architecture.
Main Floor Open Layout and Functional Zones
The main floor of this country home integrates family room, dining area, and kitchen into an open plan that maximizes the feeling of space within the 1,668 square foot footprint. This configuration avoids the cramped feel of compartmentalized rooms common in older homes of similar size. A craftsman house plan with vaulted ceilings and bonus room takes this approach further by raising ceiling heights in the main living area to create vertical volume that supplements the horizontal square footage.
Kitchen Pantry and Laundry Placement
Two features that significantly improve daily function in this floor plan are the sizable pantry near the kitchen and the conveniently placed laundry room. The pantry, measuring approximately 5 by 4 feet, provides dry good storage that reduces countertop clutter. The laundry room positioned near the kitchen and garage entry allows household members to drop dirty clothes directly into the wash without carrying them through the living spaces. These practical amenities make a 1,668 square foot home feel larger because they reduce visual clutter and streamline household routines.
Deck Integration and Indoor Outdoor Connection
The floor plan includes both open and covered decks at the rear of the home, offering options for year round outdoor enjoyment. The covered deck provides protection from rain and direct sun, while the open deck captures morning and evening light. A set of sliding glass doors from the dining area creates a direct connection between indoor meals and outdoor dining, effectively expanding the entertainment capacity of the home during gatherings.
| Main Floor Space | Approximate Size | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Family Room | 16 x 14 ft | Open to dining area |
| Dining Area | 12 x 10 ft | Sliding doors to deck |
| Kitchen | 12 x 10 ft | Adjacent to pantry |
| Pantry | 5 x 4 ft | Off kitchen hallway |
| Laundry Room | 6 x 5 ft | Near garage entry |
| Powder Room | 4 x 4 ft | Off entry hallway |
Bonus Room Upstairs and Expansion Potential
The bonus room above the garage or at the end of the second floor hallway provides expansion space that distinguishes this floor plan from similarly sized homes. This unfinished or semi finished area, typically 200 to 300 square feet, can be completed at a later date as family needs evolve. A contemporary ranch house plan might locate expansion space in a basement or side wing, but the two story country home places the bonus room upstairs where it can function as a fourth bedroom, media room, or home office without requiring foundation work.
Bonus Room Configuration Options
Homeowners who finish the bonus room have several layout options depending on their priorities:
- Fourth bedroom with closet addition for growing families or overnight guests
- Home office or study with built in shelving and desk space
- Media room with blackout curtains and sound insulation for movie viewing
- Childrens playroom that contains toys and noise away from main living areas
- Hobby or craft room with counter space and storage cabinets
The bonus room typically requires additional HVAC capacity, electrical circuits, and insulation to meet finished space standards. Budgeting $15,000 to $25,000 for bonus room completion covers drywall, flooring, trim, lighting, and an additional heating and cooling zone. This cost is significantly lower than adding equivalent square footage through an exterior addition because the structure and roof are already in place.
Three Bedroom Planning for Growing Families
The three bedroom configuration of this country home provides a practical layout for families with one to three children or for homeowners who want a dedicated guest room and home office. The second floor typically houses all three bedrooms, with the primary bedroom offering slightly larger dimensions and better closet space than the secondary rooms. A modern two story home plan for a 3 bedroom Craftsman house often follows the same distribution pattern, concentrating bedrooms on the upper floor to maximize main floor open living space.
Second Floor Bedroom Layout
Bedroom placement on the second floor follows a logical arrangement that provides privacy and efficient use of hallway space. The primary bedroom occupies one front corner of the home, benefiting from the dormer windows that provide natural light and views of the front yard. The two secondary bedrooms sit at the rear, sharing a full bathroom positioned between them for convenient access. A linen closet in the hallway stores towels and bedding within reach of all three bedrooms.
The upstairs bathroom in a three bedroom configuration should include a tub for young children who need baths, a toilet compartment for privacy, and a double vanity if space permits. Standard upstairs bathroom dimensions of 8 by 8 feet accommodate these fixtures without requiring excessive hallway space. Ventilation is particularly important for second floor bathrooms, with an exhaust fan rated at 50 to 80 cubic feet per minute connected to a roof vent or soffit outlet.
Maximizing Function in a 1,668 Square Foot Footprint
Making the most of 1,668 square feet requires deliberate choices about room sizes, circulation paths, and storage allocation. Every square foot in this floor plan serves a purpose, from the compact powder room near the entry to the generously sized family room that serves multiple functions throughout the day. The open deck and covered deck add approximately 250 square feet of outdoor living space that extends the usable area during temperate months without increasing the conditioned footprint or property tax assessment.
Storage planning in a home of this size requires particular attention. The walk in pantry, hall closets, and bedroom closets must be sized to handle the household inventory without overflow into living spaces. A closet depth of 24 inches for reach in closets and 36 to 48 inches for walk in closets provides adequate capacity. Built in shelving systems inside closets can increase storage efficiency by 30 to 50 percent compared to a single hanging rod.
Energy efficiency in a 1,668 square foot two story home benefits from the compact volume and reduced exterior wall area compared to a ranch home of equivalent square footage. The two story configuration loses less heat through the roof because the upstairs bedrooms occupy the attic volume that would be empty in a single story design. Proper insulation at the attic floor level, typically R-38 to R-49, ensures that the bonus room area remains comfortable whether finished or unfinished. For those interested in alternative configurations, a country craftsman house plan with lodge room demonstrates how a single story layout with a dedicated great room can achieve similar livability on a wider footprint.