08/29/2026
Developers from Edmonton asked me to review what initially appeared to be an eight-plex project, but after looking closer, it turned out to be two duplexes with legal basement suites designed to increase housing density while targeting high energy efficiency and net-zero performance. Although the overall concept was strong, the floor plans had several issues that would affect everyday living, including undersized kitchen appliances, limited storage, cramped living spaces, and a dining area that didn’t function well for families or shared living. In this video, I walk through the original floor plan, explain the design problems, and show how I redesigned the layout to create a larger kitchen with full-size appliances, improved storage, better furniture placement, and a more functional living space without increasing the building footprint. Whether you’re building a new home, planning a renovation, designing a duplex, or looking for better floor plan ideas, you’ll learn practical design strategies that can make a significant difference in how a home functions. Subscribe for more floor plan reviews, home design tips, renovation ideas, and architectural design insights from JDESIGN Studio.
Floor plan review, duplex floor plan design, home renovation ideas, legal suite design, and house layout optimization are essential before construction begins. In this video, I review a duplex floor plan with legal suites, identify the biggest design mistakes, and redesign the layout to improve functionality, storage, kitchen design, family living, and everyday usability.