Op - Nice ideas, but.. Based on past experience doing Kitchens / Baths / Remodeling a fair bit (..and,
Not purporting to be any 'Frank Lloyd Wright', here, but..
) ..This much I feel ok with 'strongly seconding':
...plan 3, but stick the kitchen sink and counter tops on the same wall opposite your utility/bathroom, then put all the plumbing in that wall. ...
^
THIS, Absolutely. There are a Lot of un-necessary 'drain / supply stretches' in the other plans, and you Always want to 'avoid bends / elbows', as much as Possible, where possible.. Here's a 'rough' of what I would do with that space, along Aerindel's fine-suggestion-lines:
(and Pre-Script: this was 'hacked together' in Preview (Mac-equivalent of 'Paint'..) so.. Please forgive all the 'quick & dirty' pasting-in / overlaps, etc.. Didn't really have the time to 'properly draft' something better, but.. Should get the 'idea across'..
..As you can see, All the plumbing / drains would be in that One 'common channel-wall', there on the 'East side'.. This eliminates much 'mystery' (and quickens / simplifies access) -
not If, but When - there is a leak, therein..
..But, if the supply-points and drains are peppered all around the cabin (as-in all the Plans in the OP) and, say, you wake one am to an inch of water on the
entire floor - it's Much more work / possible wall-digging to suss 'where it's coming from'. But, with all of that in only
One Wall - much easier / quicker to locate and 'stop the bleed'..
One 'wildcard' being the Water Heater, there. I put it in the 'SW corner' of the "Laundry Room" -
as One possibility - but.. Also totally agree / second this:
...You've mentioned a separate water tank building/shed. If a separate building is part of the plan and freezing temps are not a problem where you live I would move the entire bathroom out there....
Yep. IF you can (as I've 'comped' up in the N-side,
Outside (just pasted the heater 'inside' the clip/paste of the Fridge, to simulate the suggestion of a small, Exterior 'closet' for it..)
a) Easy to 'insulate', if necessary,
b) Better that it 'blow it's seals'
Outside (vs In) If it ever does / needs to.. and
c) Best for Ventilation (I'm assuming it would be NatGas-fired - Far more efficient than Electric, but.. that's a different discussion..) Anyhoo - Outside
would be best, Imho..
PS - IF you
can work it out to be Outside - then the Clothes Dryer could go in that SW corner (where the WH is 'temp placed', now) Certainly, would be Much easier / better to vent the dryer thru an Outside wall, vs in the 'core', there. But, the Washer can still be where it's pictured now, in that 'Utility-wall', because again - Better with the common supply / drain-lines, therein, etc..
Couple other suggestions, as seen, herein:
1) Suggest to get / use a Futon / Couch-Bed or even a 'Murphy bed' (IIrc, that's what they're called..) - vs - a full size bed, in the Living / Sleeping Room there, since - obviously - the ability to 'get it Out of the way' for more floor / work space, there, is 'Priceless'..
2) re: What's 'going on in the NE corner, there, by the Entrance Door?' Well.. Imagine (in any of the 'Original' plans) you're there, in the 'Living / Sleeping Room', on yer Bed / Couch, whatever - and your Roommate, etc, abruptly opens that Entrance Door - and lets in a blast of howling wind / dust / snow / rain -
Right Into your 'Most Sacred / Precious space' - your Bed.
Yeah.. Not good, imo..
..Or, further - Imagine a 'middle of the night Break-in' -
Blam - you're
Instantly 'exposed' to that Threat - also, Not good. (Side note: IF you've Allowed anyone potentially malevolent to '
Get that close', in the first place, well.. The
real 'failure' isn't the Floorplan -
it's your Perimeter Security Plan - but again, that's another discussion.
..But, let's say you Do have a "decent perimeter security set up / alert system", and it's still somehow 'breached'... And Now, the attackers are At / getting Into your Door - In the orig Floorplans, you're 'wide open'. Thus, the 'airlock / buffer' Entryway, there, which - yes - Does 'add a wall', but.. As you can see, that can also be 'functional', ie: a place to anchor pantry cabinets in the Kitchen - and that 'little closet' you want (at least for coats / boots, etc) in that 'Entryway'.
At least that gives you an 'extra layer' / air-buffer, which you Can then, 'fortify, as you wish' - which at
Least gives you some all-critical 'extra time' to arm-up / rack yer Shotgun, etc. In the orig. layouts, well... you've really got 'No time buffer', at all.
Well, that's just a few thoughts / ideas that came to mind. Now, everybody tear it apart, and let's make it Better.
.02
jd