Master on Main vs. Upstairs
Rob F.
10 years ago
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lavender_lass
10 years agoMFatt16
10 years agoRelated Discussions
Has anyone gone from a main floor master to a second floor, backwards?
Comments (37)I had completely forgotten about this being a lake home so AnnKH had a great point about how a front garage would actually be a rear garage (or something like that). So I think the point about maximizing the views and accessibility on the lakeside is definitely more important that worrying about a 'snout' garage. But, here is our first floor floor-plan. We are on a 100' wide city lot (unfortunately no lake views) and this house is 71.5' wide. The deepest part of the house, not including porches is 41'8". It was deeper than I wanted, but the rooms in the middle of the house (closets, laundry, etc) don't need windows so I'm OK with it. Our second floor has three additional bedrooms plus a bonus/loft space. We've got 2 kids, ages 11 and 13. No basements here in Texas....See MoreUpstairs Master Suite with other bedrooms downstairs?
Comments (21)Thank you to everyone for their ideas and comments. We are currently working with a designer with engineering experience. There will be another ensuite room downstairs which could function as a 2nd master for resale concerns. @new-beginning - You got the idea for why I don't want all three kids upstairs - thank you! When my sons are in HS, my daughter (and her friends) will be 4-11. My boys are VERY respectful, but I think we all know how *some* boys talk and what they talk about in HS. My boys WILL have friends over and if they're all upstairs having a sleepover or just hanging out, watching a movie or whatever, I really don't want my daughter (and her friends) hearing conversations, etc. that are not age-appropriate for her/them. @Beth H and bossyvossy - I am most definitely NOT letting my kids decide anything about this house! They actually don't want to leave our current house at all :) They won't have any say on anything in their room or the house set up or anything! This is all for how we believe the flow will work best for our family. @chocolatesnap - You may be right, but right now, we cherish our time after the kids go to sleep. That's the only time we have to watch a movie together or enjoy a glass of wine or whatever. I am sure that we would still be able to isolate ourselves on the same floor with the kids though. Thanks again, everyone. I think while the upstairs retreat still sounds amazing to me...the costs involved with adding a second floor probably outweigh the benefits....See MoreRemodel Master Bath or Add New Main Floor Master
Comments (3)Thanks for the feedback! We currently have a main floor master just outside our living room and don’t mind the noise because it’s rarely used. This new house has another living room just outside the space that we would be converting over which would also be rarely used. Additionally we have a tv family room adjacent to the kitchen that the kids will be watching tv on while on this floor. (This new house has 3 living rooms on the main floor which is why I️ didn’t mind sacrificing one of them.) Ultimately, we have decided to save the extra demo costs and update the upstairs master at this time because this house is too big to retire in and its a best fit for a family versus a retired couple who would need a main floor master. We may convert the front living room into a Her office if we can find another space for the baby grand....See MoreKids upstairs vs. 1st floor
Comments (25)Llyfia -- I raised my kids in single level, split level and two-story homes and they all work. When your kids are babies, it's nice to have their bedrooms nearby but monitors provide similar surveillance when bedrooms are separated. Personally, I think it's a big advantage for parents to have some separation from the kids so they can be intimate or have an argument without explaining what's going on. I wouldn't worry too much about sneaky teens. Chances are you'll be asleep in bed hours before your teens are so it won't really matter. And if they're hellbent on sneaking out, they'll find a way to do it. Regardless of which style home you choose, one feature I strongly recommend is a second living area. It can be a play room when kids are little, and a hang-out room when they're older. It will save your sanity when they're noisy, boisterous teens who enjoy watching things blow up on TV with their friends eating you out of house and home. Sounds like you have a beautiful piece of property. Rather than start with the style of the house at the outset, why not let the land dictate the style? That will allow you to focus more on function, light, views, indoor/outdoor access, etc. I'm sure your architect/designer can help guide that process. Good luck on your project!...See Morenostalgicfarm
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