Room Swap - What would you do? (pics)

16 years ago

I have been cycling back and forth on how and if to swap rooms around in my upstairs. I have a small, older house so there's no concept of a master BR.. I have two larger bedrooms and one very small but cozy room. The nieces and nephews who spend the most time here have asked for a larger guest room.. I am considering it because when more than 2 of them are here or when they have the neighbor kids over (neither of which is uncommon), they really have limited space. If I gave them a bigger room, I would use it as my art room and probably a yoga/pilates room as well. I need the third room for a fully functional office (I work from home 90% of the time).

Currently my bedroom is in the largest of the three rooms. It has two closets-- one is a decent size if you use the depth-- the other is a "walk in closet" of sorts made in one of the dormers. It is narrow but it does store a lot. This room needs to have walls done (wallpaper removed/painted).. it also faces a pretty busy street. The sound doesn't bother/affect me but lights from snow plows in winter and cops in summer do bother me. The picture is crappy but it is app 22 x 12.

The room that is currently my office is the big unknown. It could remain my office, I could put the guest room in there-- or I could move my bedroom. I think it's a lovely room. It has good energy, gets good sunlight and overlooks the garden/backyard. I do love it.. however it has only one small closet which would never hold all my clothes. I have two large hall closets-- one of which is cedar lined so if I was willing and smart about it, I could put off season or rarely used clothes in the other closets. It is smaller but there is plenty of room for any of my possible uses.

This is currently the guest/kids' room. It is also a nice space and very cozy. It has some odd angles and it's hard to get a good picture of it. I currently have a bureau, a queen size bed, a small bookshelf and a tv/dvd/playstation on a stand in there. It's pretty full. If I made this my office, it would hold a 30" x 60" table.. a small bookshelf, file cabinets and other occasional pieces as space allows. I'd have to give up my loungey chair, I think.

(all pictures were taken while PO was still there.. none of the furnishings are mine.. floors have been buffed)

So what would YOU do? What space would you claim as your own? I feel like I've lost all objectivity. Would you consider spreading your clothes between a bedroom and hall closet? I need to commit to a decision by the end of the weekend.. and every time I make a decision, I feel a pull for the other room. All I know is that I need a comfortable, relaxing space... and I need it before my furniture starts arriving.

And just to round out the view of the upstairs.. this is a full bath..

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Comments (9)

les917
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
A charming home!

I would make the largest room into a guest room/pilates/art room.

Use the second bedroom you described so lovingly as your office. If you work from home so much, you should be working in a wonderful space. This sounds like it, with a view to the backyard, great light, etc. Those things, while nice, don't really matter in a bedroom, since most of the time you are there at night, to sleep. That way you can keep your lounge chair in the office, too.

Then use the current guest room as your bedroom. If it holds a queen-sized bed and some other furniture, and has a closet, you should be fine. You will have to split your clothes out, but you would have to do that anyway. Just curious. Is there any way that one of the hall closets backs up to this room, so that you could access it from the bedroom? You could then eventually close off the hall access.
no_green_thumb
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Lovely home --- I love the "old" feeling and I mean that in a very good way. I would love to have a home with true character!!
I agree with Les. Your office should be in the space that gives you the most peace. My office is in part of my living room (which never, ever is used) and I love it as it overlooks the backyard (not looking great now).
I have my clothes in two closets and like it that way. Now that the kids are gone, I have all of my off-season clothes as well as my more formal clothes (not that I have many) in the other closet. The closet in the bedroom holds what I wear the most during the season. Uncluttered!! Love it!!
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Reno... I'm half tempted to send it to you because I know you would do something awesome with it!!! The effect you describe is what came to me after reading the first few posts here. Les... I had also thought about the distressed red idea. Good points are made here, though, about whether I should keep it at all. I guess somewhere I am hopeful that I can either make this house into one that I love or will move to another house in which this table will fit. I hate to give up the nicer things I have collected, but sometimes I suppose that makes sense. Case in point... the best furniture I own happens to be my Ethan Allen dining table and chairs. I love them. However, I have had to convert my little-used dining room into my office (pictured above) and with three little kids I hesitate to use the table in my kitchen, even though it would fit. So, for now it is kind of tucked into a corner of my living room and used as extra work space for DH and me. You can see it in this pic... My struggle is because I lived in my previous home for 5 years and spent the entire time making into exactly the home I wanted and loved. All furniture and accessories were purchased for that place. I finally had it exactly how I wanted it and we moved. Now, nothing seems to fit right. I'm "making do" with my things and waiting for a time when they will work again. Unfortunately, they are going out of style as I wait. I suppose I should be thankful that I ever had the home I wanted, be glad for my nice things, and quit whining, eh? LOL
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valzone5
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I have no suggestions- just wanted to say that I LOVE your home!!!!
oceanna
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
What a pretty home you have!

What I thought of was the queen bed taking up a lot of space. I don't know the age of the kids and exact situation but maybe bunk beds, and even with a trundle might give them a lot more space for play?
kitchenkelly
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I love your house. Especially that door. I have been thinking of getting one for my garage. What are they called?

(I call it the Mr. Ed door. Google didn't get it.)
funkyart
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thank you all.. and funny, I consider this a "newish" house. It is definitely newer than the majority of homes I've lived in. I am still getting used to the small space (and close neighbors) but it has charm :)

I really appreciate your suggestion to use the "happy space" for my office. That is what I was thinking when I originally set up the office in there. Unfortunately, the small bedroom is not nearly big enough for my bedroom.. or bunk beds. It is an over the garage room and it has sharp angles that what can go on each wall. It has one longer wall that would accomodate my table/desk. I have a queen size bed without a headboard under one of the eaves now. Truth is an adult wouldn't likely be comfortable sleeping there under the wall... it is ok for the younger kids though. I usually give up my bed when the older kids sleep here.

What I should probably share too (because I know it sounds odd that I am working around nieces and nephews). I moved back to my hometown so that I could spend more time with the kids, my parents and my grandparents. My oldest nephew goes to college this year-- and I've lived out of state for many years. I am very different than my siblings and I think it is important that kids are influenced by lots of kinds of people-- even my kind hahah. We watch movies.. and draw.. and paint.. and talk about silly things and serious things.. and it is good for all of us. Keeps me young and them well rounded. I feel good about helping to shape young lives.

Thank you all for your thoughts.. and for the compliments. My home is so much more modest than many of yours but it does have its charms... and it's home!
funkyart
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Kitchenkelly: hahahah it IS a Mr Ed door! (I think it is also called a dutch door.)
gk5040
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I would take the biggest room with the closets for myself. I like all my things in my room. Afterall, its your house, you should feel like its your home and your room. You mentioned the lights could bother you, well, there are plenty of black out shades/curtains you can use to solve that problem. I think it is very thoughtful of you to give so much consideration to your occassional house guests. I would give them the second largest room. And the smaller room as the office. I like the Mr. Ed door too.
funkyart
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I appreciate your thoughts-- you have me thinking a little bit out of the box which is what I needed to do. Furniture placement is my weakness.. so I think I am going to try a few different floor plans on paper and see how it unfolds.

I really like the idea of making the kids room multifunctional so that it is a "me space" too. Right now the little room is kept closed unless the kids are here. Using a bigger room will let me use the space for painting, crafts, and light exercise (meaning sans equipment). I had hesitated to put MY stuff in the kids room-- but they are getting older and more responsible and frankly the space is wasted when they are not here.

Thanks again.. it really helps to get feedback from new eyes and new perspectives.

Room Swap - What would you do? (pics)

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les917

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Room Swap - What would you do? (pics)

Comments (9)

les917

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