remodeling to solve bowling alley of a room and lack of bedrooms

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

We're buying a house that we love but it needs some help.

It's a lake house style A-frame, with a full first floor and .5 second floor. The first floor has a bedroom, full bath, laundry, kitchen, and a bowling alley of a front room that is 10 x 22, two stories high, all glass on one side, giant stone fireplace on the other. The room is oriented so that the fireplace is opposite the window, the narrow way, so 10 feet from the giant, 22 foot long, wall of windows. The previous own put a sofa in front of the windows facing the fireplace. We'd really like NOT to do that.Above and behind the fireplace is the loft intended to serve as a master bedroom, with a full bath, storage in the eaves and a small walk-in closet.

So, this is a two bedroom house with the narrowest space I've ever seen intended to serve as both dining and living room. The whole thing is roughly 1500 sq ft.

Our plan is to build an addition on the back, away from this front room, that would extend the first floor bedroom into a master suite, adding a bath, and also include a small bedroom/office/whatever room. The second floor of this addition would become two small bedrooms, for kids, behind the loft. The front room and loft remain entirely as is.

BUT. This means we wouldn't use the loft as a master anymore; we'd like to use it as the living room. The sole living room. It faces the two story wall of windows through a railing/balcony, along with the back side of the stone fireplace, so the view would be relatively uncompromised and the room is more appropriately sized for couches etc.

The 10 x22 fireplace/window room on the first floor would become a dining room, with a very long table between the window and fireplace (note, it's just off the kitchen), and probably two oversized chairs at one end of the room. Our current lifestyle actually supports this arrangement in that we regularly cook for and taste wine with friends (my husband has a fattening hobby...) and end up sitting around our island or table 99% of the time. Even when we are alone we tend to hang out there.

Is this nuts? No first-floor living room? Even if it is technically a balcony very connected to the first floor? Or should we focus our remodel on trying to expand the living area on the first floor? One problem with this would be that the front of the house doesn't allow for much, if any, addition given the windows, terrain, and view. Another is that the additional bedroom space is needed, both for a home office and for kids' rooms.

Thoughts?

Featured Answer

Fori

7 years ago

Is it a cabin-type home? A frames with views are often casual woodsy sort of things if you know what I mean. And that means you can get away with things you can't in a typical home. I think it could work out really well, but without photos and floorplans it's just a guess.

One reason we have first floor living rooms is that people get tired of stairs as they age. So even if you do it right so that it's not weird (it isn't, as you describe it), it's not as practical and could affect resale. (But a first floor bedroom IS practical for stairphobes...)

So, photos!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Vith
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I agree, stairs are your enemy the older you get. Not having a living room, kitchen, bed, and bath on main floor is odd. (I know some two story houses dont have a bed on main floor but that is not ideal either)

IMO
Related Discussions
Remodel floor plan help, with sketches
Q
Comments (17)
Thank you both. :) Lavender--I am with you on loving floor plans. I do not have so much time as to look at every house plan on every architect's website, but I do like to problem solve with people here on GW. It has been a fun past-time for me since joining. I've learned a lot, too (about kitchen design, in particular. Our kitchen is so small, so for people with actual kitchen space, I've enjoyed reading the suggestions.) And, yes, although my kitchen footprint (or really anything in it) didn't change, it feels SOOO much bigger with the connection to a living space. And, I can supervise the girls playing while I make dinner so much easier with eye contact. Bevangel--unfortunately, we can't go out the front of our house *at all*. When we did the research to add on to the back, we discovered that our house is actually already forward of the setbacks. The city put a street in front of our house after it was built (the street is a cul-de-sac, so it isn't a thoroughfare), and when they did so, apparently the setback is officially within our foundation. We are fine with that--grandfathered and all--but can't build to the north. And, yes, I understand about how you can't touch a structure for it to be grandfathered in. I just can't believe the stairs were okay when they put them in! (Our house was built in 1982--not *that* long ago!) But, I was hoping someone would have a slick solution to that. Also, great observation/thought about not wanting to give up your Master when guests come. I think we will continue to work with the mind-frame that our "Master suite"(!--kind of excited about that prospect) will be upstairs with the girls' rooms, and the guest/flex room will be downstairs on the main floor. And, yes, I too was thankful Summerfield was able to suggest something. I've missed him/her on the board of late--must be really busy. Merry Christmas to you both!
...See More
New Bedroom - embracing change
Q
Comments (12)
I put the rug in there this morning and it definitely has a lot of charcoal.... So I used the other paint in the other bedroom (til I got dizzy from paint fumes) and sent DH off to the store for 2 gallons of Olympic "Knight's Armor". Yep, its definitely daaaark and charcoal and I think I will love it. It's a dead on match to the rug. I am still debating that last wallpaper, but I also had him pick up a gallon of Dover Gray as well and will use it as an accent behind the bed until I decide. It's dark yes, but its also a bedroom, and where I had two 2-light ceiling fixtures, I'll have two 3-light fixtures in their place. I'll also have lamps on either side of the bed, as well as maybe one on the dresser and one on that elusive dressing table. Oh and if you are loving mural wallpapers, check out the ones on the Anthropologie site - they are stunning: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/category/wallpaper/home-wallpaper.jsp. Too expensive for me but very inspiring. Here's something else -- when his lamp arrived, the ninja fedex guy left it on the porch and the box was clearly damaged. When I opened it, so was the shade. I didn't even bother to remove it from the box and got on chat with Big O. They sent a replacement right away and said if no one comes to inspect the other by 5/17 to toss it. Of course by then I'll remove it and see if its salvageable with a new shade. If so, I'll do that and use that in the room too! One less lamp maybe to purchase! Here is a link that might be useful: Dover Gray and Knight's Armor
...See More
narrow kitchen remodel-Help me, geniuses! You're my only hope!!
Q
Comments (47)
" It's also a practice space for my daughter who plays the violin, and I'm pretty sure we've got a few other instruments coming down the pike at some point" I totally understand this. the music 'student' needs to be separate from the siblings and friends yakking and giggling and people in and out of doors and rooms. Distraction is not what he/ she needs to concentrate! also, opening into the LR gives a nice 'audience' area for a mini recital! I so understand you wanting the table in your kitchen area - to keep an eye on those little rugrats too! how about one with leaves that can be put in to extend it at holiday/company time? and other times allows more room around it (for racing? lol!) I had 4 but there was 6yrs between 2 and 3 and 4 came about 18 months after 3. I swear they are born with little explosive packets in their brains. And each yr near their birth date the appropriate packet explodes and all the tinytot terror tactics for their coming year are revealed to them.... God really has a sense of humor - it's done to keep parents humble (I think) while aiding the tinytot Ts in developing the defense armor they will need for their pre-teen and teenage yrs when they turn into crazy, hostile and alien creatures. For parents, they depend on the memories of those sweet little cherubs that used to live in their house and pray for the day they return to being normal sane humans. My mom's very small DR did open into her LR and at holiday time we had to put 2 card tables in the LR but close to the end of her DR table to make space for the grandkids as the ones she had grew and the number of them increased from yr to yr... what is the width and length of your mudroom? maybe some think it is bigger than it is from looking at the layout. You have some darling little former T's lurking in that pic. they will grow and take up even more space putting coats on and taking them off. btw, you weren't mean in your post. you put it very nicely. Maybe some missed that you said at least 2x that you didn't want to move your kitchen from its space and didn't want to use the music room for a DR - and that you have a limited budget. We all have boundaries and budgets and wants that we need to work within. There are times on here that some who are remodeling say they don't want 'something' changed or done, until they see it laid out in front of them. Often they do change their minds because prior to 'seeing' it they just couldn't visualize it. But, that's also when the budget and actually living in the space comes into play. Those are both major, major priorities for the one (or 2) paying and living there to decide.
...See More
Kitchen remodel layout help
Q
Comments (5)
Sorry - I was never able to get the photos to post. The nook has two windows with a door in the middle, and the windows are tall an narrow - 10" off the floor. The opening near A is a doorway connecting the kitchen and dining room. Any advice on how to get photos to post would be great! I've tried re-saving them at a lower resolution but even then the site crashes when I try to add to a comment...
...See More
Kimberly Hase
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

Once we actually own it, I'll take better pictures, these are from the listing. The kitchen table isn't staying, my husband wants an island. Non-negotiable. Flooring is being replaced throughout; the wood is only in this room and it's not in great shape. The other rooms have stinky mint green carpet, we'll replace all carpet, kitchen tile, and this floor with one wood.

The room is 10-11 feet wide, varying based on the slight window bump out. French doors at either end, so the whole wall is window or door. You can see the stairs to the loft as well as what is now a knee wall but will be a railing. There are no other photos of this space. In addition to the configuration we're talking about, the wall color, window treatments, flooring, pendant lights, stair railing, will all change. I'm more concerned about using this space as a long dining room with a small sitting area and using the loft for a living room with TV, video games, etc (you know, mostly kid stuff as that's not anything we use often).

Part of the reason for the first-floor master is to maintain livability as we age. It's not a cabin, more like a beach house, lighter, airier, with views of a lake, but wooded.

I keep searching for design/decor images that show this idea of living space spread on two floors but it seems no one makes this choice so I'm second guessing our decision. I'd like to keep a small seating area at the end of the room, so that one can see out of the windows and look at the fireplace. This would really be for just two or maybe three people, depending on what fits in this narrow room.

I'm stumped as how to make this room work for both. I'll take some pics at our inspection (if it happens...sellers are reluctant...and we are worried they won't put their verbal agreement in writing...).
kirkhall
7 years ago
Have it be your casual reading corner, and put your "family room" upstairs. As you age, you may not go up there that much, but when family visits, they can.
artemis_ma
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
"I'm stumped as how to make this room work for both. I'll take some pics at our inspection (if it happens...sellers are reluctant...and we are worried they won't put their verbal agreement in writing...)."

I'd insist on an inspection. I guess I've been watching too many (or maybe just enough) of episodes of Holmes on Homes to INSURE I have an inspection.
Kimberly Hase
Original Author
7 years ago
I mean that they are reluctant to sell, and we weren't sure if they would follow thru on their verbal agreement to our price. They did not renege on price, we had the inspection, and have decided to move forward with a smaller addition of two first floor bedrooms for kids/office space, keeping (much to houzzers chagrin, I suppose) the master in the loft with a renovated bath in it's existing location and a walk in closet in the eaves of the addition. We've decided to just live with the narrow living room and use the proposed kitchen island for dining. Our current home is similar, with just island dining and small living room area adjacent, so aside from figuring out furniture in this bowling alley, I think our plans are solid.

remodeling to solve bowling alley of a room and lack of bedrooms

Fori

Comments (6)

Vith

Related Discussions

Kimberly Hase
Original Author

kirkhall

artemis_ma

Kimberly Hase
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

remodeling to solve bowling alley of a room and lack of bedrooms

Fori

Comments (6)

Vith

Related Discussions

Kimberly HaseOriginal Author

kirkhall

artemis_ma

Kimberly HaseOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Kimberly Hase
Original Author

Kimberly Hase
Original Author