I love this kind of setup.

The only suggestion I have is, make sure that the downstairs master bath/closet is elder/mobility-challeged friendly. :-)

I think this is the best of all worlds - and as stated - the downstairs master should be 'nice' - but definitely designed for making it as friendly as possible to a disabled occupant. That means something that might look more utilitarian (either grab bars already installed in a roll in shower or at least a full plywood backer so they can be installed ANYWHERE. ) Ability to transfer to a toilet - which means having a drop arm wheelchair and a slide board that moves you sideways to the toilet - so that determines a certain width. this gives you the ability to age in place and it also allows both he visiting of someone who has limited mobility (walker / wheelchair, etc) or, the moving in of a parent (or child!) temporarily or permanently.

Dealing with an elderly parent in rehab right now - so I am learning a LOT about accessibility, and what works best...

Think through all your options:

- Build your upstairs bedrooms now, and arrange the downstairs so that -- when you're ready -- you can add on a second master downstairs.

- Build four upstairs bedrooms now, and you sleep in a regular bedroom (as opposed to a true master).

- Build two masters, and when you're ready to move to the downstairs master, let two kids share the upstairs master.

For what it's worth, we're planning to build two masters (one up, one down) and a smaller bedroom (up) -- like a bunk room. One of our children will likely stay with us a while, so initially she'll have the upstairs master ... but if we needed a space for an elderly parent, we could move to the upstairs master.

One last thing: You say you're planning four SMALL bedrooms for the children upstairs. Keep in mind that one day your kids'll be adults and will come home with spouses: Be sure you have a bedroom that'll hold a queen bed for them. I don't think you need to assume all four kids'll come home at once, but I'd think you'd want space for two adult kids at once.

Sleeping in a bunk bed gets old at 15. Anything beyond that becomes ridiculous:).

I don't think you need to assume all four kids'll come home at once, but I'd think you'd want space for two adult kids at once.

This can vary from family to family. In our case we expect our kids, grandkids and a couple of guests to come at the same time. We were calculating, at times even our 5 bedrooms will not be enough during holidays but we had to draw a line somewhere.

Mrspete: great "thinking points", thanks.

- Build your upstairs bedrooms now, and arrange the downstairs so that -- when you're ready -- you can add on a second master downstairs.

I can't envision how that would work. Can you explain?

- Build four upstairs bedrooms now, and you sleep in a regular bedroom (as opposed to a true master).

So five regular bedrooms upstairs? I expect we'll be using this room for 10/20 years. Probably until the smallest is out of the house, so 16 years. I'm not forgoing a true master for that long! Plus I'm not sure what that saves me. We'd still need three bathrooms upstairs since four kids is too many to share one bathroom without bloodshed and I don't want to share with any of them!

- Build two masters, and when you're ready to move to the downstairs master, let two kids share the upstairs master.

I don't understand this one. Is this not deviating from my original plan, just letting the kids shuffle around when we move? Certainly that would be an option, but I don't see any reason to plan for it now if it doesn't change construction. Or am I missing something?

I don't see any of them wanting to share rooms. They are: 13g, 11g, 4b, 2g. The two eldest did share a room for a years, but split up when the eldest started middle school. The level of fighting PLUMMETED. Everyone is happier when they have their own space. The younger two are sharing now but I doubt opposite sex siblings are going to want to share a room for long.

One last thing: You say you're planning four SMALL bedrooms for the children upstairs. Keep in mind that one day your kids'll be adults and will come home with spouses: Be sure you have a bedroom that'll hold a queen bed for them. I don't think you need to assume all four kids'll come home at once, but I'd think you'd want space for two adult kids at once.

Ha, good point. I'm thinking "small" not "SMALL". The internet tells me the minimum bedroom size for a queen is 10'x10' so we can use that as a guideline. Once we're at the point where they're coming home with significant others they won't need to use the room for anything that...um...doesn't happen in bed, so not having a ton of floor space shouldn't be a problem.

I've also kicked around the idea of constructing those four rooms such that walls could be knocked down to make them two large bedrooms if desired. Then it would be a house with four generously sized bedrooms which is more typical for the area.

I really appreciate everyone's feedback! And I'm sure the architect will appreciate me thinking this all out with you before dumping it in his lap. ;)

Do less bedrooms and make the kids share. It isn't cruel and unusual punishment.

One other solution is to do the master upstairs and plumb a closet upstairs and downstairs for an elevator if needed in the future. Definitely put a bedroom with bath downstairs as a just in case, or guest suite, but if you go the elevator route, the downstairs bedroom can be an away room, playroom/guest suite now or it's there if someone temporarily needs to sleep downstairs.

BTW: Elevators can be done for under $25,000. Certainly not chicken change, but what is the cost of a second full master suite?

I'm not putting in fewer rooms. They will not be sharing rooms. It's cruel and unusual punishment for ME.

If you'd like we can start a new thread to discuss it but it's not on the table for us.

You will be very surprised how soon you are ready to move to that downstairs master suite and get out of the kiddie area. It seems like a great idea to be able to keep up with the "pulse" of the kids, until you find that both of you really want to have your own space.

Since money does not seem to be a big limitation, I think your plan makes sense. However, I would build the lower floor master as the true master suite (big tub, nice tile, wood floor, high ceilings, etc.), and make the upper floor master a nice big bedroom that you can use until you feel comfortable moving downstairs. That will help with resale value, since a large, comfortable 1st floor master suite appeals to a much larger audience. Once you move downstairs the large upstairs bedroom becomes a nice guest room, or a better room for your oldest teenager.

Unsolicited advice -- If you can fit it in, my personal preference would be to have a 1st floor master that allows aging in place, and a moderate size 1st floor guest room that is also handicapped accessible. Your parents and friends are not getting any younger, and at some point everyone will find it easier to not go up and down the stairs. You could put the youngest kids in the 1st floor guest bedroom for now, and move them upstairs when they want their own space.

Bruce

When considering the design of a new custom home it's always good to think creatively. At first. I think you need to get your needs, wants, good ideas/other ideas and your budget and what you will be paying interest on for 30 years better aligned.

How long is a "forever home" for you? How long have you lived in your current home?

Quickly: we're 40 and have been in this house ten years. This house is an 80s split foyer which we've never loved but what was available, affordable, and met our needs when we need to move. Which I'm pretty sure is the only reason anyone buys a split foyer. ;-)

"Forever home" to me, means from here to an assisted living facility. Obviously things change so we might need or want to move, but I want to design this house so we won't HAVE to.

I am pretty opposed to two master suites.

I truly believe that proximity to kids' rooms is more a comfort for the parents than the kids. Sick kids will find you, and if you are still worried about it, buy a wireless intercom system. Which is actually really nice when you have teenagers, one small plug in unit in the kitchen will let everyone know dinner will be ready in 5 minutes.

Noise pollution is a much bigger problem for child development than proximity to parents.

Additional master suites are a waste of space and a waste of money. Especially considering it will be useful for a few years and source of contention after that. If this is really your forever home and money is no object, then make all the bedrooms master suites. If that is not the case then find better things to do with the money.

ETA: I just moved out of my third forever home. I lacked the foresight to know my future needs. It is important to realize that you don't know you ten years from now. You may have different needs, passions and hobbies. My advice plan for the future you can see but don't invest so heavily in that future that you can't change your mind.

I'd love two split masters, one for my husband and me, and one to afford my folks some privacy, since they have specifically requested to be away from the rest of us. If it was up to me, I'd have all sleeping rooms together. It's just how I like to organize the house, lol.

I actually would consider bry's all-master suites idea if I had more girls, lol (I have 4 boys, 1 girl, and the boys have the master bedroom now, anyway, for logistics). But I double/triple/quadruple up the kids in bigger rooms, so I'm weird anyway. ;-)

Good idea for re-sale--assuming the overall size and style is within the local market range.

But "forever" home is to laugh!

More than a third of marriages end in divorce. (Of course, not anyone posting here!) Job mobility. Up and down the scale. The average American moves 12 times in their lifetime. The average Canuck owns 4.5-5.5 homes in their lives. (That half house is certainly drafty!) On my 12th owned principal residence so far. (Trusting that if I keep moving, the Grim Reaper can't find me!)

I think two master suites is a great idea.

(Trusting that if I keep moving, the Grim Reaper can't find me!)

Or instead you could just do like Sarah Winchester did and keep building onto your current home.

Well sure, nobody can predict the future. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try!

Our first home was intended to be short term. It was in an area with questionable schools, but we didn't have kids yet. Our plan was to be there 5-10 years and move before we had a kid in kindergarten. We were there seven years and moved when our eldest was four.

Our second/current home was intended to last us "until the kids were in college" but we lacked the foresight to know we'd LOSE OUR EVER-LOVIN' MINDS and decide to have two more kids. And we realized when our dog developed a disability that it's extremely unfriendly to the mobility-impaired. (Plus side: she weighed 100 lbs so we got a LOT of exercise the last year of her life. :/)

So we're moving forward and applying what we've learned over the years towards our best guess is about what will work for us. What more can you do?

Important to note: I've come to love this plan (which isn't very bright, not yet knowing if the BRs will fit upstairs yet, but what can you do?)

The only reason I wanted a first floor master was for eventual mobility issues (3/4 of our parents have health problems which make stairs difficult), not because I want my bedroom on the main floor now.

The major drawback to the rough sketch we started with http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4345095/floorplan-feedback-very-early-stage is a lack of playroom space on the main level which means, IME, all the toys will end up in the living room.

A main level master would make an excellent playroom/craft room. It's close enough to the action that it would actually get used, plus there's a door.

At this point the biggest drawback I see is the possibility that both we and an elderly parent might need to avoid stairs in which case either a small guest room on the main or planning for a future elevator might be a good idea. (Could whoever has the crystal ball please pass it my way?)

(Could whoever has the crystal ball please pass it my way?)

Mine's broken.

If you had asked me 15 years ago, which of my parents would have out survived the other, I would have said that definitely my mother would. She was the right weight for her height and build, went to the gym 5x a week, ate healthy, etc.

Compare that to my Dad who never exercised, had been a smoker until age 40, and then smoked a pipe for another 10 years, had diabetes which he didn't control well, had back problems, etc.

Then my Mom developed Parkinson's disease and a platelet disorder (too many). She passed away two years before my Dad. My Dad had held on until Mom died and then he started to go downhill.