I like weedys's idea of putting the laundry where the master toilet was, recessing the door to the master bedroom to allow for a door into the new laundry, and then sorting out your master bathroom and closet space because all you're doing there is swapping floor space. You don't have to deal with exterior walls and window locations. I'll toss this idea out. Move the laundry over to where the linen closet was and move the linen closet across so it backs up to the stairway. Bedroom closets go behind the laundry. You could also move the kids' bathroom to where I have the new laundry. With the bathroom layout adjusted of course. Then move the washer and dryer to where the tub is in the old kid's bathroom. In that laundry you could even keep the toilet and sink for a laundry/half-bath.

@Virgil - Great questions. I don't see us building a fancy deck, just something that matches the house (beach style with hip roof, hardy board siding). Where could I do some research on building materials? For option 1, I would imagine a deck like this one, [https://www.houzz.com/photos/32nd-street-craftsman-exterior-los-angeles-phvw-vp~209718[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/32nd-street-craftsman-exterior-los-angeles-phvw-vp~209718). For option 2, I would imagine a deck like this one, [https://www.houzz.com/photos/630-b-beach-style-exterior-san-diego-phvw-vp~90504781[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/630-b-beach-style-exterior-san-diego-phvw-vp~90504781). For option 3, I would imagine a no-deck-look like this one, [https://www.houzz.com/photos/incredibly-green-home-of-chevy-chase-craftsman-exterior-seattle-phvw-vp~360047[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/incredibly-green-home-of-chevy-chase-craftsman-exterior-seattle-phvw-vp~360047). @kudzu9 - I live in San Diego (yes, I know, expensive). I wish it was like asking, "How much does a new car cost?" because I could go online and figure that out in 10 minutes. And I'd know that I'd never have to pay more than the sticker price! @Sophie - Thankfully, you're not the CFO of my company. ;) $68k is a trip around the world with my family.

Multiple thoughts, not all in line with the majority: - Five bedrooms is a huge house. The potential field of buyers who want the space and upkeep of a house that large (and who can afford it) is relatively small. More plainly, You're looking to build a house that only a small percentage of buyers can afford to buy. Wanting a thing and being able to afford a thing aren't the same. Your pool of resale buyers will be small, so selling could take a long time, or you might be forced to take less than you want. - Yes, people will like the idea of a "master up and a master down": live-in space for mom, space for a live-in nanny or elder care-giver. Plenty of reasons people would like the space. But the real question is, Will your resale buyer be willing to pay what it will cost you to build it? Personally, I think you'll attract plenty of interest, but you may not attract the necessary dollars at resale to make this worthwhile. - How old are these small children? By the time you finish building this house, they'll probably be at least a year older -- how long will you want to have bedrooms close by? - I'm a highly practical person: you're talking about a short time when kids are small. To save money, could you sleep in a "non-master" upstairs for this short time, then move downstairs? - How "master" do you see your "masters"? That is, when you say "master bedroom", are you envisioning a slightly larger room with a modest walk-in closet and a private 3-piece bath ... or does "master" to you mean a spacious room with a seating area, a massive closet and a luxury bath? The question isn't just, "Should I have two masters?" It's, "Just how much will I put into a master?" Your own vision of "how much" can make a world of difference in this question. - Don't overbuild for your neighborhood. Remember that the biggest, most expensive house in the neighborhood is "drawn down" by the more modest houses that surround it. - Summary: Don't be caught up in just whether this is a desirable idea -- it is. Consider first and foremost whether it is an economically viable idea.

Perfect space for personal retreat. Outdoor furniture like 2 comfy chairs, chaise lounger, coffee table ( with or without fire in center), bar cart to hold coffee carafe and personalized mugs or other drinks. Ample lighting that is dimmable for romantic times and bright enough for reading. If it gets hot, mister system to cool ambient air. End table/storage for soft luxurious lap robes. Twinkle lights? The list can go on and on depending upon users and what you want the space to do for you.