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Building a Home Remodeling Design Dilemma

Loft Vs Bedroom

4 years ago

Hello-

I’m potentially building a new home. I’m converting my upstairs loft to a bedroom but in doing so I would lose a lot of natural light in the hall way space. I will still use the room as loft type space but I prefer to convert to a room for resell value in the future. I was considering changing out the traditional door for a French door. This room will be our playroom/kids lounge so privacy is not a concern. Has anyone ever done this? Ideally I’d like two French doors but I think that it becomes costly at that point due to the amount of construction. Thoughts?

Featured Answer

PRO

Virgil Carter Fine Art

4 years ago

Adding a door to a newly enclosed loft space is not a problem. Even a glass French door, assuming there will be no small children or young children who may likely throw, push items against the glazing, or worse, push one another through the glazing.

Double French doors will double the price, starting at around $1,000/door.

In many jurisdictions for a space to count as a bedroom it must have a proper egress window and a closet.

An adjacent bathroom is also necessary for convincing resale.

Good luck on your project.

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Comments (7)

_sophiewheeler
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Do you understand the legal space requirements for a bedroom? And the egress window (plus other things) that a bedroom will need?
Cee Smith thanked _sophiewheeler
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Cee Smith
Original Author
4 years ago
I am unable to attach photos at this time. This space will have a closet. A professional builder will be adding the wall and door. I am simply looking for suggestions on adding light to the hallway.
chisue
4 years ago
Would transoms help? You could have a solid door, but some light above it. I see few *bedrooms* with French doors. What are your options for lighting the hall with ceiling or wall fixtures? Is this an upper floor? Would a light tube be an option?
Cee Smith thanked chisue
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
4 years ago
Have you considered installing a skylight above the hallway for natural light?

If your roof framing is trusses at 24-inches on center, you could install a skylight so that it's centered between two trusses, add a gyp boad-clad opening to the ceiling above the hallway and have light all day long.
homechef59
4 years ago
Either way, it won't add any additional value to your home. I'm an appraiser. If I were to appraise your property, I would increase valuation if you added square footage, finished incomplete interior space or added a bathroom.

This doesn't mean that this space won't be more attractive to a potential buyer. It might make the home more easily marketed with an additional bedroom. It may make the space more usable for your family. It just won't add to the total market valuation. So, don't do it for that reason. Do it because you want to do it.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
IMO a bedroom with no bathroom nearby is just a room so I would leave it an open loft . I am trying to figure out why you chose a design with a loft if you didn’t want one .Also with small kids a glass door or the stairs would both be an issue if used as aplay space.

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