Solie wrote that having the kids bedrooms downstairs and the master upstairs would be a problem. People don't want their children sleeping below them. WRONG! Or at least he/she didn't consult me. My master bedroom is on the main level. I have everything I needhe on the main level and do not need to deal with steps. My kids bedroom were on the walk-out level. We moved in when the youngest was about 6. Personally, I wouldn't want them ABOVE me, hearing them walk and making noise. And I LOVE having the privacy on the main floor. I don't know how other married couples get their romance time in when their bedrooms are in such close proximity to the kiddies! That's one thing I always check out when looking at blueprints. As long as the nursery days are behind us I want seperate bedroom space.

We are looking for good quality, safe children's bedroom furniture for our six year old. Our local furniture store is featuring InRoom furniture, a "young" company with furniture made in Indonesia. We have also looked on-line at Bunk-and Loft Factory which appears to be made in the USA. Has anyone had any experience with these companies or can recommend sturdy, good quality non-toxic kids bedroom furniture companies? Thanks very much.

OK, well, I didn't read all the posts, cuz I could tell it was getting ugly.... but here is my answer to the initial post: I would do it. We bought our 1950's 2 br house intending to put an addition on it. We realized it was going to be too expensive to do so, but we really needed a 3rd bedroom. The master bedroom wing was a previous addition and the bedroom measured 14.2" x ~25' long (not including massive closets on each end!) It was a weird long, skinny space, where it was difficult to arrange furniture to utilize the space well. We put up walls to create a hall and small 3rd bedroom/office. The new master bedroom is now 13.2' x 14.3' (plenty big in a small home!) and the office is a small 10' x 9+' with a big walk in closet. it suits OUR needs but I was a little worried about resale. Last summer we had 3 realtors look at the house. All three talked about what a big improvement it was. It increased the value of the home more than I thought. I'm so glad we did it. It cost us a few hundred dollars in 2 x4s, drywall, and a new door... and is SO much better! In your case, the master will still be big at 19 x 13, and the two new kids rooms will be plenty large at 9 x 14. If your resale market is similar older homes or a mixed selection of older and newer, I'd do it. If it's all new homes with huge rooms, maybe not.

Gardenwebber, that is SUCH a good point about "entertaining in their rooms". Here's a thought about your floorplan: have the kids take the back two bedrooms. Move your son to the smaller bedroom, the girls in the room with the closet. Take that wall that you guys put up and turn it into the bunk beds in separate rooms. This will give you a lot more useable floor space. Swing your youngest daughter's bed against the far wall and you will maximize the floor space there. Your son can have the lower bunk bed in his own room next door. That leaves the bedroom directly across from yours as a playroom. That also makes your own bedroom further away from the kids beds. The bunk beds are just drywalled with the mattress only on them. We have always had a rule that our kids cannot have a computer, video games or tv in their bedroom until they are 18. I do not want that stuff cluttering my downstairs living room. An upstairs space for this is the best solution. We built our current home knowing that we were going to have teens in them someday and to give them space separate from ours. Think about this solution. My husband would be happy to talk you and your husband thru the details if it is something you would be interested in. P.S. my 17y.o.'s boyfriend is coming for christmas for 17 days and there is no way in hell that she will be "entertaining" him in her bedroom!!!!!!!!!!!! Sherry