convert basement entry into main entrance?

8 years ago

The main family entrance to our house from the driveway is up about 8 stairs onto our deck which is a bit of a hassle with kids, groceries, snow... then the back door leads directly into the kitchen where there is no space to drop everything.
We have considered adding on a family and mudroom out the back but now are looking for a lower cost option of finishing basement. But that wouldn’t solve our entrance issue... so I’m wondering we could create a main entrance from the side basement entrance with a stair up to main floor and down to a finished basement.
Curious if this sounds like a project that it would makes sense from a design perspective and be somewhat cost effective? Ive attached a picture of the current door. It’s smaller than a normal door so I presume would have to be upgraded.
Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

grapefruit1_ar

8 years ago

Pretty much anything is doable with enough money. I would surely consider it if it makes living easier for your family. I would begin with an architect. You want to make sure that your home still looks presentable.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
8 years ago
You need an architect now before planning anything. This could be an expensive job.I do not see the main entrance so really very little info for us to go on.
Related Professionals
Tulsa Furniture & Accessories · Augusta Furniture & Accessories · Newport Furniture & Accessories · Bainbridge General Contractors · Salt Lake City General Contractors · Vancouver Interior Designers & Decorators · Dover Architects & Building Designers · Buffalo Architects & Building Designers · Traverse City Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Atlantic City General Contractors · Stamford General Contractors · Janesville General Contractors · Spanish Fork General Contractors · Rome Interior Designers & Decorators · Enfield Cabinets & Cabinetry
Andy Fleet
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks-I realize we’d need to work with an architect. I was just looking to see if anyone had done or seen a similar project.
I thought that’s what these boards were for.
suedonim75
8 years ago
The house I grew up in had a configuration like this. We had a door on the front and one on the back, but we used the side door as the main entrance. It opened onto a landing where you could go up 3 steps into the kitchen or go down into the basement.
acm
8 years ago
usually what we see is people with split levels who hate them. so, um, there's that.
Judy Mishkin
8 years ago
this entrance would be the same as a split entry or 'raised ranch' house. acm is correct, folks do fret as the entry is generally too small to decorate or provide a mud room type of storage space for shoes and jackets.

but i think its doable, it just needs to be larger than a standard split entry foyer.

if you do a google image search for 'split entry foyer' thats the design you'll be going for.
Andy Fleet
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for those comments. We wouldn’t be looking to make it a split level or do a big foyer-as if we were doing a big addition I’d do it out the back and just leave This door a pure basement egress. I was more thinking if it could be an easier way to get an entrance at ground level and maybe a little landing for mudroom storage.
Andy Fleet
Original Author
8 years ago

I took additional photos (with less snow outside) and of the inside of the door. Obviously we'd have to build a floor to be level with the foot of the door so that you would not be immediately stepping down. Then there could be some steps down to the basement at the left and up to the main floor of the house in the other direction. Not sure if these help anyone better picture what I was proposing initially. Thanks!