Clearly, a highly personal project with your own personal priorities. Looks like a lot of effort to watch the 630 PM weather forecast...

Still nope.

@Virgil - Of course it's highly personal, I am going to live there for awhile. Anyone who has two kids under the age of five that monopolize the TV from dawn till dusk will appreciate a semi private space where they can play violent video games or watch adult content on TV before the kids bedtime.

I'm just a layperson, but that looks like a bunch of code violations to me. Especially that ladder/stairs hybrid. Aren't stairs required to have a certain amount of landing space?

And your TV looks way too close to the couch, especially if you're going to be gaming.

Is there a bathroom in there. What if people have gas?

About the only thing that space is good for is storage.

Really strange setup, the second one is even stranger than the first.

I don’t think I’d ever consider a ladder/stair contraption, it’s an accident waiting to happen. Seems like cleaning the space would be a chore in itself. But to each their own

Here's a thought - how about if you close the door if you want privacy?

Well that is different. Seems like a "time out" place, not a space to relax. As a parent, can't you define what your children under 5 get to do with the TV? They get some time and then parents get time? It's called "sharing". Teach it now, or you will never change for the future. There is something really wrong here. Not a counselor, but you might consider getting some help.

So, Mike...how can those of us on this thread be helpful to you?

Are there any tweaks I can make to the design of the ships ladder and railing to make it safer, or easier to use?

McCoubrey/Overholser, Inc.

The ladder was custom made for the project by a metal fabricator.

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/avalon-house-beach-style-family-room-philadelphia-phvw-vp~5401117[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/avalon-house-beach-style-family-room-philadelphia-phvw-vp~5401117)

Forget the loft in a closet. You can’t do that and make it pass any inspections. And it’s so unappealing as to make everyone on the planet go “what?” At worst, people run screaming and laughing at the same time. Unsellable and undoable.

Turn that into a closet on the second floor and totally forget doing this goofy hospital visit in the making.

"...Are there any tweaks I can make to the design of the ships ladder and railing to make it safer, or easier to use?..."

Well...have you considered changing to goose step risers?

This will certainly increase the level of complexity...

Is that a staircase, or some sort of weird modern art installation?

"Forget the loft in a closet." Sophie, its not a closet. Its an office. It does not have a closet. If this were a 4000 sq ft house, it might be considered a closet, but it is much smaller than that. Sometimes you just have to work with what you have, and make the best of it, instead of forgetting everything.

@Virgil - Yes I have. I have personally never used an alternating step stair like that, but it looks like it would be more awkward to navigate than a ships ladder.

The loft is definitely not making the best of anything. The fact that you have an office for 2 people in a 2-story closet-sized space tells us that you are not making the best use of space in the home.

Have you posted a layout of the rest of the house? Perhaps there's a way to better utilize this space, or a better place for your office/studio?

Mike you are obviously skilled using SketchUp or whatever 3D program you're using--congratulations! If this is a serious architect's office (or for any other use), do you think there's adequate space available for raw materials, and supplies? What about space available for in-progress and completed drawings and prints?

Where's the plan file? Where's the supply closet? Where's the coffee pot?

I appreciate the challenge you are striving to meet. I designed a one-person architectural office for myself in my own custom designed home that was not in a much larger space. I understand the challenge.

But a two-function use in this small space? Really? Is "...violent video games or watch adult content on TV..." really what's driving this approach?

Hmmm, maybe office is the wrong term for how this room needs to function. My wife and I do not work from home full time, so this room will probably be used for computer work for several hours a week, for an hour or two at at time. The printer will live on the desk in here. Most likely just one person will occupy this room at a time. We will not have meetings with clients or customers in this room, or have face to face work related meetings(with the exception of skype). The drafting/art table will probably only be used just a couple hours a month. And the loft area might be used every other day(I hope) for an hour or two for reading or TV watching/gaming. This room will be off limits to the kids, this space is for their parents.

If this is an occasional gaming/bill paying/web surfing room for Mom and Dad, it's a terrible use of this space. A room away from the kids should be relaxing and inviting, not a weird cramped afterthought of a room with just a desk and a deathtrap ladder.

Well NJ Mom, I'd love to hear your suggestions on how to change it to make it more relaxing and inviting. I'm listening... You can't change the footprint or the location of the doors or windows.

What is in this space right now? Are you like me, hate cathedral ceilings, and are trying to use the space that would otherwise be taken up by a ginormous, expensive chandelier? Just buy the damn chandelier, it's still more practical than this room.

I like vaulted ceilings. Nothing is in the space right now, just got dry walled today.

I'd put the adults only space somewhere else in the house for starters. Someplace with lots of light, comfy chairs, wine rack, etc.

This room is where you store your Christmas decorations, camping gear, and old clothes until it's time to donate them.

This thread has been very amusing. Following.

Mike can you post the rest of your floor plan? We have young kids too so your thoughts of spaces away from them resonated with me. That said we just have one office on the main floor that they will never get to go into. They get a rec room in the basement for their fun and that will do. Some of the comments have been a bit over the top but I too sadly feel you are trying to make the space too much. Perhaps if I saw the whole thing I would understand better?

Here's a link to the floorplans and exterior elevations...

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/4849144/new-build-thread-long-lost-cousin-to-flw

The loft in the office is not on these plans.

So, some background. The office floor was originally the same level as the main floor, and the door to the office was off of the living room, on the other side of the stairs. Having an open floor plan on the main level and not much wall space, I did not want to give up what little wall space I had to a door, limiting furniture placement.

So, I'm like lets move the door to the office to the stairwell landing. I can't put anything on that landing anyway, plus it kind of sets the office apart from the rest of the house that way. I didn't want to change the roofline or the exterior, so the ceiling in the office effectively rose like 1/2 a story. Then I'm like why not vault it?

After the framing went up and the room took shape, the height felt abit out of proportion to the footprint. So to get more space(about 35 sq ft) in the house and not make the room feel soo awkwardly tall, I put a loft in the office.

So there is only one office now not two as shown on the plans?

Look at last image, the side section view. The office is there on the right side. It occupies the main level, and 1/2 of the basement. There is crawlspace storage underneath it, where I will keep spare paint and the holiday decorations.

Got it! Honestly, just my two cents, but it feels like you are trying to do too much with the space. I would keep it an office with a desk or space for you and your wife is available and enjoy the vaulted lovely height.

Why not add a proper floor between the two levels with doors opening onto each of the stair landings. Then you'll have two usable rooms, for office or storage or crafting or whatnot.

Or you could add a trap door in the floor with a ladder that extends down and use the two spaces as play areas for your kids. Could become study areas later. That way you could reclaim the public areas of the house for family use, and the kids would have a fun place to play that is totally unique.

There is an optional guest room in the basement. That seems like a natural place for a game room/adults only space. But do your kids and yourself a favour: spend time with them while they are little playing games and reading books and save the adult activities for when the kids are in bed or at school. Healthier all around.

I like Lindsey's idea... Two separate rooms off each landing. Kids love a cool playroom, and the size of this room is appropriate for small people with small things. if your kids are anything like mine, twelve gazillion Legos stay in a small, contained space where you never have to deal with them. But please rethink the ladder idea... a spiral staircase with a sturdy railing will be still be fun and much safer.

I thought about doing Lindsey's idea. But the room height would be way too low. Might be 5'6" at the highest point, and 4' around the edges. Having to get in there to cleanup things would not be pleasant. And the windows already in place on the sides of the room would span both floors. So on the outside you would see the side of the floor thru the window. And sound would go between floors in the gap left by the window.

I even thought about accessing the loft thru the living room and adding a door and some stairs there, but by adding multiple entrances I loose some of the privacy and control of the space. And then I've lost the wall space that I was trying to save.

As it is now, the ceiling height below the loft in the desk area is 6'8", and in the loft itself the lowest ceiling height is 6'6", going up to about 9'

I don't dig on this, at all. That ladder plan is problematic. How will your wife transport used paint- that needs to be responsibly recycled- up and down.

Given that this isn't full time space for either of you- if you want it, design a better, safer way to get up. That's your wife. And maybe your children.

If you want that closet as an pocket office, give up the double decker idea. The idea is just wack, and nothing can make it work. Use a garage hoist for exploiting the vertical for storage if you just can’t bear for that space to go to another use on another floor. But putting in a ceiling and actually splitting it for use from another floor makes more sense than trying to split it internally.

before doing any structural changes, build something like this. See how much you like using it. If it works for you, then build your plan. If it does not get used much, then sell it to someone else. or disassemble & use material for something else.

Almost done!

That first shot gave me vertigo ¦¬|

Mike is looking to give his wife vertical.

So since you were going to do this no matter what, why did you bother asking us?

Interesting how it’s played out Mike! I hope you guys make it work. Definitely looks funky and very unique to your space. I’d love to see if all finished and have you check back with how it’s being used. My kids would adore something like this and one of my sons friends has a loft in their playroom. I often find them up there which is super cute.

"So since you were going to do this no matter what, why did you bother asking us?"

Hey, I did put the slider in the kitchen...

Good one Mike! Can’t please everyone. Hope you love your choices.

Gotta remember who is paying the bills, and who will actually use and live in it. But I do appreciate an unbiased 3rd party opinion, because sometimes they will have valid points that do apply to my situation/circumstances and do need to be addressed.

My kids would adore something like this and one of my sons friends has a loft in their playroom. I often find them up there which is super cute.

Except this isn't for his kids. It's for him and his wife. I don't know about you, but I certainly wouldn't want to be climbing up there to sit on a couch.

Scary is what that is. Worse than any tree house ladder.

Don't worry, the couch(actually a sectional) is in the living room(not pictured), where no one will need to climb on anything to reach it. Seating surface is only 16" off of the floor.

My point is I know people who would love it too. Im sure Mike has thought this through for his family. I think it is a unique feature that’s pretty cool. Hope it works out and gets the use you want it to.

Whether his wife ends up using it or not, Mike has himself a nice man cave. I think changing the position of the ladder is a good move--going up, there is now a feeling of spaciousness as you approach the loft instead of the wall, there's one less open side and the ladder isn't in the middle of the small room, the desk is better on that side, and continuing it as an L under the stairs now seems more useable. It's a nice one-person room for the activities he has mentioned that he does, and his wife will probably end up doing her art work in the basement.

Anne