separate second floor?

2 years ago

Looking for thoughts/ideas regarding our weird house layout. We bought this house about 10 months ago, its our ideal size in a great community. The upstairs layout though is crazy. I’ve attached a floor plan - not sure if it makes sense to connect both sides of the upstairs? If so, which staircase would you remove, if either?
To connect the sides we’d have to build a loft space between, which is possible with the vaulted ceilings in the living room. I realize there wouldn’t be a huge ROI here, if any. We’re not planning on moving anytime in the next 15 years. My husband is against changing, but for me the current layout is frustrating.

Featured Answer

Sigrid

2 years ago

So, two of the bedrooms have to go downstairs to use the bathroom? That's annoying, but, on the other hand, the only access to the upstairs bathroom is from another bedroom, so connecting the upstairs won't really help with the most obvious problem.

This is a plan with 5 bedrooms. Do you need them all? If not, think about what you need from the rooms and what makes sense. Bedrooms where you have to go downstairs to the bathroom don't make sense to me, but, then, neither does a bedroom where the only bathroom on the floor is through another bedroom.

Maybe you're going to use some of your bedrooms as a home office, sewing room, media room or whatever. In that case, the bathroom issue might be different. It's hard to advise without knowing what will suit your family.

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Comments (9)

Lynn
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you Sigrid! Totally agree about the bathroom being on a different floor. We only really need 4 bedrooms, and we have an additional room that we use as an office. Was thinking of connecting the two sides and converting the small bedroom into a bathroom (on the left side). That way we’d have a true ‘en suite’.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I see no way to use the upper floor without the stairs unless you plan to build a bridge . I have always hated this thing about a whole wasted space to be open to the lower floor anyway Maybe check to see the cost of gaining all that space and improving access and layout I see many weird issues so first think how much money you have to make huge changes . The LR seems oddly placed too BTW sq footage is totally useless we need the measurements of every wall and info from you as to budget . This IMO will be ahuge undertaking . I would see about getting plumbing up the right side , change the left side into a master suite easily just make the small bedroom a dressing room On the main floor that huge kitchen is not even functional as it is and the DR seems small . Just a very oddly layed out space .
Lynn
Original Author
2 years ago
Agreed - it’s definitely a weird space/layout. I made a new floor plan based on your suggestion regarding plumbing on the right side. Converted the right side to a primary suite by converting a bedroom into a bathroom and dressing room. Made the current primary bedroom smaller - added a wall to split it into a smaller bedroom and bonus space. It’s tricky too because there are vaulted/sloped ceilings and dormers everywhere.
PRO
User
2 years ago
I’d rather walk downstairs to use a restroom than sleep in a room with a furnace. So for me, I’d never even consider using that downstairs bedroom as a bedroom.
shirlpp
2 years ago
To not being able to access other bedrooms without going downstairs and then back upstairs - is insane.

I'd remove the staircase in the kitchen area - thus, making more living room space.
Valinta
2 years ago
Add the bridge. If you have any young children who may be sleeping in the opposite wing it would be a nightmare to have to go down, then up to get to them.
hbeing
2 years ago
connect 2nd floor together.
hbeing
2 years ago
connect 2nd floor together.