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abdou_bah

Master suite addition

12 months ago

We have begun a home addition project to get additional space for closet, and bathroom (our current master is a bit small). however as walls are being put up, we decided to revisit the original option 2 (extend the addition and build over our garage), an option that we had considered but opted out of due to price. our architect gave us a new option that would expand the bathroom and closet space, add a home office and but keep the bedroom as is. it is not a bad option but struggling to pull the trigger as we don’t need a home office (just finished our basement and built one) and dressing area seem like a waste of space.

think most will say to stick to the original plan, who needs a bigger room (me!). what i am asking for is related to the revised/proposed plan layout (“proposed plan I”), do you have better ideas on maximizing this space.

also feedback on my chicken scratch idea (“proposed plan II”) . will post the measurement shortly




Comments (17)

  • 12 months ago

    The current plan looks like the best option to me. I think if you go bigger it will just cost more without returning more value. If you don't need a home office on this floor why incur the cost?

    Abdou Bah thanked kandrewspa
  • PRO
    12 months ago

    The most important thing to know when evaluating or designing an addition is the existing conditions; walls, windows, roof, massing, beams, foundation, HVAC system, electrical, utility lines, setbacks, terrain, landscaping, etc. Since you already started construction, full steam ahead.


  • 12 months ago
    last modified: 12 months ago

    Agree with @kandrewspa - proposed plan 2 will create a cavernous bedroom that i think will be hard to furnish/finish .. a classic, well planned space is almost always better than more square footage for the sake of it — especially a master suite, just not that many non-sleeping hours spent in the space

    Abdou Bah thanked la_la Girl
  • PRO
    12 months ago

    I agree the originalplan is by far better than a huge renovation to not get not one bit better function . I actually prefer a small functional bthroom to a huge one I clean my bathrooms everyday and smaller is better for me. You have prefectly good bathrooom I have no idea what you need for closet space but for me I would just do a wall of reach in in the bedroom to repalce the dressers and that TV cabinet so maybe even a corner one from the window around the corenr on the left with the TV built in to it .

    Abdou Bah thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 12 months ago

    Original plan is better imo. Is space available to add a linen closet in the bathroom to the left of the window?

    Abdou Bah thanked Design Fan (NE z7a)
  • 12 months ago

    Have you really thought about how much space you need? Why you wanted to expand in the first place?


    What clothing do you need to store - how many linear feet of hanging space is ideal for you and for your spouse? How much drawer space do you need? How much drawer space does your spouse need?


    What do you need in the master bath? Do you want a tub, shower, combo or both? How much counter space do you need? How much storage space do you need? I don't see a linen closet in the master and there is no room for drawers in the vanity for makeup and curling irons and blow dryers. Do you need two spaces so that you can be doing your hair and makeup while he showers?


    Would it be advantageous to have a second laundry attached to the master or do you have a second story laundry already?


    Does the current master feel too small because you have too much furniture? Could some of the furniture be eliminated if you had better storage in the walk in closet?


    None of the plans above seem to be really well planned. They seem a bit thrown together.

    Even the first plan, the bathroom is terrible. Do you want to open the door right at the toilet? Why the big empty space in the upper right? Why no storage? The second option gives you more space, but it is not truly functional space. A bunch of hallways, a dressing room??? An office that is past your bathroom and closets? Why there? was there any thought given to the layout. Third option just makes the bedroom larger without adding any value.


    You have started construction, so time is of the essence. Hire a good interior designer to help you get what you need from the space so you don't end up wasting money on something that doesn't function well.




    Abdou Bah thanked Jennifer Hogan
  • 12 months ago
    last modified: 12 months ago

    It's about what you want for your space. You want more space in your bedroom. Building out over the garage gives you that in the Proposal II. The bath and closet part of that proposal are rudimentary and show little design effort. I'd improve the layout of those spaces with recommendations from the forum.

    Abdou Bah thanked dan1888
  • PRO
    12 months ago

    Thank you for the feedback. agreed that making the original bedroom bigger (from 19x13 to 27x13) bring its own set of design issues. i think many of the comments confirm my feeling which is that there isn't much design/planning going into this.


    the only other proposed options would be to flip the layout and put the bedroom over the garage which would make the bedroom 19x17’8 but the distance from bedroom to cloths seems a bit much.


    thank you all for the quick and insightful feedback. we will use this insight to make our decision



  • PRO
    12 months ago

    Sorry how much space does a bed take and IMO if it ain't broke don't fix it .

    Abdou Bah thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 12 months ago

    The proposed plan has a rather long and circuitous path from bed to toilet. Having just gotten over the flu... I wouldn't want that. Just something to keep in mind.

    Abdou Bah thanked chicagoans
  • PRO
    11 months ago

    Sharing the final recommendation!! we will proceed with the addition/expansion. we opted for this layout and althought i am not in love with the bathroom layout/size, we can tweak that next!! thank you all for all of your help!


  • 11 months ago

    Following on Mark's suggestion for the bathroom with more exterior walls, I'd consider having the bathroom door somewhere near the bottom of the bathroom / just above the closet in his drawing. That puts the door closer to the bedroom, and avoids having it across from the hall door. In your (OP's) most recent layout, there's a view from the hallway right into the bathroom, which someone using the bathroom might not want.

    Also, consider how you use the bathtub and shower. I for one like to rinse off in the shower after using a tub (especially if I was luxuriating in suds - sorry if that's TMI.) In your current layout it's a long way from tub to shower. If you never go from tub to shower, you can ignore that. But please also consider where you'll hang towels and TP. Sometimes those little details can make a difference in how handy a space is to use.

    Abdou Bah thanked chicagoans
  • 11 months ago
    last modified: 11 months ago

    Why is there no sink for the toilet? So anyone taking a bath will be interrupted? You have to walk thru the tub room to get to the toilet?

    Why are willing to go forward with something you're not in love with and then have to live with it? Rethink that.

    Have the sledgehammers swung yet? Having "begun" a project could be at any stage...

    Abdou Bah thanked tracefloyd
  • 11 months ago

    No sink in the toilet is a given in Japanese houses where the toilet is always in a separate room. Toto washlet heated water rinse and warm air dry seats are an answer.


  • 11 months ago
    last modified: 11 months ago

    The expanded addition square footage over the garage has now created a snout garage. It will be dominating with 2 story fairly blank walls and roof mass minimizing the existing house. The gain is just more empty space around everything in the Master, making the scale of the room disproportionate to furniture and the rest of the house. The entry into this suite has no arrival. The ensuite layout at the end of a long dark hallway is compartmentalized incongruously.

    Right size, right place. I think the red outline is the "current" addition walls in progress. These schemes would be something for consideration.




    Abdou Bah thanked 3onthetree
  • PRO
    11 months ago

    I think that make too much sense.