Here's a question 19:58 - May 21 with 1511 views | clive_baker | Typical housing stock (excluding flats and bungalows) has living space downstairs and bedrooms upstairs innit, from my experience. Would you be put off buying a house with a downstairs bedroom(s)? Perhaps your bedroom is downstairs? Is it weird? I can see some benefits to it, but it's something that I feel a little uneasy about. Lock down life has had me assessing some options which has prompted this. |  |
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Here's a question on 20:05 - May 21 with 1473 views | giant_stow | It all depends if the view upstaits is special enough to not waste on sleeping, i reckon. Sone houses it makes perfect sense. |  |
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Here's a question on 20:07 - May 21 with 1473 views | J2BLUE | When I lived with my parents my bedroom was right in line with the front door which led to everyone who came round 'just saying hello' to me. Personally I dislike bedrooms downstairs (this was a bungalow). Funny you mention lockdown making you reassess. I have decided I want a house with a decent and private garden. I have a little garden at the moment which is all paved and lacks any privacy from other gardens around here. |  |
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Here's a question on 20:10 - May 21 with 1467 views | itfcjoe | There are certain cases where it makes sense, i.e. if street level and garden level are very different so flipping them makes more sense. Or if there is a stunning view/balcony which would be best admired from a living rather than sleeping area. Other than that I'd say no, even when I've had friends in townhouses with kitchens on an upper floor it is a pain dragging bin bags up and down (no doubt with the odd leak) and it just doesn't feel right. At a house I lived in with my parents before demolishing it only had 2 bed upstairs and 1 downstairs, and I had the downstairs one and that was fine because it was temporary and I was living there whilst on uni holidays at 19 so was handy for when I went out, but was a pain on other occasions when parent shad friends round and it felt like they were in my room they were so close by! So maybe with older kids it can work having bedroom on a different floor. |  |
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Here's a question on 20:33 - May 21 with 1403 views | Steve_M | I live in a second floor flat with a decent, if unspectacular, view from my living room. I was thinking the other week that I'm glad I do given the amount of time I've spent in this room over the last few weeks. I had a preference for air and light over a tiny garden and limited light after one bad flat choice years ago. A long-winded way of saying I think there's a certain logic to your suggestion, indeed back in the golden age of council housing Camden Council did build some houses designed like that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Road_Estate |  |
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Here's a question on 21:06 - May 21 with 1360 views | giant_stow |
Here's a question on 20:33 - May 21 by Steve_M | I live in a second floor flat with a decent, if unspectacular, view from my living room. I was thinking the other week that I'm glad I do given the amount of time I've spent in this room over the last few weeks. I had a preference for air and light over a tiny garden and limited light after one bad flat choice years ago. A long-winded way of saying I think there's a certain logic to your suggestion, indeed back in the golden age of council housing Camden Council did build some houses designed like that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Road_Estate |
When flat hunting years back i looked around one or two pf those. Absolutely lovely inside - slidings doors, massive windows, 60s-70s style (i dont know my architectural ages) original features well maintained. The only issue was those lovely big balconies all stared right at each other. |  |
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Here's a question on 21:28 - May 21 with 1327 views | ronnyd |
Here's a question on 20:33 - May 21 by Steve_M | I live in a second floor flat with a decent, if unspectacular, view from my living room. I was thinking the other week that I'm glad I do given the amount of time I've spent in this room over the last few weeks. I had a preference for air and light over a tiny garden and limited light after one bad flat choice years ago. A long-winded way of saying I think there's a certain logic to your suggestion, indeed back in the golden age of council housing Camden Council did build some houses designed like that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Road_Estate |
Also used a lot in T/V dramas as well. |  | |  |
Here's a question on 21:34 - May 21 with 1323 views | footers |
Here's a question on 20:33 - May 21 by Steve_M | I live in a second floor flat with a decent, if unspectacular, view from my living room. I was thinking the other week that I'm glad I do given the amount of time I've spent in this room over the last few weeks. I had a preference for air and light over a tiny garden and limited light after one bad flat choice years ago. A long-winded way of saying I think there's a certain logic to your suggestion, indeed back in the golden age of council housing Camden Council did build some houses designed like that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Road_Estate |
Love walking through there. Those houses are beautiful, imo. Show what can be done with imagination and not just a cookie cutter. |  |
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Here's a question on 21:43 - May 21 with 1288 views | Steve_M |
Here's a question on 21:34 - May 21 by footers | Love walking through there. Those houses are beautiful, imo. Show what can be done with imagination and not just a cookie cutter. |
Yes, Neave Brown was a visionary. Have you walked round Branch Hill? It's impossibly hidden away before Hampstead and I found it by chance once. A different approach but equally well thought out. More here: https://municipaldreams.wordpress.com/tag/neave-brown/ |  |
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Here's a question on 21:45 - May 21 with 1283 views | Steve_M |
Here's a question on 21:06 - May 21 by giant_stow | When flat hunting years back i looked around one or two pf those. Absolutely lovely inside - slidings doors, massive windows, 60s-70s style (i dont know my architectural ages) original features well maintained. The only issue was those lovely big balconies all stared right at each other. |
You got to go round one? Fascinating places from the outside, see the link I posted to Footers below. |  |
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Here's a question on 21:47 - May 21 with 1274 views | clive_baker |
Here's a question on 20:10 - May 21 by itfcjoe | There are certain cases where it makes sense, i.e. if street level and garden level are very different so flipping them makes more sense. Or if there is a stunning view/balcony which would be best admired from a living rather than sleeping area. Other than that I'd say no, even when I've had friends in townhouses with kitchens on an upper floor it is a pain dragging bin bags up and down (no doubt with the odd leak) and it just doesn't feel right. At a house I lived in with my parents before demolishing it only had 2 bed upstairs and 1 downstairs, and I had the downstairs one and that was fine because it was temporary and I was living there whilst on uni holidays at 19 so was handy for when I went out, but was a pain on other occasions when parent shad friends round and it felt like they were in my room they were so close by! So maybe with older kids it can work having bedroom on a different floor. |
That's interesting that you mention the noise from the living spaces. It's practical things like that that I'm playing through in my head. I grew up in Suffolk but now I live and work in London, I've been here the best part of 10 years and have a nice 2 bed flat in a decent area. I'm in the fortunate position of being able to wfh a lot, and with my wife being a nurse within the NHS she could easily move. Coronavirus has been tough, as it has for a lot of people. My wife is based in St George's and a combination of factors have prompted us to consider moving back to Suffolk. My work have said WFH will continue to be an option for whoever wants it. Suddenly the prospect of moving 'back home' is realistic, and we're keen to be closer to my parents who aren't getting any younger. I've been looking online and it's weird, I'm writing off properties with downstairs bedrooms, even though I've spent the last 5 years living in a flat! The one I really like has stuck a really nice single storey extension on the back (presumably restricted by planning) which has resulted in the master bedroom being downstairs to get them the 3rd bedroom, with the other 2 upstairs in the original part of the house. I dismissed it on that basis initially, as it just felt weird to have a downstairs bedroom in a 3 bed house. But I'm now wondering if I'm being silly. |  |
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Here's a question on 22:34 - May 21 with 1203 views | itfcjoe |
Here's a question on 21:47 - May 21 by clive_baker | That's interesting that you mention the noise from the living spaces. It's practical things like that that I'm playing through in my head. I grew up in Suffolk but now I live and work in London, I've been here the best part of 10 years and have a nice 2 bed flat in a decent area. I'm in the fortunate position of being able to wfh a lot, and with my wife being a nurse within the NHS she could easily move. Coronavirus has been tough, as it has for a lot of people. My wife is based in St George's and a combination of factors have prompted us to consider moving back to Suffolk. My work have said WFH will continue to be an option for whoever wants it. Suddenly the prospect of moving 'back home' is realistic, and we're keen to be closer to my parents who aren't getting any younger. I've been looking online and it's weird, I'm writing off properties with downstairs bedrooms, even though I've spent the last 5 years living in a flat! The one I really like has stuck a really nice single storey extension on the back (presumably restricted by planning) which has resulted in the master bedroom being downstairs to get them the 3rd bedroom, with the other 2 upstairs in the original part of the house. I dismissed it on that basis initially, as it just felt weird to have a downstairs bedroom in a 3 bed house. But I'm now wondering if I'm being silly. |
The only thing I would say in that respect is with a little one being on a different floor would be a pain - I don't think my missus would even consider that as you seem far away. I think the house you describe would end up being a pain personally, and think often when houses bill a bedroom downstairs it's just a way to try and make it look worth more to the estate agents. I could say mine has an extra bedroom due to having a big study downstairs with an en suite but it doesn't feel right.......think I'd miss the privacy having it alongside the living quarters if a master bedroom there. |  |
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Here's a question on 22:46 - May 21 with 1180 views | clive_baker |
Here's a question on 22:34 - May 21 by itfcjoe | The only thing I would say in that respect is with a little one being on a different floor would be a pain - I don't think my missus would even consider that as you seem far away. I think the house you describe would end up being a pain personally, and think often when houses bill a bedroom downstairs it's just a way to try and make it look worth more to the estate agents. I could say mine has an extra bedroom due to having a big study downstairs with an en suite but it doesn't feel right.......think I'd miss the privacy having it alongside the living quarters if a master bedroom there. |
Yeah, I think I'm inclined to agree. All valid points. |  |
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Here's a question on 23:50 - May 21 with 1141 views | giant_stow |
Here's a question on 21:43 - May 21 by Steve_M | Yes, Neave Brown was a visionary. Have you walked round Branch Hill? It's impossibly hidden away before Hampstead and I found it by chance once. A different approach but equally well thought out. More here: https://municipaldreams.wordpress.com/tag/neave-brown/ |
That link and site are brilliant! The flats we looked around were surprisingly affordable - only a touch more than any other estate really, so gi have a nose when one comes on the matket! |  |
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