Design Crew
Sat, 10 Dec 2011
Got a problem? Need some help? Just standing there shaking your head? Don't know what to do? You're not alone. Send us a link to photos of your design quandary and let the Desire to Inspire design crew help you .... that's you lot ... the readers! Sonia (who shared the amazing rowhouse renovation earlier this week) has a question ...
We are venturing into our 3rd renovation, another rowhouse. As is typical in our area space is adequate but not abundant. In an effort to be better designers we'd like to know how most respond to this: Given the choice of some extra space on your 2nd floor, which do you choose....an extra bedroom or an extra bath?? Suppose there is space enough for 3 bedrooms & 1 bath or 2 bedroom & 2 bath but no way to combine 3 bedrooms with 2 baths. Size of family is not a constraint -- 2 bedrooms is enough for you and your nuclear family. The 3 bedroom scenario gives you a good size master, a nice size bath and 2 smaller rooms with closets. The 2 bedroom gives you slightly larger bedrooms, more closet space (but not a ton more), en suite bathroom and a washer dryer upstairs (vs downstairs in the 3 bedroom scenario). In case it matters there is a powder room on the first floor of a 2 level structure in either scenario. In either case, finishes will be high quality so that's not a factor either.
Something to keep in mind is that this house is being renovated to sell. Why is she asking you? Because she knows that thousands of design savvy readers with very set opinions come here every day. What a great resource to tap. And what does this next house look like now? Look away now if you are squeamish.
Phew! That wasn't too bad but knowing what the other houses have looked like inside I shudder to imagine what this one is like. So what do you suggest? Scheme 1 or Scheme 2?
Reader Comments (27)
As someone who lives in a small, old house, I vote for scheme 1. An extra room will get used more than an extra bathroom, especially given the powder room downstairs. Plus, scheme 2 just feels like it has a lotta doors in that shorter hallway. The only downside with scheme 1 is that the bathroom is still pretty small. But again, that is common in older houses so I think i works.
Scheme 1, because an extra (bed)room is so much more versatile and can change along with needs of the inhabitants (work/guest/craft/fitness/meditation/nursery...). But I am a raised European...