Pants
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 19:26:44 GMT -5
Posts: 7,579
|
Post by Pants on Apr 21, 2014 12:16:46 GMT -5
Anyway, I gave this question more thought. I love our little house, but there are definitely some things I would change: -Front closet, as previously mentioned -Foam insulation in roof/walls -Sprinkler system in back yard - there's just so much yard and hauling hoses around is ridiculous -Dig the basement down about 2 feet so we can have a full downstairs living space if desired
|
|
The Captain
Junior Associate
Hugs are good...
Joined: Jan 4, 2011 16:21:23 GMT -5
Posts: 8,717
Location: State of confusion
Favorite Drink: Whinnnne
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 21, 2014 12:20:43 GMT -5
To those with main floor laundry or who want main floor laundry - why? I like having the laundry in the basement - I can just toss it down the stairs and not look at it until I'm ready to deal with it, and we can't hear the machines in the bedrooms or living room. My mom has main-floor laundry and it's just so loud, even with the door shut. When DD was littler it would wake her up routinely and was a PITA. I guess I just don't understand the appeal? ETA: I understand if you're planning to stay in a home during retirement or have mobility issues. But for younger people I don't see the appeal? For us it's partially tied to the mobility issues. The other thing is sometimes it's too easy to forget you have a load in the washer and/or dryer when it's out of sight... We have laundry hampers in each bedroom and only take the laundry to the laundry room when it's all sorted and we're ready to wash. I LOVE the smell of fresh laundry and love the way the basement smells when we're doing it.
|
|
midjd
Administrator
Your Money Admin
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:09:23 GMT -5
Posts: 17,720
|
Post by midjd on Apr 21, 2014 12:24:57 GMT -5
To those with main floor laundry or who want main floor laundry - why? I like having the laundry in the basement - I can just toss it down the stairs and not look at it until I'm ready to deal with it, and we can't hear the machines in the bedrooms or living room. My mom has main-floor laundry and it's just so loud, even with the door shut. When DD was littler it would wake her up routinely and was a PITA. I guess I just don't understand the appeal? ETA: I understand if you're planning to stay in a home during retirement or have mobility issues. But for younger people I don't see the appeal? I'm lazy. It's hard enough to get up the motivation to do laundry when the washer and dryer are right there in front of me... if they were in the basement I'd just go buy new clothes instead. Our laundry room is at the opposite end of the house from the bedrooms, so unless there's something metal in there clanking around, you can't really hear the w/d running if the door is closed.
|
|
|
Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 21, 2014 12:27:10 GMT -5
To those with main floor laundry or who want main floor laundry - why? I like having the laundry in the basement - I can just toss it down the stairs and not look at it until I'm ready to deal with it, and we can't hear the machines in the bedrooms or living room. My mom has main-floor laundry and it's just so loud, even with the door shut. When DD was littler it would wake her up routinely and was a PITA. I guess I just don't understand the appeal? ETA: I understand if you're planning to stay in a home during retirement or have mobility issues. But for younger people I don't see the appeal? For us it's partially tied to the mobility issues. The other thing is sometimes it's too easy to forget you have a load in the washer and/or dryer when it's out of sight... We have laundry hampers in each bedroom and only take the laundry to the laundry room when it's all sorted and we're ready to wash. I LOVE the smell of fresh laundry and love the way the basement smells when we're doing it. For me, it is a mobility issue. If you intend on living in your house your entire life, if it is not a problem for you now, it could be for you in the future. Even when I was not disabled, if I had had to carry laundry up and down stairs while my hip was failing, it could have been a HUGE issue for me.....and I was only 24 when they started failing. Also, it is easy to hear the alarm go off and it's easy to hear if something unbalances. Otherwise, you go downstairs only to find out that the washer has stopped (and it's not easy on the mechanics of the washer) only half done. Our laundry room is off the master bedroom, so it's easy to throw loads in and toss the clean clothes on the bed to fold and put away.
|
|
alabamagal
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 11:30:29 GMT -5
Posts: 8,147
|
Post by alabamagal on Apr 21, 2014 12:30:18 GMT -5
I live in the land of no basements, so all laundrys are on main floor. Not an issue here.
We added onto our house in 2000. We added a master suite with large closet and bathroom with 2-person Jacuzzi tub (love it!) large walk in shower.
The problem now is that since the 3-kids are in college/moved out, the main part of the house is too big and doesn't get used much (although it did this weekend with boys home for Easter).
If I had unlimited resources to remodel, I would just redo everything with new flooring, new paint, upgraded bathroom fixures.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 9, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 12:36:08 GMT -5
To those with main floor laundry or who want main floor laundry - why? I like having the laundry in the basement - I can just toss it down the stairs and not look at it until I'm ready to deal with it, and we can't hear the machines in the bedrooms or living room. My mom has main-floor laundry and it's just so loud, even with the door shut. When DD was littler it would wake her up routinely and was a PITA. I guess I just don't understand the appeal? ETA: I understand if you're planning to stay in a home during retirement or have mobility issues. But for younger people I don't see the appeal? I have had laundry on the main level and laundry in the basement. It is a long walk to carry cloths from the basement to the second story. I didn't like running up and down the stairs to switch out loads. With it on the main level, I hear the cycle end, easilly change loads while doing other things, and I fold while watching TV in the family room. I can see the appeal of having it upstairs on the same level as the bedrooms. I would like the next house to have it on the main level though, in case I can't climb stairs for some reason.
|
|
Cookies Galore
Senior Associate
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 18:08:13 GMT -5
Posts: 10,891
|
Post by Cookies Galore on Apr 21, 2014 12:40:46 GMT -5
To those with main floor laundry or who want main floor laundry - why? I like having the laundry in the basement - I can just toss it down the stairs and not look at it until I'm ready to deal with it, and we can't hear the machines in the bedrooms or living room. My mom has main-floor laundry and it's just so loud, even with the door shut. When DD was littler it would wake her up routinely and was a PITA. I guess I just don't understand the appeal? ETA: I understand if you're planning to stay in a home during retirement or have mobility issues. But for younger people I don't see the appeal? Monsters and serial killers hang out in basements. It's safer to do laundry upstairs.
|
|
Pants
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 19:26:44 GMT -5
Posts: 7,579
|
Post by Pants on Apr 21, 2014 12:41:47 GMT -5
To those with main floor laundry or who want main floor laundry - why? I like having the laundry in the basement - I can just toss it down the stairs and not look at it until I'm ready to deal with it, and we can't hear the machines in the bedrooms or living room. My mom has main-floor laundry and it's just so loud, even with the door shut. When DD was littler it would wake her up routinely and was a PITA. I guess I just don't understand the appeal? ETA: I understand if you're planning to stay in a home during retirement or have mobility issues. But for younger people I don't see the appeal? I have had laundry on the main level and laundry in the basement. It is a long walk to carry cloths from the basement to the second story. I didn't like running up and down the stairs to switch out loads. With it on the main level, I hear the cycle end, easilly change loads while doing other things, and I fold while watching TV in the family room. I can see the appeal of having it upstairs on the same level as the bedrooms. I would like the next house to have it on the main level though, in case I can't climb stairs for some reason. See, this is one of the things I don't get. Unless you have mobility issues, like Mich, or are elderly or in some way infirm, why is it a big deal to walk up or down 2 flights of stairs? At least Mid straight cops to being lazy. I am also super-lazy, btu I guess this isn't one of my lazy triggers. I guess this is one of the things in life I probably will not understand why other people find them preferable. I want my laundry far away from my main living area and bedrooms, both for the out of sight factor and the noise factor.
|
|
Pants
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 19:26:44 GMT -5
Posts: 7,579
|
Post by Pants on Apr 21, 2014 12:42:55 GMT -5
To those with main floor laundry or who want main floor laundry - why? I like having the laundry in the basement - I can just toss it down the stairs and not look at it until I'm ready to deal with it, and we can't hear the machines in the bedrooms or living room. My mom has main-floor laundry and it's just so loud, even with the door shut. When DD was littler it would wake her up routinely and was a PITA. I guess I just don't understand the appeal? ETA: I understand if you're planning to stay in a home during retirement or have mobility issues. But for younger people I don't see the appeal? Monsters and serial killers hang out in basements. It's safer to do laundry upstairs. Ok, I take it back. THAT I can understand. Although in my house the monsters live under the bed and they only eat your feet if you get into bed with bare feet or sleep with them uncovered. I guess you guys must have a different variety.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 9, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 12:45:29 GMT -5
I have had laundry on the main level and laundry in the basement. It is a long walk to carry cloths from the basement to the second story. I didn't like running up and down the stairs to switch out loads. With it on the main level, I hear the cycle end, easilly change loads while doing other things, and I fold while watching TV in the family room. I can see the appeal of having it upstairs on the same level as the bedrooms. I would like the next house to have it on the main level though, in case I can't climb stairs for some reason. See, this is one of the things I don't get. Unless you have mobility issues, like Mich, or are elderly or in some way infirm, why is it a big deal to walk up or down 2 flights of stairs? At least Mid straight cops to being lazy. I am also super-lazy, btu I guess this isn't one of my lazy triggers. I guess this is one of the things in life I probably will not understand why other people find them preferable. I want my laundry far away from my main living area and bedrooms, both for the out of sight factor and the noise factor. Also, dryers generate a ton of dust (at least mine does) . it seems that a dryer near a living or sleeping area would be messy.
|
|
|
Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 21, 2014 12:47:04 GMT -5
I'll try to give some of the laundry list my sister put together from the first and second house.
The first house, she had a HUGE cathedral ceiling in the foyer. Other than it ate heat like crazy, the lighting fixture needed bulbs changed and it was not easy to do something that high.
The kitchen was large, but very poorly laid out. Her refrigerator was on the other side of a very large island. Said island did not have sufficient outlets, the only one was where she had to run the cord over her stove top. However, it was open to the family room. She did not realize how important this was in her second house and desperately wants to open up her kitchen but the wall is load bearing. So to open it up is going to cost a lot of $$.
First house had a HUGE master bed/bath. Even though they had a lot of large sized furniture (king poster bed, 2 chests, 2 nightstands, a long dresser with mirror) it actually got lost in the room! It also had a cathedral ceiling with a lot of windows, so the room was cold all the time. Master bath was very, VERY large (probably as large as my master bedroom here). It was just a lot of wasted space, especially when the closet was not particularly large.
The purchased a very large piece of property when they built it. I think it was 3 acres, 2 of which needed to be mowed. My sister and her DH had a 90 minute commute to work each morning, so during the spring/summer one day each weekend was done mowing and gardening. They also chose a long, winding driveway that needed to be shoveled during the winter as they were far enough out that it would have been more expensive to have a plow dig them out. Buying that far away from grocery stores and work really wound up being a pain for them. They didn't upgrade their flooring so there was basic vinyl in the kitchen and a cheap carpet in the rest of the house. By the time they moved, it was only about 6 years after they moved in and it definitely showed its wear. This was one place where my sister wished she had paid to upgrade as I think that they had to refloor/carpet it in order to sell it. Their other bad decision was to put down white tile all over the (very large) master bath. It showed every hair shed, so she was always mopping up those short/dark/curlies. They also had a window over the tub, not realizing that with the light on the bathroom, you could see everything done in the bathroom. They didn't discover this until the last few months they were there I was visiting and had decided to take a swim in their Jacuzzi tub after the kids were in bed. They were coming home from a date and got to see me in all my glory....whoops!
Laundry room was off the garage and very small. No place to fold clothes and you had to haul them across the house and up stairs to return them to bedrooms.
They wanted to use their basement as a rec room for a pool table, but neglected to get the basement insulated, plumbed for another bathroom or have electric run.
Those were the biggies that I remember....
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 9, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 12:49:28 GMT -5
I have had laundry on the main level and laundry in the basement. It is a long walk to carry cloths from the basement to the second story. I didn't like running up and down the stairs to switch out loads. With it on the main level, I hear the cycle end, easilly change loads while doing other things, and I fold while watching TV in the family room. I can see the appeal of having it upstairs on the same level as the bedrooms. I would like the next house to have it on the main level though, in case I can't climb stairs for some reason. See, this is one of the things I don't get. Unless you have mobility issues, like Mich, or are elderly or in some way infirm, why is it a big deal to walk up or down 2 flights of stairs? At least Mid straight cops to being lazy. I am also super-lazy, btu I guess this isn't one of my lazy triggers. I guess this is one of the things in life I probably will not understand why other people find them preferable. I want my laundry far away from my main living area and bedrooms, both for the out of sight factor and the noise factor. I guess it is lazyness. I find laundry to be heavy when carrying it upstairs. I do carry it up one flight of stairs, but I don't want to carry it up 2. We actually considered relocating the laundry to the basement (enlarging kitchen and moving the powder room), but our dislike of having the laundry in the basement ended that thought.
|
|
steph08
Junior Associate
Joined: Jan 3, 2011 13:06:01 GMT -5
Posts: 5,504
|
Post by steph08 on Apr 21, 2014 12:52:21 GMT -5
I have had laundry on the main level and laundry in the basement. It is a long walk to carry cloths from the basement to the second story. I didn't like running up and down the stairs to switch out loads. With it on the main level, I hear the cycle end, easilly change loads while doing other things, and I fold while watching TV in the family room. I can see the appeal of having it upstairs on the same level as the bedrooms. I would like the next house to have it on the main level though, in case I can't climb stairs for some reason. See, this is one of the things I don't get. Unless you have mobility issues, like Mich, or are elderly or in some way infirm, why is it a big deal to walk up or down 2 flights of stairs? At least Mid straight cops to being lazy. I am also super-lazy, btu I guess this isn't one of my lazy triggers. I guess this is one of the things in life I probably will not understand why other people find them preferable. I want my laundry far away from my main living area and bedrooms, both for the out of sight factor and the noise factor. We use our basement as additional living space - it is partially finished and I can't just throw the laundry down the stairs and do it later - people would be tripping over it, I don't want guests seeing our dirty clothes, etc. I tend to do laundry when I do other chores, so I am already on my feet a lot and going down to the basement and then up to the second floor several times really makes my feet hurt (that might be pregnancy too though ). I also tend to forget about laundry, unless I can hear the dryer signal. Unfortunately, the washer doesn't have a signal for the end of a cycle, so sometimes I forget laundry for a few hours. That's not bad, but it is when you forget it overnight and it gets that musty smell. My parents have had their laundry room on the second floor right next to all the bedrooms since I was a kid. Never really bothered us.
|
|
midjd
Administrator
Your Money Admin
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:09:23 GMT -5
Posts: 17,720
|
Post by midjd on Apr 21, 2014 12:55:49 GMT -5
When we lived in Brooklyn, we had basement laundry - 6 washers and 4 dryers (in a 15-story building with probably 500 residents). Half the time at least 2 of each were broken, and god help you if you weren't down there when your clothes finished. I think a lot of my neighbors ended up taking theirs to the laundro down the block where they'd sort and fold for $4/lb. Then we moved into a rental house where the w/d were on the main floor, but in an un-heated area (nothing like hoisting wet laundry from a top-loader in subzero weather!) Now the w/d are in a nice climate-controlled area 10 feet from the living room, where I can sort and fold while watching TV, and I still hate doing it just as much as when we were in NY. So spoiled! I should probably never get a dream house or I will become completely insufferable.
|
|
kittensaver
Junior Associate
We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
Joined: Nov 22, 2011 16:16:36 GMT -5
Posts: 7,983
|
Post by kittensaver on Apr 21, 2014 13:12:54 GMT -5
Not missing any "must haves": * garage separate from the house (I have MCS) * not "improved" with building materials that have toxic chemicals (ie, drywall from China, vinyl windows that off-gas, particle board cabinets, carpeting finished with industrial chemicals, laminates made with glues and other chemicals - we've done our own improvements with our own researched materials) * 3 bedroom/2 bath minimum (we have 4/2 including a master with its own bathroom) * laundry inside the house * tucked inside a quiet residential neighborhood (not near a corner, alley, main throughfare, strip mall or any retail businesses) * a yard for relaxing and growing roses, berries, herbs and tomatoes * lots of windows, sunny and bright * near the beach * kitchen with lots of counter space * gas appliances * one story Things I have that are really nice but not necessary: * a fireplace * interior finish and trim: real wood floors, real wood crown moldings, handcrafted built-ins, heavy (non-flimsy) quality hardware, etc * the kitchen island * open floor plan that lets you completely circumnavigate the house * the extra bedroom * AC (I live at the beach and use it only a few days per year - maybe) Things I don't have that would be nice: * larger closets (it's a late '40's house - 'nuff said) * a deep soaking tub (no whirlpool, no jets, just a deep and wide tub) * a laundry room (we have our machines in a closet behind bi-fold doors) * some place more functional for the cat boxes (they are tucked into an unused shower stall) * an updated kitchen (it needs a facelift, not a rip-out-and-do-over. As one of my realtor friends calls it, "good bones, bad makeup." It's next on my list for upgrading) * ditto as above for the second bathroom (it will be upgraded after the kitchen) * a separate formal dining room * a "powder room" guest bathroom
|
|
sheilaincali
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 17:55:24 GMT -5
Posts: 4,131
|
Post by sheilaincali on Apr 21, 2014 13:30:35 GMT -5
Main floor laundry is fine- based on what you all have said it's good for resale. But like bsbound it's kind of a pain in the butt for me.
I couldn't do laundry yesterday because DH, DS and their friends were up in the great room playing a game so I didn't imagine they wanted to listen to the washer and dryer. I fold all of the clothes when I watch tv so I have to haul from our master bedroom in the basement up to the laundry room (DS room is on the same level as the laundry room). wash and dry it, haul it back downstairs to fold it all and then call DS to come get his clothes and bring them back upstairs. If we had a house with no basement it would be fine but as it is the laundry requires me to go up and down.
|
|
Bonny
Junior Associate
Joined: Nov 17, 2013 10:54:37 GMT -5
Posts: 7,459
Location: No Place Like Home!
|
Post by Bonny on Apr 21, 2014 13:38:44 GMT -5
With the remodeling we're doing our house is becoming a really wonderful home. But because it's a two story it's unlikely to be a "forever" home.
Features:
Great ocean and valley views 1/2 acre lot. Not too big or too small A very private setting Quiet Cul-de-sac street Nice neighbors Remodel kitchen and two baths Tons of storage (which can be a negative if you have pack-rat tendencies!)
Negatives;
Back of the house (where the living room and guest rooms are) faces Northwest. During the winter it can be a little cool and dark.
To get a different orientation would mean some other trade-offs. Either closer to the front of the valley which means more noise (closer to shopping center, school and Highway 1) or further away and up the ridge which would make us totally car dependent.
I'm very happy with what we have and feel blessed to have it!
|
|
lexxy703
Senior Associate
Joined: Aug 26, 2011 13:52:17 GMT -5
Posts: 13,771
|
Post by lexxy703 on Apr 21, 2014 13:39:59 GMT -5
I love my house but I would like a fireplace, laundry upstairs off the bedroom & 2 car garage. Mine is one car & I can't park there with the other stuff.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 9, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 14:02:51 GMT -5
I love my main floor laundry. Last time I went to the basement was when daughter was two and when I came back upstairs she had pulled a chair to the door, unlocked it and was almost to the road... I told husband, if you want clean clothes, you get the hook up upstairs ASAP... I like that it's where I travel regularly and can just throw in a load as I pass by...
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 9, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 14:06:18 GMT -5
In Europe I've observed lots of photos of laundry right in the kitchen...
I also think it matters how much laundry you do... More kids, how often you wash towels, etc...
|
|
|
Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Apr 21, 2014 14:08:13 GMT -5
In Europe I've observed lots of photos of laundry right in the kitchen... I also think it matters how much laundry you do... More kids, how often you wash towels, etc... I saw that too. When I lived in KY, my laundry was in my kitchen too. I hated it, other than a working dryer is a really good place to let bread rise!
|
|
Peace Of Mind
Senior Associate
[font color="#8f2520"]~ Drinks Well With Others ~[/font]
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:53:02 GMT -5
Posts: 15,554
Location: Paradise
|
Post by Peace Of Mind on Apr 21, 2014 14:09:19 GMT -5
I love my house but wished it came with:
Full time Chef Full time cleaning person (other than me) Financial wizard (only needed part time) Automatic de-cat-hairing system Cute pool and/or cabana guy (no, don't want a pool or cabana)
And I wish I could move our other property/trees/lake to our home here.
I don't know why I don't have any of these things. I should have planned better.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 9, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 14:09:48 GMT -5
I'm with more equal siZe bedrooms. I actually only want a shower in my master bath and I'm not for humongous closets, although certainly nice closets. I love the wood burning fireplace and will probably also have a masonry heater in the next house. I'd like more windows. I do want a 1/2 bath for guests so they don't have to be in the bathroom we generally use...
|
|
milee
Senior Associate
Joined: Jan 17, 2012 13:20:00 GMT -5
Posts: 12,344
|
Post by milee on Apr 21, 2014 14:50:58 GMT -5
In Europe I've observed lots of photos of laundry right in the kitchen... I also think it matters how much laundry you do... More kids, how often you wash towels, etc... In our Phoenix house when we did the kitchen extension, we added the W/D at the end of the kitchen. They were around a small corner so you couldn't see them from most of the kitchen. I loved having them there because we spent more than 50% of our time at home in the kitchen and attached eating area either preparing meals or hanging out. It was great to have the W/D right there to switch loads during dinner prep or fold some clothes while things were cooking.
|
|
cronewitch
Junior Associate
I identify as a post-menopausal childless cat lady and I vote.
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:44:20 GMT -5
Posts: 5,979
|
Post by cronewitch on Apr 21, 2014 20:07:09 GMT -5
To those with main floor laundry or who want main floor laundry - why? I like having the laundry in the basement - I can just toss it down the stairs and not look at it until I'm ready to deal with it, and we can't hear the machines in the bedrooms or living room. My mom has main-floor laundry and it's just so loud, even with the door shut. When DD was littler it would wake her up routinely and was a PITA. I guess I just don't understand the appeal? ETA: I understand if you're planning to stay in a home during retirement or have mobility issues. But for younger people I don't see the appeal? I have a basement laundry now and hate carrying the basket up or even walking down. I throw the clothes down and it is by the back door so people might see my dirty laundry. When I got down I have to step on dirty clothes and might trip, carrying a basket up I am usually wearing a long robe and trip on the robe. House before this was between the kitchen and guest bath so I could run it when sleeping without hearing it, don't remember ever hearing it. Apartment before was outside the only bath, didn't notice the noise maybe I ran it as I was leaving for work. Before that was in the main bathroom, master was half bath so we mainly used the main bathroom. I loved it we used the washing machine for a hamper for towels. I bought lots of towels all matching in rust color so use a towel put in machine. To wash other things we ran a load of towels first. I would the dry clothes on a guest bed to sort, hang somethings in guest closet, some in master closet the towel back in bathroom linen closet. So much easier than dealing with stairs three times for a load of clothes and having to go up more stairs to get a basket for the clean ones. I usually wash 2 loads a week the noise isn't an issue, I could start them when I got outside or shopping or something and never hear it.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 9, 2024 8:19:52 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2014 14:06:29 GMT -5
I prefer laundry on the same floor as the bedrooms (I've had it both in the basement, and on the same floor). I don't call it laziness, I call it convenience.
eta: I want the full time chef that POM suggested.
|
|
busymom
Distinguished Associate
Why is the rum always gone? Oh...that's why.
Joined: Dec 25, 2010 21:09:36 GMT -5
Posts: 29,235
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"https://cdn.nickpic.host/images/IPauJ5.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 0D317F
Mini-Profile Text Color: 0D317F
|
Post by busymom on Apr 22, 2014 14:25:39 GMT -5
Add on: my next house must have a dog that doesn't shed! I'd also be nice if it didn't take 2 people to pin him down so we can trim his nails. I suggested a lap dog for our next puppy, but DH wants a "manlier" dog.
|
|
weltschmerz
Community Leader
Joined: Jul 25, 2011 13:37:39 GMT -5
Posts: 38,962
|
Post by weltschmerz on Apr 22, 2014 15:17:09 GMT -5
My next house would absolutely be a Pasivehaus.
You could heat the damn thing with just the heat from your elctrical appliances and body heat. Small environmental footprint. What could be better? A Passive House is a very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by an extremely small source. Avoidance of heat gain through shading and window orientation also helps to limit any cooling load, which is similarly minimized. An energy recovery ventilator provides a constant, balanced fresh air supply. The result is an impressive system that not only saves up to 90% of space heating costs, but also provides a uniquely terrific indoor air quality. www.passivehouse.us/passiveHouse/PassiveHouseInfo.html
|
|
tskeeter
Junior Associate
Joined: Mar 20, 2011 19:37:45 GMT -5
Posts: 6,831
|
Post by tskeeter on Apr 23, 2014 15:42:23 GMT -5
Some priorities from the older set.
Entry "at grade" so you don't have to climb steps.
Single story. Climbing stairs gets to be a pain as early as your early 40's.
Split floor plan. Allows a kind of kids/MIL suite.
Bathroom big enough to easily turn a wheel chair in.
Doors wide enough to easily get a wheel chair through.
Bathroom that has a large shower, not a tub. Even better if the shower is entirely at floor level and doesn't have a curb to contain the water. (As Grandma got older, she couldn't lift her feet high enough to get in and out of a bathtub. And showers without the obstruction of a curb are really nice if you are caring for someone who is wheel chair bound.)
Blocking hidden in bathroom walls that make installation of really solid grab bars an easy task. This same concept applies to areas where you will want to install curtain rods, hand rails, or the like. A well anchored curtain rod means that heavy curtains or a falling guest will not pull the curtain rod out of the wall.
This sounds silly, but bathrooms designed to have towel bars. And in the right places. Yeah. I've got a little personal experience with that one. Got two bathrooms that don't have towel bars within arms reach of the shower or tub.
Three butt kitchen that is compact enough to avoid lots of wasted floor space.
A large pantry is nice.
Double ovens can be convenient once in a while, cooking for a large gathering, or doing mass production type baking.
And good sized closets.
Closets near both the front door, and the back door/garage door/primary family entry.
Well insulated partition walls, to minimize water noises from bathrooms, and so the kids can watch TV or play video games while you try to sleep.
Minize wastes of space that must be cleaned. Stuff like the 16 by 20 foot bathroom, or the three vestibule type entrys to bedrooms that create another 300 square feet of space to clean, but doesn't provide any functional utility, or the glass enclosed shower that is big enough for five.
Twice as much garage space as you have cars. So you have enough space for all your non-car stuff.
|
|