Author Topic: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan  (Read 4129 times)

jennifers

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Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« on: July 08, 2017, 04:48:54 AM »
I'm buying a house that has 3 small bedrooms and a bathroom on the 2nd floor.  I'm wondering if there's a way to combine two of the bedrooms into something bigger.  I would consult with an architect or engineer before starting this project, but if anyone has any insight I'd appreciate it.  I'm not in any hurry to work on this project, but I think some renovation would make the home more attractive to buyers if I decide to sell it in the future.

The original floorplan for the second floor is below as well as an option I think might work. The purple lines are where the new room doors would be.
Would this work at all?

The house was built in the 1920's and I haven't had enough of a look around to determine which (if any) 2nd floor interior walls are load-bearing.


« Last Edit: July 08, 2017, 04:51:43 AM by jennifers »

With This Herring

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2017, 03:57:32 PM »
I have no suggestions, but how did you get those really cool photos of the inside of your house from above?

lthenderson

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2017, 09:33:31 AM »
What isn't working for you in the current configuration? To get good answers, one must really know what isn't working about your current situation and what you would like to achieve with the new design. What works for me may not work for you.

Just some thoughts. Rather than trying to combine three rooms into two weird shaped rooms, why not re-purpose one of those rooms to better suit your needs. For example, instead of a bedroom with closet space and room for a dresser, convert one of the rooms into a walk-in closet with space for the dressers. Now you have more space in one of the bedrooms since the closet space and space for any dressers have been freed up and you have more room in your closet. If the bathroom is too small, perhaps moving it to the location of one of the other rooms and re-purposing its old space as a walk-in closet.

Sibley

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2017, 09:53:13 AM »
Challenging preconceived ideas here.

Why do you need a huge bedroom? Sleep specialists are quite specific about what should happen in a bedroom. It's basically sleep and sex.

ChpBstrd

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2017, 01:57:51 PM »
I suggest you leave the original floorplan intact. Part of your home's value is the original feel of a craftsman / arts & crafts style home - the kind of home few people have but that is often idealized. That authenticity includes the trim, wood floors, etc.

In my area, unmolested homes like yours command about a 10-20% premium over homes where the owners have made customizations such as enclosing the porch, gluing vinyl over the hardwoods, painting the stained woodwork, mixing architectural elements, putting on metal/vinyl siding, or adding ill-conceived add-ons (whatever was the trend at the moment). Plus, there are a lot more people who want a 3BR house than a 2BR house. The value hit would be huge.

More practically, it is unlikely you could seamlessly tie together the flooring and ceilings. More likely, there would need to be an ugly beam in the ceiling to support the attic joists. Also, when you remove the wall, the place where the wall used to be will be a strip where no flooring was originally installed. It is unlikely you'll be pleased with even a professional's results matching the wood grain and stain.

As lthenderson points out, if you have a cluttered bedroom and an unused bedroom, just use one of your bedrooms a huge walk-in closet and/or office and/or workout room.

Cassie

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2017, 02:24:55 PM »
Our 1950's ranch had 1 good sized bedroom and 3 very tiny ones. We made one into a walk in closet which we love. If we ever sell the new owners could easily convert it back without much cost or work.

NoVa

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2017, 10:49:04 AM »
We have a 1960's starter home, split level. Since we have no intention of moving, we have started to renovate it to our liking with no thought to resale. Things like combining a tiny half bath and the slightly larger full bath into one large bathroom, with both a claw footed tub and a larger shower. Much more functional for only two people, but I lost a half bath on the listing, so some people would cross it off and never come see it. The daily functionality far outweighed the potential loss when the heirs try and sell this place.

So, the first question is, are you intending to move again, are you in any way trying to maximize the value of your home? ChpBstrd has a valid point about value here.

NoVa

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2017, 11:00:26 AM »
We have 3 bedrooms off a common hall on the upper floor. The largest room is a library. The second largest is our actual bedroom. It was a conscious decision, just didn't see the need for anything but the king bed, nightstands and a couple of dressers.

AlanStache

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2017, 11:08:51 AM »
I have to echo the question of 'why?'.

Also you would be knocking down walls but not turning the half bath into a full bath?

Car Jack

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2017, 11:58:49 AM »
The answer to why you might not want to do this is "resale".

We own one of the strangest floorplans we've seen this side of the Winchester Mansion.  As an example, to get to the office, you have to go through one of the 3 bedrooms.  Any one.  The master, through a small bathroom into the office.  Or one son's 1st floor bedroom to the office.  Or down the spiral staircase from our other son's bedroom.  Or you could use the door to outside.  Did I mention that there's a working shower head that comes from the ceiling?

The house was built by a guy who was more interested in growing pot in the greenhouse and using the upstairs giant room with built in beer tap to party on than making a floorplan that made any sense whatsoever. 

I expect that when we move, someone will move in, bulldoze the thing and build something that makes sense.  The land will sell the place, though with over 13 acres of woodlands across the street from the biggest lake in town.

gooki

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2017, 12:47:37 AM »
This is my suggestion.

The purple storage can with be a small wardrobe to the single bedroom, or used as bathroom storage depending on where you put the door.

For the walk in wardrobe have shelves/rails either side, and a full length mirror in the middle along the back wall.
« Last Edit: July 12, 2017, 12:53:38 AM by gooki »

gooki

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #11 on: July 12, 2017, 01:10:09 AM »
I'f you are wanting a second bathroom (ensuite), this is my recommendation. You greatly cut down on the landing space at the top of the stairs though.


gooki

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #12 on: July 12, 2017, 02:48:31 PM »
In either layout above keeping the bathroom entrance door on an angle is fine, just angle the back corner of the storage area.

jennifers

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #13 on: July 22, 2017, 06:42:16 PM »
Thanks for the responses everyone. I didn't know changing the number of bedrooms would decrease the resale value, so I'll likely just leave it how it is.  I don't mind having small bedrooms.

KarefulKactus15

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Re: Ideas for renovating an awkward floorplan
« Reply #14 on: July 27, 2017, 08:54:50 AM »
I have no suggestions, but how did you get those really cool photos of the inside of your house from above?

Id still like to know how to create those photos?   Ive actually been drawing and redrawing homes in sweet home 3d so im very curious how you got those top down photos.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!