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Old 06-23-2009, 12:32 PM
 
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Would you prefer an open concept two story Family room or with a Bonus room above and why?
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Old 06-23-2009, 12:36 PM
 
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Single story. I don't like the big rooms, cleaning would be a nightmare, echo makes them feel cold, wasted space, and nobody in my family is so tall they need a 20 ft ceiling I would never buy with a double height family room. I do like double height foyer to give some grandeur on entrance (thus can speak from experience on the cleaning problem)

Have seen some houses with 12-14ft family rooms with raised bonus room above. That is the best way IMHO - best of both worlds
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Old 06-23-2009, 12:38 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ma91pmh View Post
Have seen some houses with 12-14ft family rooms with raised bonus room above. That is the best way IMHO - best of both worlds
This is what we have. Right now the room is a guest bedroom, but once I save up enough money I'm converting it to a home theater room.
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Old 06-23-2009, 12:44 PM
 
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The two story rooms are a pain in the butt to paint on your own. Might as well plan on having a pro do it. I won't own another home with a 2 story family room. Just my .02.
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Old 06-23-2009, 12:49 PM
 
Location: Virginia (again)
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I've had both. Two story rooms are difficult to paint, decorate and expensive to heat and cool. Of course they can be very impressive, especially if you have a lot of windows and a view. In Cary we went with a bonus room over the family room. It added nearly 400 square feet at a cost of $6k (including 2 large and one small closet). It was one of my favorite rooms in our house and I believe it was a big asset when we sold. We used it as a play room for our small children. The closets were great for storing toys and I was able to keep my family room reasonably uncluttered because most of their stuff was upstairs.

Last edited by sls76; 06-23-2009 at 01:05 PM..
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Old 06-23-2009, 12:52 PM
Status: "Made the Retirement Run in under 12 parsecs!!!" (set 15 days ago)
 
Location: Cary, NC
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I have an 18' two story family room and love the room.

Helps with cooling, as warmer air goes to 18' up and into the air return. Floor level is cool.

It is a pleasant space with tree-filtered sunlight through the upper windows.
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Old 06-23-2009, 12:56 PM
 
Location: Cary, NC
450 posts, read 1,346,646 times
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I would much prefer the bonus room above - I think the 2-story rooms waste space, cost too much to heat, cool, paint, etc, and make the house noisy - in most I've been in, you can hear everything from downstairs in the upstairs bedrooms. One of my favorite features of my current house (with a small 2-story foyer, but that's it) is the quiet upstairs. I would only buy a house with a 2-story living room if I could afford to create/finish a bonus/bed room above it. I'm amazed at just how many houses have the 2-story rooms.
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Old 06-23-2009, 01:06 PM
 
Location: Cary, NC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ma91pmh View Post
Have seen some houses with 12-14ft family rooms with raised bonus room above. That is the best way IMHO - best of both worlds
What does this mean (raised bonus room above)? Have a pic to help me understand? Thanks!
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Old 06-23-2009, 01:09 PM
 
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Raised Bonus Rooms are 2 steps above the other rooms on the 2nd floor,
hence the name Step up Bonus Room.
It creates additional height to the Family Room under the Bonus room.
Some of the newer homes have these fitted with Coffered Ceilings and looks very elegant.
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Old 06-23-2009, 01:26 PM
 
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I think they look amazing but do not like the 2 story family room concept. From my experience it makes the sound travel upstairs and the room is hard to keep warm in the winter. Would prefer the space of having the bonus room.
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