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We are about to start a whole-house remodel and addition here in San Diego and I am obsessed with making sure we don't say in the end "I wish we did *this* different". So I'd love to hear what you would do if you were in my shoes...
Currently, the house is a 3 bedroom 2 bath, one story house with an attached 2-car garage. The house is 1500sf. The plan is to add a second story and move all the bedrooms except for one upstairs. The second floor will pretty much cover the entire 1st floor.
In the new floorplan the downstairs will have the kitchen, dining, living room, a mud room/den, powder room, coat closet and a guest room with full attached bathroom and stand-up shower.
The upstairs will be master suite with a retreat area (for a home office), two walk-in closets, and master bathroom. Additionally, there will be a loft, laundry room, and two additional bedrooms with a jack & jill bathroom in between. There will be a large linen closet upstairs, possibly two linen closets. (As a side note, we have two small children (under 4 years old) and might have another, haven't decided).
So what are "bells and whistles" that you've seen in other people's homes that you drool over or that you have in your home that you *LOVE*?
We are about to start a whole-house remodel and addition here in San Diego and I am obsessed with making sure we don't say in the end "I wish we did *this* different". So I'd love to hear what you would do if you were in my shoes...
Currently, the house is a 3 bedroom 2 bath, one story house with an attached 2-car garage. The house is 1500sf. The plan is to add a second story and move all the bedrooms except for one upstairs. The second floor will pretty much cover the entire 1st floor.
In the new floorplan the downstairs will have the kitchen, dining, living room, a mud room/den, powder room, coat closet and a guest room with full attached bathroom and stand-up shower.
The upstairs will be master suite with a retreat area (for a home office), two walk-in closets, and master bathroom. Additionally, there will be a loft, laundry room, and two additional bedrooms with a jack & jill bathroom in between. There will be a large linen closet upstairs, possibly two linen closets. (As a side note, we have two small children (under 4 years old) and might have another, haven't decided).
So what are "bells and whistles" that you've seen in other people's homes that you drool over or that you have in your home that you *LOVE*?
Don't do this.
This is going to be hell for the next two years. Contractors, subcontractors, lawsuits, inspectors, loans.
It will be an economic disaster. You'll never recoup your investment. Your house may be the odd house in the neighborhood and the neighborhood comps will drive your house's resale.
Nothing looks more ridiculous than an added second story to a home in a neighborhood full of one story ranchers.
There's a 69% chance you'll end up moving somewhere else in seven years.
You have two little kids and you may have more; You're going to be kissing good bye to thousands of hours you could be spending with them.
Just get a conventional house in a normal neighborhood with good schools and wipe this crazy idea off your radar screen.
Thanks for the advice Charles. My husband and I have been over and over this and trust me, we have discussed it to death. The thing is, we are PICKY. We have looked at homes to buy and are never happy with it. We inherited this house (and it's tax basis from 1994) and we have hired a design-build firm so we won't be dealing with contractors. The re-model should take 6 months.
Trash compactor in the kitchen.
Street pressure bibs in the backyard.
More windows facing south, less windows facing east and west.
Fire sprinklers.
Whole House fan, attic fan.
Wood burning fireplace.
Super hot water dispenser at kitchen sink.
Two handled shower faucets, not one handle.
Earthquake gas shutoff valve.
Ceiling fans in every room.
Whole house vacuum.
All windows and doors wired for a security system.
Motion sensor lighting in the right places.
Cable and data lines in every room.
It sounds like you have given this a lot of thought in terms of the floor plan. I like a washer and dryer upstairs and downstairs and a mudroom downstairs . . . also an outdoor shower . . . If possible, be very aware of the light . . . and take advantage of natural light . . . I personally like a little window for ventilation in a closet . . .and lots of skylights and dormers (depending upon architecture). Good use of nooks and crannies - spare no expense in the kitchen/great room - I personally like a booth where the family can scoot in and out and also a center island with a cooktop on it and ventilation that pops up and then is hidden away when not in use. I like the island to be big enough for bar stools and food prep and cooking . . .
And special attention to quiet areas - making sure that there are cozy places, reading nooks, TV area, quiet sleeping areas . . .I like the Jack and Jill bathroom by-the-way. Try to keep the closets on the wall towards the street if that doesn't compromise light because it keeps street noise to a minimum if that is an issue.
Trash compactor in the kitchen. are these still a thing? I remember these from back in the old school days...
Street pressure bibs in the backyard. what's this?
More windows facing south, less windows facing east and west.
Fire sprinklers. agree. Whole House fan, attic fan.
Wood burning fireplace. why wood as opposed to gas fireplace? Super hot water dispenser at kitchen sink. -that's on our list!
Two handled shower faucets, not one handle. reason? all faucets or just bathroom? Earthquake gas shutoff valve. good idea. Ceiling fans in every room.in the plans! Whole house vacuum.
All windows and doors wired for a security system. builder recommn'd this.
Motion sensor lighting in the right places. like outside, anywhere else?
Cable and data lines in every room. definitely.
Not really a mud room, that's just what I called it because I don't know what else to call it. It's going to be the room we enter into from the garage. It'll be where the kids drop their backpacks and leave their shoes. The room is right off the kitchen. It's immediate purpose will be downstairs playroom and where all their [downstairs] toys will live.
It sounds like you have given this a lot of thought in terms of the floor plan. I like a washer and dryer upstairs and downstairs and a mudroom downstairs . . . also an outdoor shower . . . If possible, be very aware of the light . . . and take advantage of natural light . . . I personally like a little window for ventilation in a closet . . .and lots of skylights and dormers (depending upon architecture). Good use of nooks and crannies - spare no expense in the kitchen/great room - I personally like a booth where the family can scoot in and out and also a center island with a cooktop on it and ventilation that pops up and then is hidden away when not in use. I like the island to be big enough for bar stools and food prep and cooking . . .
And special attention to quiet areas - making sure that there are cozy places, reading nooks, TV area, quiet sleeping areas . . .I like the Jack and Jill bathroom by-the-way. Try to keep the closets on the wall towards the street if that doesn't compromise light because it keeps street noise to a minimum if that is an issue.
Great advice, thank you! Our builder recommended a window but I was concerned about the light fading and damaging the contents of the closet.
Just a little one, with a screen, for ventilation. It is really nice.
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