First Floor Master suite & Bath converted from a LR/DR?? (Houston: real estate, houses)

[marilujo]

With real estate being so expensive now and not wanting to move to a 55+ community, we are thinking about keeping our 3200 sq ft, 15 yr old home in the suburban Lehigh Valley area in a very desirable development and school district and want to update the interior. Would like to turn it into our forever home by converting a rarely used Living room & Dining room into a beautiful 1st floor master bedroom and full shower stall bathroom to create first floor living. 4 bedrooms upstairs with a spacious master suite. (Our family and grands always come to visit our family home which is why it’s dear to us!) We have a large eat in kitchen that flows into a spacious family room. There is a study across the foyer from the living room, that can be converted to a midsize dining room or flex room.
~My concerns: Are there families out there who would find this floor plan attractive? Especially if you are looking to have elderly parents moving in, older kids having to come back home, or planning for your own future retirement needs on a first floor while accommodating family and friends upstairs?
~ Just trying to weigh this renovation as it would do away with a formal dining room…however there is room in the kitchen for dining.
~ Thoughts about this possible floor plan, please? Thank you so
much!

[ringler24]

I would like it. I don't see the point of formal dining and living areas so that idea would be more appealing to me. I wouldn't do away with the office space though. I would allow that to remain an office.

[marilujo]

Originally Posted by ringler24

I would like it. I don't see the point of formal dining and living areas so that idea would be more appealing to me. I wouldn't do away with the office space though. I would allow that to remain an office.

Seriously considering the first floor master suite & bath! Lined up several contractors to come through for the feasibility and an estimate of the conversion. Doing this we can have roomy first floor living.

[Gerania]

I'd ask this question in the Real Estate forum.

[Flyers Girl]

I agree with ringler, plus I'll add that if this is going to be your forever home, you shouldn't really worry about whether or not it will sell easily. That chore will fall to your heirs (blunt, but true). Make the home livable and enjoyable for you!

[46H]

This is a good idea. I have a load of family in the Houston metro area and most of them are living in houses built in the last 15 years. These houses all have a master suite on the first floor. One of them is a RE agent and almost every 2 story house she lists is set-up this way.

We want to stay in our current house for retirement so we just went though the exercise of getting a master suite addition approved. The estimates for building were prohibitive and absurd. We are going to have to move to find what we want.

[toobusytoday]

I think it's an excellent idea. I know a few people that made the formal living room into an office or a bedroom, but it's adding the full bath that makes this livable. A house two doors down from us sold for hundreds of thousands more to a couple from Long Island who moved here to be closer to their family. That house had the first floor bedroom layout. When my husband and I think of aging here, not having a full bath on the main floor is my big concern.

[marilujo]

Originally Posted by ringler24

I would like it. I don't see the point of formal dining and living areas so that idea would be more appealing to me. I wouldn't do away with the office space though. I would allow that to remain an office.

Thank you…giving so much more thought to this!

[marilujo]

Originally Posted by 46H

This is a good idea. I have a load of family in the Houston metro area and most of them are living in houses built in the last 15 years. These houses all have a master suite on the first floor. One of them is a RE agent and almost every 2 story house she lists is set-up this way.

We want to stay in our current house for retirement so we just went though the exercise of getting a master suite addition approved. The estimates for building were prohibitive and absurd. We are going to have to move to find what we want.

So much to think about! I hope you find what you want out there to retire comfortably in!

[marilujo]

Originally Posted by toobusytoday

I think it's an excellent idea. I know a few people that made the formal living room into an office or a bedroom, but it's adding the full bath that makes this livable. A house two doors down from us sold for hundreds of thousands more to a couple from Long Island who moved here to be closer to their family. That house had the first floor bedroom layout. When my husband and I think of aging here, not having a full bath on the main floor is my big concern.

I appreciate your input! The ability to have a first floor master bath is very important. If we couldn’t make that happen, would seriously consider moving…if hope we could what we want.