mezzanine space above bedroom

[user1471549018]

DD is only 5 but currently has the smallest bedroom. The roof space is too low to consider a loft conversion, but it's highest above DD's bedroom. We're wondering if in a couple of years time we could convert a bit of the loft above her room into a mezzanine level with a ladder going up and sky light. It could give her more floor space and we'd just have the main bedroom for bed and wardrobe. Has anyone done anything similar? I can't find examples of it anywhere. This is unlikely to be our forever home but we're looking at being here another 7 years roughly. Would it massively put people off buying? Any thoughts welcome

[johnd2]

Sounds like a great idea, idf like to do the same. I think the big problem is that it will need a structural engineer to make sure once the work is don't the roof is still tied in together. The upstairs ceiling is usually stopping the roof from spontaneously becoming a flat roof.
However all is doable given the correct expertise!

[YelloDraw]

Wouldn't put me off - unless I had a young child who's bedroom that was going to be and might be worried about them climbing up a ladder.

Sounds a great way to utilise space.

[LugsTheDog]

It sounds incredibly cool. Cons:

• families with young children might be put off. Need a safe way to restrict access, but loft ladders that retract into the ceiling will do that
  
• families with older kids might worry how to apportion the rooms fairly - all the kids will want it!
  
• might not appeal to older adults
  

But OTOH it could make someone fall in love and help sell the house! You'd be adding square footage in effect.

I wonder if building regs might be quite stringent?

[wejammin]

I want to do this too! There's a few examples of mezzanine beds on pinterest.

[user1471549018]

Thanks all. wejammin I've seen mezzanine beds but not mezzanine floors in bedrooms if that makes sense. I think my main concern is putting off all buyers with young children and cost (structural issues etc) vs what it's 'worth'. Glad to hear others might like it though, I will continue to look into it.

[johnd2]

Most architects will give a free consultation to discuss your project and although they are not experts in every aspect of building they will have a good idea of what's feasible and what the costs would be, and what changes would make your idea work better.
On the other hand, if you know exactly what result you want and can persuadea builder to come round and quote, that can be more accurate. But builders are all so busy they'll just quote high I'd they're not interested.

[wejammin]

Sorry yes I meant mezzanine bedrooms. Brain not working! I've got a fair few pinned. Will try and find a link

[wejammin]

www.houzz.co.uk/ideabooks/43820450/list/ask-an-architect-how-can-i-carve-out-a-new-room-without-extending

[user1471549018]

Thanks for the links and video- just what I had in mind

[EnlightenedOwl]

No it wouldn't put me off. The pt about safety/young children is easy just make the ladder part retractable. Then when its not needed the ladder can be locked away into position. Really its just like having loft access from a bedroom. Sounds a good idea to me

[Buttwing]

My daughter has this I will take a picture tomorrow she's asleep in it at the mo! We don't have a ladder though it's a spiral staircase.

[whathehellhappened]

So bizarre. I was just chatting to my husband today about building up to the loft in my son's bedroom. With a spiral staircase. Looking forward to your picture buttwing

[StepAwayFromTheThesaurus]

There's an episode of the £100k house where they did this.

[Buttwing]

Hi photos as promised sorry it was hard to get a good pic! The first is from the door, and the last two are the upstairs space at the moment it's a play space as my dd is 5 when she gets older I think it will probably be a study area. Please excuse the state of the upstairs carpet it's also used for dd to disappear to with the things she's not allowed-nail varnish, makeup... Hence the dirty carpet!!

[Buttwing]

Upstairs space.

[Buttwing]

Underneath the mezzanine is two wardrobes (one has shelves and is used as toy storage at the mo) also a sink. The only downside is in the winter when the heating so. It does get very warm up there, at first I thought about having her bed up there when she's a teenager and having a sofa etc downstairs but now I think she would be too warm.

[SoupDragon]

I've always imagined doing this from DS2's bedroom. I saw it on one of the home improvement programmes once. He's a teenager and I'd panned on putting a double mattress up there so that became his sleeping area.

[user1471549018]

Love it thanks for sharing the photos.

[exexpat]

I did this in DD's bedroom when she was 11. She is now 13, and has the lower part of her room with built-in desk and bookshelves, comfy chair, built-in wardrobes even though she mainly uses the floordrobe and a mezzanine sleeping/lounging level with double mattress on floor, headboard fixed to wall, more built-in shelves and loads of cushions. There is one window on the lower level, and we put in a velux window to bring light to the upper level. It works really well.

[LugsTheDog]

Buttwing that is fabulous! Lucky girl.

[user1471549018]

Can I be nosy and ask about cost from the people who have done it. Also did you need to get architects, structural engineers, loft conversion companies in?

[Nervybuyer2016]

Also interested in cost, we have ceiling height In one of our rooms that would lend itself well to this !

[Buttwing]

I can't help there I'm afraid as it was already done when we bought the house.

[johnd2]

If you already have the ceiling height and you just want to do it in the style of a fitted high sleeper it would be high hundreds or low thousands. It's when you want it to be floating and plastered nicely in it gets worse eg thousands, or if you have to remove structural elements it could get into the ten+ thousands!

[exexpat]

Mine was expensive (£10k+) because it was effectively a partial loft conversion, and involved removing one existing roof support and putting in steel beams etc, plus lots of insulation, the new velux window, re-wiring, built-in furniture etc. I can't say exactly how much it cost as it was done at the same time as a new roof, to minimise disruption and use the same scaffolding and so on.

I basically designed it all myself, and didn't need planning permission but did get a planning consultant to draw up structural plans for the builders to use and to pass building regulations inspection.