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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this house IS big enough

284 replies

Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 11:28

For 3 kids and wfh (needing an office)

im not sure it is, but surely it should be and I’m missing a trick as to how we can make it work, DH and I have decided we’d like another child.

it’s a new house (6yrs now) so I took a pic of the floor plan from the developers. It’s pretty generic but it’s tight on space.

the front double is our bedroom, built in wardrobe and the space by the ensuite is a chest of drawers that we really need.

the smaller back ‘double’ (on floor plan) is more a single tbh, but that’s my eldests room. Front single youngest. Other double is a guest room/ office.

we really need an office for wfh. There’s no place for stud walls due to the windows.

we do have a garage though and a classic new build garden aka small.

what do you think? Can another kid fit here?

yabu- no way
yanbu- yes with some outside the box thinking that I’ll share :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 12:18

TwoBlueFish · 23/06/2024 12:14

What ages are your current children? And are they the same sex? Least cost is to have 2 kids share the other double and have the single as an office. My sister and I shared on and off (moved a lot as kids), my Ex shared with his brother in bunk beds until he left home.

Next best option would probably be to convert the garage or part of the garage to an office. Is it attached to the house?

It’s not attached no.

one of each so far, 2,5 years between them.

i think long term we will have to move if we had another, we just aren’t in a position to do it right now due to interest rates

OP posts:
TeatimeForTheSoul · 23/06/2024 12:17

Is that a Taylor Wimpey new build?
If so PLEASE pause and think before buying. Have a look at some of the support groups on Facebook like Taylor Wimpey -unhappy customers. The build is very, very poor and getting issues fixed is a massive challenge. They count on people giving up,
Obviosly some people fair better, maybe those early on in a development where the builders are still around. But when they’ve gone, aaargh.

Gogogo12345 · 23/06/2024 12:14

jeaux90 · 23/06/2024 11:37

Honestly no.

Also you need more downstairs space as kids get older, they want friends over or sharing an Xbox etc, effectively you need two lounges with teens.

Not realistic for most people

TwoBlueFish · 23/06/2024 12:14

What ages are your current children? And are they the same sex? Least cost is to have 2 kids share the other double and have the single as an office. My sister and I shared on and off (moved a lot as kids), my Ex shared with his brother in bunk beds until he left home.

Next best option would probably be to convert the garage or part of the garage to an office. Is it attached to the house?

Original poster
Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 12:12

Sozzels · 23/06/2024 12:09

Okay but you did ask for opinions and she gave hers. It wasn’t designed to offend you. She didn’t say it’s not ok as it is, just that in her opinion having a third would mean the house size would benefit no one. I’d have to agree to be honest. Balanced replies are reasonable otherwise you wouldn’t be asking surely?

Show quote history

we’re going to have to agree to disagree here, like in real life when anyone starts with ‘no offense but…’ and the says something offensive, when the poster starts with ‘I’m not trying to be mean but…’ then says something mean Like benefiting no one is quite strong

OP posts:
Ophy83 · 23/06/2024 12:12

Give 2 kids the biggest bedroom. Third child the smallest. You and husband in small double and store your clothes in the office.

parttimeweddingplanner · 23/06/2024 12:11

Or, you and your DH move into the smaller double. Get rid of the built in wardrobe and split that room in two so both get half the window.

Move the office to whichever is the smallest room upstairs.

Original poster
Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 12:10

WiseBiscuit · 23/06/2024 12:01

What they probably mean is that it was built as a cold roof and you’d need to convert it to a warm roof to turn it in to habitable space. It can be done, but wouldn’t be cheap.

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Perhaps, I don’t know, I think financially that wouldn’t be worth it, for the street and area

OP posts:
Sozzels · 23/06/2024 12:09

Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 12:06

Sorry but I don’t think it is polite, it was quite rude, especially considering how many kids are living in poverty. Saying it’s less than ideal for older kids is cool (and I’d agree) but that it benefits no one… not the nicest

Show quote history

Okay but you did ask for opinions and she gave hers. It wasn’t designed to offend you. She didn’t say it’s not ok as it is, just that in her opinion having a third would mean the house size would benefit no one. I’d have to agree to be honest. Balanced replies are reasonable otherwise you wouldn’t be asking surely?

parttimeweddingplanner · 23/06/2024 12:07

The solution seems obvious to me - move the home office to a single room and put two of the DC in a double.

I shared with my sister for years, it was absolutely fine.

Original poster
Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 12:06

Sozzels · 23/06/2024 12:03

She said in her opinion, if you have three. Not that your current two wouldn’t be fine. You asked for opinions and she was polite about it.

Show quote history

Sorry but I don’t think it is polite, it was quite rude, especially considering how many kids are living in poverty. Saying it’s less than ideal for older kids is cool (and I’d agree) but that it benefits no one… not the nicest

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IWantThisSoMuch · 23/06/2024 12:04

Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 12:01

None of the children will benefit from this house- sorry but that’s quite nasty. It’s a home at the end of the day

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Bizarre post from someone who just wants you to magic £100k out of thin air to buy a bigger house FFS. Also keep your home office. Working in your bedroom will really screw with your mental health. Your house is bigger than most people I grew up with, including mine.

Sozzels · 23/06/2024 12:03

Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 12:01

None of the children will benefit from this house- sorry but that’s quite nasty. It’s a home at the end of the day

Show quote history

She said in her opinion, if you have three. Not that your current two wouldn’t be fine. You asked for opinions and she was polite about it.

Original poster
Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 12:02

Decafflatteplease · 23/06/2024 11:59

@Coconutsandpalmtree we are 6 of us in a 3 bed semi. One bathroom.

Could you not have the office space in the lounge? We have a dining room/playroom/office all in the same room plus a separate lounge.

Realistically when actually working, it’s unrealistic with the noise, especially for the year I’d be off

OP posts:
Sozzels · 23/06/2024 12:02

No if you can’t afford or aren’t willing to move. You would be on top of each other.
Kids will get older and need more space.

WiseBiscuit · 23/06/2024 12:01

Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 11:59

It’s something the developer said you can’t extend into the loft due to how it’s built, you can get like boards which we have for random crap but you can’t extend up

Show quote history

What they probably mean is that it was built as a cold roof and you’d need to convert it to a warm roof to turn it in to habitable space. It can be done, but wouldn’t be cheap.

Original poster
Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 12:01

EatTheGnome · 23/06/2024 11:58

I'm not being mean, honestly, but I think 3 kids living with yu full time need to be prioritised over an office for 3 days of wfh. I'd suggest that is done in your bedroom..consider knocking out the wardrobe and sacrificing having lots of clothes. I know it sounds crap but I think that's a better choice for the whole family.

Personally I don't think it's a good choice as a home for a family of 5 as kids are only going to get bigger.

If you need an office, rather than just a desk space and multifunctional area, you need to consider paying more, buying a different style or in a different location or not having a third child. None of the children will benefit from this house imho xx

None of the children will benefit from this house- sorry but that’s quite nasty. It’s a home at the end of the day

OP posts:
EatTheGnome · 23/06/2024 12:01

IWantThisSoMuch · 23/06/2024 11:58

No one needs a guest room for the one week a year you have guests and it makes family life uncomfortable.
Eother get a garden office and then have 3bedrooms or make the single room your office and two youngest share the bigger double and eldest gets smaller double.

Also this.

We got rid of ours when we realised that we are paying thousands for the space for noone to use and we could literally pay for several people to stay in a local hotel every year before we even reached the same cost.

Added to that point, we wouldn't pay for someones hotel so why pay for a room and lose the valuable space.

Original poster
Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 11:59

Wigtopia · 23/06/2024 11:54

Can you explain what you mean about unable to convert the loft due to potential mould? It might be that part of a loft conversion that you need a re-roof and some soffit vents that will sort mould issues. Definitely worth looking into if you can afford it as it will likely be less disruptive/stressful than moving to somewhere bigger.

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It’s something the developer said you can’t extend into the loft due to how it’s built, you can get like boards which we have for random crap but you can’t extend up

OP posts:
Decafflatteplease · 23/06/2024 11:59

@Coconutsandpalmtree we are 6 of us in a 3 bed semi. One bathroom.

Could you not have the office space in the lounge? We have a dining room/playroom/office all in the same room plus a separate lounge.

EatTheGnome · 23/06/2024 11:58

I'm not being mean, honestly, but I think 3 kids living with yu full time need to be prioritised over an office for 3 days of wfh. I'd suggest that is done in your bedroom..consider knocking out the wardrobe and sacrificing having lots of clothes. I know it sounds crap but I think that's a better choice for the whole family.

Personally I don't think it's a good choice as a home for a family of 5 as kids are only going to get bigger.

If you need an office, rather than just a desk space and multifunctional area, you need to consider paying more, buying a different style or in a different location or not having a third child. None of the children will benefit from this house imho xx

WiseBiscuit · 23/06/2024 11:58

Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 11:54

Oh that’s quite reasonable. I think that has legs as it were, because it can double up as an additional space for older kids

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Yes we use ours at weekends as an outdoor sitting room. It is insulated, carpeted, has heater and electricity, wifi, TV (firestick) and a sofa.

They are a lot more if you have someone do it for you, but still cheaper than moving. We paid someone to do the base and then DH installed it but he is very handy. Ours is a log cabin from Dunster House.

IWantThisSoMuch · 23/06/2024 11:58

No one needs a guest room for the one week a year you have guests and it makes family life uncomfortable.
Eother get a garden office and then have 3bedrooms or make the single room your office and two youngest share the bigger double and eldest gets smaller double.

S0livagant · 23/06/2024 11:55

Of course it's big enough, just get lowline bunks for two children.

Original poster
Coconutsandpalmtree · 23/06/2024 11:54

WiseBiscuit · 23/06/2024 11:51

Garden office. We have one, DH put it in himself for £11k.

Oh that’s quite reasonable. I think that has legs as it were, because it can double up as an additional space for older kids

OP posts: