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Original poster

A different way of living

37 replies

Anordinarymum · 31/10/2020 20:16

I've always lived in houses with an upstairs. Our house is big. It was bought when all of them lived at home and I am still here. At present only one of my children is still living at home but when she leaves I will be selling up and buying something completely different.

We stayed in an open plan lodge for half term. It was fantastic. I want one and I want it NOW. No stairs.. oh joy :) But not only that you could watch TV and keep the 'chef/cook' company. It was lovely.

What about you? What's your dream home ??

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GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 31/10/2020 20:22

I'd like a playroom for my ds so I can put all his toys in there and then close the door of an evening. A big kitchen that's got lots of cupboard space and a big fridge and freezer, somewhere people can chat to me when I cook but not get in my way and a wine cellar fridge thing. A snug for reading or watching tv in and a bathroom with a view for when I'm having a soak and a glass of wine

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 31/10/2020 20:23

Oh and I'd like it in the countryside but not too far from civilisation

FippertyGibbett · 31/10/2020 20:24

A large penthouse apartment looking over the sea.

Original poster

Anordinarymum · 31/10/2020 20:25

I like it. I would have any of the above but with no damn stairs :)

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missyB1 · 31/10/2020 20:33

Modern build but done in a traditional farmhouse style. Woodburner in lounge, and large south facing garden.

fastandthecurious · 31/10/2020 20:33

We have an open plan downstairs op. As in you can see the kitchen from the living room. I really hate it although loved it when I moved in. I mainly hate it because I can't hear the tv when I have the washing machine on😂😂 plus it's hard to heat as the room is so large!
My dream house is just one big enough to have a playroom and a dining room.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 31/10/2020 20:35

I do like a cosy lodge, I'm with you. Near a lake or river i can swim in with a big open fire. But mine wouldn't be all open plan, I'd have a nice big kitchen diner with a comfy chair or sofa in and a wood burner and THEN a nice snug for the TV with the open fire.

I can't stand the thought of all the noise of having the TV in open plan. I always yell at Grand Designs when it's all open plan and bedrooms on mezzanine levels or with walls that don't reach the ceiling. They always have small children and don't seem to have considered teenagers watching crap on YouTube or TV or how they will be able to have sex in their not at all private bedroom when their children are bigger!

Ragwort · 31/10/2020 20:38

I would hate open plan, how can you watch tv and cook at the same time? What about the mess and smell of cooking when you want to relax?

Original poster

Anordinarymum · 31/10/2020 20:39

@fastandthecurious

We have an open plan downstairs op. As in you can see the kitchen from the living room. I really hate it although loved it when I moved in. I mainly hate it because I can't hear the tv when I have the washing machine on😂😂 plus it's hard to heat as the room is so large! My dream house is just one big enough to have a playroom and a dining room.

Ah well.. I would have a utility room where the washer and drier and ironing station (no less) would live which would be warm so the dogs could sleep in there too. The kitchen would have to be noise free:)

OP posts:

Original poster

Anordinarymum · 31/10/2020 20:40

A wood burner would be on the list too. Also obviously... ensuite bedrooms

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Lazysundayafternoons · 31/10/2020 20:43

We're living in a rented lodge at the minute - open plan downstairs, stove that heats all of downstairs, in the mountains with beautiful views that change daily depending in the weather, peace and quiet.

It's to small for us to stay in though and were starting to build... were self building so designed the house ourselves to have everything (realistic) we want to have in it and have the layout as we like. I'm really happy with it BUT if I didnt have DC in school I'd def be looking for a sea/river/lake view house somewhere.

And I want two dishwashers so that when one is running/ waiting to be emptied, the other one could just be filled up so no crockery left on top. Dp thinks I'm crazy wanting this.

Original poster

Anordinarymum · 31/10/2020 21:09

There's a lot to be said for renting. You don't have to stay. I might even do this before buying. That's another good idea :)

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thosetalesofunexpected · 31/10/2020 21:17

Hi Op my dream would be a old ish house with plenty of character, a listed building there is just something about historical buildings that is unique and has something extra.
Also like idea of a loft bedroom conversion or something its in relms of fantasy out of my wildest dreams....

Original poster

Anordinarymum · 31/10/2020 21:26

@thosetalesofunexpected

Hi Op my dream would be a old ish house with plenty of character, a listed building there is just something about historical buildings that is unique and has something extra. Also like idea of a loft bedroom conversion or something its in relms of fantasy out of my wildest dreams....

Sounds good but you are talking stairs here :)

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Nowifi · 31/10/2020 21:29

I would love an open plan kitchen, my dream as a child was to have a breakfast bar! I used to love staying in a caravan as they always had a breakfast bar

Original poster

Anordinarymum · 31/10/2020 21:32

@Nowifi

I would love an open plan kitchen, my dream as a child was to have a breakfast bar! I used to love staying in a caravan as they always had a breakfast bar

I have a kitchen next to a dining room which nobody uses. We call it the 'pointless room'. It's too late for us now as we are not staying, but if I had my time again here I would have knocked the wall down and had a breakfast bar. A pipe dream :)

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AHippoNamedBooBooButt · 31/10/2020 21:41

I used to live in a flat when it was just me and dd and it was wonderful. Open plan kitchen-living room, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom plus a large balcony. I absolutely loved it - I could plug the hoover in the hallway and hoover the entire flat! Could clean the whole place in under an hour. If I wanted a drink in the night the kitchen was just across the hall from my bedroom.
I live in a house now, because that's what "normal people" live in. And yes I do love my house but I hate - stairs, ants, stairs, slugs, stairs, carrying the hoover up the stairs, cleaning the poxy bannister. I often fantasise about moving back into a flat once the dc have all grown up and moved out. The only disadvantage was having to carry shopping up the stairs (was first floor) but I think online shopping had much improved over the last 16years. Oh and being able to fit a dining table in to fit the whole family but I guess you can always just go to a restaurant for that with the money you've saved on council tax and heating (if you get a flat where there is one below, one above, and one either side you pretty much never have to put your heating on.)

StillMedusa · 31/10/2020 21:51

I'd like a bungalow with a large garden.
Currently in a small 4 bed house which is nice but the garden is small..I like to grow veg and have more room for the dog. Next month I'll be down to the last DC at home ( from 7 of us here the year before!) and he won't ever life independently so a nice little 2 bed bungalow for our old age... perfect!

Original poster

Anordinarymum · 31/10/2020 22:01

@StillMedusa

I'd like a bungalow with a large garden. Currently in a small 4 bed house which is nice but the garden is small..I like to grow veg and have more room for the dog. Next month I'll be down to the last DC at home ( from 7 of us here the year before!) and he won't ever life independently so a nice little 2 bed bungalow for our old age... perfect!

I am first on the list. You can get behind me :)

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MuchTooTired · 31/10/2020 22:11

I live in what sounds like your dream home. The only thing I’d change is more rooms and more storage.

My ultimate dream home would be a Victorian bungalow with bifold doors and a garden no larger than half an acre. Nice big rooms with high ceilings, lots of light, stuffed with original features obvs apart from my bifold doors, and all open plan as I’m used to that. I’d like an orangery, grown up sitting room and a playroom too. There’ll be a pavement outside so I can just walk out of the house, but not be densely populated so I don’t get interrupted by neighbours.

I don’t think the dream home exists apart from in my head!

janj2301 · 31/10/2020 22:48

A city apartment. Preferably with pool/gym/shop on site. Lived on the 15th floor in a city for two years whilst husband worked for American bank (they paid for everything) loved it. Would need lottery win to afford it now though

BlackeyedSusan · 31/10/2020 23:00

Enough bedrooms would do me.

Mosaic123 · 31/10/2020 23:06

I'd like an indoor swimming pool. Just get out, shower and blow dry my hair. I'd use it loads as long as it was very warm.

user1471538283 · 01/11/2020 08:15

I've given up on houses. Like you I cannot do stairs anymore. We are moving into a small rental flat and then a bungalow or flat later on.

Mosaic123 · 01/11/2020 23:20

We looked really hard for a bungalow but settled for a largish flat (1550 sq feet) in the end. There's a decently sized balcony too.

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