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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you could make this a home for a family?

121 replies

BlueSatsuma · 01/03/2019 17:40

For financial reasons this is down sizing.

There’s no utility
There’s no garage (extra which I don’t have)
There would be a sunroom

Please don’t flame me, I live in an area where houses are generally larger, but could kitchen work be maximised to make use of the space? Any ideas?

I’m really worried about storage.

Could this work for a family of 4?

Garden quite small too.

To ask if you could make this a home for a family?
OP posts:
Twolittlebears · 01/03/2019 19:35

My family of four lives in 900 sq ft. The key is having a place for everything, editing ruthlessly and put shelves and hooks wherever you can. Plus clear outs every month.

I actually like it and know if we lived in a bigger house it would be just as full but with more stuff we didn't need. Once the DC are older I think we'll need about 1,200 sq ft so that place looks good OP. Bit giddy at the thought of a second WC tbh.

Alsohuman · 01/03/2019 19:41

I’m aghast that someone thinks they couldn’t share a loo with their husband. Wtaf?

bibbitybobbityyhat · 01/03/2019 19:50

Please don't flame me.

What an odd thing to say!

LoisWilkerson1 · 01/03/2019 19:55

Oh it's far two small. Your poor children.
THINK OF THE CHILDREN

It's fine op. Think of the money you save downsizing.

rightreckoner · 01/03/2019 20:00

bit of a dripfeed there? Is the real issue your physical needs? Your family will do fine in this very average sized house but does it take into account any mobility challenges you have? Is that what you really need to think about?

HedgePlastic · 01/03/2019 21:06

Lol! You can't put two unrelated adults sharing in the box room 😂

If you need two live-in helpers Hmm, then have them share the biggest room.

This is absurd.

You know that single working parents get by without two live-in helpers, right?!

bellabasset · 01/03/2019 21:06

Youve got 4 beds, one bath, shower room and downstairs cloakroom. One of those bedrooms could be used for storage.

I'd use the sunroom as a dining room, then block off doors to the lounge, maybe leaving an open area to pass drinks through. I'd also build a floor to ceiling L shaped cupboard along the wall where the dining table is meant to go. Also have taller wall cupboards that go to the ceiling.

That would leave you a big lounge and seating area to entertaining, an area to lay food out off the kitchen. I know my Irish side of the family are used to more space than we have in the UK. Cousins in Sligo have the most amazing hot press, which I envy.

Idonotlikeyoudonaldtrump · 01/03/2019 21:16

That’s a massive house!
I don’t think you can expect two unrelated adults to share a room! Do you really need live in staff? Couldn’t you ‘make do’with staff that go home at night?!

I’m struggling to take the post seriously only because four bedrooms with a family of only two dc...is a huge amount of space.

In what way do you actually think your children are going to suffer?!

BanginChoons · 01/03/2019 21:24

I don't think this is real.

In case it is, OP I have a family of 4 (1 adult, 3 children). No staff. No garage, no conservatory, 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. We manage just fine. In fact we consider ourselves incredibly lucky. Although I quite fancy a sunroom, I will never be able to afford one.

New builds ime tend to be crammed in together. If you want a larger house and garden, how about you buy an older one?

kaytee87 · 01/03/2019 21:30

Pretty sure op is taking the piss about the staff Confused

bridgetosomewhere · 01/03/2019 22:04

Lol the staff comment was a joke people!

I couldn't share a loo with my dh either...yuck! DS has his own bathroom too, boys don't make nice bathroom buddies!

CoolJule43 · 01/03/2019 22:04

The sizes of the lounge and kitchen/diner are fine but as you lack storage I would probably use the sunroom as a dining room and have for more kitchen units in the kitchen/diner. It would also remove red for a utility. I would have a couple of tall larder units in the kitchen design and use one for provisions and another for crockery.

I'd be very worried about the size of bedrooms 2, 3 & 4. Do they have built-in wardrobes and these are the sizes without them? If not and these are wall to wall sizes then they are very small. Not really room for much in the way of wardrobes.

Downstairs loo is in the middle of the hall and joined to next door semi. Shame it isn't further forward in the hall so it could have an outside wall and therefore a window. What about smells?

Older houses or ex council house are far more likely to have bigger rooms and storage space.

evaperonspoodle · 01/03/2019 22:06

The alpaca could reside in the sun room.

CoolJule43 · 01/03/2019 22:09
  • need not red.
Mum2jenny · 01/03/2019 22:11

Looks fine to me for a family of 4. 4 bedrooms, 3 loos, what's not to like!

Have you any idea how many families of 4 or more people live in a 2 bed house/flat?

WhatTheNightBrings · 01/03/2019 22:23

I'm sorry you are having to make cut backs due to your health OP.
Strange though, because just last month you were talking about increasing your days from 3 to full time now that your youngest will be starting school.

Regardless of the why's and the where's... You talk about having to do this terrible downsizing and your bad health as if you are somehow doing your children a disservice by only giving them a room each, a spare, their own bathroom and an extra living space or two.
As you are apparently a teacher, I can't believe you are oblivious to how insensitive and goady that is.

WhatTheNightBrings · 01/03/2019 22:25

@Alsohuman

I’m aghast that someone thinks they couldn’t share a loo with their husband. Wtaf?

Aghast? Surely not. Have a seat, dear.

Kpo58 · 01/03/2019 22:26

I'd make the bathroom a decent size instead of having a tiny bathroom and ensuite.

I'd make part of the living room a utility room.

Id also try and work out where a stairlift or small lift could be installed if one was needed in the future.

Frazzledmum123 · 01/03/2019 22:30

@PeppermintCactus seriously, no garage?But then where do you park the sports car, surely not on the drive, how common Hmm

OP it may be genuine but you seriously need to think how you word things!

nanbread · 01/03/2019 22:31

This is a very weird post, self-awareness wise.

We live in a 3 bed terrace with fewer rooms and similar age children and feel like we have plenty of space. Do the Kondo thing and get rid of most stuff, that will help. IKEA, as unglamorous as it is, has brilliant storage solutions.

Piewife · 01/03/2019 22:39

This makes no sense. If downsizing for financial reasons it makes no sense to go for a new build. In our area an equivalent sized new build to our house costs 40-50% more.

It looks fine for a family of 4 to me though!

SnipSnipMrBurgess · 01/03/2019 22:45

Cmere I'm riddled with arthritis myself so am a bit sympathetic, but you surely must have a bit of self awareness about you.

I'm Irish too and you must know how much of a housing crisis we are in right now. I just bought a house and could fit it into yours with room to spare and we manage fine even with my limitations.

gubbsywubbsy · 01/03/2019 22:47

Presumably it's only half that as it's a semi And that's the floor plan for both ?

Frazzledmum123 · 01/03/2019 22:56

(That wasn't a dig at you btw @PeppermintCactus)

PorpentinaScamander · 01/03/2019 23:01

Looks like plenty of room to me. We have a family of 4 (2 teens) in a much smaller house!
Lounge.
Playroom
Kitchen with folding table at the end.
2 bedrooms
Bathroom.
No garage. No driveway. Small garden.

I know plenty of people in smaller properties.

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