To ask: if you could design your house, what would be essential for you?

[theDudesmummy]

Hi, I know this is not really an AIBU, I am posting here for traffic, but I really would love some thoughts on this. Essentially we are renovating an old derelict stone house completely by ourselves, we have got to the stage where the roof is on and we can start to design the interior. It is basically just walls and roof at the moment, no plumbing, electrics, nothing. So we can put in anything, wherever we want.

The kitchen will be built on at the back, entirely from scratch, it will be big (40 square metres).

So we can put in absolutely anything we want, how we want. If you had the choice, what would you deem essential to include in your dream house. It may be relevant to note that we are older people (50s and planning to grow old in this house) and have only one child left at home, DS is 11 and has special needs (no physical disabilities).

I am looking for ideas not just about big important things, but maybe little features/lifehacks that people have put in their homes or would have put in if they had had this opportunity.

@Wallywobbles and anyone else with an office, can you describe it please? My only inspiration at the moment is Pinterest!

On opposite walls, I have full walls of kallax bookcases one to the ceiling and one on the opposite wall under the window but the length of the wall. There is a double desk between the two kallaxes, so using the kallax on one side and meeting on a set of tallish ikea draws in the middle. They are "light wood" and the flooring is oak. The walls are a very pale yellow - basically a cream colour.

The desktop is wide so I can work in front of my computer. I often work with 2 laptops and I have space to have one on a stand behind the other one. Or if I'm doing training I can write as I watch videos.

The kallax bookcases, come with drawers and doors as required.

It's a cold room because the back wall is partly under the earth so I have a quick electric radiator so I don't need to heat anywhere else.

I have sidelights attached to the kallax above me which means I can just work in a pool of light that is agreeable and cosy.

The most important thing is the desk and chair are at the right height so I never get any back or arm issues from working intensively on computers.

My lovely DH has built me a little terrace just outside the door - which definitely gives it all a touch of magic.

Sorry, that's all probably as clear as mud.

Ooh some interesting ideas. For me I would have a butlers pantry and a large walk in wardrobe. And I would have a reading area with rustic bookshelves and desk, a chaise lounge and lots of plants.

Wallywobbles that sounds nice. A picture would really help.

-A laundry room with space for a washer, dryer, sink and storage plus a hanging rack from the ceiling and a door to the garden.

• A separate smaller sitting room with plenty of space for books and comfy armchairs plus a fireplace.

• A boot room if you live rurally or a decent sized entrance hall with an easily cleanable floor.

• 2 bathrooms and a 3rd toilet.

• Decent storage in the spare room(s) so you can keep all the guest laundry easily to hand plus store things you don't need everyday but still want occasionally.

• What sort of disability does your son have? I'd be tempted to create a small sensory room for him as a quiet space for him to relax in.

• An essential for me cos I read too many adventure books as a child would be a room hidden behind a bookcase but I don't know if that's everyone's priority!

DS is autistic, but he doesn't really have any sensory issues. A computer desk and his xbox, and neatly sorted charging points for all his devices are the most important things he would want and need...

@custardbear it's likely that we will need to consider as much loft/eaves storage as possible as well. Got any tips for me?

When I was a child in the 50s our house had a high hanging rack from the ceiling. When we get our utility room I want a high ceiling so that I can have one of these . Great for for drying clothes in the winter which can't be tumbled dried .

@Wallywobbles that's great - thank you. Working off double screens has definitely speeded up my online teaching and prep so, I'll have a wider desk built I think. Where do you house your printer?

I like the idea of storage aplenty and cosier lighting as well. Thanks!

@BlackAlys - my printer is miles away and actually on a different wifi network, although I can email it. The kids use it as much as me, so it is on their network.

I'm an LMS (e.g. Moodle) teacher trainer for universities/business schools using LMS like Moodle, and one of my "things" is encouraging teachers to no longer give any documents at all to students, so I print very little. Good for the trees!

Separate His and Her adjoining bathrooms because I just can't do joint .

A large walk in closet .. solar panels on the roof to heat your water and reduce your bills.

@Wallywobbles thanks!
I wish we could do the same. We've spent over 10k in paper alone this year for worksheets and booklets for digitally excluded pupils.