Big ugly house or small pretty house?

[FattyFatCakes]

AIBU to ask you to decide for me?!
I’m going round and round in circles and can’t make up my mind.
Currently live in a lovely chocolate box cottage. We have just enough room for our family of four and associated pets.
5 mins away there is a large, modern house for sale. House and garden are twice the size but it’s an ugly lump and surrounded by industrial buildings rather than green fields.
We love our house but think we might have outgrown it. When our two ds are teens they won’t be able to stand upright in their current rooms or have a double bed.
Should we sacrifice the look and feel of a house for space and practicality?

If its really a choice between just those two houses then I'd go for the bigger one. I like to have plenty space.

I wish my house was that ugly.

Just saw the photos, I prefer the "ugly" house by a landslide! No contest there. The big balcony is lovely.

Not ugly at all, looks much brighter and more open. You can still plant your roses or whatever you want to do to make it you're own.

I'd keep looking, if possible, but ultimately, I'd rather have enough space than a beautiful home that's too small to be practical. You can pretty things up, to some degree, though ugly surroundings are out of your control.

Not having a double bed doesn't seem a real problem for a child/teen, but not being able to stand up in their room? No pretty house is worth that!

I live in a pretty big house, about 3000 square feet, on two acres of land. It was built in 1986, so a pretty modern design. We bought it when our two DC were toddlers.

It's been lovely to have all of the space and privacy.

By the way, I don't think the new house you're looking at is ugly.

I prefer the ‘ugly’ house.

Small and pretty every time. Can’t stand ugly and souless houses!

I’m so offended that people prefer the ugly house to my beautiful cottage Ha! That shows me for posting in AIBU!
I did put ‘ugly’ half in jest - as I retracted that statement after I initially said it.
It’s more the situation that is ugly - the industrial is a mix of car recycling (scrap heap), truck depot, junk yard and a business park. If you compare that to my view of rolling hills and pretty thatched cottages you’d think mine was prettier I swear It is half the size though!
We’ve decided not to buy it but I’m sure the other party will love it and make it an amazing family home

Going on what you’ve shown is it isn’t ‘ugly’, we can’t see the views you are describing.

OP you are being very naughty! You are massively underselling ugly house.

1. It's not ugly
2. It has a swimming pool which you've cropped put of the pic.
3. It's got a lawned tennis court
4. Amazing views
5. Numerous outbuildings
6. Masses of space for a growing family.

Your cottage may have lots of charm....but this house is not what you have sold to us.

The industrial area would put me off. They’re noisy and you never know what developments will go up. There must be a middle ground. Your house doesn’t look that small.

I take ugly and big any day, my issue would be the surrounding buildings.

You can cover an "ugly" house with plants and change its appearance a lot.

You current house is beautiful but the other one is not even that bad.