Sick of crap house layouts

[Naptrappedmummy]

A moan thread but probably deserves to be on AIBU…

Looking to buy, 2 kids (boy/girl) so need 3 bedrooms. Every single house without fail either has 2 bedrooms plus a room so tiny you can’t fit a bed and wardrobe comfortably in it, or they’re 4 beds and slightly out of our price range.

Add to that rubbish uphill tiered gardens where you’ll trip and nearly break your neck every 5 minutes, a lack of storage in almost every house (no utility rooms, cupboards, pantries or porches), and just absurd layouts in general which make no use of the space they have and are completely counterintuitive.

All I want is an actual 3 bed with some storage, an ordinary downstairs layout and a flat garden capable of holding a swing and some chairs. Why can’t I have it????

My Edwardian terrace has 3 double bedrooms plus huge understairs/ landing cupboards. We moved from a modern house that was very short on storage. Maybe look at older properties?

Exactly. What the OP is looking for is pretty standard in pre-WWII houses.

I agree I’m in a new build and I am fortunate enough to have under stairs storage cupboard but that really is it, my issue is mainly my downstairs lay out is huge but a downstairs toilet the size of a single bedroom a tiny kitchen huge lounge/diner. And my back door comes straight into my lounge cleaning with the dog is a absoloute nightmare! Honestly it’s hell in the summer kids running in and out the pool I’ve come to the absolute conclusion I really can’t have the living room of my dreams until we get a conservatory etc I really didn’t think it through! Plus I now hate my tiny kitchen as My hobby is cooking :(!

I am as I love them, but round here they seem to suffer the same problems plus a lack of parking and garden.

Have you looked at flats as an option?

We need a garden - 2 children plus exciteable dog - would be open to a garden flat but none are of a suitable size, all 2 beds

There are some new builds with double rooms - yes they are the exception rather than the norm but can be found. We have an issue of limited storage but every bedroom is a reasonable size double

You're right OP, fuck knows who designs houses 🙄

We have on street parking. You do get used to it!

And we have a garden. It's small but has lawn, decking, paved area, shrubs, trees, flower borders.. And a beautiful tiled front path!

Yes who on earth sacrifices kitchen space for a downstairs loo, what are these ‘architects’ thinking?! It’s utter madness. Or having an unliveably small third bedroom so the master can have an en suite.

We have on street parking now and regularly have to park 2 streets away and walk the children back to the house because everyone parks on our road for work. No permits. Nightmare!

Oh and our main bedroom is 18'x 15'. How big did you want?

You don’t have enough money, that’s probably why, loads of houses with flat garden, normal layout and decent bedrooms but clearly not in your price range.

I agree - a lot of standard English houses are terrible, long, thin living room/ dining room, gallery kitchen- the box room is not really a bedroom, and little storage, generally small (average house size 76 square meters/ 800 square feet), don’t start me on bathrooms off the kitchen…
yes, there are also some lovely/ larger/ extended ones… but much rarer/ more expensive

It’s not that it’s that they’re all crap! I can’t see any 3 beds that fit my description at all. Even when I remove the price range!

I would like master 3x3, and then 2 bedrooms 3x2.5, something like that.

Why not go on Location, Location, Location? Sure Phil and Kirstie will find your perfect home.

In many 3 beds you can move the wall between the single and master to create 2 more equal size rooms then you have the other double.

Would you consider a flat? Lots of Victorian/ground floor conversions are a really good size.
Alternatively, a top floor purpose built? Our new place is really big for a flat, 3 double beds. Really well designed with clever storage all over the flat. Balcony certainly big enough for a table and chairs and a swing g. Two very lovely parks 5 minutes away.

Just an option.

Omg yes the bathrooms off the kitchen. And what’s with en suites? Who wants to take a dump then open the door onto their bedroom? Or fill the room up with shower steam? They take up space the house doesn’t have most of the time.

I live in a town where most of the gardens are small to tiny and on street parking is horrendous. The older houses look cute and are 3 bed but the 3rd room is tiny and if you do the loft you lose that room any way. We've ended up in a modern terrace with 4 bedrooms and lots of stairs. Got to decide on your compromises.

We have a new build (a Bellway Hazel) and also found the use of space downstairs so infuriating.

However the garden and plot is fab and 3 large double bedrooms upstairs.

So we have completely remodelled the downstairs and converted the garage to create more space and a utility room. Cost around £20K all in (including decoration, furniture etc)

Maybe you have to buy somewhere with a good upstairs & good garden then do some tweaks downstairs/convert a garage.

I think we live in the same place! Not London so spacious flats and so on aren’t a ‘thing’

This drives me mad. An en-suite is nice, but a decent-sized third bedroom is essential!

Could you find place that can be converted/extended and could you live without a car