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Original poster

Anyone got stairs in the living room?

14 replies

Polgara2 · 11/04/2006 22:22

You know like instead of having a hallway? And how do you like it? Viewed a house recently and that was the main thing that concerned me, the stairs were open as well but I assume you could block them in? Am used to having a separate hallway, which I like, and am not sure if I can put up with the stairs in my living room, not sure why but doesn't feel right somehow? Why oh why can't I just find a house with both the right layout inside and enough space outside - it's obviously far too much to ask Sad.

OP posts:
Racers · 11/04/2006 22:26

I have and I like it open-plan. Couldn't imagine it without a porch area though, as some houses have.

You often can block them in, but the result is a narrow stairway and smaller living room, from what I've seen of other houses where this alteration has been done. Lots of places are probably big enough to carry the change though.

Racers · 11/04/2006 22:27

Oh, I see, you mean the stair treads had no back to them? I misunderstood what you meant about blocking them in, sorry!

Original poster
Polgara2 · 11/04/2006 22:32

Racers - yes did mean open tread Smile. House did have a small entrance square with downstairs loo off it. Got very crowded with the 4 of us in it though!! Hmm still not sure. What do you put in the bit under the stairs, or is it wasted space?

OP posts:
Racers · 12/04/2006 09:08

Ours isn't open tread - so there is larder space under the stairs (door in the kitchen).

I've seen houses with a desk/pc under the stairs but I wouldn't like that. I would use it to put a toy box and a nice big plant, or something, I think, but obv. depends on age of kids!

KTeePee · 12/04/2006 09:17

My first house had stairs in the living room - no hallway, just walked straight into the living room and no porch either. Bloody freezing if anyone knocked on the front door, plus they could see anyone lazing around in their PJs! Nowhere to store buggies out of sight either.

Our current house had the same arrangment (but with a porch) when we moved in. In this case, the original wall between hallway and front room had been taken down (to make the front room bigger I suppose). We reinstated the wall after we moved in - I didn't want to do without a hallway again

LadySherlockofLGJ · 12/04/2006 09:33

I had this for 4 months in a rented house, it was on the opposite side of the room to the front door IYKWIM, and I hated it with passion.

May have had something to do with the fact that it was painted dark chocolate brown.

pooka · 12/04/2006 09:40

We had a lovely house which was 2 small cottages joined together with a stairway in the first sitting room. No hallway. Loved the house when it was just me and dh but wasn't practical when we had dd. No doors or hall to stop noise going upstairs at night, and buggy in the first sitting room. Made that room feel like a corridoor rather than a room, even though it was huge.
So swapped houses with my mother - now have hall and wouldn't be without it, and our old house is perfect for her!

Cappucino · 12/04/2006 10:23

we've got stairs, open plan with spindles. I like it cos it lets the light through. We actually held out for them cos the building regs people would have preferred them boxed in, but I hate little rabbit-run houses with all little corridors and doors and bits. I like to see the space I've got; all our downstairs is open plan.

Just personal I guess; but I like it. Also you can see your kids if they escape up them.

Original poster
Polgara2 · 13/04/2006 12:34

Hmm fors and againsts then. Was hoping you were all going to tell me how wonderful it was then I wouldn't have to stress about it Grin. I guess am finding it difficult to imagine what it would be like when we had revamped everywhere though coz it looks old at the mo.

OP posts:
Nbg · 13/04/2006 12:40

I hate hate hate it. A real PITA. We had them in our last house too.

Having said that the house we have just bought has stairs in one of the rooms but it's a totally different layout to the one we're in atm.

I think alot of it depends on the size of the rooms. This house is very small so everything feels on top of you IYSWIM.

littlerach · 13/04/2006 13:06

Our house is like this.
It makes no difference to us, althoug the lounge is quite big.

Our kitchen is at tge front of the house, afetr a porch, then through jnto the lounge and he stairs are here.

We've never had a problem with noise travelling upstairs, and use the understairs area for the Dds toy kitchen and toybox.

Our neighbours have blocked in the understairs bit and have a cupboard there.

My friend has a similar layout and she has a piano under the stairs.

mosschops30 · 13/04/2006 13:11

i didnt like it (dont have it in our house now), cant get enough privacy when the children go to bed, upstairs just seems to be part of downstairs. But everyone is different, depends what you want

yummimummy · 14/04/2006 02:28

We live in an open plan house. This is a very popular style here in Queensland.
We love the feeling of space and light it creates and it means that the whole house is being used. It strikes me that having a seperate hallway is a bit of a waste of a space that is only used to walk through.
But we don't need the insulation of a porch or hallway here, so I guess different climates suit different styles.

essbee · 14/04/2006 02:33

I had this ages ago and I grew to hate it with a passion, esp when you're wheeling buggies around and wellies in the winter - you get my drink.

It's not the worst thing but i'd rather have a smaller lounge than have this again.

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