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Original poster

Would you be comfortable with your kids in ground floor bedrooms if you were on 1st floor?

45 replies

LadySanders · 12/09/2010 07:09

So we've been househunting for months. Yesterday saw an amazing place we love, BUT, with one big drawback:

it's a barn conversion so has an unconventional layout - 3 smallish bedrooms on ground floor at front of house, master bedroom on 1st floor.

dc are 9, 2, and 8 months.

dh doesn't think there is any issue with dc sleeping downstairs if we are upstairs - but i think i would be worrying all the time about security... there's no way i would sleep in a ground floor room with a window open, let alone children? and even if i locked the windows at night, i still don't know if i would feel relaxed about it?

what do you think? am i over worrying?

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Original poster
LadySanders · 12/09/2010 16:23

dotty - thanks for that alternative perspective... can i ask you another barn related question - how you do you find the open plan living with kids... we love the space but wondered if with the tv on you'd hear it all over the house? or if ds1 is doing his homework, is it going to be impossible to concentrate with the 2 litle ones careering around? (i realise this is going a little off topic, but it's such a different kind of layout than the victorian house we live in now, in which we have a 'grown up lounge' and a separate family room...

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Original poster
LadySanders · 12/09/2010 16:27

mrsdepp - i take your point, but this barn isn't on a normal road, it's at the end of a country lane, and although there are other houses around it, the ground floor bedroom windows are not overlooked at all. actually i've just noticed the suggestion of security lights outside the windows, that's a good plan

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TheNextMrsDepp · 12/09/2010 17:03

Security lights is a good idea, noisy gravel and prickly plants just outside the window is another. To be honest, most burglars are after easy pickings and would probably avoid a house with obvious downstairs bedrooms.

BeenBeta · 12/09/2010 17:21

Not a problem. We lived down a remote country lane with DSs age (5 and 7) ad did it every summer for 4 years as it was too hot in their bedroom. They used the downstairs bedroom. Had security lights downstairs and they had an ensuite bathroom.

We had all the windows and doors very securely locked at multiple points though and fire alarms throughout.

The open plan living with DCs is something I would be more worried about. Segregated space to do work, watch TV, etc is a necessity for all families. Its OK if you live as a couple but with DCSs it could be a real problem in my view. Toys strewn throughout the house, no tidy relaxing area for you, it could be just one long round of noise and tidying up.

Original poster
LadySanders · 12/09/2010 17:49

gravel and cacti, noted!

we'd have a separate study so i guess ds1 could do homework there, and there is an upstairs gallery/sitting area which would be toy free, but i guess the downstairs would be a free for all with ds2 and dd... then again that's part of the attraction of actually having sufficient living space that they can spread out and have toy kitchens and ride on trucks aplenty

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TheNextMrsDepp · 12/09/2010 20:20

Berberis and Mahonia are two good prickly shrubs, if you're interested.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 12/09/2010 20:22

both DD and now DS sleep in the Granny Annexe, we use an alarm for noise, fire alarm etc and the house has security lights back and front.

dottygamekeeper · 12/09/2010 21:55

LadySanders,off topic but open plan living is not for all - yes you do hear the TV all over the house, although if only 1 DC is watching we get them to wear headphones.

The space is great for DCs, I am not a naturally tidy person so when they were younger and had lots of toys it was very chaotic, but I liked being able to see them from the kitchen if they are in the dining room or sitting room. My ideal would be to have a snug where we could put the TV rather than having it in the sitting room, but the layout of our barn just doesn't work for that.

When they were younger they did their homework at the kitchen table, now they are older they do it in their bedrooms or on the computer which is in the hall.

We built a separate office for my DH onto our cartlodge that he can retreat to.

Jelllie · 13/09/2010 00:19

Where I am in the US, it is expected that the master is on the ground floor, with the DCs upstairs. But there are a lot of single story/ bungalows, and they are very popular. But then the texans LOVE their security systems - alarms on every window, door, monitored fire and police, lights. Not to mention guns Grin - that is the reassurance.
Personally we struggled with being on a different floor, so took a smaller room upstairs. My reasoning was that if there was a fire (and US houses burn fast) I would hate to have to get up a large staircase to get to the DCs. Much rather IMO they be on the ground floor if any, so there is greater chance of escape.
Open plan can be remedied often with safety gates, and peace of mind with a video monitor in their rooms.
We have just bought a house with the bedrooms in separate 'wings' and for now we will be taking a smaller room to be beside them, then moving into the master when they are older, as I am too much of a nervous mummy - to get to them would involve two staircases.
If you have big doubts, wait for another more normal house. I think resale would be a thing to think about too. Or get geese - better than a guard dog IMO Grin

notsomumsie · 13/09/2010 10:34

Sorry no. Not saying its not ok, but I would not be happy. We has 2 weeks in france with us in downstairs master bedroom with kids rooms accessible by two further staircases - miles away, and accessible by mad man with key with out us ever knowing. The baby went in the walk-in wardrobe, and the eldest went in the bedroom nearest us - but I was so unhappy - dh is level headed and rational and he was too - he ended up sleeping in the same room for the last week. It was on the edge of a forest, and anyone could have got in, we'd never know - all the other houses in the vicinity were deserted - it was posh and lovely but I've got the creeps just remembering Shock

notsomumsie · 13/09/2010 10:36

sorry meant he ended up sleeping with eldest on next floor . YKWIM

anonymousbird · 13/09/2010 10:47

Gosh, I nearly posted this last week!!

We are renovating which is going to mean, on current plan, DS (will be nearly 7 by then) gets the downstairs bedroom. We are in a cottage, so all the bizarre layout issues arise.

We will be at top of stairs, him at the bottom so in distance, not far. I had the security worries, though we are rural and very low crime. I will hear him if he calls/cries out. I have to go past his door to leave property in event of emergency.

My main worry was if it was really hot in summer, he could not sleep with window open.... don't know how we will overcome that one. I'd happily have his window open during the day, whilst we are in the house, but after he goes to bed, it would have to close.

LadySanders so glad you posted on this, has been very interesting reading your and others' posts.

cheesesarnie · 13/09/2010 10:52

we lived in a barn conversion with me and my sisters downstairs and my mum and dad upstairs,it was fine.
now my ds2 is downstairs and were all upstairs.

mummyrex · 13/09/2010 10:55

I wouldn't like it and didn't like it when we were in a rented house with such a configuration. DC2 was new born so I ended up upstairs with him while DH slept in spare room downstairs. It was not good and I was happy to move (even though it had been a luxurious house compared to what we moved to).

However, I am an anxious person by nature.

anonymousbird · 13/09/2010 11:07

Cheesesarnie how old is DS2? How do you deal with needing to open the window on hot nights?

cheesesarnie · 13/09/2010 11:11

hes 9.the window has a safety lock so its slightly ajar but still locked.

anonymousbird · 13/09/2010 11:14

CS is that one of those locks that sits over the latch thing (sorry don't know name!) and you need a key to undo it?

There are probably not that many nights it would be a problem - let's face it, summer in the UK doesn't mean hot nights for long. Also, being downstairs is cooler anyway, and his room will be north side so no direct sunlight..

ivykaty44 · 13/09/2010 11:15

what do you do if you lived in a bungalow? my parents slept on the ground floor for years and had a sah window to the floor - it was often left open in the summer months and I slept upstairs at the front. if you not happy put two dc upstairs sharing and make one bedroom downstairs into on suite? then you would be downstairs and with one dc and two woudl be together upstairs

cheesesarnie · 13/09/2010 11:20

the window just has two 'locking bits'shut or slightly ajar.sorry im not more helpful,its monday morning!
the one problem we have is that ds is so messy and his room is the first you see as you come in through the front door so i have to keep his door shut!clever child realised i'd keep doing it because of it being near the door!so i gave up!

Original poster
LadySanders · 13/09/2010 14:17

ach, i'm even more confused now... i think i will have to just go back and see it again and try not to be swayed by the fact that i love the living space/garden/kitchen etc, and just focus on whether i can overcome my anxiety about the bedrooms... might have to ask ds2 to yell from one of them and see if i can hear him in the master bedroom!

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