We are in the process of drawing up plans for an extension. We currently have a traditional 3 bedroomed semi detached house and are hoping to extend the downstairs and add a 4th bedroom.
It is slightly larger than a typical 3 bed - all the rooms have quite good proportions (i.e. the 3rd bedroom - traditionally the box room - is 9' x 9' - not massive I know but slightly bigger than what you'd normally get) and the downstairs reception rooms are quite large (lounge 15' square & 13' square for the dining room).
The reason for explaining that is that I think we need an ensuite - especially as the "family bathroom" will be quite small as we need to take a chunk off it to access the 4th bedroom. Family bathroom will be approx 5'7'' x 7'2''. Although we intend to be in this house for at least the next 10 years, I'm thinking that a 4 bedroomed house in a family area with a small family bathroom might be difficult to sell on? We do have a downstairs loo but that is effectively under the stairs so although perfectly practical, very small and no way of incorporating a shower into it.
The dimensions on the plans at the mo are that the ensuite will be about 1.7m square - so about 5' 7'' square. I think the typical length of a bath is 1.7m so its effectively the length of a bath each way. The doorway would open outwards into the bedroom to maximise the space.
Would you sacrifice the ensuite to have a larger family bathroom (but then it would still be a 4 bed house with 1 bathroom)?? Or would people generally like an ensuite? We've only ever had one in a rented house - its not something I think is a necessity but we do have people to stay quite alot and it would be really useful to have an extra shower.
Any comments welcome!
Thanks in advance