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Wwyd - ensuite vs cloakroom

52 replies

Curioustiger · 21/06/2013 19:16

Quick question for all you property addicts out there. We live in a three bed house with one upstairs bathroom. The bathroom is a good size with both a shower and bath but of course two loos (at a minimum) would be better. Setting aside cost, would you rather:

  • have an ensuite shower room upstairs (with a
Wc and basin as well) that takes away a little space from an otherwise good sized bedroom (taking it from a medium to small double room, iyswim)
  • have a cloakroom (loo and basin) downstairs which for layout reasons will have to be sited between the kitchen and living room and therefore take away some space from the kitchen (taking it from a medium / large kitchen to a medium sized one). It would not open into the kitchen or the living room but instead into a little hallway of its own (difficult to explain but looks ok, they have this layout next door).

There is theoretically the option to have both but finances probably wouldn't allow it.

As an FYI there are two adults and two children in the house but as we are likely to move in the next ten years I am trying to canvas opinion from a wide range of people. What do you think?

OP posts:
blackteaplease · 21/06/2013 19:18

Would you still be able to get a table in your kitchen? If so I would go for cloakroom and keep the large bedroom.

blackteaplease · 21/06/2013 19:22

Would you still be able to get a table in your kitchen? If so I would go for cloakroom and keep the large bedroom.

Curioustiger · 21/06/2013 19:23

No I don't think you could get a table in the kitchen if we added the cloakroom (I should have said all my sizes are for London! So my large kitchen would be at best medium anywhere else!)

OP posts:
BackforGood · 21/06/2013 19:33

99 times out of 100, I'd go for downstairs cloakroom, they are so useful for all sorts of reasons / situations. That said, I do like a table in the kitchen, but then, an amazing number of houses don't seem to have them.

moondog · 21/06/2013 19:36

Could you have both?
I think a loo downstairs is more important than an en suite though.
How about a table you could half fold against the wall or one tat folds away completely up flush to wall?

Raaraathenoisybaby · 21/06/2013 19:44

If its a family home IMO having a separate bathroom for the adults wins for me :-)

witch000 · 21/06/2013 20:03

We're going for the en suite, that way it's just for our use.

TooMuchRain · 21/06/2013 20:25

Interesting, I'd prefer the cloakroom too but we are currently having a similar dilemma and the estate agent was sure the en-suite would add more to the value of the house

primallass · 21/06/2013 20:52

I wouldn't take away the ability to have a table in the kitchen.

Curioustiger · 21/06/2013 22:24

I could fit a table in the kitchen now but don't have one so am personally not too worried about that, but I do have an eye for resale value so that's a good point.

Feels a bit like the thread is split over which would be better so perhaps it's just a matter of personal opinion... Any more thoughts? (And thanks very much to everyone who has commented so far, very helpful!)

OP posts:
Curioustiger · 21/06/2013 22:29

Could get a small fold up table in kitchen post cloakroom addition, I think. (Had never thought about tables at all and am now seeing the importance to everyone else so this thread is great!)

OP posts:
TippiShagpile · 21/06/2013 22:31

Where do you eat if you don't have a kitchen table?

Hassled · 21/06/2013 22:32

I'd go for the cloakroom option - always useful, and there are some people who hate ensuites.

Curioustiger · 21/06/2013 22:35

We have a dining table and chairs in the living room. That one is quite big ( rather an odd layout with a small number of good sized rooms, very '50s I am told) but structurally you have to take the space from the kitchen as there's an L-shape you can borrow from.

OP posts:
Curioustiger · 21/06/2013 22:35

My swingometer is heading to the cloakroom option...

OP posts:
wonkylegs · 21/06/2013 22:40

Practically I wouldn't buy a house without a downstairs loo. I would buy one without an en-suite.
En-suites are a luxury. Downstairs loo an essential.
I spent most of last year on crutches, thanks to an unforeseen injury. Going upstairs was a huge issue.
Our tiny downstairs loo a godsend. Same for elderly relatives/visitors and changing babies downstairs & toilet training before that.
Downstairs loo is a practical consideration that I couldn't do without and I'm glad I didn't realise this after I ended up on crutches!

mydoorisalwaysopen · 21/06/2013 22:40

I'd go for en suite. Think people like big kitchens and separate adult bathrooms. Unless you have lots of guests who struggle with the stairs.

Karbea · 21/06/2013 22:43

Id definitely go for the downstairs loo.

ChippingInWiredOnCoffee · 21/06/2013 22:44

What age are your children?

Karbea · 21/06/2013 22:46

Id definitely go for the downstairs loo.

I think you'd only really expect an ensuite once you had 4 plus bedrooms.

Downstairs loo is so useful for guests or any other strangers (builders etc) who need to use it.

Curioustiger · 21/06/2013 22:50

Childreb are 3 and coming up to 1. Swingometer still on the cloakroom side. Annoyingly though I am beginning to feel that I personally would prefer an en suite but that the cloakroom is the more practical option (gah)

OP posts:
WhispersOfWickedness · 21/06/2013 22:50

Cloakroom. I do say this as someone who has just finished potty training two children and hates ensuites (i do NOT need to hear DH's midnight pees any louder thank you!) Grin

Yonihadtoask · 21/06/2013 22:50

I would go for the downstairs cloakroom.

It saves guests having to go upstairs. Keeps upstairs just for the family iykwim.

poocatcherchampion · 21/06/2013 22:55

definitely cloakroom. we are moving just for a downstairs loo. not quite but nearly

ChippingInWiredOnCoffee · 21/06/2013 22:58

Cloakroom with kids that age - 100%

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