Please could I have opinions on this house layout?

[housemoverihope]

Have found a house that is well into the catchment area of a great school (applications for ds1's secondary place need to be in by Oct) that offers lots of extra space. I viewed it yesterday and despite it having the fourth bedroom downstairs and having a very unappealing exterior I can't help but like it!

We have 3dcs - 10, 8 and 6 and our 10 year old would love to not have to share with his little brother but it would probably mean him being downstairs as I am not sure the 4th bedroom would be big enough for dh and I? Dh is adamant that a downstairs bedroom is weird so will take some convincing (he hasn't seen it yet).

Would this layout completely put you off?

The house has lots of potential but its current layout is very poor. The ground floor layout definitely needs to change but I'd also make the observation that the upstairs space seems totally out of proportion with the downstairs. In the long the house layout could really do with a complete rethink rather than a quick fix.

....that should read 'in the long term'.

I agree with miss c. A downstairs bedroom isn't really the problem.

If we were to remodel downstairs completely (bargainous price for the area means we have some money to spend) do you have any suggestions? I have no vision!

Do you want to retain the garage?

I would say the stairs go up as per the floor plan, turn and then go up as you see in the living room photos.

Without any thought to supporting walls or practicalities of removing them, would something like this work...?

I would do similar to what OwlCapone suggested. Have master suite at the front, taking in the ensuite and the garage if possible (garage as a dressing room).

or you could have current kitchen/study as bedroom ensuite and the corridor on the edge of the current study by the garage giving you access to the garage from the house.

I would keep the downstairs shower room for all to use.

Ah see MissClemency, my ideal bedroom would be small, with room for the bed and bedside tables (and maybe a tv-type thing), and with all the clothes etc stuff in another room. But changing the front door to where the garage is, is also a good idea. Although this means that the large front bedroom does not have an ensuite.