what to prioritise in looking for a family home?

[kalidasa]

We are just beginning to think about starting the process of looking for a house to move to next year. We have a DS who is 21 months and a new baby (also a DS) due in January. Provided DS2 arrives safely, we aren't planning to have any more children. We live in North London and have identified the generally slightly cheaper (relatively!) area we want to move to. We live in a flat at the moment and DH has never lived in a house (grew up in central Paris). I am yearning for all the traditional things - big kitchen with room for a proper table, space for a piano, bit of a garden etc etc - and we should realistically be able to afford a house in our target area but we are bound to have to compromise to some extent. Would be great to know what those with slightly older children think is worth prioritising and what not? Storage? Downstairs family space vs. bedroom size? More than one bathroom? We both work partly from home so ideally need the space to accommodate that as well. I realise it's a pretty vague question but would be v. grateful for any thoughts.

Thanks all - just noticed that this thread has revived. I take your point dontdrink - the problem is that London is so big that really for the sort of thing you mean you are talking about moving a long way out with a mammoth commute to match. I have fragile health from two v. difficult pregnancies and can't physically manage a long commute for the next couple of years, though hopefully I'll get stronger again eventually. The sort of areas we are looking at are the 19th century suburbs - zone 2 or 3-ish - not actual city-centre locations (which are totally unaffordable). So a lot of compromises that in other cities you'd only have to make for very very central living are extended in London I think.

We are in a flat now and we are moving partly because I am longing in particular for a) an eat-in kitchen, b) a garden we can use easily (we actually have the use of a lovely small garden at the moment, but because we are on the top floor with no direct access there's no possibility of children going out there on their own while I keep a watchful eye from the kitchen!), and c) a hallway where, as others have pointed out, you can leave a sleeping baby in the buggy while you get on with other things. And, of course, the possibility of a decent state primary within walking distance that we'll get into without having to pretend we are religious for the next three years!

Anyway, it's been a v. useful thread so thanks everyone.