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Original poster

Thoughts about three story townhouses?

57 replies

Pepperwand · 31/07/2020 18:23

Our estate agent encouraged us to view a house that we'd initially discounted because it's on three floors. Kitchen, living room and a WC on ground floor, three bedrooms (one ensuite) and family bathroom on middle floor then master bedroom with ensuite on top floor.

We have two young DC and the thought of their bedrooms being on a different floor to us have always put me off plus I think townhouses can feel a bit top heavy where the living space doesn't match up with the bedroom space.

Surprisingly though both DH and I really liked it. We wouldn't need to do any work, the garden is particularly good and the master is like a hotel suite. Bedrooms are all very good sizes but it's not ideal one being ensuite that isn't the master.

Does anyone live in a townhouse or have any thoughts? I can't decide whether I'm letting preconceptions get in the way of a great house or whether it would drive me mad running up and down stairs all the time!

OP posts:
Settlersofcatan · 31/07/2020 18:25

We had two small children in a similar house, it really wasn't a problem. It did mean using a monitor and stair gates for longer than usual but that wasn't a problem for us

Theforest · 31/07/2020 18:29

We had one with small children. It wasnt a problem. Like PP we used a monitor longer that's all. The only time I curse it is when I have left something on the top floor when I'm at the bottom.

Binterested · 31/07/2020 18:29

I live in a town house. I like it. As the children get older you can be together in the same house but feel quite separate.

BurtsBeesKnees · 31/07/2020 18:31

I used to live in a town house and really liked it. I did feel a little apprehensive about the dc being on a different floor, but as soon as I got used to it, it wasn't/hasn't been a problem

whereorwhere · 31/07/2020 18:31

Yes I turned down a house like this for that reason. Fine for older children but not when they are small. That said my 9 year old still tries to creep in sometimes and I'd hate to think of her doing stairs at night

Rollercoaster1920 · 31/07/2020 18:33

That one sounds good. I hate the ones with the living and kitchen rooms being on different floors.

Yours sound like a 'normal' house would be with a master in a loft extension.

Settlersofcatan · 31/07/2020 18:34

@whereorwhere is she particularly unsteady? I wouldn't have thought to worry about a 9 year old walking up a flight of stairs!

Pipandmum · 31/07/2020 18:37

I had a three storey house with the three kids bedrooms on the top, master, guest room, study and utility in middle then kitchen/diner/family room, sitting room and formal dining room on ground (it was a big house). It's not the kids on a separate floor that would bother me, but I'm glad we only have two storeys now.

Pinnacular · 31/07/2020 18:41

Friends with a similar house slept on the first floor (you could have ensuite) whilst children were younger then moved up when they were bigger. You could also lock the door to ensuite until they were bigger, if you put a child in that room.

ShoesJerry · 31/07/2020 18:43

Our house is like this: it started as a 3 bed semi (1930s) and we converted the attic into a bedroom and en suite. We use the attic conversion as a guest room so we and DC sleep on the middle floor and share the family bathroom. Any guests go up to the attic and have the en-suite. Sometimes one of us uses the en-suite in the morning to save time. Works well for us.

Original poster
Pepperwand · 31/07/2020 18:56

We did think that we could use the ensuite bedroom on the middle floor for a while! It just seems a shame to not use the master for us...it had a dressing area and was lovely!

OP posts:
Captainrachy · 31/07/2020 19:01

We have a four storey Victorian townhouse. Bedrooms spread across three floors. Kitchen is on the ground floor and main sitting room on level 2. We have been living here since the kids were 4 and 5. The amount of stairs took a bit of getting used to, 47 from top to bottom, but honestly the layout hasn’t been an issue at all. As a pp said, it does make you feel a bit more like you have your own space. The best part is that the master bed is on the fourth floor and now the kids are bigger, they can get up, get breakfast and we can lie on undisturbed!!

In short, would fully recommend. You get more for your money I think and you will be kept fit running up and down the stairs 😂

HollyBollyBooBoo · 31/07/2020 19:03

Ours is the same layout and is great. I love the massive master/dressing room/en suite on the top floor.

passthemustard · 31/07/2020 19:04

I have a four story townhouse but it's all mixed up in its layout. Built into the side of a hill so front door is on the 2nd floor (assuming ground floor, first floor, second floor, third floor) I didn't have young children when I moved in so it wasn't a problem. The quirky layout is what attracted me.
I'm currently considering a loft conversion and that master suite does sound lush!

InFiveMins · 31/07/2020 19:11

I'm in a 3 storey townhouse similar to the one you're buying and its great. love it. just make sure you get a vacuum cleaner for each floor, makes cleaning up so much easier than carting the one up the stairs.

Captainrachy · 31/07/2020 19:19

@InFiveMins

I'm in a 3 storey townhouse similar to the one you're buying and its great. love it. just make sure you get a vacuum cleaner for each floor, makes cleaning up so much easier than carting the one up the stairs.
You are right on that one!

The worst is when you come downstairs to the bottom floor and realise you’ve left something on the top floor. I do this at least once a day.

fartyface · 31/07/2020 19:23

We are looking for one as described up thread with 3 kids bedrooms on a different floor to us. Not specifically that layout but our house currently is very united, which is great with babies etc but now they are getting older I want to not be able to hear them all the time!

Longdistance · 31/07/2020 19:24

When we lived in Oz, not only were dds on a different floor, it was far in the house Blush no problems with it.
We’re actually looking at houses with bedrooms that are —far away— maybe on a different floor from dds. They’re 11 and 9 now, so aren’t really bothered.

Lindtnotlint · 31/07/2020 19:37

We have a tall thin house with lots of floors - it’s a non issue. Use baby alarms. Job done. Madness to not get a house you like because of a weird superstition about being on same floor as kids. It’s totally fine.

mynameisntlouise · 31/07/2020 19:39

Would one of the bedrooms be spare? I'd have the middle floor en-suite room as your bedroom and the top floor master as a spare. You could still have the dressing area up there, you'd just sleep in the other room.

SleepWellBeast · 31/07/2020 19:50

This is our exact lay out and we moved in with 3 Yr old and new born. New born obv in with us for around a year (but there was so much space it was fine) and now the kids are on the middle floor. Really doesn't feel that far away and we've had no issues

LolaSkoda · 31/07/2020 20:20

Love my three storey! Kitchen, utility, toilet, lounge, dining room and study on the ground floor. bedrooms and two bathrooms on the middle and then the top floor for the kids.

Feel like we have lots of flexible space now. Yes there are more stairs but you very quickly get used to them.

The room sizes are quite generous in mine though.

Original poster
Pepperwand · 31/07/2020 20:45

Wow lots of positive responses! I think I need to reasses my strange preconceptions Grin. Yes, one room would be a guest bedroom/study.

OP posts:
JoJoSM2 · 31/07/2020 20:53

I’d rather live on two levels but the 3-level layout as you describe is pretty standard so not many people would take an issue with it.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 31/07/2020 20:59

We are three storey but the bedrooms are on the top floor.

For years dd used to insist that someone was on ‘the next floor down’ when we tucked her up.

Sigh. Happy days.