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Original poster

New build layout - which do you prefer?

77 replies

RosieLeaLovesTea · 17/02/2022 21:26

Hi all

My DH and I are looking to buy a new build house. Never had a new build before. Always older properties.

We have seen two properties today:

1st is a bit smaller- 1257 sq ft for £500,000
It essentially has 3 medium size rooms downstairs- kitchen/diner same size roughly as ours now. Lounge and an extra family room. The bedrooms upstairs are all a good size and similar size to what we have now.
1st photo. This house comes with carpets, curtains and integrated appliances.

The 2nd is 1400 sq ft for £530,000
It has a really large kitchen/diner while width of house
Smaller lounge.
It also has an open plan hallway and open room which is described as a dining area but in the show home they had it set up as a study. Decent size bedrooms upstairs and slightly bigger bathroom and en-suite. Also a larger hallway with full height ceiling which is a feature. Carpets extra and the appliances are extra.

Both are detached houses and we are gaining a garage which we don’t have now.

I will attach a picture of layout. Can you tell me which one you prefer?

New build layout - which do you prefer?
New build layout - which do you prefer?
OP posts:
Notmyyearthisyear · 17/02/2022 21:30

The one to the right looks wonderful you will love the space along the back of the house. Worth the extra money if you have it x

Chewbecca · 17/02/2022 21:30

Neither has a red flag to me.

Was there any other material variation in the plots in terms of orientation, distance to other properties / overlooked, parking etc?

decafforme · 17/02/2022 21:36

The second one is much more preferable in my opinion,
Is the same layout as mine

Original poster
RosieLeaLovesTea · 17/02/2022 21:36

Both have detached garage a drive way for 2 cars. Both north facing ish with south facing garden. Both overlook green space with nothing planning to be built in front.

First house is closer to the primary school. We can see it in the distance a couple of fields over. Also first house has the lounge and kitchen diner at back. Both had French windows. There was a lot of light coming in from the sun. This house will be ready in summer so good time to move.

2nd house was just the show home. House will not be ready until Nov/Dec. Longer to wait. But it is a larger house. But have to spend extra on carpets and appliances.

OP posts:
Joolsin · 17/02/2022 21:39

I like the first house. I like that there are two sets of double doors out to the back.

Sunshinedreaming2022 · 17/02/2022 21:42

I prefer the first. I like the extra shower cubical in the bathroom. I also like the extra family room which could also be used as a study and you can shut the door. If you had your office in the big open space of the second house you would never be able to have a zoom call during the school holidays with kids constantly walking about in the background. I mean it’s more “wow” but I don’t think it’s practical for a busy family life.

CharlieLo · 17/02/2022 21:43

South facing at the back? Do you want your main bedroom in the sun all day in the summer? We have a new build with south facing garden and having the main bedroom at the front of house means it’s cooler.

Beetle76 · 17/02/2022 22:06

I think I prefer the first but it depends on how you would use the downstairs living space. Which do you value more: a separate office downstairs with a door that shuts; a separate somewhat open-plan dining room as opposed to always eating at a table in the kitchen?
I also prefer the bathroom options in house 1

Original poster
RosieLeaLovesTea · 17/02/2022 22:23

@Sunshinedreaming2022 exactly house 2 not really practical for family life although it does have the wow factor as a show home.

We do spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen diner but that is because our living room is quite small. I like the idea of having a play room for toys. Then later as the kids grow it can be a study or quiet tv room or video game room.

OP posts:
CeeceeBloomingdale · 17/02/2022 22:29

I prefer the second. As an aside I am irrationally irritated that the first has a designated guest bedroom rather than letting you decide it’s use yourself.

coatofmanycolors · 17/02/2022 22:37

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the request of the user.

SunnydaleHSAlumna · 17/02/2022 22:37

@CeeceeBloomingdale you don’t have to use that one as the guest room. It’s probably designated that way because of the set up of the bathroom for the other two bedrooms, they’re closer

CeeceeBloomingdale · 17/02/2022 22:41

[quote SunnydaleHSAlumna]@CeeceeBloomingdale you don’t have to use that one as the guest room. It’s probably designated that way because of the set up of the bathroom for the other two bedrooms, they’re closer[/quote]
Well quite, my tongue was firmly in my cheek

334bu · 17/02/2022 22:46

I prefer option 1 as you have the possibility of an office with a door( open plan area at front of 2 not very usable. Also very good point about master bedroom being cooler in option 2.

ScandiNoir · 17/02/2022 22:58

I would definitely go for the first. A second separate room is a godsend as soon as your children are a little older. Even now at primary age it means they can have the lego/marble run etc out and leave it out and later on they can hang out there with friends, have sleepovers in there, or later still have a few beers with their mates! You can probably tell we've had a second reception room and it's been the best thing about our house!

BikerWifeFromMars · 17/02/2022 23:07

I live in same layout as house 1, so maybe same builder?

We moved into it new 3.5 years ago and absolutely love it. Previously had a little old cottage and then 1930's semi... I didn't think I wanted a new build but our lives are so much easier and cheaper now Grin

PriamFarrl · 17/02/2022 23:12

It really depends on you as a family.

The first one might leave the cook cut off in the kitchen if everyone else is in the living rooms but there is enough space to hang out in the kitchen.

That’s less of a problem in 2.

Original poster
RosieLeaLovesTea · 17/02/2022 23:12

@BikerWifeFromMars we have a 1930s semi. Didn’t think we would ever move. But we do need more space and a garage for storage. Love the room sizes in 1930s houses though.

OP posts:
BreadInCaptivity · 17/02/2022 23:13

I prefer the first house.

I live having a shower in the family bathroom and the flexibility of the second reception room to be a playroom or study (which is a big factor post covid). Plus the lounge is not only bigger but a nicer shape.

I'm sure the second house has a wow factor with the large back room but I don't like that open plan space off the hall. It would be too noisy to be a study and if used by the children you couldn't shut the door on the mess. Also the lounge isn't a great shape and I think the layout would be awkward.

Upshot with the second house is that I think you'd spend all your time in one big room and as such you're wasting the extra square footage really.

I like kitchen diners but am not keen on the family room addition. I don't want to sit on a sofa surrounded by kitchen smells and noise and for the extra money I'd want a separate utility room.

I'm sure the second house is more "wow" but for living in day to day and flexibility I think the first is a much better buy.

ThisMustBeMyDream · 17/02/2022 23:18

I prefer option one. That is because I am currently looking for somewhere with an extra reception space beyond a living room and dining room (or living diner or kitchen diner). I want a 3rd space. My children are 6 and 9, and having the space for a downstairs playroom, which becomes their own snug as they get older will be invaluable to us. I don't want open plan. I want space that can be totally separate to meet the needs of the different people who live there. So yeah, option one gives that.
However, looking at the plans it seems you could put a wall up in the kitchen area possibly, to make another space for the children. So I suppose it depends if you want to do work in a new build or not!

DramaAlpaca · 17/02/2022 23:23

The larger one, every time. The layout of the first one is fine, but it's small for a 4 bedroomed house.

BreadInCaptivity · 17/02/2022 23:25

Just to add not having a shower in the house bathroom can be a real PITA.

It's ok when children are small, but it's not great for when you have guests and they end up using your en-suite shower and when you've got teens it gets even worse with everyone trooping through your bedroom to get a shower.

This alone would probably sway me.

Our last house was like this and when we bought where we are now, having a shower in the family bathroom was an absolute must.

BreadInCaptivity · 17/02/2022 23:28

@DramaAlpaca

The larger one, every time. The layout of the first one is fine, but it's small for a 4 bedroomed house.
But the problem imho is where that space is used.

It's bigger yes, but in ways that aren't practical.

To get that big room at the back they've made a small badly shaped lounge and this weird open plan hallway.

Equally upstairs you get bigger bedrooms but have sacrificed a decent family bathroom with a shower - which as per my post above is real PITA.

TracyMosby · 17/02/2022 23:29

2nd for me

Original poster
RosieLeaLovesTea · 17/02/2022 23:30

I have attached Photo of the open plan room.

New build layout - which do you prefer?
OP posts: