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Original poster

To feel uncomfortable about comments on our bungalow...

155 replies

boogieboogie · 06/10/2022 15:11

So we moved into a detached bungalow
2 years ago. I love living here, our road is wide and we have a field behind us in a semi-rural area.
It's 3 bed with an en-suite off our bedroom and a large living room.
DH and I are both 35 and DD is 3 - what's upset me on a number of occasions is comments from people such as
"Why have you gone for a bungalow!?"
"Isnt that for retired old people?"
"That's a funny choice for a house"
And many more...

I had no idea until we bought the house people perceived bungalows in such a way, to me it's just a detached house - anyone else out there in the same boat?

OP posts:
Noteverybodylives · 06/10/2022 17:55

In Australia they’re called houses….

What is a house called in Australia then?

I wouldn’t care what other people say but I did read that bungalows are very sought after now by investors, as not many are being built and most of them have been turned into houses. Or a house has be built onto land.

Apparently, if you have a bungalow with a decent garden you are laughing.

If you look for homes to rent or buy they will mostly be flats or houses and you find more and more elderly people are having to move to flats.

I would be looking into this more and coming up with a few replies to your friends about how bungalows are so sort after and how you know it will increase in value etc.

Somanysocks · 06/10/2022 17:57

Ooh does this all mean I'll be able to sell my bungalow easily when I want to move?

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 06/10/2022 17:58

Why do you give a monkeys what other people think if you're happy with your choice of home?

Tell them to sod off!

FredtheCatsMum · 06/10/2022 18:04

In Australia, NZ, a lot of the US, single floor dwellings are the norm. I hate stairs and live in a flat (single floor within my space, 4 storey building). They're not just for old people, and they're much easier and safer. Enjoy your bungalow

LizzieBet14 · 06/10/2022 18:06

We're in our late 40's and have lived in two dormer bungalows and have found them to be the most spacious 'houses' in our area.

The only other affordable option locally is a 3 bedroom semi with a tiny kitchen & tiny box room for the 3rd bedroom. They're in quiet, wide roads - we'll never go back to a 'normal' house.

Happygirl79 · 06/10/2022 18:13

At the age of 28 I chose to live in a bungalow. It's one level living and perfect for a growing family providing its big enough. Once the children flow the nest that spare bedroom can still be used as a hobby room or similar. A TV room. Whatever. If it's an upstairs empty room it's often not utilised.
I would choose a bungalow over a house every time

saleorbouy · 06/10/2022 18:18

The majority of housing is bungalows in some countries. In Ireland the are predominant and all ages live in them.
My SIL asked "would you not want to go up stairs to bed?" it's not some thing that bothers me but seems to be a bit of an issue for some particularly in the U.K.

tass1960 · 06/10/2022 18:23

Have lived in our bungalow since we were both 26 (36 years). Moved in just the two of us - brought up our family here and are now back to just the two of us. It really has been our "forever" home. Oldest child has their eye on it when we're no longer here and I think that's lovely.

SarahAndQuack · 06/10/2022 18:25

People are very rude to say it, but I'm afraid I would be thinking it. Why let it bother you? Presumably you didn't want to live in certain other types of housing that cost similar (or you'd have gone there), so ... isn't it all just personal taste?

Fancylike · 06/10/2022 18:31

Fattybumbah · 06/10/2022 15:28

In Australia they’re called houses….

I love bungalows - who on earth would want stairs.

a spacious bungalow on a plot of land - it truly perplexed me why people wouldn’t want that. It’s such a good set up for a good lifestyle

I had to google image bungalow to see what exactly they look like. Yup, that’s the majority of Australian houses, and what I’d perceive as a “normal” house.

ChelseaRobertsofMalibu · 06/10/2022 18:41

As someone who is desperate for a (generally quite rare) bungalow for disability reasons, I can’t say I wholeheartedly 'agree' with perfectly able-bodied people buying them, but I certainly wouldn't ever hold it against anyone. They're up for sale for anyone to buy

I think what others are getting at is that most people go for houses with an upstairs as going up to the first floor in a house can make it feel bigger. It's easier to disappear upstairs and escape too!

muchprefersummer · 06/10/2022 19:00

Not that I would ever move from my house as I love it but I've always wanted a bungalow and looked at loads before moving here. Bungalows are so versatile - if you have extra bedrooms you can use them as a playroom or other room far easier than in a house.
I think a lot of people just like to make comments, some people like to make nice comments, a lot of other people like to make snarky comments. Ignore the snarky ones - they're just jealous.
Enjoy your bungalow!

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 06/10/2022 19:08

I think it's an odd choice for a 30-something couple tbh, but I wouldn't dream of saying anything. It's got shit all to do with anyone else. Some people are just rude and presumptuous and think they MUST air their views. I have had to tolerate (from multiple people over the years...)

...Why on earth are you getting married? (mid 1990s.)
...Why are you getting married so young? (I was 25.)
...Why do you rent, it's dead money?
...Why did you buy a semi? You could have had a detached for 30% more. (when we bought in the late 1990s) Also, 30% more would not have been possible as we were already at capacity mortgage wise at the time.
...Why are you not having more children? (We have one daughter.)
...Why do you work part time?

A myriad of intrusive questions that are FUCK ALL to do with anyone... for years... There is always someone with a fucking opinion about your life choices - usually negative. I have been known to say 'get on with your life and get out of mine!'

TurquoiseDress · 06/10/2022 19:11

I'd bloody love a bungalow!Smile

We're early 40s & 2 young DC

inheritanceshiteagain · 06/10/2022 19:14

ignore the rude twats.

Redundantmum22 · 06/10/2022 19:23

I love mine. Our bungalow was cheaper than a house in the same town. Massssssive garden.

I cried when I walked in because I knew I wanted it.

😍 we're mid 30s and nobody has ever said anything disparaging about our bungalow. Another one is for sale on the same street, needs a full reno and nobody seems interested!

Violinist64 · 06/10/2022 19:24

My parents’ first house was a brand new bungalow. They were in their early twenties at the time and I was born in it. In Norfolk, there was a lot of land and many, many bungalows lived in by people of all ages. They did move on to two storey houses but their last move brought them full circle to a bungalow, where my widowed mother still lives. It is a lovely home. My husband and I are moving home soon and were initially looking for a bungalow for ourselves (l am in my late fifties, DH is in his mid sixties) but could not find one. They are like hens’ teeth. You are very lucky to live in one - it does not matter what age you are.

Turnaroundandigone · 06/10/2022 19:26

I'd much rather have a bungalow than a three storey townhouse! Ignore the comments, everyone like different things when it comes to houses.

onlythreenow · 06/10/2022 20:00

I live in a country where "bungalows" are the norm (a bungalow means a different thing here), so I think they are being rude. I have never in my life wanted a house with stairs, and a "bungalow" to me seems more spacious. I would never comment on someone's house anyway, it shows a complete lack of manners.

onlythreenow · 06/10/2022 20:01

In Australia they’re called houses….

In NZ also.

Pebblebeach15 · 06/10/2022 20:05

I live in a bungalow with Dh and a seven year old . Huge garden , loads of living space , child friendly , no neighbours, what is there not to love ? Yours sounds like mine and your friends sound jealous !

FizzyTango · 06/10/2022 20:06

I’m 33 and I’m desperate to move to a bungalow!! When we are able to move house (probably not for a while given the current state of things) I will be looking for one. No stairs because I have large dogs and it’s bad for them, and usually a nice big garden.

People can be very rude!!

BiscuitLover3678 · 06/10/2022 20:11

Most people perceive bungalows in the uk as for old people and having less room as only one floor. Very different if abroad! Not much land in the uk per people so they can be hard to find. A big spacious bungalow sounds lovely! It’s just different to the ‘norm’.

People here are used to stairs I guess!

Its like how Americans think we’re crazy for having our bins out the front of our house. Or weird little cupboards instead of closets being built into every house.

SatinHeart · 06/10/2022 20:25

I live in rural SW England. There's zillions of bungalows here. Whole villages full of them. Definitely not just for the elderly and disabled! Lots have extended into the roof though to make bigger family homes. They are often sought after because they tend to have big gardens

BlueMongoose · 06/10/2022 20:37

As bungalows are actually usually more expensive per sq m, that suggests that they must be more desirable for some people out there.
We've got a house now that is mostly downstairs, with just a small upstairs extension. We're hoping that as we get older we won't have to move if stairs become a problem for any of us, we'll just live downstairs. As it is our 'forever home', that seems eminently sensible to me.
Blow what other people think, they aren't living in it, you are. My view about my house is that anyone who dosn't like it doesn't have to come here if they don't want to. My particular house is a bit-odd looking, as it's been strangely extended. But I live in it, so I don't have to look at it.😉

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