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Original poster

Which house would you choose?

57 replies

Stresssy · 14/06/2023 09:02

I’ve attached the floor plans. I really love both but struggling to decide which I prefer. Both roughly 1000sq m one is more open plan than the other but with options to close things up a little and make it not as open (see images) one has a huge kitchen the other not so big and no utility 😩 I’m struggling! Thanks in advance for your help 🥰

Which house would you choose?
Which house would you choose?
OP posts:
Original poster
Stresssy · 14/06/2023 09:53

@aSofaNearYou I agree however I just don’t know whether I can live open plan 😩 it’s crazy how houses make us feel a certain way when you enter them isn’t it. I usually go with my heart and I feel like if I’m questioning these two properties then they may not be the one for us 😂

OP posts:
RegainingTheWill2023 · 14/06/2023 09:55

I agree with @Twiglets1
You wouldn't buy based on a floor plan alone so do try and trust your judgement based on all the factors.
Open plan living works really well to maximise space I smaller houses. I love my open plan space - its flexible, bright, light and allows me to enjoy the garden at all times even if it's just as a backdrop.
But I have a small separate sitting room as well and that is the perfect combination for me.
Based on floor plans alone I think I would go for 2 but I'd want to open up the kitchen and living room leaving the separate front room

Snoken · 14/06/2023 10:00

Based on floor plan I'd say house 2. Based on your updates I'd say house 1. Having a driveway is a huge bonus, and if you don't need the third bedroom then that's the one you should go for.

Geogaddi · 14/06/2023 10:02

I live in an open plan downstairs and it's a complete buggar to heat. Option 2 would probably be easier to heat each room. If the first on is an old house without insulation i'd go option 2.

user1492757084 · 14/06/2023 10:04

You can separate the large space with furniture.
I would decide based on the outdoor space if I were an out door lover. Do you have a dog? Do you love gardening?
Do you entertain outside?
Is the quality of the build the same re double glazing, insulation and on going power costs and ease ofliving?
Is either house easier to drive in off the road for as you get older?

Original poster
Stresssy · 14/06/2023 10:09

We are being option two again today at 12:30 to check over some things and see if we could make the kitchen work. Believe it or not this was my option and I was going to offer today, the viewing has been booked for a little over a week and we’ve had that time to think and I just do t know how I feel. So let’s see what today brings 🤞🏼

OP posts:
Muddlingthroughthissocalledlife · 14/06/2023 10:14

Option 2 for me.

But reading what you have said...keep looking.

Twiglets1 · 14/06/2023 10:48

Stresssy · 14/06/2023 10:09

We are being option two again today at 12:30 to check over some things and see if we could make the kitchen work. Believe it or not this was my option and I was going to offer today, the viewing has been booked for a little over a week and we’ve had that time to think and I just do t know how I feel. So let’s see what today brings 🤞🏼

Good Luck and I hope the viewing brings some extra clarity

rumnraisinrocks · 14/06/2023 11:23

Option 2 as I much prefer the downstairs layout

sotired2 · 14/06/2023 11:27

Which is in best location as Optoin 1 could be made less open plan.

Can you fit a table in Option 2s kitchen as I like to ea tin kitchen.

RobertsRadio · 14/06/2023 11:42

Based on all your posts and as it's just the two of you, I would go with Option 1, the house and garden sounds lovely. I note neither house has a downstairs loo, but looking at the big utility room in house 1, surely there would be room to install a loo and small washbasin, and maybe a shower as well. If you wanted to make the front room separate, perhaps as a sitting room, then installing doors would be easy and cheap. You've said house1 needs no work so it sounds good and with the space to potentially add a downstairs loo/shower that would be my choice.

TallulahBetty · 14/06/2023 11:43

2.Hate open plan.

OttoGraph · 14/06/2023 11:48

Has option 2 got more land? Knock down garage and build extension?

option 1 looks very narrow and what’s the door at the end of the open wall about?

OttoGraph · 14/06/2023 11:48

Those of you saying you hate open plan, have you lived with open plan?

Jmaho · 14/06/2023 11:51

Both layouts are a bit odd to be honest
If I went for option one I'd want to use the dining room as a small snug living room and block the wall up to the living room and kitchen. And try to add a downstairs bathroom somewhere
Option two has far too many living rooms so would want to do something about that. Maybe knock through to the kitchen and add a utility and downstairs toilet

sunshinesupermum · 14/06/2023 11:57

From your update OP as it's just the two of you and dining area is next to the kitchen I'd opt for option 1. Which house gave you the 'feels' when you were there? Can you put in a downstairs loo somewhere?

CatsOnTheChair · 14/06/2023 12:11

OttoGraph · 14/06/2023 11:48

Those of you saying you hate open plan, have you lived with open plan?

I hate open plan.
I've lived with it.
There is no escaping anything or anyone. There is no hiding anything.
You have to listen to the dishwasher, and the TV, and the kids doing homework, and people on the phone (we were abroad, it was a landline).
Never, ever, ever again.

OP: sounds like house 1 has won you over. For me, its the outside space of 1 vs the inside layout of 2. But I'm not you! Follow your heart. I teenage can be re-done. The plt always remains as it is.

FuglyHouse · 14/06/2023 12:29

It doesn't look like it would be difficult to close off the room marked 'dining room' in house 1, so the objections to open plan are easy to deal with. The downstairs layout in house 2 looks a bit awkward to me, the kitchen seems closed off from the rest of the living space which would annoy me. As far as I can see, the only drawback to house 1 is the size of the third bedroom, but if it's just 2 of you, that's probably not an issue.

SwankyPants · 14/06/2023 12:38

From the floor plans alone I'd go for option 2. But hearing it doesn't have a drive way that would be a deal breaker for me.
Option 1 can always be changed if you are prepared to put in the work and money.

KickAssAngel · 14/06/2023 12:49

How does option 2 have a garage but no driveway? Are you able to park off the road? How hard is it to park on road?

How much do you care about the garden? It doesn't sound great at House 2.

Also, it sounds like the whole of House 2 could do with being refreshed. That could easily cost 50K, which means it isn't the same price, really. And you have to do the work and live through it.

I have an open plan house and love it! Never had one before and this one was built with huge windows looking out at the garden. It's beautiful, and I can see trees from anywhere in the house.

mattbr · 14/06/2023 13:12

Second one seems like a good mix of open plan, but also some privacy.

WoolyMammoth55 · 14/06/2023 13:36

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 14/06/2023 09:37

I'd keep looking for something with a downstairs loo.

Show quote history

OP, everything you've posted says you prefer option 1.

It would be very easy to add a downstairs loo to option 1, using the end part of the utility that meets the stairs. The bathroom is right above so no major works would be needed. I love a downstairs loo so would likely plan to do that within 5 years or so.

If it's in good condtition, needs no work, and you liked the feel then go for it! Amazing luck to find a house you're happy to live in as is that needs no works doing. Go for it!

Bluevelvetsofa · 14/06/2023 14:03

I thought you preferred option 1 and if you could reconfigure it to provide a cloakroom, I’d opt for that.

3peassuit · 14/06/2023 14:12

Option 2. Friends who bought open plan regretted it within weeks.

chezpopbang · 14/06/2023 14:16

Option 2 definitely. Also there is scope to make the kitchen open plan in the future and have a separate living room.

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