Ridiculous probably

[littlemousebigcheese]

So husband and I can't really decide what to do. We bought a townhouse which we (mostly) love a few years ago but we are struggling with a few things and don't know if it's worth commuting to moving or just 'settling' and being happy and grateful with what we have?

Our house is over 3 floors. The bedrooms are big, the master has a dressing room and en suite which is great. We have two dc with their own rooms and a spare room/office. But the downstairs is just too small. We have a small kitchen, a loo and one room which is our living room, dining room, playroom, everything and it's impossible to relax as it's so full of stuff! We have a garage and decent garden and drive and that, plus the good bits of upstairs space means we never really get far with moving plans but ultimately we aren't happy. It's a new build and no room for expansion unless we go into loft which we don't want as it's downstairs living space we need, not more up the top! We have looked at redesigning the layout and moving loo to under stairs and having the kitchen and big room be together but it's very expensive and builder doesn't think it would add value so seems pointless?

It's hard because to get the upstairs space we love plus the downstairs we want would cost a fortune but maybe it's worth it to get our perfect house? I'm not sure what I'm asking! Stick it out and be grateful or accept we aren't happy and commit to moving?

How old are the kids? Is there space for a summerhouse as an extra hangout for the kids? Or a garden office and repurpose the office into a second reception room?

Put one of the kids into the smallest bedroom. Make the biggest bedroom an upstairs living room and keep current living room as dining room. Or put conservatory on existing living room and put dining table in there.

The children are young, one in primary and one in preschool. Sadly the office is on the third floor so tricky to use as a reception room and husband works from home so needs it.
Garden isn't big enough for a summer house 😭

Make the garage into another downstairs room?

Can you take a pic of the room? Perhaps if it were arranged differently it would work better.

So many good ideas and I'm not trying to shoot them down but we've been thinking for a really long time so have considered a lot! No room for conservatory and also would just make our one room a bigger room so even if we could, it wouldn't be ideal as we'd just be creating a bigger big space. I like reception and living space to be on the ground floor so having a living room on the third wouldn't work I don't think.
Can't convert garage, it's used constantly

You say that making changes to the layout is possible, but you're reluctant because it won't add value to the house. But renovating isn't just about adding value, it's about making a home suitable for your needs and wants. If doing it would make you want to stay there for a long period, since the house is otherwise perfect for you, then I would seriously consider doing that. Whatever you do (other than tolerating the status quo) will cost money, but changing the layout downstairs may make the house more saleable, which is something.

Does your husband need his own office or just space to work?

It's hard to tell without seeing a floorplan, but I bet you could utilise some dead space for him to set up a desk/chair to work from.

If he's not happy to do so, then you may need to look at moving if you truly can't make the house work for you.

You used the words ‘perfect house’, not sure that is possible. Most houses have compromises. Are you happy in your area and if so, are there houses available and in your budget that will give you the space downstairs and upstairs that you desire? I would try to focus on what you can do to better make this house work for you rather than worrying if you are adding value. Have you factored in the cost and stress of moving? This is such a difficult market at the moment with a high % of house chains collapsing. A house is to live after all!

Also I do think townhouses work really well for teenagers especially with their big bedrooms which is what your kids will be before you know it.

I thought that but find smallish bedrooms are actually fine for teens as they’re pretty static when they’re in them ( vs little kids with lots of toys etc). I’d prefer smaller bedrooms and an extra reception. New builds do often seem to be quite bedroom heavy in terms of how the space is allocated. It’s as though the fashion for open plan has given them the opportunity to scale down the living space

I know what you mean. We bought a 3 bed new build 5 years ago and it's just too small. Because of the way they're designed There's very little scope for change. All we could realistically do is to extend the kitchen or build a conservatory. Our garden is tiny and this would leave no outside space at all. We're in the process of moving to a much older house with 2 bedrooms but so much more space downstairs and a huge garden. Yes the utilities will cost more, and there's more maintenance with an old house but the positives outweigh the negatives.

@SuddenlyOld yes exactly!! we are in a development so every house is perfectly planned in leaving very little room to extend anywhere as every bit of space is someone's drive or a garden or access path etc.
the upstairs space is great, it is but we like to all be together and that's difficult as there's no room. When people come over we are crammed into one room to socialise and it's hard. It was perfect when we were looking and had one baby but now we've got two children basically who need space!
I do love the area but not enough to stay indefinitely. It's a commuter town which has a great train line but not much else. Family are scattered across neighbouring counties so no real ties to this town.
Main issue I guess is that everyone wants the same things so family houses in great locations are about twenty million pounds 😂😂

So its a fairly new house? You might get more bangs for your buck in an older house. This one sounds like it's jut not suitable for your needs, TBH.

Have you got space in the garden to build an outbuilding to house the stuff or the husband and his office?