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Original poster

Anyone live upside down? Love it? Hate it?

66 replies

UpsideDownLiving · 22/10/2023 20:11

Hello. Long time poster but NC for this.

Does anyone have experience of upside down living and living with big open spaces and lots of glazing? How do you feel about it?

We are extending our house and the architect has pulled together an upside down arrangement - living and kitchen upstairs. This is to make the most of the countryside views. Big glazing front and back.

I thought I’d like it but the more I imagine it the more I get put off by;

  • not having easy access to the garden
  • having to traipse shopping upstairs
  • living in a goldfish tank - no one over looking at the back - just fiends - road at front that isn’t busy but some dog walkers (one or two a day) and cars and tractors every 10/15 mins or so.
  • not feeling cosy - big echoing space.
  • cleaning said glazing
  • heating a big space

Do I ask for a different scheme? Anyone live like this and how does it feel?

OP posts:
Seaside3 · 22/10/2023 20:37

I was brought up in one and my mum now has another. It's great.

Does depend on a few things though... how easily can you access and how often do you use your garden now? Is there a balcony option if you want outside space?

Do people have to walk through 'living quaters' to access the upstairs?

It can be amazing, but it's not for everyone x

SeaPool · 22/10/2023 20:51

Never lived in an upside down house, but I have lived in a townhouse with living area and kitchen on the first floor. The ground floor was loo, garage and utility and the bedrooms were on the second floor.

On day one the cat fell out of the living room window - luckily it landed on the removal van roof....but that's another story.

So the things that annoyed me were -
Carrying all the shopping upstairs and recycling etc down.
Having to go up and down to let pets in and out of the back garden.
Eating or having a cuppa or glass of wine in the garden involves carrying everything up and down a flight of stairs.

I've also lived in a house with massive, floor to ceiling, wall to wall glass. The upside was the light and amazing views. The downside was that in the summer we had to have all the curtains pulled as it got so hot and also we couldn't see the TV. Furniture, paintings and carpets faded really quickly and we couldn't have books on shelves for the same reason. Oh, and there was always a permanent mark across the glass just at dog nose height.

ClematisBlue49 · 22/10/2023 20:52

I have no experience, although am following this thread with interest as I've often wondered what it would be like.

I would say, just be very sure that the design is based on your needs and wants, and don't be pressured by an enthusiastic architect.

SeaPool · 22/10/2023 21:01

Oh, should have mentioned the goldfish bowl effect. The glass fronted house was in a quiet location but we did get people looking in occasionally and some friends said they would feel quite vulnerable and 'on display' if they lived there. We got used to it very quickly and ignored it and when we put it on the market it sold on day one, so obviously didn't put others off.

CornedBeef451 · 22/10/2023 21:24

Our last house was upside down and it was ok but I didn't love it.

I have used the garden more in the new house in the last year than I did in 8 years at the old house, it was just so far away!

RitaFires · 22/10/2023 21:32

I have an upside down house. We have lots of glazing to take advantage of a sea view.

There's a door from the kitchen out to a small deck and steps to the garden so there's still a feeling of connection even though you are slightly further away.

Carrying the shopping upstairs is the biggest drawback along with having to run down the stairs from the living area to answer the door but I really love my house and have no desire to move.

Halfemptyhalfling · 22/10/2023 21:37

The bedrooms were very cold in winter was the main downside that I remember

PrueLeith · 22/10/2023 21:38

Could you just have a small living room upstairs and a kitchen diner etc downstairs?

I'd be concerned about the fiends though tbh.

orangeblosssom · 22/10/2023 21:44

Lot of houses are like this in Norway.
The house I stayed in had access to a balcony at first floor level with stairs going to the garden.

We had views of the countryside, horses etc.

You get used to it very quickly.

echt · 22/10/2023 21:46

My NDN has an upside down house, though still with the master bedroom upstairs and balcony overlooking the back garden, which is never used or "gardened" in any ordinary sense. I think you lose touch with the garden, but then I'm a keen gardener. Who put in a lot of effort to grow screening trees as they overlook me. Smile

Roystonv · 22/10/2023 21:49

We re-converted 1st and 2nd floor offices in a Georgian terrace to a maisonette with the bedrooms on the first floor. Left us with an open plan living room/kitchen and an office on the 2nd floor; an extra floor to you but although we have a big, private garden we have made little use of it as trekking everything up and down is an effort. Also I would love a balcony so we could enjoy the outside from the top floor. Yes bringing up shopping a pain; 2 flights of stairs and rushing to answer the door bell! Can't help with expanse of glass.

Horriblewoman · 22/10/2023 21:49

A family member has it to take advantage of sea views and I love it!

they have an outside staircase from the kitchen into the garden which really helps too.

TheSpottedZebra · 22/10/2023 21:53

I rented one briefly and hated having the bedrooms on the ground floor. Even though it was a very safe area (as much as anywhere can be), I felt too close to any potential intruders.

ClematisBlue49 · 22/10/2023 21:56

Mad idea, possibly (I've had a glass of wine), but could you ask the architect to put in a dumb waiter to fix the shopping issue?

mondaytosunday · 22/10/2023 21:57

Yes and you're right - we rarely used the garden. Views were great but I wouldn't do it again.

Original poster
UpsideDownLiving · 22/10/2023 22:00

Oh wow! I didn’t expect so many responses. So so helpful. Thank you all so much.

Good to hear my concerns aren’t unfounded and I hadn’t thought about the recycling and rushing to answer the door! Hadn’t thought about seeing the TV either!!

Yes, meeting with architect soon and he is lovely and I think he’ll listen but DH loves the current scheme so I feel a bit outnumbered.

But I love gardening (haven’t started here yet bar a few pots) but I very regularly pop outside with my cuppa and just enjoy the fresh air and birdsong. I really don’t think I would if I had to go downstairs.

I can imagine feeling very proud of the house and enjoying the drama of the glass and the view but I just can’t imagine feeling settled, safe and relaxed.

A small lounge upstairs would be good. I was thinking a bath with a view too. And actually the only time we really stop and enjoy looking out of the window is during a lie in.

Good to know you get used to it too and that it can work.

Thanks all.

OP posts:
Original poster
UpsideDownLiving · 22/10/2023 22:00

ClematisBlue49

We did jokingly suggest that!

OP posts:
Original poster
UpsideDownLiving · 22/10/2023 22:01

TheSpottedZebra

Hadnt thought of that, although we are in a bungalow now so used that.

OP posts:
Awrite · 22/10/2023 22:03

I know a family where they have the lounge upstairs to take advantage of the sea views.

Large kitchen diner downstairs. It works really well. Gorgeous house.

For all the reasons listed already, I would hate to have my kitchen downstairs. After living in flats, I will never take for granted being able to connect with a garden.

Original poster
UpsideDownLiving · 22/10/2023 22:03

PrueLeith

Oh dear me! What fiends should I worry about? 😉😂

OP posts:
Original poster
UpsideDownLiving · 22/10/2023 22:06

Halfemptyhalfling

what made the bedrooms colder?

OP posts:
Original poster
UpsideDownLiving · 22/10/2023 22:07

RitaFires

Do you eat out much or use the garden much?

OP posts:
Original poster
UpsideDownLiving · 22/10/2023 22:09

RitaFires

Things fading fast I hadn’t thought of either.

OP posts:
Original poster
UpsideDownLiving · 22/10/2023 22:12

PrueLeith

oh. I’ve just re read my OP. Fields!! Not fiends. Hah ha. It’s late. I’m tired. 😂

OP posts:
LittleGlowingOblong · 22/10/2023 22:16

I have a kitchen and bedroom downstairs and a living room and bedroom upstairs. Doesn’t really work, we end up spending a lot more time in the downstairs bedroom.