Which house would you choose, based on these floorplans?

[Whichhousetochoose]

Please help wise mumsnetters, as trying to decide which of these two houses is making my head hurt! Both new builds on the same development (next door to each other), both have pros and cons. I’ve attached the floor plans for each house.

Current living situation - me, DH and 4 year old DD, hopefully DC2 one day. Both work from home the majority of the time. My parents would come and stay several times a year (hopefully friends would too). Currently living in a tiny 3 bed end of terrace.

House 1 - large kitchen/dining/family area, with a separate lounge and small study. Bedrooms are good size, although beds 3 and 4 smaller (bed 2 is the biggest). No window in landing area.

House 2 - similar size kitchen & the diner area is smaller than house 1, but has a massive living room and a large family/playroom. All bedrooms are really good sizes, plus has large window on the landing so good amount of light.

So really, I cant decide between having a larger kitchen/diner and thus a smaller living room and study, and two smaller bedrooms (house 1). OR have a smaller kitchen/diner but have a huge living room and playroom/study and have all the bedrooms on the large side (house 2).

Both have garages and space to park two cars. House 2 is £15k more expensive.

Ive been looking at them for so long I can no longer see the woods for the trees! Help!!

House 2, no question.

I would choose based on position/plot and outside space. Is one less overlooked than the other? One on a quieter road? Etc.

House 2 I think, but I’m not entirely sure why!

Sorry just seen that they are literally next door to each other!! In that case, house 2 has nicer proportions.

House 2. Looks like 4 double bedrooms rather than 2 doubles and 2 singles. Also family room more useful size than a study

@FeathersAndDown both in a quiet area on the edge of the development.

I havent posted photos of the fronts of the houses but I must admit house 2 looks MAGNIFICENT from the outside. Dont get me wrong, house 1 looks beautiful. As they are next door to each other, I must say Im concerned we would buy house 1 but I would have to look at house 2 everyday and wish I had bought that one instead😂

If you both work from home then house 1 as it has a study. House 2 expects you to use part of the landing.

House 2. So many more options for guests and when the children are older. My 2nd was twins and we so appreciated having a room they could all use when they were teenagers. Instead of 5 crammed in one room.
They are both great but house 2 better for your future.

@NetballHoop this is true. Although we could definitely use the family room for my work set up (i dont have much) and the bedrooms are big enough to fit a desk plus a double bed for when guests stay. Plus still keeps a spare bedroom for DC2 (fingers crossed!)

We wfh so I’d choose house 1 but I do prefer the separate family room in house 2

It’s clear you want house 2. So go for it.

House 2. Bigger living room. More bedroom options. You are buying a home to live in.

By the time DC2 arrives you may have changed jobs or no longer wfh. Anything could have happened.

House 2. Maybe a sofa bed and WFH desk in bed 4 so it can be a hybrid office/guest room?

But you could change what house 2 calls a "family room" into a study.

House 2!

House 2. Hands down. Just because a room says “study” or “family room” doesn’t mean you have to use it for that. House 1 only has 2 double bedrooms which I’d find limiting. House 2 has much more versatile space. I probably wouldn't even consider house 1 tbh. I’d rather have a three bed with all double bedrooms than a four bed with only 2.

House one has a much better layout downstairs. House two has a long living room, which is actually very difficult to use fullyIMHO. Separate working space ( study) is really a game changer and argument preventer!

are they actually built yet? If they aren’t, could they make the ensuite into a second bathroom, just by switching the position of the door?

I’m so glad you are all saying house 2. In my heart, that is my favourite but wasnt sure if it was worth having a smaller dining area than house 1.

DH thinks house 1 is perfectly fine (which it absolutely is!!!) but I tend to think paying an extra £15k for what you REALLY want isnt that much more to pay when you consider the length of a mortgage.

House 2 offers more flexible living and the family room could be office, spare room also. The bedrooms and bathrooms flow better also.

House 2. The 2 single bedroom look really tiny in house 1, the bedrooms are much more balanced in house 2. The sofas in the kitchen are good for very small children to be near you but slightly older it’s far better to have a family room. It could also be used as a dining room when you’ve outgrown that stage. Eating in the kitchen is fine but if you want to entertain a dining room is so much better so you can just shut the door on the messy, smelly kitchen!

Having chosen a house with oddly shaped bedrooms when the dc were small thinking that they weren't really that important, now that i have two young teens I'd absolutely go for better bedrooms in house.

I prefer house 1 downstairs and house 2 upstairs. Not very helpful, sorry.

@PuneorPlayonWords thats a good point with the oddly shaped bedrooms!

@TenThousandSpoons not at all! Thats exactly what im deliberating and trying to decide whats more important 😂

House 2. Downstairs toilet is bigger. Doesn't sound important now but for people with reduced mobility it would be better.

Utility room in house 2 has a sink whereas house 1 does not.

House 2 bigger shower in family bathroom.

Natural light is great on the landing.

House 1

The living room on house 2 isn't a nice shape and it's kitchen looks quite small