Do town houses work with young children?

[MilkyChopsKid]

By town houses I mean the ones with a integral garage, a kitchen on the ground floor but the reception room on the first floor. How can one keep an eye on the kids unless the kitchen is big or one has a conservatory?

I'm not about to buy in this market but opinions would be gratefully received for when things look better.

Would recommend considering the possibility of putting a laundry room upstairs Mrs B too if at all possible

• it's not always practical (I programme my washing machine to come on v. early in the morning for example - wouldn't want that noise next to bedrooms - so mine is in basement) but if you have a half landing it's feasible and avoids the endless hulking of laundry baskets up and down the stairs .