PLEEEASE HELP CHOOSE HOUSE! Links included!

[heldinadream]

Dear House-discerning mumsnetters, I need your help!
Choosing (we think and hope) between two houses, in Bristol.
HOUSE ONE. Beautiful and up together with a couple of minor things that would need doing/tweaking. Really special house in lots of ways. Brilliant garden, not massive but lovely.
HOUSE TWO. Bigger. More rooms. Some aesthetically fine, some not but totally liveable with. Smaller garden all paved so we’d be taking up paving and trying to create a garden.
REQUIREMENTS. I’m going to be 70 next year, DH is 77, but we are both fit, well, and energetic (well him more than me in some ways 😂). So this is our last house.
I NEED a garden. Where we live now it’s minute and I need more.
I NEED an art room or space and a writing room or space, can both be in the same room but I need SPACE.

We’ve sold our house and complete in 2 weeks and are moving into a rental. LOOOONG story but we’ve been looking since last December, mucked around by buyers, couldn’t bear the thought of losing this buyer so we’re moving out so she can move in, so we really, really can’t keep on and on looking. In this time we’ve lost 3 houses that I LOVED. I want to love my next house, I really do. Or make it into my lovable house fairly quickly.
Both houses same price and similar location.
So it comes down to this – house one I would love straight away and have an amazing art room, truly special. But it is on the main road so there could be noise issues, especially in the summer, and the rest of the space is more limited, even though lovely. Smaller kitchen but great utility room. Much, much better garden. House two I could have 2 art rooms (one to work in one to store art materials) and a writing room AND a guest room and still space to do everything else. Much bigger kitchen, no utility but not really needed because kitchen big enough. Both have a garage (for storage, we are leaving one behind so need this).

We absolutely cannot spend big bucks after the move. Some but not big.
So I guess the question is – could I love house 2 and make the garden something good, and so gain all the rooms and space? I crave enough space. I’ve never, ever had enough space.
Or should we go for gorgeous, less space, but already gorgeous garden, but on main road? ARGH! There’s no complicated chains so the consideration is choosing the right house, nothing else.
We wanted to decide today. We’ve only just seen these two today (I knew they were both good).We only lost house 3 that I loved about 3 weeks ago.
HELP!

HOUSE ONE - GORGEOUS HOUSE.
3 bedroom house for sale in Wells Close, Whitchurch, Bristol, BS14 (rightmove.co.uk)

HOUSE TWO - LOTS OF ROOMS.
4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Petherton Road, Hengrove, Bristol, BS14 (rightmove.co.uk)

what’s both your health and mobility like? is this something to consider too?

does dh have a preference?

do you have any children? if so… which one do they think?

Are the neighbours' windows right by some of the windows in House 2 or am I misreading the photos?

If so, that would make a difference to me - it would mean that I wouldn't be using those rooms much. It looks like most of the rooms are overlooked and the garden is very overlooked. That would rule it out for me personally.

ETA: 'much'

One, alllllll day long. Nicer garden, lighter, nicer. Plus Whitchurch is the nicer area IMO.

@traybake81 Health and mobility both excellent. I was a yoga teacher, DH does pilates 2/3 times a week and walks ten mile walks.
DH feels the dilemma too. We're both flummoxed.
Two grown DDs, DDd1 has been really helpful but she's at work today I'm talking to her in a bit. DD2 in London and very busy not so much in the loop, got a small child.

i would consider future disability access, ramps, downstairs sleeping and having level ground. I’m 40 odd and my next house move will have this!! I’m sure you’re fit and spritely but it’s surely but to be your biggest consideration? House 1 is really lovely but the split levels and raised garden would be a no for me at 70.

@TallulahBetty they're both Whitchurch, slightly different bits but not much in it.
I know, the garden. I know. But so many rooms...

I’d go house 2 1000% and do raised beds and pots

ultimately though op

your husband is going to be 80 very soon

I would definitely be considering mobility with this purchase in your shoes

@Trickedbyadoughnut interesting, I had no impression of being overlooked but might have been so focussed on the house. Thank you, if we revisit will consider this.

If you need the space it has to be 2. But I would keep looking find something with a bigger garden if that is where you want to spend time.

House 2 is more practical if you never want to move again. Being able to live comfortably on the ground floor if needed (i.e after a knee replacement op, to use an example from my DP's experience) can be very handy. That doesn't look like an option in house 1.

if you need a garden, House two is not for you. It's going to be in the shade all day, it's small and overlooked.

@Capricornandproud these are good points, thank you.
@traybake81 yes. Looking into the future.

@SoupDragon it's actually not as small as it looks, and we could pay to get most of the paving up and whack in a load of plants and transform it quick.

I love house one-just has a nice feel. Will the steps in the garden be a problem in the future?

Don't warm to house 2 at all and the whole paved garden thing too much of a PITA

How much space do you need?
Do you have kids /grandkids come to stay ?

@Franklet interesting and yes at the back of my mind.

One- I know the area well and I'm biased as I don't like area 2 - plus one is already pretty big - surely you could use that back lounge for all you need as main lounge is very big .

@Crikeyalmighty main lounge is open plan lounge diner kitchen. Not massive for all of those functions and we'd probably actually divide it because I can't stand people around when I'm cooking. Then the kitchen would end up with no natural light.
The snug at the back opening into the garden would be my art room.

OP there are half a dozen steep steps up to the garden in house 1

i would avoid for this reason

House 2 for me - I need the space too, and would be regretful I think if I took house 1. Plus, if you needed to stay living downstairs only in the future, house 2 works better.

I looked on Google Earth. It's NE facing and overshadowed by houses.

@MrsMitford3 thank you - warm to is a good phrase. I've totally warmed to one but I see more scope for how I want to live in two. So can i transform two into a house I warm to?

I'm not convinced either are right for you.