House with master bedroom on first floor

[vi edit]

seems like it would be a lot worse than if you had a close kitchen and an exhaust fan over the stove.

I think a lot of that can be eliminated by a) having an actual exhaust vent that goes outside instead of self venting inside and b) having a properly sized and installed hood that can acutally move a functional amount of air. Those cheapie over the range microwaves are only moving 100-300 cf of air a minute. That's not enough to effectively clear out smoke & smells.

 

[gaidensensei]

I like kitchens where they have an "open window" concept, similar to sushi restaurants and bars. Of course, not going to be good on the cooking odors. Don't get to see much of them though, they're often in the homes recently modeled or renovated.

Something similar to this, or has an opening slit for 'serving' window concept.

 

[Jesusthewererabbit]

Hell yeah! Stairs can be a bitch when you're drunk.

 

[daw123]

The below plan is typical for a two-storey modern four bedroom house in the UK, without the rear conservatory and sometimes without the master en-suite.

It can be detached or semi-detached; the flank wall to the garage, minus the external door, becomes the party wall between the two houses.

This is also a typical layout for a three bedroom house, sometimes with the ground floor toilet relocated in between the kitchen and living room and the living room becoming a living / dining room:

 

[JulesMaximus]

Most newer homes have a 1st floor master. I won't buy a home without one. It just makes life a lot easier. Laundry is quicker, and the kid noise isn't so close. It's really a selling point of a home as many buyers won't even look at one that doesn't have it. It's just all around much better.

I've seen very few homes with a 1st floor master bedroom and I've been through many model homes around here. In fact, I can only recall seeing one home with the master bedroom downstairs, I remember it because I remembered thinking how odd it was that the master bedroom was downstairs.

 

[vi edit]

I've seen very few homes with a 1st floor master bedroom and I've been through many model homes around here. In fact, I can only recall seeing one home with the master bedroom downstairs, I remember it because I remembered thinking how odd it was that the master bedroom was downstairs.

You won't find it in many places that have narrow/small lots like many suburban developments. That bedroom, bathroom, and closet eat up valuable main floor square footage that could otherwise be used for living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, office, ect. It's a lot cheaper and easier to go "up" with your living space than "out".

You guys probably don't have basements either do you? That makes the need to conserve main floor space doubly so.

 

[gaidensensei]

I've seen very few homes with a 1st floor master bedroom and I've been through many model homes around here. In fact, I can only recall seeing one home with the master bedroom downstairs, I remember it because I remembered thinking how odd it was that the master bedroom was downstairs.

Hmm, I guess it just majorly depends on where you are. Where I am, it's fairly normal that people live in 1 story homes and if 2 floors, the bedrooms on the first floor. There are a handful every here and there where they are on the second floor.

But when we start speaking places like laguna hills or sf, anaheim hills/fullerton, mission viejo etc then it starts changing.

I guess it mainly stems from what build year the homes were done in the neighborhood if not renovated.

 

[Jumpem]

You won't find it in many places that have narrow/small lots like many suburban developments. That bedroom, bathroom, and closet eat up valuable main floor square footage that could otherwise be used for living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, office, ect. It's a lot cheaper and easier to go "up" with your living space than "out".

You guys probably don't have basements either do you? That makes the need to conserve main floor space doubly so.

That's why you get a reasonable sized 3-5 acre lot.

 

[gaidensensei]

You guys probably don't have basements either do you? That makes the need to conserve main floor space doubly so.

Rarely, if any of the homes around here have basements. The same goes for attics, if they do, it usually isn't a true attic. But I reside around the suburbia area of eastern LA, so it's possible that this is subject to change.

 

[IronWing]

We've lived in both houses with second story bedroom and first floor bedroom. I prefer a second floor bedroom but the minute someone gets incapacitated the first floor bedroom is a whole lot better. Plus in the desert, two story houses don't make much sense.

 

[CPA]

I've had two houses - my past one had master upstairs, current has master downstairs. Downstairs master house wins by a landslide.

 

[CPA]

I've seen very few homes with a 1st floor master bedroom and I've been through many model homes around here. In fact, I can only recall seeing one home with the master bedroom downstairs, I remember it because I remembered thinking how odd it was that the master bedroom was downstairs.

In Houston, most have them downstairs.

 

[vi edit]

I've had two houses - my past one had master upstairs, current has master downstairs. Downstairs master house wins by a landslide.

Didn't have a recent knee scope too? I'm sure you appreciated the main floor access after that. Not that I'm planning my living around knee surgery but I know that I have some aches and pains right now at 32. In 20 years I'm probably going to be cursing stairs. I went and planned ahead.

 

[Anubis]

That's why you get a reasonable sized 3-5 acre lot.

depending on where you live getting a 3-5 acre lot is an impossibility, especially in CA where a lot of people in this thread seem to be from

FWIW this house is on a ~ 1 acre lot and if you cout the basement and the 3rd floor is well over 4000 SQFT, 2 BR/2 Bath + Master Suite on 2nd floor and 2 more BR + bath on the 3rd floor, Main floor has a semi open kitchen + formal dining + formal living + TV rooms as well as a bath and a computer nook

laundry is in the basement

ive never lived in a house with the MS on the 1st floor. only one ive seen was my sisters "house" which was an over/under duplex and that wasn't a master suite it was just their beedroom no attached bath

 

[JS80]

Here's an example of one of the S. CA middle class home structures, a floorplan of the first and 2nd floor. I am currently working on a prospective plan in revit, quite a coincidence with the topic popping up.

oxymoron much?

 

[gaidensensei]

oxymoron much?

I backpedaled, detailed some later posts down if that appeases the correction gods. D:
But to be fair, I did note it was one of the many forms.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've had two houses - my past one had master upstairs, current has master downstairs. Downstairs master house wins by a landslide.

I really can't see any reason why having the master bedroom downstairs would be any better than having it upstairs...unless you're elderly and/or disabled.

Our master bedroom is upstairs, at the back of the house and I like it that way. In fact, it is right above the kitchen/family room so we enjoy a large master bath with a walk-in closet. The other two bedrooms are at the front of the house a good 15' away from the master bedroom and we have a decent sized office downstairs (could be used as a bedroom I suppose). The laundry room is downstairs too which is nice because you can be doing laundry and not hear it in the master bedroom.

 

[shortylickens]

I like it. At the end of a long day I dont have to trudge up the stairs.
Of course, I prefer ranch style in general. Stairs are an unnecessary pain in the ass. Especially for moving furniture and junk.

 

[KentState]

I'm a huge fan of having the master on the first floor and would prefer a ranch home if possible. Without kids, you could avoid heating/cooling an entire floor.

 

[The-Noid]

Master Suite on the first floor is the new norm if you first floor is going to be larger +2k sqft. Gives you opportunity to get the kids away when you want them.

 

[waggy]

we have a master bedroom on the 1st floor. we turned it into a computer/playroom.

it was for a handicapped couple that lived here.

 

[Adrenaline]

Our house has the master on the first floor.

 

[spidey07]

Another really nice thing about 1st floor master is they are generally larger, with bigger bathrooms and closets. You just can't squeeze 4 good sized bedrooms and baths in a 2 story house on the 2nd floor.

Not to mention the advantage of kitchen noise. On the 1st floor they are generally opposite the side of the kitchen, away from the noise. Otherwise many times they are directly above the kitchen. Clanking dishes, whatnot on a saturday/sunday morning sucks. 1st floor master is like your own private sanctuary and many homes have a door out onto the deck or a screened in outdoor living room.

 

[KillerCharlie]

To clarify, it is the only master bedroom in the house (about 1800 sq ft). I am single, but I'm worried that if I get married it wouldn't work if you have kids under the age of 1-2 to be on a different floor.

I would also have to put my office upstairs, which means the office and the bedroom on different floors might get annoying.

 

[chipy]

i agree with one of the posters above in that i would have to see the whole house and see what the rest of it looks like. i wouldn't be out right opposed to it but i think generally i prefer the master bedroom to be upstairs... no real reason, just a preference.