ᐅ Is it practical to design the attic as a separate living unit?
Created on: 15 Mar 2013 08:50
R
reabsie
Hello everyone,
we have just purchased a plot of land in Stuttgart and are now planning our house.
The plan is for a single-family house with a basement apartment, which we will initially rent out and later my parents will move into.
The house measures 11.75 by 9.25 meters (38.5 by 30.3 feet). So far, the layout is as follows.
Basement: 50 sqm (538 sq ft) apartment
15.5 sqm (167 sq ft) storage room
6.6 sqm (71 sq ft) utility room
5.2 sqm (56 sq ft) room for drinks/recycling etc.
4.9 sqm (53 sq ft) hallway
5.0 sqm (54 sq ft) staircase
Ground floor: 2.7 sqm (29 sq ft) guest toilet
17.6 sqm (189 sq ft) bedroom
10.4 sqm (112 sq ft) bathroom
50.0 sqm (538 sq ft) dining/kitchen/living area
5.0 sqm (54 sq ft) staircase
6.6 sqm (71 sq ft) hallway
Top floor: 8.5 sqm (91 sq ft) bathroom
14 sqm (151 sq ft) guest room
12 sqm (129 sq ft) office
19.5 sqm (210 sq ft) children’s room
18.8 sqm (202 sq ft) children’s room
5.0 sqm (54 sq ft) staircase
7.5 sqm (81 sq ft) hallway
Our idea is that later, when the children have moved out or if one of them wants to live on the top floor independently, this floor can be converted into a fully separate apartment. The two children’s rooms would then become a large open space combining kitchen, dining, and living areas, the office would become a children’s bedroom, and the guest room would become the master bedroom.
Do you think this planning is sensible, regarding the separate housing units?
I look forward to your opinions.
Best regards
we have just purchased a plot of land in Stuttgart and are now planning our house.
The plan is for a single-family house with a basement apartment, which we will initially rent out and later my parents will move into.
The house measures 11.75 by 9.25 meters (38.5 by 30.3 feet). So far, the layout is as follows.
Basement: 50 sqm (538 sq ft) apartment
15.5 sqm (167 sq ft) storage room
6.6 sqm (71 sq ft) utility room
5.2 sqm (56 sq ft) room for drinks/recycling etc.
4.9 sqm (53 sq ft) hallway
5.0 sqm (54 sq ft) staircase
Ground floor: 2.7 sqm (29 sq ft) guest toilet
17.6 sqm (189 sq ft) bedroom
10.4 sqm (112 sq ft) bathroom
50.0 sqm (538 sq ft) dining/kitchen/living area
5.0 sqm (54 sq ft) staircase
6.6 sqm (71 sq ft) hallway
Top floor: 8.5 sqm (91 sq ft) bathroom
14 sqm (151 sq ft) guest room
12 sqm (129 sq ft) office
19.5 sqm (210 sq ft) children’s room
18.8 sqm (202 sq ft) children’s room
5.0 sqm (54 sq ft) staircase
7.5 sqm (81 sq ft) hallway
Our idea is that later, when the children have moved out or if one of them wants to live on the top floor independently, this floor can be converted into a fully separate apartment. The two children’s rooms would then become a large open space combining kitchen, dining, and living areas, the office would become a children’s bedroom, and the guest room would become the master bedroom.
Do you think this planning is sensible, regarding the separate housing units?
I look forward to your opinions.
Best regards
N
nordanney15 Mar 2013 13:03Hello reabsi,
I would agree with your friends and suggest planning for your current situation. However, this is purely my personal opinion. Personally, I would never want to live with strangers in my house (assuming the children have moved out), as I have experience with that kind of situation. Naked on the terrace while the neighbors from the upstairs apartment are watching 😱 (just an example).
I would rather sell the house if it no longer fits. We do that with all other personal items as well (I consider a house the same way—as something like a suit or a car: if it’s too small, then get a new one).
But please don’t let my opinion steer you away from your path; that’s not my intention. I just wanted to share a different perspective.
I would agree with your friends and suggest planning for your current situation. However, this is purely my personal opinion. Personally, I would never want to live with strangers in my house (assuming the children have moved out), as I have experience with that kind of situation. Naked on the terrace while the neighbors from the upstairs apartment are watching 😱 (just an example).
I would rather sell the house if it no longer fits. We do that with all other personal items as well (I consider a house the same way—as something like a suit or a car: if it’s too small, then get a new one).
But please don’t let my opinion steer you away from your path; that’s not my intention. I just wanted to share a different perspective.
Of course, you should plan for the NOW, so you should also be able to live with having a subtenant at this moment (which isn’t for everyone). Whether you’ll rent out the attic in 10 or 20 years is uncertain. You can plan for it without giving up on living comfort.
For example, I dream of a bungalow with a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor. However, since we have to build one and a half stories, that’s what we’ll do. Still, a guest/work/bedroom will be on the ground floor. Short distances are great, and I consider it a quality of life to be able to quickly retreat to a “private room” in the evening without having to climb stairs.
The only downside for me would be a “staircase,” which can sometimes feel a bit unwelcoming.
For example, I dream of a bungalow with a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor. However, since we have to build one and a half stories, that’s what we’ll do. Still, a guest/work/bedroom will be on the ground floor. Short distances are great, and I consider it a quality of life to be able to quickly retreat to a “private room” in the evening without having to climb stairs.
The only downside for me would be a “staircase,” which can sometimes feel a bit unwelcoming.
According to your measurements, your living area is planned generously. Additionally, there is the perspective that sleeping and the bathroom (wellness area) are also part of the living space.
Whether any of your children will want to move back with their parents after they have grown up is also uncertain.
However, I have found that many opinions (from friends) are often either quite standard or, conversely, exaggerated in terms of size. If I had followed all the advice from acquaintances, I would have had to build an oversized house worth 500,000. 😉
Whether any of your children will want to move back with their parents after they have grown up is also uncertain.
However, I have found that many opinions (from friends) are often either quite standard or, conversely, exaggerated in terms of size. If I had followed all the advice from acquaintances, I would have had to build an oversized house worth 500,000. 😉
First of all, thank you for the responses.
Of course, we have already planned everything to suit our needs now, with a view to the future.
I also believe that having a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor is an advantage for old age.
The downside is that as long as our children are young, they will have to sleep one floor above us.
Renting out the granny flat doesn’t bother us, since we are both used to that from our own parents. We have also specifically planned a separate entrance on the other side for the granny flat, so we won’t have much contact with the tenants.
I am aware that you shouldn’t build your house according to the needs of your friends; I was just unsettled because most of their opinions were negative.
Of course, we have already planned everything to suit our needs now, with a view to the future.
I also believe that having a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor is an advantage for old age.
The downside is that as long as our children are young, they will have to sleep one floor above us.
Renting out the granny flat doesn’t bother us, since we are both used to that from our own parents. We have also specifically planned a separate entrance on the other side for the granny flat, so we won’t have much contact with the tenants.
I am aware that you shouldn’t build your house according to the needs of your friends; I was just unsettled because most of their opinions were negative.
reabsie schrieb:
The downside for me is that as long as our children are small, they have to sleep on a floor above us.Then, in the first few years, just switch the double bed with the desk in the office ... Furniture can be rearranged, and rooms can be repurposed. That way, you would have a bathroom and a large walk-in closet downstairs, while still being close to the children 🙂
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