ᐅ Idea Generation / Discussion for a House Suitable for a "Weekend Patchwork" Family
Created on: 17 Jan 2021 00:32
K
Klaustal
Hi,
I plan to build a house together with my new partner.
We have a child together (4 years old) and I have two children (10 and 12 years old) from my previous marriage. The two older children stay with us every other weekend.
As if it wasn’t complicated enough, now the discussion has come up about how much space we should or have to plan for the two older children.
Of course, I would like each child to have their own room. She thinks it’s unnecessary to plan so much space for the 4 to 7 years when the children will still be with us only part-time. In a way, she is not wrong.
That’s why I wanted to ask here if anyone has “smart” concepts for this kind of situation or if someone has built a house with a similar family setup.
We already considered a granny flat / accessory dwelling unit, but our lot is as flat as a pancake.
What about converting the attic later and possibly renting it out? We actually wanted a flat roof… well, you can’t have everything. However, just like with the granny flat, parking space will be tight. The lot is only about 19 by 19 meters (62 by 62 feet).
Should we just build something suitable now and sell later to build again? When I see how hard it is to get building land / a building permit / planning permission… phew.
Looking forward to suggestions and discussion.
Klaus
I plan to build a house together with my new partner.
We have a child together (4 years old) and I have two children (10 and 12 years old) from my previous marriage. The two older children stay with us every other weekend.
As if it wasn’t complicated enough, now the discussion has come up about how much space we should or have to plan for the two older children.
Of course, I would like each child to have their own room. She thinks it’s unnecessary to plan so much space for the 4 to 7 years when the children will still be with us only part-time. In a way, she is not wrong.
That’s why I wanted to ask here if anyone has “smart” concepts for this kind of situation or if someone has built a house with a similar family setup.
We already considered a granny flat / accessory dwelling unit, but our lot is as flat as a pancake.
What about converting the attic later and possibly renting it out? We actually wanted a flat roof… well, you can’t have everything. However, just like with the granny flat, parking space will be tight. The lot is only about 19 by 19 meters (62 by 62 feet).
Should we just build something suitable now and sell later to build again? When I see how hard it is to get building land / a building permit / planning permission… phew.
Looking forward to suggestions and discussion.
Klaus
A
Alessandro20 Jan 2021 11:51Well, for 2 overnight stays within 14 days, in my opinion siblings don’t need two separate rooms.
Create one large room and have a carpenter build a bed that also acts as a room divider.
It doesn’t cost a fortune and provides a bit more privacy.
Create one large room and have a carpenter build a bed that also acts as a room divider.
It doesn’t cost a fortune and provides a bit more privacy.
H
hampshire20 Jan 2021 12:07Consider a larger "experience room" with sleeping space for two people. A kind of sleeping alcove that saves space while providing privacy is an option. Depending on the roof and layout, it is also possible to install a small private attic space for each child, accessible through the larger room. Do the two older children get along well? In a boy/girl setup, it may be important to consider that during puberty better separation might be preferred. Relationships and family dynamics are important.
P
pagoni202022 Jan 2021 17:58In my opinion, this cannot be answered solely in terms of space or area, as there is an individual story behind it and how the children themselves handle or perceive the situation. Do they openly express their feelings, or are they more reserved, and so on.
Of course, you don’t have to fulfill every wish, but I wanted my own children to feel just as welcome there as the other child. I think this should be taken into consideration. Even the youngest child should feel that they belong just as much. This can be achieved with one room or two shared/dividable rooms. A fundamentally good idea, for example, would be to build a “special” room for the two older children, such as with a cool bed or fun details—sacrificing some area for more exciting features. This could be a fun loft bed or a cozy nook, and it should be their room, not a common area.
I believe privacy is important and maybe you as the father take care of their room because there might still be uncertainties regarding the new partner, which wouldn’t be unusual, or perhaps some jealousy toward the younger child. Therefore, it should feel like THEIR room alone, where no “stranger” enters except dad... something along those lines is how I imagine it.
Of course, you don’t have to fulfill every wish, but I wanted my own children to feel just as welcome there as the other child. I think this should be taken into consideration. Even the youngest child should feel that they belong just as much. This can be achieved with one room or two shared/dividable rooms. A fundamentally good idea, for example, would be to build a “special” room for the two older children, such as with a cool bed or fun details—sacrificing some area for more exciting features. This could be a fun loft bed or a cozy nook, and it should be their room, not a common area.
I believe privacy is important and maybe you as the father take care of their room because there might still be uncertainties regarding the new partner, which wouldn’t be unusual, or perhaps some jealousy toward the younger child. Therefore, it should feel like THEIR room alone, where no “stranger” enters except dad... something along those lines is how I imagine it.
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