Comments on: The Two-Story Family Room Trend: Thanks, But No Thanks http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/02/10/the-two-story-family-room-trend-thanks-but-no-thanks/ A Fun Place to Get Your House Fix Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:50:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Inge http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/02/10/the-two-story-family-room-trend-thanks-but-no-thanks/comment-page-1/#comment-203545 Inge Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:43:28 +0000 http://hookedonhouses.net/?p=5383#comment-203545 We are currently debating closing off our two story living room and foyer and adding 1 extra bedroom and an office or playroom upstairs. I'm nervous to think of the cost of doing this since our house was built in 1992. Any advice on the cost of such a project? I see the earlier post that the builder only charged $5K but I'm sure that today this would be much more, especially on an existing structure. Also, any advice on what type of company would do this? (i.e. design build, contrustion, handyman, etc.)? We are currently debating closing off our two story living room and foyer and adding 1 extra bedroom and an office or playroom upstairs. I’m nervous to think of the cost of doing this since our house was built in 1992. Any advice on the cost of such a project? I see the earlier post that the builder only charged $5K but I’m sure that today this would be much more, especially on an existing structure. Also, any advice on what type of company would do this? (i.e. design build, contrustion, handyman, etc.)?

]]> By: Julie http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/02/10/the-two-story-family-room-trend-thanks-but-no-thanks/comment-page-1/#comment-199636 Julie Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:48:54 +0000 http://hookedonhouses.net/?p=5383#comment-199636 We are in the process of building a house with a two story great room with an 18' stone fireplace and a wall of windows that looks out to a wooded area. Of course I don't know how the noise factor is going to be yet and I don't know about how the smells will travel but it is beautiful. The room feels really grand which is exactly what we were looking for. We would rather have one grand room than two rooms that have nothing special about them. We are in the process of building a house with a two story great room with an 18′ stone fireplace and a wall of windows that looks out to a wooded area. Of course I don’t know how the noise factor is going to be yet and I don’t know about how the smells will travel but it is beautiful. The room feels really grand which is exactly what we were looking for. We would rather have one grand room than two rooms that have nothing special about them.

]]> By: Pam P http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/02/10/the-two-story-family-room-trend-thanks-but-no-thanks/comment-page-1/#comment-189847 Pam P Sun, 26 Dec 2010 03:55:40 +0000 http://hookedonhouses.net/?p=5383#comment-189847 Our last house had TWO two-story ceilings. Yeah- the house had WOW factor, but I hated the fact the sound traveled right up into the 2nd floor bedrooms. Lucky for us our son, who was a toddler at the time, slept like a rock. And painting them? Ha! Yes- I did it myself. You know how you paint them? With a 28-foot extension ladder. When my husband and I had our current house built, most of the models offered had two story family rooms. We steered clear of those. But we had to have the two story foyer because that was all that was offered. The 28 foot extension ladder came in handy. Most people who bought here were clamoring for that WOW factor, but I'll bet after a year they wished they hadn't. Our last house had TWO two-story ceilings. Yeah- the house had WOW factor, but I hated the fact the sound traveled right up into the 2nd floor bedrooms. Lucky for us our son, who was a toddler at the time, slept like a rock. And painting them? Ha! Yes- I did it myself. You know how you paint them? With a 28-foot extension ladder. When my husband and I had our current house built, most of the models offered had two story family rooms. We steered clear of those. But we had to have the two story foyer because that was all that was offered. The 28 foot extension ladder came in handy. Most people who bought here were clamoring for that WOW factor, but I’ll bet after a year they wished they hadn’t.

]]> By: Haley http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/02/10/the-two-story-family-room-trend-thanks-but-no-thanks/comment-page-1/#comment-172900 Haley Sat, 23 Oct 2010 19:03:38 +0000 http://hookedonhouses.net/?p=5383#comment-172900 OK - well I apparently am in the minority! We have a two story great room and a two story Foyer with a catwalk that overlooks both the foyer and the great room. We have a wooded lot which backs up to the golf course so we do not have a need for extensive window coverings. And although we live in Northern Ohio - I have never felt that we have had an issue heating the house - it is a well built house (custom builder) so maybe that is why. We have two active boys and I love the fact that even if I am upstairs It is still very easy to keep tabs on them. We have four good sized bedrooms upstairs and a full finished basement - so I don't really have a need to finish off the room to add extra space. We have wood (vs.) white trim throughout the room so I think that also adds to the warm/cozy feel of the room. My only complaint about the room is that I haven't figured out the lighting yet. It gets wonderful sunlight during the day - but in the evening it is hard to provide adequate task lighting. OK – well I apparently am in the minority! We have a two story great room and a two story Foyer with a catwalk that overlooks both the foyer and the great room.

We have a wooded lot which backs up to the golf course so we do not have a need for extensive window coverings. And although we live in Northern Ohio – I have never felt that we have had an issue heating the house – it is a well built house (custom builder) so maybe that is why. We have two active boys and I love the fact that even if I am upstairs It is still very easy to keep tabs on them. We have four good sized bedrooms upstairs and a full finished basement – so I don’t really have a need to finish off the room to add extra space. We have wood (vs.) white trim throughout the room so I think that also adds to the warm/cozy feel of the room.

My only complaint about the room is that I haven’t figured out the lighting yet. It gets wonderful sunlight during the day – but in the evening it is hard to provide adequate task lighting.

]]> By: hookedonhouses http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/02/10/the-two-story-family-room-trend-thanks-but-no-thanks/comment-page-1/#comment-132417 hookedonhouses Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:45:52 +0000 http://hookedonhouses.net/?p=5383#comment-132417 SunMoonGlow-- Well, I'd choose the one with the bonus room and plant a bunch of trees myself! But that's because I don't know what we'd do without our bonus room. If you don't think you'd use it that much, though, maybe the wooded lot is more important to you. A wooded lot usually raises your home value, so it's definitely something to take into consideration. Good luck!! -Julia SunMoonGlow–
Well, I’d choose the one with the bonus room and plant a bunch of trees myself! But that’s because I don’t know what we’d do without our bonus room. If you don’t think you’d use it that much, though, maybe the wooded lot is more important to you. A wooded lot usually raises your home value, so it’s definitely something to take into consideration. Good luck!! -Julia

]]> By: SunMoonGlow http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/02/10/the-two-story-family-room-trend-thanks-but-no-thanks/comment-page-1/#comment-132416 SunMoonGlow Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:42:12 +0000 http://hookedonhouses.net/?p=5383#comment-132416 I am in the market looking for a house to get the tax credit. I found a neighborhood with some new homes available. I am torn between purchasing a home with a wooded lot and 2 story foyer OR Purchasing the same home with a bonus room placed above the great room w/ no wooded lot. Another houses would be behind me. Help!!!! Which should I choose? I am in the market looking for a house to get the tax credit. I found a neighborhood with some new homes available. I am torn between purchasing a home with a wooded lot and 2 story foyer OR Purchasing the same home with a bonus room placed above the great room w/ no wooded lot. Another houses would be behind me. Help!!!! Which should I choose?

]]> By: Mahua Sen http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/02/10/the-two-story-family-room-trend-thanks-but-no-thanks/comment-page-1/#comment-129168 Mahua Sen Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:19:03 +0000 http://hookedonhouses.net/?p=5383#comment-129168 We have a 2 storey living room but the TV is in the family room, so do not have any issue with the sound. The living room is my favorite area of retreat. We have an open space outside with green fields and beautiful landscaping. The sky looks wonderful in the night. In winter, during sunny days, the living room feels much warmer than any other room due to the large windows on 2 sides . One of the reasons we went for this house is the living room. We do anticipate problems changing the recessed lights on the ceiling, but I did not have to change this in 2 years, so it may not be that frequent and we will manage somehow. If this was like any other room, we would hardly spend time here, it would be like the dining room that is unused most of the time. An additional bedroom would definitely helped us with extra living space, but again the it would be only one extra room with nothing special about it. We have a 2 storey living room but the TV is in the family room, so do not have any issue with the sound. The living room is my favorite area of retreat. We have an open space outside with green fields and beautiful landscaping. The sky looks wonderful in the night. In winter, during sunny days, the living room feels much warmer than any other room due to the large windows on 2 sides . One of the reasons we went for this house is the living room. We do anticipate problems changing the recessed lights on the ceiling, but I did not have to change this in 2 years, so it may not be that frequent and we will manage somehow. If this was like any other room, we would hardly spend time here, it would be like the dining room that is unused most of the time. An additional bedroom would definitely helped us with extra living space, but again the it would be only one extra room with nothing special about it.

]]> By: Jimbo http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/02/10/the-two-story-family-room-trend-thanks-but-no-thanks/comment-page-1/#comment-114918 Jimbo Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:37:07 +0000 http://hookedonhouses.net/?p=5383#comment-114918 I came across this site as I am searching for ideas to put a floor/ceiling on my two-story living room. Noise is a huge issue w/three kiddos, but also the extra room upstairs would be really nice. Unfortunately, at this point a structural engineer needs to be involved probably leading to big bucks for the project. I loved it when we bought it, but now wish we hadn't! I came across this site as I am searching for ideas to put a floor/ceiling on my two-story living room. Noise is a huge issue w/three kiddos, but also the extra room upstairs would be really nice. Unfortunately, at this point a structural engineer needs to be involved probably leading to big bucks for the project.
I loved it when we bought it, but now wish we hadn’t!

]]> By: The Two-Story Family Room Trend: Out or In for 2010? http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/02/10/the-two-story-family-room-trend-thanks-but-no-thanks/comment-page-1/#comment-114441 The Two-Story Family Room Trend: Out or In for 2010? Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:02:26 +0000 http://hookedonhouses.net/?p=5383#comment-114441 [...] why I thought the two-story family room was one of the worst house trends to come out of the 2000s (“The Two-Story Family Room: Thanks, But No Thanks”). Why? Because they’re noisy. A waste of space. Difficult to decorate. And energy [...] [...] why I thought the two-story family room was one of the worst house trends to come out of the 2000s (“The Two-Story Family Room: Thanks, But No Thanks”). Why? Because they’re noisy. A waste of space. Difficult to decorate. And energy [...]

]]> By: Tammy http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/02/10/the-two-story-family-room-trend-thanks-but-no-thanks/comment-page-1/#comment-112018 Tammy Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:46:01 +0000 http://hookedonhouses.net/?p=5383#comment-112018 I purchased my house in May 2009, and the 2 story family room and 2 story foyer was beautiful. Now that I'm here with my 4 small kids, its a nightmare. The noise travels. I can be in my master bath, they are in the family room and it sounds like they are next to me. If you have kids especially small ones, you might want to reconsider the 2 story family room. I purchased my house in May 2009, and the 2 story family room and 2 story foyer was beautiful. Now that I’m here with my 4 small kids, its a nightmare. The noise travels. I can be in my master bath, they are in the family room and it sounds like they are next to me. If you have kids especially small ones, you might want to reconsider the 2 story family room.

]]>