Kitchen on ground floor?

milliebear00001

Have found a house I love. Only problem is the kitchen/diner is on the ground floor, and lounge/playroom on the first. I have never lived with this arrangement before but can imagine it becomes very tiresome having to go up and down stairs all day. The stairs are also very steep, narrow and stone (thinking the original cellar steps) and I am a bit concerned about one of us falling down them if they are in such regular use - I have two young kids and a husband who is not too stead on his feet! Current vendors have been there twelve years though, so they've obviously managed.

How much (if at all) of a deal-breaker would this be for you? Is the steepness something we could manage with double bannisters/non-slip tread?

Oldernotwiser

I've lived quite happily with that situation when I was younger but wouldn't now, especially if your husband has mobility problems.

[Deleted User]

our kitchen/diner is on the ground floor and lounge on first and we have steep stairs too. It is fab living like this, just get used to spending family time in the kitchen area and it truly does become the heart of the home. Going upstairs to the lounge is like getting into a different relaxing level of energy. The stair are wonderful and you soon get used to them, they keep a basic level of fitness on anyone who uses them and at an ample 60+ I can actually run up 2 flights of them now but not when we first moved here

by the way my dh has 2 artificial hips and one was done soon before we moved here and one soon after. The stairs have been a godsend in keeping mobile and also good for osteoporosis. As someone who has got the t shirt, take my word for it. We are about to move and we will miss living like this

dannymccann

I work with someone in the same arrangement in a new build, she loved it at first but now hates it, says it is such a P-I-T-A and I can only imagine it will exclude numerous buyers because of the layout. Obviously some will like it, take Kittie ^^ for example, but they wont be in the majority I wouldnt think. Guess it depends how long you will be there for? Your kids will grow and learn to be careful on them. If your partner couldnt manage it I guess your answer is sorted for you

Soot2006

We always had a huuuuge cellar kitchen when I was a child, so the only ascent options were a trap door type thing or a staircase OUT of the house and then back in through the back door!
Loved it & so did our future tenants and buyers HOWEVER my parents always said it would not be a viable option in old age (but is not the reason they sold the house -- they would ultimately have moved the kitchen).

oystercatcher

I would have been happy with this type of arrangement when the children were smaller and we needed extra space. Now we are approaching 50 and not terribly healthy there is no way we would consider a property with this layout and they are very quickly passed over on Rightmove. So you could be limited on the resale depending on what the market is like at the time.

There are loads of new builds springing up in this style though.

queenieplum

For fitness its an excellent idea, but as you have stated your husband is not too good on his feet then maybe its best not to go for this house as its not practical for your circumstances.

DVardysShadow

You have already expressed enough doubts. And they are doubts about the suitability for you - not about resaleability. I would keep looking.

gauly

My parents-in-law have this arrangement. Basically the lounge is an enormous, completely unused space upstairs - sometimes my husband or I hide in there to read a book in peace because no-one ever goes in it! Apparently when he was a kid the lounge was used, but over the years the TV migrated downstairs to the dining room, along with a couple of comfy chairs and now everyone spends all their time in the kitchen or dining room. I must admit I wouldn't go for that style of house if I could avoid it.

puddy

personally i would hate it. i spend all day drinking tea, have one about once an hour. i would hate t have to keep going down stairs to make one and then bring it up. oh, forgot the biscuits, down i go again. oh, is that the oven going off, down i go again. whats that dear, i cant hear you, im in the living room, down i go again.

v annoying

[Deleted User]

re re-sale, our townhouse sold within a month of getting it on the market