House vs bunglow

rosyw

Rather than thinking along the lines of house v bungalow, why not just have a look at of a few of each and see how the space in each could work for you ? I always said I wouldn't live in a bungalow/chalet, seeing them as something for "older" people, but when I last moved the only property that met my needs with regards to space/layout was in fact a chalet - and I love it! my family & friends also love it :T as it's a chalet I still "go up to bed" and have to hoover the stairs :rotfl:

StevenMarks

I live in a house with the master bedroom on the ground floor. Doesn't both me in the slightest.

chris_m

ed110220 wrote: »

the Oxford English Dictionary definition of a bungalow is... "a single storey house"!

A bungalow is a house where they ran out of bricks half-way through building so decided to just bungalow roof on it :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Old_Git

I bought a chalet bungalow last year .
I wasnt looking for a bungalow and because it has two bedrooms upstairs it dosent feel any different to a two story house . Yes I am restricted as the where I put furniture but no more than I would be in any two story house .
My lowest upstairs walls are 5 feet high so I have plenty off space to walk about .my largest bedroom is the biggest room in the house .

The downside is the only bathroom is downstairs ,but I am going to use the bathroom more during the day than at night anyway .

Some off the neighbours use the downstairs bedroom as a second reception room which would be more inconvenient in a two story house .

moneyistooshorttomention

Now I'm living in a bungalow, I can see that it just feels a lot "easier" to live in in some ways. House being renovated at the moment, so all is chaos and I'm rather "camping out" in it still. However, once it's done, I can see that housework is likely to feel like a lot quicker/easier whip-through than previously. None of the "whatever I want is on the other floor" syndrome.

The downside is that I am very aware I have to remove all traces of "old person style" very thoroughly and am that bit more aware I intend it to be very modern/clean/21st century looking to get away from the "bungalows feel a bit Old Person-ish".

I also feel a stronger need to "individualise" the garden and not have a typical patch of lawn/surrounded by boring shrubs garden. Again...so as not to be Old Person-ish.

Determined to prove that bungalows CAN be modern houses a younger person would be quite happy with and with "individual style" gardens.

lessonlearned

Bungalows don't have to be a style free zone or a soulless box.

A lot of resale bungalows are often probate sales therefore, by definition, they will require a bit of modernisation and upgrading. You do need to be able to see past the awful NHS disability bathrooms, swirly carpets, clapped out kitchens and outdated decor.

Bungalows can be very flexible and they are usually very easy to remodel, swap rooms round etc. Just because a room was originally designated a bedroom doesn't mean it has to remain a bedroom. It can be second reception room, hobby room, gym or whatever.

Very often bungalows have quite a large footprint, decent sized rooms and a reasonable sized plot. This is one of the reasons why so few are built now - they are land hungry and expensive to build.

Throughout my career working for developers if I had had a £1 for every time I was asked "Are you building any bungalows" I would be a rich woman……

There is one thing I would advise on - and this is something I learned through my years caring for my OH.

If you are looking at bungalows as your "forever" home then try to think ahead and ensure that it will meed your future needs or that it can be easily adapted.

Think about wheelchair access - how steep is the garden, are the corridors wide enough to allow a wheelchair to turn, is the bathroom large enough to take a wheelchair and a carer to help you should the need arise.

When changing baths over to showers consider a nice trendy wet room rather than a small shower cubicle with awkward steps and doors - that kind of thing.

I agree with Money here, even something as simple as some imaginative gardening can make a huge difference to the external appearance of a "bog standard" suburban bungalow.

chris_m

When I next move a bungalow will certainly be on my list of choices. having lived in a first-floor flat for (by then) 25 years, having everything all on one level will suit me just fine, especially not having to lug everything up a flight of stairs before even reaching the front door.
Since that move will be a retirement move I'm not too concerned about the "old person" look, because I'll be heading that way myself LOL. The lack of stairs will undoubtedly become a benefit as I get more doddery but, prior to that, things like low gutters, etc will make maintenance easier too.
Also, bungalows often come with generous plots and one of my retirement plans is to actually have a garden, preferably one large enough that I can set a fair bit aside for growing my own veggies, so that would also fit in well.

Davesnave

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

I think most of the problem is that British bungalows tend to be somewhat lacking in charm.

When someone says they live in a 'bungalow' we all get the same mental picture. We don't even need to see it, we don't need to visit, we all know what it looks like.

And it isn't good. A Lego building with bleak empty windows. You look at it and wonder what kind of soulless life dwells within.

I suppose anyone who worries about others' mental images might not consider a bungalow, but in the real world they're probably as varied as the 2+ storey equivalents. Welsh longhouses and some English gate houses are examples of 'bungalows.'

Besides, if we're lucky, we grow old. The prospect of living in a single storey, modern building, without damp and similar structural issues, may appeal more in later life.

My bungalow certainly lacks charm, as do many of its kind, but it's an affordable means to an end. With 5+ acres of land around me as a buffer zone, I'm happy to suffer it's looks.

I could have a charm-laden, dinky, period cottage in a pleasant village, or even a swish barn conversion, where I could argue with the management committee about what I'm allowed to do, but my boring bungalow, with its lack of structural issues and low running costs, has merit.

Most of us realise we can't have it all.

Dan-Dan

A decent bungalow usually has a decent plot for a garden , but then you can get proper grotty ones , which only have concrete courtyards

moneyistooshorttomention

Dan-Dan wrote: »

A decent bungalow usually has a decent plot for a garden , but then you can get proper grotty ones , which only have concrete courtyards

There's always diggers etc available to knock those "concrete courtyards" to smithereens and turn them back into Gardens Proper.