2 Floor plan comparison - requesting input please

[Anonymous]

Hello all!

I am in the market for a new construction home and am beginning to look at different options.

I wanted to get everyone's opinions on the following floor plans:

1) https://www.redfin.com/VA/McLean/1837-Poole-Ln-22101/home/9474512

2) https://www.redfin.com/VA/McLean/6821-Dean-Dr-22101/home/9403658

On Option 1, I like the following:
- The laundry room on the second floor looks intriguing as it has a dual entry. Not sure if that means lack of privacy into the Master bath but I like the idea of easy access.
- Love the thought of 2 separate showers. My DH is messy with his toiletries. I wish we could have separate toilets too!
- The balconies are a nice touch. For those that have 2nd floor balconies, do you use them much?

On Option 2, I like the following:
- Upstairs living area for the kids to watch TV or do their homework. If you have living space upstairs, do you use it much and what do you use it for?
- Basement is HUGE and unencumbered
- Kitchen is beautiful and the island is super large

I like both in their own way and am not opposed to them (first floors are similar) but I know there are other things that I'm not thinking of that can be incorporated into these floor plans.

What other suggestions do you have DCUM if you could create your own floor plan or change up the existing floor plans above?

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I think the messaging to your kids when your closets are bigger than their bedrooms is basically FU. So, neither?

The second one is OK other than that absurdity.

[Anonymous]

I realize you could easily swap this, but I don't understand why the second option has put the dining room on the opposite side of the house from the kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the messaging to your kids when your closets are bigger than their bedrooms is basically FU. So, neither?

The second one is OK other than that absurdity.

Lol

[Anonymous]

The 2nd floor plan in the 2nd house is horrible. Going through the owners closet to get to the bathroom is just bad.

[Anonymous]

Both are horrible.

[Anonymous]

This is why people shouldn't post floor plans!

[Anonymous]

Both scream "I have more money than sense"

[Anonymous]

First one is a nicer one in my opinion.

I think the age of my kids would likely determine which one I chose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The 2nd floor plan in the 2nd house is horrible. Going through the owners closet to get to the bathroom is just bad.

OP this is a show stopper for this price point. Never want a bathroom after the closet. Bad idea. Mold, mildew etc.. Plenty of builders do this however not a good idea to buy a house with this floor plan.

[Anonymous]

Hard to respect a house that doesn’t even have a coat closet within shouting distance of the front door. But maybe the butler will collect the visitors’ coats?

[Anonymous]

I prefer the tucked away first floor guest bed-bath on the first plan.

[Anonymous]

There are so many questions here to answer effectively. Random thoughts...

1. How big is your lot? I personally would never want a front load garage if I could help it - but a lot of smaller lots can't support a side load garage.

2. How many adults/kids are you planning on housing? Do you work from home?

3. For my lifestyle, I prefer a joint mudroom/laundry room because I have young kids who I want to dump sports gear in the washer the second they are inside - not sure how to redo those floor plans to accommodate that.

4. Does the pantry have an extra fridge in it? Can be very helpful. In friends homes, I think the bigger the better in the pantry because you can have a cleaner main kitchen by having more storage there.

5. For our family's lifestyle - I'd prefer a basement bedroom to a first floor bedroom and would rather repurpose that 1st floor space to a library. I wouldn't like the "study" to be that open space upstairs in the second house. The first house doesn't seem to have one at all -- but maybe that isn't important to you.

6. What kind of home gym do you want, if any? The second home would be too small for some people, but if you only have a Peloton or something - that would work. Could you do a barn door to close it off vs. it being open to the rest of the basement per the plan? In the first home there doesn't actually seem to be an entrance to the gym so I'd want to understand that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the messaging to your kids when your closets are bigger than their bedrooms is basically FU. So, neither?

The second one is OK other than that absurdity.

Thank you for saying this.

[Anonymous]

Just want to point out that Dean Drive is already built, if. you were thinking that both of these were yet to be built. We were in that house this weekend. I hated the giant closet and also pointed out to husband that the bathroom was reaaaaally far away from the bed.

I like the sink in BP. I'd rather have another bed on 2 than the lounge tbh. I never know why these massive kitchens with so many beds don't have 2 fridges and 2 dw. I love the newel posts they used in this house (not floorplan related, but whatever). I liked the sideways layout of the family room that allows for tv NOT above fireplace.

#1 double showers? nah. why is the pantry SO far away from kitchen? I personally prefer the built out basement and not big cavern. would prefer sitting room in primary vs ridiculous closets. there are only 3 secondary beds and just the homework nook. I prefer a loungey library area! or again, a BEDROOM. I have more kids.