what are the pros and cons of split level homes?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, this was the split foyer:

http://therealestatedirt.com/2008/07/30/arlington-virginia-home-styles-part-3-the-bi-level-and-the-split-foyer-cousins-of-the-rambler/

[Anonymous]

I lived in a split level for about 10 years. The plus was the short flights of stairs. Easy to get up and down. Negative in ours was size and bedroom placement, we had 2 bedrooms on each of the split floors and once we had a 2nd child it got awkward. We ended up having the kids on two levels. The other option would have been to move the kids on one level and us on the other.

I also lived in a ranch house and actually like that better than split, as long as the bedroom wing is far enough from the living area. I currently live in a 3 level colonial, which is great other than the constant steps.

[Anonymous]

We lived in a split level for some time. Yes, they have drawbacks, but one thing I did love about it was that once you went up a short flight, all the living space was on the same level, on the top floor, and had high ceilings and sky lights, so very pleasant. In older colonials, the ceiling seems to press down on the living space.

[Anonymous]

We live in a five level split (including semi-finished basement).

I totally agree they are ugly, and when we were looking at houses, was a little horrified that split-levels and split-foyers made up most of the housing stock available to us (given location and $).

That said, I actually really like our house. The lower-level playroom keeps the kid stuff contained (and keeps the kids close by, but out from underfoot), the main-level living area is perfect for our needs, our bedroom and office has it's own floor and thus affords some privacy, but is only a couple steps down from where the kids are. The house isn't large, but seems to keep going and going... we can accommodate plenty of house guests without everyone being on top of each other.

It bothers me that we don't have a bathroom on the main level, but we did some renovations so that now there's a guest bath right at the bottom of the stairs to the lower-level - not perfect, but better. The stair thing really isn't an issue - there are a lot of them, but you're never going up many at once.

[Anonymous]

We have a split foyer and while it is NOT my first choice by a stretch, it is working out with a small child. She can be downstairs in the play area and I can run upstairs and still feel like I can hear her very well. When we are at my parent's traditional colonial I am wary of being on a different level. Also, our cielings are high upstairs (12 feet at the tallest) and we are situated into a hill which makes it look a little different from the outside than most split foyers. Lastly, and this has nothing to do with the house itself, we are in a good school district and not too far out. So, it is working for us for now.

[Anonymous]

Moved into a split foyer last summer and I like it. It is an 'expanded' foyer, so it is large enough to be comfortable for multiple people, space for a bench, baskets, etc. and has a coat closet.
The plus is that once you are up 5 stairs you have your main living space (much like the rambler I moved from) -- living, dining, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. Basement has guest space and very large family room. Ideal to me.
I much prefer that to a TH, which is all steps. I vetoed any of the many TH developments in the area where you have 4 levels to navigate.

[Anonymous]

We have a split level house when I was growing up in the midwest. I hated them - feel like that era was a really bleak one for housing design. That said, the plan worked really well for our family. On the main level we had a LR, DR, Kitchen and FR, then you went up a few stairs to 3 BR/2BA, then up another small flight to the guest room and attic. Everything was pretty convenient.

They sell pretty quickly in Arlington because they are generally newer than a lot of the housing stock in that price range.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate split foyers. But split level doesn't bother me.

Ditto. Split foyers are horrible. I could not deal with that daily using the steps going past the front door just to move around my house. I live in a split level (bathroom on family room level which is 2 steps down from the kitchen level). I prefer a split level to a colonial b/c I want a dining room that is not closed off (everything we saw had a small enclosed dining room. There was no way for us to open our dining room table to accommodate larger groups than 8). Plus, we have many windows, an open feeling and a lot light. Ultimately I would like a sprawling rambler with a full footprint basement/lower level as my end all be all of homes though.

[Anonymous]

We could only afford a split level or a rambler in our price range, they are about the same in terms of price and decided to go with the rambler. I didn't like the split foyers for the same reasons stated here already, I was wondering while visiting these home, where the closet was, there just was no space to put anything. I didn't like split levels because of all the stairs, even though these are not long flights of stairs they are still annoying, especially since we have little kids, we would have to have gates everywhere. Rambler worked much better for us, everything we need in on one level, zero stairs to climb. Downstairs we have a full walkout basement, but it's separated by the door from the main floor, so that we never had to babyproof. I know the baby stage is temporary, but even as adult, I would always have to watch my step in a split level to get around places.

[Anonymous]

LOL, when I think of split level, I think of the signs "Watch your step" posted everywhere, if you are not used to it, you can fall down. Not an issue for people living there and used to it, but some visitors might need that warning.

[Anonymous]

+ Space/Privacy: Like the space, especially that you can create a different mood on different levels, giving each of the residents a bit of privacy as for example some will use the media room for a movie night while others will watch a hockey game in the living room, without hearing each other.
+ Price: More space for the same price
+ Lighting: We've got a lot of large windows on each side of the house, which we can use efficiently to heat the house in the winter from various areas or to keep it cool in the summer in collaboration with our birch tree (very helpful!)
- Stairs: I suspect when we'll have kids, it'll be a bit more difficult to gate each staircase.
- Cleaning: Takes a bit more effort to clean 4 1/2 floors instead of 2 floors.
- Heating: A bit challenging as well, but we basically never heat the basement unless we use it, and close the heating in each room we don't normally use. Normally, heating is on only in the kitchen/bedrooms/washrooms.

I don't think the house looks ugly at all - some might look better than others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+ Space/Privacy: Like the space, especially that you can create a different mood on different levels, giving each of the residents a bit of privacy as for example some will use the media room for a movie night while others will watch a hockey game in the living room, without hearing each other.
+ Price: More space for the same price
+ Lighting: We've got a lot of large windows on each side of the house, which we can use efficiently to heat the house in the winter from various areas or to keep it cool in the summer in collaboration with our birch tree (very helpful!)
+ Moving furniture: a lot easier to move furniture in/out if you have a staircase that doesn't turn!
- Stairs: I suspect when we'll have kids, it'll be a bit more difficult to gate each staircase.
- Cleaning: Takes a bit more effort to clean 4 1/2 floors instead of 2 floors.
- Heating: A bit challenging as well, but we basically never heat the basement unless we use it, and close the heating in each room we don't normally use. Normally, heating is on only in the kitchen/bedrooms/washrooms.

I don't think the house looks ugly at all - some might look better than others.

[Anonymous]

We have a split foyer. I agree it is kind of ugly, although if we ever landscape it will improve a lot I think (previous owners lived there 20 years not one thing was landscaped). I don't necessarily love the split foyer because I want more of an entry way, but it is about double whatever else our budget could afford, so there u go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in a five level split (including semi-finished basement).

I totally agree they are ugly, and when we were looking at houses, was a little horrified that split-levels and split-foyers made up most of the housing stock available to us (given location and $).

That said, I actually really like our house. The lower-level playroom keeps the kid stuff contained (and keeps the kids close by, but out from underfoot), the main-level living area is perfect for our needs, our bedroom and office has it's own floor and thus affords some privacy, but is only a couple steps down from where the kids are. The house isn't large, but seems to keep going and going... we can accommodate plenty of house guests without everyone being on top of each other.

It bothers me that we don't have a bathroom on the main level, but we did some renovations so that now there's a guest bath right at the bottom of the stairs to the lower-level - not perfect, but better. The stair thing really isn't an issue - there are a lot of them, but you're never going up many at once.

I relate to the being horrified at our housing stock options part. I thought I'd never buy one but at our budget they are the bulk so I gave up and put an offer on one. I lost the bid and was so relieved. I guess I still can't stomach the split foyers (less so the split levels).

[Anonymous]

i live in a split level and love it. everyone is couple steps away from each other, but yet separate enough. theres a sense that the house keeps going on.. from one level to the next, and it's a great flow.