Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate 1 level homes. I love an upstairs.

Wait until your knees give out.

WTF? My parents are 69 and 71...been in the home since 1974, they still go to Gold's Gym everyday, mow their own lawn, etc. 45 years in that house and knees have never been an issue.

OP, were we separated at birth? You have described my dream house, except it would be light, airy and very modern. I have a ranch now, and LOVE the main level, could live on it with no worries. The lower lever is awesome, too, totally renovated, but combined with the main, it's too much space for the four of us.

Anonymous wrote:I would do a Spanish-style layout with three wings around a courtyard. Main entrance onto living, dining, kitchen. One wing with guest suite & office (or forth bedroom). The other wing with three bedrooms. Courtyard opens to the east to provide lots of morning light. The courtyard would be a 'sun room' in the winter and easily open during the summer.

Ah fantasies. Lol

Completely agree -- I am from the western US and love a low-profile courtyard home. I'm also skeeved out by basements! My in-laws are about to sell a gorgeous home like you describe (in Florida) and I am so sad to see it go; I wish we could move it up here somehow.

I'm sad that the housing here is so boxy and upright. I understand the reasons for that design, but it just is not to my taste. I do think a more enclosed courtyard could work here on a small lot, if you could get permission to build close to the boundaries and keep your "yard" in the middle.

Which room will host the ball?

Anonymous wrote:I would do a Spanish-style layout with three wings around a courtyard. Main entrance onto living, dining, kitchen. One wing with guest suite & office (or forth bedroom). The other wing with three bedrooms. Courtyard opens to the east to provide lots of morning light. The courtyard would be a 'sun room' in the winter and easily open during the summer.

Ah fantasies. Lol

You can buy this for like free down in Florida... go for it!!!

Anonymous wrote:I hate 1 level homes. I love an upstairs.

Wait until your knees give out.

They're common out West. Maybe you can move to New Mexico.

I have one in Alexandria and I love it. The lot is 9,000 sq.ft. and we have a two car garage as well.

I hate 1 level homes. I love an upstairs.

This was my grandparents house. FLW-esque. You entered, though, to a foyer. They had a master suite to your right and straight ahead was a wing with 3 bedrooms. From the foyer to the left was a long hallway with a galley style kitchen, bfast nook, and small office. Back to the hallway you end and turn right to an open dining and living room with floor to ceiling windows.
Awesome small courtyard, rooftop deck... Nothing excessive, but felt spacious. He designed and built it after a military career of moving all the time. Sadly, after he went into assisted living the McMansion owners next door (12 car garage...) bought and tore it down.
if I ever built, it's my dream house too!

I am just creeped out by most basements... happy to have a home without one.

are you wheal chair bound or really old?

similar to my dream home, but with a basement! how much land needed, you think?

Sounds nice, but you'd need a lot of land to do it. And I wouldn't call what you describe a rambler.

I would do a Spanish-style layout with three wings around a courtyard. Main entrance onto living, dining, kitchen. One wing with guest suite & office (or forth bedroom). The other wing with three bedrooms. Courtyard opens to the east to provide lots of morning light. The courtyard would be a 'sun room' in the winter and easily open during the summer.

Ah fantasies. Lol