Anonymous wrote:The layout is more important than anything. For 4, I'd like 6 bedrooms - one for us, one for each of the kids, a guest room and an office. But, maybe 3000 as I wouldn't want to clean or care for more.

Yes, layout is everything.
If I can build my forever home again, I would have two wings with two bedrooms on each side.
Living space in the middle with a mudroom & laundry.
Kitchen with two dish washers.

Upstairs with a big master bedroom/guest room, his/her bathroom a must! Add a nice laundry/workout room.

When kids are young, you can be in the same level but opposite side, then move to upstairs when they are preteen or teen years.

Sweet size around 3800-4200 size!

We have around 5400 for a family of 5. That's three floors, 1800 per floor. Honestly it feels small at times. The bedrooms are upstairs, and all are small, bathrooms with bedrooms are small, etc.

Maybe we would benefit from more space on the main two floors and a smaller basement, so layout really is the key.

Hmmm we have 7000 for a family of 5. It feels a bit too big at times.

I'd like 1800 sf plus an interior courtyard for indoor/outdoor living.

2000 SF and no basement. Not including garage.

We have a family of 5. I think ideal space would be 4000 sq ft. Right now we have 2600 sq ft and it is very cramped.

Ideally I would love 4-5 bedrooms plus a dedicated office, finished basement and a nice outdoor porch.

Anonymous wrote:3500-4000sq ft

+1 This is my ideal too. Our first home was 3,600 sq ft of finished space plus good outdoor space, and that was great. Our second home had over 5,000 sq ft of finished space and it was too much for our family of 5. We ended up with unused space that became dumping grounds for stuff we didn't need. We're doing an addition on our new home and it will be 4,000 sq ft total finished space, plus good outdoor space and a garage.

If cost is truly no issue, then you could go larger and just pay more to decorate (and redecorate!), have it cleaned, hire a nanny to constantly pick up, etc. Just don't go bigger than what you can realistically afford to maintain in top condition.

Anonymous wrote:2500 above grade would be perfect for me. My house is 1900 and just a touch too small. I’d also want a first floor master, and if we’re fantasizing, a pool.

Agree with this. But everything would be perfectly finished and to my taste. (Right now I live in 2200 sf spread over three levels, built in 1890 and only partly renovated.) I’d also want a large, private garden and a screened in porch.

Anonymous wrote:The layout is more important than anything. For 4, I'd like 6 bedrooms - one for us, one for each of the kids, a guest room and an office. But, maybe 3000 as I wouldn't want to clean or care for more.

Layout is king. And the home office(s) question is important.

We have 2400 above and another 700 in the basement. Works really well for us.

I grew up in over 5000 square feet but it was too big for my parents to manage.

If it was just my spouse and me, ideally I would have 3000-3500 square feet.

However, with the size of your family and potential in laws over, I'd say 4000 square feet.

Layout is important but I don't think I'd ever want to be over 5000sf. We are in 3000sf right now and it's plenty but in an ideal world I'd have a home gym, a home office, and all the bedrooms would be a good size with a big closet and an ensuite.

4k would be great, but i could find uses for up to 6k (gym, office, theater, guest suite - all nice to have but not necessary). Past that I think would be a burden, for me.

We had a house that was 4,000 sq ft and it was great. I agree with pp(s) that layout is important. We are now in a 6,000 sq ft house that has the same number of rooms as the 4,000 sq ft house and it’s awesome. We looked at some houses this size that had lots of small rooms, and they seemed “too big.” Our current house is airy and spacious, because each room is large, but still feels “cozy” somehow, despite its size.

The layout is more important than anything. For 4, I'd like 6 bedrooms - one for us, one for each of the kids, a guest room and an office. But, maybe 3000 as I wouldn't want to clean or care for more.

My last house was about 4200 total and it was perfect. I now have 6800 total and it’s too much.