Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is probably one of the jerks buying split levels in our neightborhood and building huge, ugly cheap-looking McMansions. They are so out of place with the rest of the neighborhood and look terrible. Monster houses with super cheap materials - tacky!

You do realize splits are some of the cheapest to build? If you look at replacement rebuild costs mcmansions are always higher than splits.

I live in a neighborhood with mid century houses, including some split levels. Those are what bother me. Monster generic houses with zero trees that build to the property line so that you can see your neighbors eating breakfast. Those bother me more than split levels.

I'm not a big fan of split levels. But my father's aunt and uncle did have a large 1950s split (in the DC suburbs, go figure, and haven't you noticed it's always your aunt/uncle who lived in a split level?). I can see the advantages, it's a very efficient use of the space.

In the Baltimore suburbs there was a neighborhood that consisted primarily of split levels but of a type I've never seen elsewhere. From the front exterior it looked like a proper two story house with the front door at ground level. When you stepped inside you were in a fairly roomy foyer with a den on one side and a garage on the other (most people eventually converted it into another family room). At the back of the foyer was a short flight of steps (4 steps I think) leading to a large living/dining room across the back of the house, with the kitchen off to the side. The living area had cathedral ceilings. A staircase went up to the bedrooms which were across the front of the house.

It was technically a split level as the house had three different levels plus the basement that was only under the back part of the house. The houses were pleasantly contemporary and I wouldn't mind living in one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is probably one of the jerks buying split levels in our neightborhood and building huge, ugly cheap-looking McMansions. They are so out of place with the rest of the neighborhood and look terrible. Monster houses with super cheap materials - tacky!

You do realize splits are some of the cheapest to build? If you look at replacement rebuild costs mcmansions are always higher than splits.

That's a good thing right? Cheaper building costs means less money spent. That's sounds great to me. Fwiw, I've never lived in a split-level and always hated the look, until I walked through one. they have such great use of space.

Anonymous wrote:OP is probably one of the jerks buying split levels in our neightborhood and building huge, ugly cheap-looking McMansions. They are so out of place with the rest of the neighborhood and look terrible. Monster houses with super cheap materials - tacky!

You do realize splits are some of the cheapest to build? If you look at replacement rebuild costs mcmansions are always higher than splits.

Anonymous wrote:How are you all seeing the pictures of the house linked above? I can only see an overhead shot.

They this one:
http://www.barrygardnertours.com/26869

I actually really like split levels. I don't live in one, but I wouldn't turn my nose up at it.

OP is probably one of the jerks buying split levels in our neightborhood and building huge, ugly cheap-looking McMansions. They are so out of place with the rest of the neighborhood and look terrible. Monster houses with super cheap materials - tacky!

I guarantee OP has a frenemy who bought a split level and OP is jealous or resentful of some other aspect of that person's life and hoping she happens upon OP's bizarre post.

I almost bought a split-level. It was very roomy and bright and actually reminded me of my childhood, when we had a split level.

I have a split foyer house. I wish the foyer was a bit bigger; it's congested there. But the rest of the space is nice. It's huge, 5 bedroom, 3 bath with huge living areas. Really great in the wintertime when the kids can play in the huge rec room downstairs, which fits a full size pool table with plenty of room for a a million other toys.