Do you or would you prefer

to live in a one story home or two story?

At this stage of the game (b/c we're about to have 3 kids under the age of 3) I prefer living in a one story house. Just personal preference ... don't want to be paranoid about stairs all the time ;)

We haven't really had a choice for the last two houses. To get a house big enough for four kids, the houses have all be two stories. We haven't been able to look at older homes in Dallas/Plano that are one story ranch style, but the new ones in the north part of town are all two stories. In VT, they were all two story or split level homes unless they were VERY small (and they all had basements, so they had stairs anyway).
The kids have always been fine with the stairs. I think when they are around them EVERYDAY they are not the issue that they seem to be when a child comes over that is not used to having stairs. They have been able to maneuver them since they were very small. When we moved into this house, Caroline was 10 mos old and we never used a gate.

I had stairs growing up and I guess one benefit is exercise. I have had both and prefer one story. It's just much easier.

Our new house is 2story & I love it!!! Harper is downstairs w/us & so will the new baby...But w/the older 2 boys its awesome that they are upstairs....I don't feel comfortable w/Harper or the new baby being upstairs so we converted the formal living room into a nursery & the dining room into a playroom for the little ones...Eventually Harper will be upstairs~maybe when she's about 3yrs...Plus, the gameroom is upstairs which is a HUGE plus...We were scared about the stairs too...My Mom had someone come over & install some really nice gates at the bottom & top...So Harper can't get up there on her own...;)

Oh, one requirement for us was that the master be with the other bedrooms...which is not easy to find in the new houses. We have four bedrooms up and a guestroom down.

I prefer a 2 story home. Our first house was a one story but had a basement that was finished. I just love the look of a 2 story and they seem to have more room to me.

To get a house big enough for four kids, the houses have all be two stories. Good point, I hadn't really considered that.

The kids have always been fine with the stairs.
That's awesome!!!

I would probably prefer a one story if it was big enough for us. But, we have a two story. Which is a pain in the neck when you are doing a bunch of stuff that requires you to walk up the stairs to the rooms upstairs a lot.

I voted other, because it depends on what's upstairs. Right now we have a 2 story, but there is nothing upstairs but a large gameroom and the stairs are kind of hidden and out of the way. I love it that way. Before, we lived in a 2 story where all the bedrooms where upstairs. I hated constantly going up and down the stairs. I was always paranoid with Kaleb going up and down them too.

The kids have always been fine with the stairs. I think when they are around them EVERYDAY they are not the issue that they seem to be when a child comes over that is not used to having stairs.

:yeah

We have and prefer a two-story. Our kids have never had issues with the stairs. And we ditched the "baby gate" almost as soon as we put it up. It was more dangerous IME (with Julian trying to climb it) than just letting him go up and down the stairs. Plus, the baby gate was a PITA for me...

Although, when other kids come over to play that aren't used to stairs, it becomes a point of interest for the new kid to explore (and for mamas to get a bit anxious...)

Yep, I've personally sat at the bottom of Cori's stairs while Ryleigh explored them. :lol

I've never lived in a two-story, so I can't really say which I prefer. I know with babies, I wanted a one-story. Now that they are older and I don't have to carry them up the stairs, I would like our next house to be a two-story, I think. But, I will be searching for one with at least two of the bedrooms (master and one other one) upstairs so that we aren't sleeping on different floors.

We are in a 2 story house now.. it is just toooo hard to clean.. would LOVE to have a large 1 story home, spread out, if you know what I mean!.. I begged dh for one but yah... we NEED the space with the kids, thats for sure!.. Maybe if I could get a maid!

I lived in a 2 story growing up and hated it. I love 1 stories but I wouldn't mind a house like Laura's with a game room or extra room upstairs. I've seen very few houses like that. If I did find a 2 story I liked, it would have to have the master bedroom with the rest of the bedrooms, like Teri mentioned.

Oh, one requirement for us was that the master be with the other bedrooms...which is not easy to find in the new houses. We have four bedrooms up and a guestroom down.IMO, this is the perfect layout.

I grew up with 2 story houses that had basements. I like the look and layout better than one story houses.

However, I will say that a one story is much nicer when pg. When pg with Gabrielle I had to haul myself up 2 flights of stairs multiple times a day at our old apartment. We live in a one story now and I love not having the stairs while hauling a toddler around and having an ever expanding belly.

For me I prefer one story. I have horrible knees and when I do a lot of walking up and down stairs they give me horrible pain. I do not think it would work taking laundry, toys and other things up and down stairs. That is just me though.

i live in a 2 story, i prefer a 1 story. it's hard carrying a sleeping bowling ball up the steps at 10pm, lol

IMO, this is the perfect layout.

I grew up with 2 story houses that had basements. I like the look and layout better than one story houses.

However, I will say that a one story is much nicer when pg. When pg with Gabrielle I had to haul myself up 2 flights of stairs multiple times a day at our old apartment. We live in a one story now and I love not having the stairs while hauling a toddler around and having an ever expanding belly.

Our house in VT had all hardwood floors, including the stairs. I fell down them TWICE (both times pregnant and one time carrying Libby also).
I, actually, do not spend a lot of time upstairs during the day. If we had a little more space downstairs, I would figure out a way to keep all of the kids clothes down here so laundry wouldn't be an issue. :lol

I do like a two story, but the newer two bedroom houses in texas are a PITA because for some reason they think everyone wants a downstairs master bedroom. Our house currently has the master downstairs, two bedrooms upstairs and then a guest bedroom downstairs. The master isn't close to any of these bedrooms and that really bothers me. Why do they think this layout is so great when so many people living here have families? Teri's layout sounds exactly like what I would like to have. :)

When I came househunting, it is how I narrowed our field down. First, I was looking for 4 BR in Frisco and there were about 150, so I decided to look at 5 BR, just to narrow it down some. There were about 30. 5 of those had the master upstairs.

it's hard carrying a sleeping bowling ball up the steps at 10pm, lol:rofl

We live in a two story..... no preference really - we just fell in love with the design. I will say a one-story is better for utility bills...especially in the winter.

We currently live in a two story, but I would prefer a one story. But like Teri said in an earlier post, they don't make one stories big enough around here and we would like to stay in this area. Who knows though, we may end up in a ranch style house in Dallas. Going up and down the stairs for me isn't a problem, but my mother watches Ryan here at our house often and she has arthritis, so I hate for her to go up and down our stairs.

Our last house was a one story and just too small. Our house (now) is a 2 story with alot of room...more than twice the size of our old one.

I prefer a sprawling one story. I grew up in a ranch-style home and loved it. It's just more affordable to expand up then it is to expand out....if that makes sense. So we went with the 2 story. :)

If you can find a big one-story, it has NO yard. It was important to me that my kids have a yard to play in. It is big enough to put in a pool and still have a little yard.

All my bedrooms are upstairs, and that's what I wanted also. I am VERY lazy and hate hauling things up & down the stairs. I try to have my boys do alot of that, but they just don't catch on to the fact that if something is sitting on the stairs, it is suppose to go up!

I wish my laundry room was upstairs. I stayed in a house once that had the laundry room upstairs near the bedrooms and thought that was awesome.

If we ever buy an acre lot (or 2) and build, it will be a 1-story, since there will be plenty of room to spread out, but with these sized lots, I'd probably stick with a 2 story.

I've always liked 2 story homes. we've only purchased two homes in our lives and they've both been two. I like all the bedrooms upstairs and the other areas down.

One story for sure! The 'big factor' is not a selling point to me - I don't like big, I want a cozy little home, don't forsee us having a big family (though wish it had worked out that way :frown) so it should work out for us someday when we DO get a house...

BUT, my reasoning for wanting a one-story has nothing to do with kids and stairs, etc... Jeremy's had both of his knees reconstructed. His Mom was VERY sick for over a year before she passed away (Jan. 01) & his Dad had to carry her up & down the stairs constantly (she couldn't walk). They had a '3 level' - basement then living room, dining room & kitchen & then up a few steps were the bedrooms & bathroom. He carried her up & down over & over everyday for a year. She passed away and then he had major back problems. Ended up having elective back surgery, malpractice & died a month later. With both of Jeremy's knees already bad, no way will have more than a one story. I can already forsee him having a hard time walking as he gets older, I wouldn't want to even put him through having steps to climb...

Sorry for the long story, you never know where you 'see' your 'future'... :)

i would love to have a 2 story...there's just something about them that i love...

If we ever buy an acre lot (or 2) and build, it will be a 1-story, since there will be plenty of room to spread out, but with these sized lots, I'd probably stick with a 2 story.

That's the way to do it. My parents have 2 acres (in Murphy) with their ranch house. Our investment property (in Lucas) also had 2 acres and a ranch house. Both great sized homes.

We were lucky to find a 2 story with 1/2 acre so close to town. Everything else we looked at had such tiny yards!

BUT, my reasoning for wanting a one-story has nothing to do with kids and stairs, etc... Jeremy's had both of his knees reconstructed. His Mom was VERY sick for over a year before she passed away (Jan. 01) & his Dad had to carry her up & down the stairs constantly (she couldn't walk). They had a '3 level' - basement then living room, dining room & kitchen & then up a few steps were the bedrooms & bathroom. He carried her up & down over & over everyday for a year. She passed away and then he had major back problems. Ended up having elective back surgery, malpractice & died a month later. With both of Jeremy's knees already bad, no way will have more than a one story. I can already forsee him having a hard time walking as he gets older, I wouldn't want to even put him through having steps to climb...

Sorry for the long story, you never know where you 'see' your 'future'... :)

You're right, Chera. My Mom can't climb the stairs at our house. Planning ahead is very important.

The new house is a 2 story. We just couldn't find a big enough one-story without moving way out to BFE.

Regarding the yard size ....that's why we are on the east side of Plano on the Allen border. All the new construction in the West Plano area for the size house we wanted had tiny backyards. You get more bang for your buck over here. We have a pool plus room to play in our yard.

Our eventual plan is to move on acreage though. Ideally a lake, but tough around here.

I have always wanted a 2-story, but DH said he will never live in one. Says it will cost more to heat and cool. BooHoo.

We have a 2 story and I have to say that it is not so fun. There is no good way to keep the kids off the stairs. the baby thinks it is big fun to crawl up the stairs, but he has no idea how to get down... or that he can fall down the stairs.

I'm afraid my 3 yo will sleepwalk & fall down the stairs. Yes, basically, I'm parinoid about it. Our bedroom is downstairs & it is just too far away to be with small kids.

I wish it was a 1 story.

Marni

I have a 5 bed, 4 bath one story home, but they don't grow on trees. lol I probably looked at thousands of houses online and probably 25 in person before I drove up to this one. I walked in and thought "this is so us". And yes - we loved the seventies/ eighties growing up (but we did opt to get rid of the metallic wallpapers). lol

I opted for an older home because it met my criteria of

1. unique, don't look like the neighbors house. I like the homey feel of a neighborhood where the houses all have a different layout. Maybe even different builders - on our street six of the houses were built by one builder.
2. TREES, TREES, TREES (we have a love for rustling leaves at night) and a YARD
3. One story
4. All schools within a square mile (remember me, the army brat - I swore I'd keep my kids grounded for 18 yrs) This IS our 20 year house, if God see's fit of course.

It cut my options down to about 15 percent just wanting a one story in this area. I have many reasons for wanting a one story (fear of fires, utilitites, fear of my dh or kids breaking neck on stairs in the dark at night, me breaking butt or leg on stairs w/ Laundry in tow, my FIL can't walk up at all with arthritis (and it's a genetic trait, so I can see dh with it later)....not to mention arthritis runs in my fam. too.

I just always wanted a meandering house. I found it and knew within a few minutes of walking in that the floorplan was made just for our family (the kids rooms on our side of the house until they are teens when they can move to the other side of the house). Playroom in the back of the house (unseen) by the kitchen. A pool AND a smidge of yard. A meandering house on a lot and a half (old lot size, not current lot sizes). The neighbors tennis court give us a sense of being alone. Not one window from a neighbors home looks into our yard/space. I'm big on privacy. My neighbors all know each other (exchange baked goods at Christmas, let each other know when they are out of town, exchange nicities and chat when doing yard work).

Not for everyone I know (it's a ranch style and we even have some paneling) and I"m not saying "na, na, na na na my house is better". But I'm trying to convey how much I LOVE my trees, my house and my little spot I've found to raise my kids :heartbeat

One story our a 2 story with a elevator, since Jakob is so heavy and won't be walking for many years that is the only way we can have a 2 story that our don't have much on the 2nd floor.

I lived in a 2 story growing up and hated it.

I'm the opposite! :lol I grew up in a 1 story and found it to be so boring! I always thought it would be cool to have a bedroom up in the trees. :) We have a 2 story now and I like it. Yes, the stairs make me a little nervous with the kids & all, but I was very careful to stress to Josh when he was learning how to deal with the stairs that he needed to hold on. He's very good with them now.

And I have a vacuum upstairs as well as one downstairs. I wouldn't want to lug a vacuum up/downstairs. What a pain that would be!

I would love a 1 story house. Kyleigh and I live in an apartment right now, but as soon as I can find a house, it will definitely be a 1 story.

I said one story...
We live with my parents in a two story and we all hate it! It is exp. to heat and cool and it is one of those with master down and 3 bdrm up. I will never buy a 2 story house!