New Level Addition for a side split house in Berkeley Heights, NJ
BH2021
5 years ago
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BH2021
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Split Level House?
Comments (25)This topic can be both a regional and personal thing. Regionally? I'm on the road a lot and can tell you I haven't seen ANY new splits being built around here in many years. They are definitely considered 'dated', because they're almost always 50's tract homes in this area of the country. They're also considered pretty cheap, since when they were built, they were cheap tract homes, made with the cheapest materials available--and unless they've had major and expensive rehabbing are worse now. You're general perception of splits will probably definitely be influenced by the area of the country where you live, and the common opinion of them there. Personally? (and I'll tell you this is definitely influenced by my age--60's--and our health--me, arthritis; him gout) I would live in a tent or a camper before I'd spend money for a split. Having to go up and down stairs no matter where I wanted to go? No thank you. We bought a rancher a few years back, for just that reason. And as some have said, it's inconvenient to be raising a toddler in one as well. And also sad to have older pets who have stair trouble. My sis has a split--which, granted, she loves. It is one of the nicer ones I've seen, in one of the more expensive areas of the country--but it's from the 50's. She has no bathroom on the main floor (and no place to put one), so it was hard for her to entertain our elderly mother and aunt when they were alive, because getting them up to the bathroom was a major chore that took several of us. To do her laundry, she had to go up to her bedroom, down the stais to the mail flor, then down another flight of stairs to the basement, across the family room and UP and another flight of stairs to the garage level of the house. Who wants to do that? I have my laundry on the first (only) floor, it's only about 10 paces from my bedroom, and about 1 yard from the back door and deck where I hang clothes to dry. The thing is, any house is going to have it's fans and also those who don't care for it. With a split, you do have to consider that opnions are going to be 'split' and there is going to be a segment of the population who will never even look at your house when you're ready to sell it--but as you can see, there are plenty of people who love them. For yourself--ask yourself how your health is--is this arrangement going to be a problem in the future? might all those stairs cause you to sell before you really want to? what if you're young and get hurt? break an ankle? or have minor surgery? is not being able to get up and down the stairs going to be a problem? A split level is really not accessible for anyone who might be permanently or temporarily wheel chair bound. Seniors won't buy a split. For myself? You couldn't give me a split--and no, even looking at a fantatic one wouldn't get ME to change my mind--I've done enough stairs over time, and am ready to use my energies in other areas....See MoreSplit Entry Mudroom addition?
Comments (12)Hi, Good to see some ideas going on this style of house. They are tricky to work with. I love the idea Lavender posted (Bob Vila). I can't open the pinterest link posted by rocky bird, can others open it? We are in the throws of building an addition on our split-foyer. We did add a little bit to the foyer, wish it could have been more. However, our foyer after the build is complete will only be a guest entrance. Our family will enter via the garage man door and into a generous sized mudroom. All family coats, shoes, knapsacks etc. will be in this basement mudroom. I don't even plan to give the kids a key to the front door, so they are forced to enter via the garage to the mudroom LOL. Here are my thoughts on split entry foyers for what is worth from a person who has ripped hers apart and is rebuilding it. 1) Avoid having family enter through front door and having their stuff dropped in that tiny foyer. Try for another family entrance (maybe through garage to basement level? or a side or back door) 2)Consider an extra wide staircase going up (ours is 4 and a half feet) and a narrower one going down (ours is 42 inches here). This way the larger staircase invites company to go up. Also with the wide staircase a person can sit on the stairs, and put shoes on, while another can pass by. 3)Consider putting an extra tall door (8 foot) for those foyers that typically are a floor and a half in height (12 feet). It fits the space better and lets extra light in if you have a transom above or glass in the door. In our case, the door draws more attention to itself as the garage protrudes and partially conceals the front door. 4)Consider beefing up and beautifying the exterior steps. Our new steps are concrete stringers, and soon to be installed stone risers/threads. The landing is also stone resting on a concrete platform 5)Put a forgiving flooring material on the interior steps so you can walk on it with boots, etc and it becomes an extensions of your foyer space in a way that a carpet can not. We will have hard wood steps. 6)Open up the wall between the living room and staircase wall. Also, endeavor to have the top of the stairs going down open to a railing. This way there is an illusion of more space I would love to hear your ideas on how to use trim to bring down the height of the ceilings in these tiny, tall ceiling spaces. I keep thinking something creative like chair rail or something might make the wall heights more in keeping with the tiny space. In other words, anything that makes the interior foyer space look less like an elevator shaft would be good. Best of luck all split-foyer owners. Carol...See MoreAdding Curb Appreal to Our Split Level Ranch Style Home
Comments (27)Your house is great. That low key nestled-into-nature look is perfect for the house. I could see a pergola adding a horizontal line to the garage...keeping it modern and darker, not white. No white trim. Although emphasized front entries are logical and common, that shaded and protected front entry is also perfect for the style of house. You could maybe out a pergola over that as well, that's an addition I've seen around here to this style of house. Anything that contributes to that protected feeling for the front door. Large lanterns, contemporary style, and this is a house that could take big modern house numbers as well. I also love the suggestion of beefing up the front pathway. This post was edited by robotropolis on Fri, Oct 3, 14 at 23:07...See MoreNeed help with Split level
Comments (58)I would definitely consider taking the space from the garage or basement (perhaps where oil tank sits currently) to be able to make the garage connected to the house. Your house is very different if you need 5-6 steps to go from garage to lower level. You might also want to consider a ramp if you have room. Think of what a pain it will be to take the trash to the garage. Or even worse, you arrive home in the car, park it in the garage and then have to go outside again to enter the front door. For me, those tiny little foyers in split entries are completely useless if you have more than 2 people living in the home. Just think of all the sports equipment, knapsacks, boots, coats etc your children will want to bring into and out of the home. Find some way to make the garage door connect to the basement and even try to add a man door so your children can go through the garage without opening one of the big doors. Then plan on a very decent sized mudroom in the basement. My kids no longer are allowed to use the front door. They all come in the garage man door, walk on one side of the garage (there is a pathway away from cars) and enter the home. Upon entering there is a large space used as mudroom (not finished yet, but still functional). I will never go back to having the family arrive into the tiny entry. In the old house, you usually couldn't open the door without pushing back packs out of the way. Carol...See MoreBH2021
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