What is better: Three mediocre (or slightly less than mediocre) bedrooms, or a sensational master suite and a good-sized second bedroom?

The old real estate rules would have you keep the three bedrooms, but with all the changes we’ve gone through, the important selling point (bedroom-wise) is a really nice master.

PROBLEM

This is the second floor of a house we showed last week. Both floors were considered when the addition was planned. The first floor benefited by an enlarged kitchen.

Another change that affected the second floor was the relocation of the stairwell. Before, it was a straight run (A) and in a bad place. A new staircase (B) was built using a large amount of bedroom (C).

Bedroom D contained the only upstairs bathroom (E), which was miserably small, and everyone had to enter the bedroom to access the bathroom. Bedroom (F) was the third small bedroom.

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Note: Marcia Lyon will be in the Ann Arbor area July 7-10. You may contact her at Marcia@creatingspaces.net or at 515-991-8880 to set up a consultation.

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The existing roofline had a main ridgeline (G) running sided to side; a small gable dormer (H) toward the front; and a shed dormer out the back in bedroom (C).

There was a brick chimney (J) that was made obsolete with the installation of the new furnace.

The homeowners wanted a spacious and interesting master bedroom with its own private bathroom and improved closets. They had no children, so having a guest room as their second bedroom was fine with them.

SOLUTION

The two new givens were the new stairs (B) and the two-story addition (K). The bedroom (D) became the guest bedroom, and was improved when we added a second window. The old bathroom (E) expanded into the adjacent closet to make a new, updated private bathroom (L). A new, standard-sized closet (M) completes the room.

The hall (N) is unique in shape. The only windows are on the stair landing (O) so we added two skylights (P). The remainder of bedroom (C) is used for a walk-in linen closet (Q) with a window.

The new turret master bedroom (R) has angles all around and double windows on three walls. The ceiling expresses the rooflines.

The new master bathroom (S) features an oversized shower with bench, storage cabinets, a double sink vanity and a skylight. The toilet fits in the existing gable dormer (H).

The third bedroom (F) easily converts into a huge walk-in closet (T) with a window.
There is no comparison of this new second-floor plan with the before. The light, space and function are more than the homeowners even hoped for.

Marcia Lyon is a professional remodeling designer and freelance writer, producing projects locally and several other areas across the U.S. and Canada. Her new book on remodeling design, “The Essential Planner for Home Remodeling,” is available at www.creatingspaces.net. You may contact her at Marcia@creatingspaces.net or at 515-991-8880 to set up a consultation.