Update On Our Addition (And Second-Guessing The Master Bedroom Closet Situation)
I know I haven’t really mentioned anything about our addition recently, and that’s because nothing has really happened. Our architect had a pretty major surgery, so finalizing our plans has been delayed. But I said from the beginning that I wasn’t going to get worked up about time lines, stressed out when things don’t happen like I want them to happen. This addition will happen when it happens, and I’m just going to relax and enjoy the ride. My goal is to do this whole thing as stress-free as possible.
And the delay may be a good thing because I keep second-guessing decisions. Overall, I’m very pleased with the ideas that I handed off to the architect. I think the last plan I showed y’all (and the one I gave to him) is this one…
If you’re new around here and haven’t heard anything about our addition that we’re planning, the addition includes the master bedroom, laundry room, storage closet, and family room.
But over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the master bedroom closets. What I had been planning (and what’s shown in the floor plan above) is a whole wall of IKEA Pax wardrobes on the wall shared between the master bedroom and bathroom. I don’t dislike the idea, and I know I could make it beautiful. And then next to that wall of wardrobes is a storage closet specifically for Matt’s shower wheelchair, Hoyer lift, and wheelchair when those things aren’t in use. It seemed like a perfect plan.
But these last couple of weeks, as my frustration has grown and grown with the closet situation in the guest bedroom that we’re currently using as our main bedroom, I can’t help but wonder if I should plan on an actual walk-in closet instead of a wall of Pax wardrobes, no matter how confident I am that I could make them beautiful.
Last night, I looked up the standard dimensions for a walk-in closet, and it looks like 100 square feet is about average. I don’t need one of those show closets with all the fancy stuff. I just need to be able to store clothes, shoes, etc. in an efficient and easily accessible way. The problem is finding a place to put a 100-square-foot walk-in closet. That’s not an easy thing to do when the floor plan seems pretty set in stone.
But then I realized that nothing is set in stone! This is an addition that hasn’t been built yet. I’m so used to having to work within an existing footprint to make things work for us, but there is no existing footprint for this addition. At this point, I could change it up completely if I wanted to.
I don’t think it’s necessary to change things up completely, but I did have this idea of bumping the entire addition out about another 7.5 feet so not only create room for a walk-in closet (or two) in our bedroom, but also creating a separate storage area accessible from the family room.
This is only my initial idea, and I’m very open to suggestions. But if we bump the whole thing out 7.5 feet, I had this idea of doing our bedroom closets like this…
So it would create a little mini hallway between the bedroom and the bathroom, and closets would be accessible on both sides of that little hallway. That would leave me at least one long wall in the bedroom where I could decorate and add additional storage like a pretty dresser.
However, it would also add more space to the family room, which I don’t love. I think a room can get so big that it doesn’t feel cozy and welcoming. Adding that space would make the family room larger than my studio, which is currently the largest room in our home at 20′ x 19’5′. But I think I could find a way to utilize that space so that the room feels planned instead of just cavernous.
I’m going to think about this more. That would give us two separate closets for our bedroom, but that idea is growing on me. (One could be my shoe closet! :-D) I just want to get this right. Once the foundation is done, there’s no turning back. So if I’m going to make big changes, it’s now or never. I just don’t know if the change will be worth the price, because the additional cost won’t be insignificant.
What do you think? Stick with a wall of IKEA Pax wardrobes? I would have 15.3 feet of wardrobe storage on that wall. Or bump out the back of the addition to add room for two larger bedroom closets, plus a storage closet in the family room area?
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I like the new idea, also gives you a little more room in your family room for people to move around.
Do the bump out. Even if you change your mind, about closet space, down the road you can use the space for other things. You love shoes and clothes. Make sure you have space for those things.
Sheila F.
UK reader here, and our houses are generally much too small to accommodate walk in wardrobes!
The nice thing about the wall of IKEA solution is that you will have plenty of room behind you when accessing your clothes. You might find that a narrow room is actually quite difficult to manoeuvre in. Also, with no windows, it will always need artificial light, which might get to you after a while.
I love your idea. I really think that the master needs a closet. Also, if it were me, I would move the laundry room to the back wall and flip the arrangement to make the sink under the window on the outside wall, and combine the closet/walkway/master entrance on the other end, and you could have your wall of Ikea Pax Wardrobes on one side of this hallway. This would also give you a more direct route to the kitchen. Whatever you decide, I know it will be beautiful.
What would the closet in the living room be for? Would you use the small closet by the bathroom for Matt’s storage or shoes? looking at the floor plan the long narrow closet adjacent to the bathroom looks too narrow to put hanging items on both sides. I would use the storage closet/living room closet for clothing storage and possibly bump it into the long closet for more wall space. I also would caution putting the 2 doors of the closet so close if you are going to have swing doors. we have something similar and I constantly bash them into each other. if you can give the long one more space at the door or move the door to the other wall facing the room it may solve this problem. We just did our closets (with a closet company) and we have a wall that splits the room into 2 sides and goes about half the length of the room to give even more wall space for hanging racks. happy to send photos if that doesn’t make sense.
7.5 feet is plenty of room for storage on both sides. That would allow 24 inches of storage on both sides, plus 42 inches of walking space between them. That’s wider than the 36 inches of space required for a residential hallway.
Closets for absolute must. Although you may never plan to move from this house life circumstances sometimes changes our minds. Closets may be more appealing to the next family that lived there. Besides closets give you opportunities for storage that cabinets would not.
Just bump out the bedroom side of the house. Build real closets. You KNOW you need that space……..just look at your current situation. No need to make the family room larger because extra space always has a way of filling up. I am sure you will be happier with real closets. Why a fireplace in the bedroom? A nice thing I guess, but I’d worry about a fire back there and Matt couldn’t get out. Do you really need storage in the family room? Consider just bumping out the bedroom and laundry room portion. Opinions are like —————- everyone has one!
I believe that’s a TV wall. Not a fireplace. I could be wrong, but Matt watches TV in the bedroom also.
Matt has always dreamed of having a fireplace in the bedroom, so that was on his wish list. But even if we don’t do that, there will probably be some sort of cabinets/shelving unit where the TV will be. I don’t like just having a TV hanging on the wall. It needs to be incorporated into some sort of wall unit. And because Matt spends so much time in the bedroom, a TV isn’t optional.
Also, I know we could just bump out the bedroom side, but I’ve been told by more than one builder that it’s often cheaper (or the same amount) to keep a new addition as a whole rectangle rather than having odd shapes. You’re either going to spend the money in extra building supplies for the extra square footage, or you’re going to spend the money in labor for the odd-shaped foundation that requires more time to design (think roof design), more time time to actually build. Rectangles are just easier to design and build than odd shapes.
I like the bump-out idea with the closets. Just one question. What will you use the closet in the family room for? I would prefer a larger closet in the bedroom. More shoes!!! You could always change it later if you found you need more storage in the family room. It also appears there will be more room at the kitchen pass thru area. Whatever happens it will be great!
Kristi, it might be the same price but it is less charming and liveable! I’ve been reading architecture books for the layperson lately (like Patterns Of Home) and L shaped houses create lovely negative space for outdoor rooms, making the outdoor space more inviting and comfortable than an undifferentiated oblong deck with wide open ends. Almost any kind of bump out or wing really adds to the appeal of a home.
Your original design shows 4 big PAX units across the one wall. That’s a LOT of storage space and there are specific interior fittings for shoes. I think that your frustration with the guest bedroom closets stems from the lack of appropriate shoe storage – and that is preventing you from using the closets. (Also, those closets aren’t totally fitted out for clothes storage yet.)
I think if you add on to create two walk in closets you’ll just fill them up with stuff. We tend to expand to fill the space we have. Do you really have a need for that much clothing and shoe storage?
I say this as someone who is currently trying to pare down clothing and miscellaneous stuff all around my house.
Let me just add that the PAX units are not so deep that things will get buried in them. Everything you have will be visible when you open the doors.
A walk in closet is IMHO asking for clutter. You’ll be tempted to shove things in there to get them out of the way and they will inevitably take root if you are anything like me.
I totally agree with Carswell! Could you outfit the closet for Matt’s things (in your original plan) with shelves or some other kind of shoe storage?
That closet in the original plan is just big enough to hold Matt’s three pieces of equipment. There’s no space for anything else, and I sure wouldn’t want to have to maneuver around those things to find shoes.
I agree. I live in NYC and my current apt has a walk-in closet (vs my two older apts that were reach-in), and the floor is constantly cluttered with stuff because that space is there to be filled with clutter. I’m planning to renovate this year, and I’ll be changing the walk-in to reach-in. Also, I’m planning to use the Pax system, because there are so many customizable options to use every last inch of space!
Go for the closets. Your shoes will thank you! Make it like Carrie Bradshaw’s and enjoy the heck out of it.
Since you entertain a lot, I’m thinking you could make a little kitchenette in the extra family room space. Have a mini fridge for water and sodas, drawers for your paper plates, and a sink. It would make it easier to serve without walking back and forth and would be a nice addition to the space. A relative added one to their family room and it’s so nice to grab stuff when we are all together without having to trek back to the kitchen.
I love the idea of a wet bar/kitchenette. Not only do guest not have to trek to the kitchen, but they also don’t have to dig into your kitchen fridge for drinks–everything for them is all there in the family room.
Go big, now’s the time for changes.
The wall closets would be pretty but I like the walk-in better so you get a broad, panoramic view of your clothes instead of opening several doors.
Someone else mentioned putting the laundry room on the outside wall. I’ve been thinking for sometime that a more direct route for Matt from the kitchen to the bedroom would be better. I like this idea.
I think a bigger family room would be nice, especially since you entertain. You could add a game table, a wet bar, or something else. It would still be cosy. I know you would do something fabulous with those walls. I don’t think you will regret it.
I’m eager to see what you do!
Yes! A mini fridge area is perfect—we added several mini fridges in our new-to-us house when we were renovating (one off of our master bath for us because we have a private patio and another one off of our living room so guests can help themselves to water, sodas, etc.) I also think having built in closets is a must—I think you may regret it if you don’t do it now when you have the opportunity.
I love that you’re continuing to modify the plans now—getting married to an idea that you may not be happy with in 5 years is daunting. No matter what you choose (and at the end of the day, it only matters what you and Matt want!) it will be functional and stunning! 😍
Considering your use of the space is frequently for fairly large groups of people congregating, I love the idea of having extra space to have a kitchen pass-through, a beverage center/coffee station, and a counter for food service. You would probably have enough room to have something like a gate-leg table in that area with a couple of chairs, which would be perfect to eat at, or play cards, for a small number of people. Although I agree a walk-in closet begs to be cluttered, I know there’s many times I wish I had one to just shove some stuff into to hide! Please count me as “Team extra 7.5 feet”.
I like the idea of moving the laundry against the outside wall and then instead of 2 closets (one in the family rm and one for Matt’s equipment) you move the hallway between fam rm and bedroom, and then matt’s equipment room is just a little larger. Also, make sure that matt’s equipment will easily fit in the new hallway between closets and bathroom
I’m thinking that the more storage you have the more stuff you’ll have. Is that a good thing? A builder on tic too said before you build any more storage rent a dumpster first and clean .Maybe doesn’t apply to you
I really like the idea of walk in closets. Easy access from the master bath or the bedroom. I think it makes for a better plan.
Thinking outside the box here–can you make one of the WIC a tornado shelter, too? On the other hand, it might be easier to keep the Ikea cabinets organized…from experience, I know my WIC ends up with piles, and it’s much harder to reorganize when you first have to shovel it all out of the closet.
I think the extra room in the family room might let you have a more substantial counter from the kitchen, with some barstools, maybe?
It’s fun to imagine and plan!
If you extend the footprint, would you be able to easily maneuver Matt’s equipment with easy clearance? That would be my determining factor.
I have a small table and chairs in my family room that I always seem to use. I watch TV and work on small projects at the table at the same time. And you can never have too much closet space.
If it were me, I’d definitely go with your new idea. You’ll never regret having closet space and extra storage. Also, I think the bedroom would feel more open and calming without a wall of built-in cabinets. Just my two cents. It is fun to dream about all the possibilities though since nothing is set in stone yet 🙂
If you do not require the closet in the family room maybe consider adding that space to your walk in. You could use the smaller one to store Matt’s things and the large closet you could share with Matt. You would have room for lots of shoe and jewelry cabinets! I love the idea of having a walking an opposed to pax. It will look amazing with whatever you choose.
How much closet space do you have in the guest bedroom? Maybe three feet on each side? The Pax thing you were planning would at least double your storage and could allow extra storage. The thing I am looking at is that is a massive walk in closet. You could add shoe storage to the back of the closet to store his lift that you already have planned. Your shoes are not longer than 12″, so a wall of 1 foot shelving or upper cabinets on one wall shouldn’t take up too much room in that closet. Then you would have ample room for clothes and the like.
My 2 cents…..I never had a walk-in closet until we moved into our current home. I absolutely love it. My closet is not huge….does NOT look like a boutique. I have just enough room for everything and a small wooden chair to throw still clean worn clothes on and I get dressed in this closet. It’s great to just close the door and then the bedroom does not get cluttered.
What has been frustrating about the guest bedroom closet? It is much smaller than what was planned for the master.
But the extra space in the den would allow for a buffet for food Wednesday nights. Or a table for puzzles or games if you two enjoy sitting at such while watching tv. A coat closet in the family room would be great. Just more closets is always good!
I’ve forgotten where your husband’s gaming space is?
And wondered also, where do you wash your pets? As I look forward to remodeling our retirement house, I need a dog bathing station! Bending at the waist is, more and more, detrimental to my back.
I had originally wanted a dog washing station in the laundry/utility room. But our current shower in the master bathroom is large enough for that kind of thing. I could bathe a horse in there. 😀
Kristi,
I like the idea of walk in closets. I could not function without our large walk in closet. To me if you put a row if IKEA cabinets, Oh I know you could make them look extra beautiful and classy, but would might not look bedroom beautiful. A walk in closet is a haven of space where all of your clothing, shoes, accessories are in one place. With a full length mirror you can change dresses, shoes, etc all in one room and that saves time and frustration. Especially adding a chest or dresser to keep your unmentionables and maybe jewelry in. Our previous home (left it in 1974) had a 15 foot long wall of about 20 inches deep closet. I could never make up my mind when dressing. I love our huge walk in closet with everything we need to do our dressing selections. I think you would too.
In your family room I bet you would treasure that extra space since you do the Wednesday night church hosting. I don’t think it would look cavernous. I think it would look more inviting…..and you might just see the need to go into your genius mode and create some additional seating areas to accommodate your Wednesday night guests.
In enlarging your drawing, did you mean to have two closets next to the laundry room? If I understand correctly, one will be for Matt’s equipment, and the other for “I don’t know” storage? Then you will also have the two (large and small) closets by the bathroom – one for your clothes and one for Matt’s? It makes sense to me, especially in a home without a basement. Half of our basement is storage, and I don’t know what we would do without it, because we will not pay to have a storage place outside the home! I’m confused though when you say 75 more feet, unless you mean square feet. I would think adding those closets would bump out the space maybe 14 ft. on the back. And You don’t HAVE to bump the family room if you are happy with the size. If you just bump from the wall btw. laundry and family room (leaving the short hallway in place from Master, past the laundry) to the wall on the left side of the house, that would also give you a good spot for a patio off the family room. Am I making sense?
She actually meant 7.5 feet.
I totally get where you are coming from. I’ve always said once those plans are in blueprint form, there is no turning back. I saw this article a while back, thought of you instantly and we are mulling over whether or not we can achieve this on our remodel of our farmhouse.
https://www.domino.com/renovation/ikea-pax-hack-green-walk-in-closet/
I thought what they did was amazing, and I loved the look of it, even my husband perked up a bit at it and said that this was probably doable…which is about as animated as he gets about home improvements.
Keep the faith, go with your gut, and I know you will more than deliver something imaginative, creative and gorgeous all in one. Cheers.
Think both are great! You do tend to need more space for storage of your gear as you finish more spaces. I’d throw it to the architect/structural. Have them quantify if that extra depth can be enough for a bigger beam/different roofline. They’ll know how to balance it out. Say you like the bigger plan but not at the expense of +50% overall. Definitely point out layouts in flux (or share blog posts). Then with the contractor do the same. You could end up framing or blocking out these storage spaces in different ways so you can change some walls over time with less structural changes.
I see this extra depth adds a pass thru from the kitchen or was that a left over detail from a previous plan?
That was a detail that I’ve been considering for quite a while, but I had never added it to the plan. With the extra room in the family room, I went ahead and added it.
I wouldn’t extend the addition; stick with the original plan.
However, I would change the laundry room layout. I would put the washer and dryer on the wall where the sink is now and relocate the sink. As it is, you’ll be standing in the doorway when using either appliance. I would put the washer on the left, then the dryer, then have counter space continue on the right towards the sink which would be closer to the doorway. Just my 2 cents. 😏
I was thinking that would all be fantastic until I read the comments. Oh, maybe some of them make sense too. I love more storage always, and I don’t know about the size of that walk in closet…they can be a pain when all said and done. Your total wall of closets might be fine. Only you know the sizes and your needs. You and Matt have to decide this one…it is such a personal thing. I know you will make a good decision for YOUR house and family!
First thing I saw was, oh look a shoe closet!
I have my first walk-in closet and I’m73! I’ve never been a fan of Armoires or wardrobes, so I vote for a large walk-in. And I’ve never had a spacious laundry area so I’d try to bump yours out stealing space from the family room.
It doesn’t sound like the bulldozers are at your door so deep breaths and string some more necklaces! You’ve got this!
If you can, add the space for the closets. The storage closet in the family room can be used for folding chairs, etc. when you have larger groups. The suggestion for a wet bar and drink frig, maybe an ice maker are good too. Comment from Barbara about having a table for projects in the family room is great, it could be multi-purpose, didn’t you mention wanting a game table at some point?
Slightly unrelated side note, where are you going to put your washer and dryer during construction? Can you have appropriate plumbing added to your studio storage closet to use for laundry equipment during construction?
Whatever you decide it will be great for you and Matt.
I have no idea what I’m going to do with the washer and dryer during construction. I’ve tried to come up with a plan, but it completely stresses me out, so I keep putting it off for Future Kristi to handle. 😩
That is the perfect place for a closet and as soon as I started reading, I was going to suggest that. We had a very large family room and it always felt cozy because the sofa’s and chairs were arranged around the fireplace/TV, which was the cozy spot. The rest was devoted to bookshelves and it was nice to have the room and a wide walkway. You may find that quite convenient with Matt’s wheelchair as well.
The advantage to the walk in closet is you could see everything all at once. I would not want my stuff split up into a bunch of cabinets where I’d have to open each door all the time.
This idea of walk-in closets is so much better, especially being able to tuck away hubby’s equipment. I had a 20×20 living room in my last home and at 1st thought it too huge and not cozy and warm. But when we started having gatherings & bible studies it was fantastic! It all depends on how it’s arranged to keep it cozy and inviting. Go for it, you won’t regret it at all.
100 sq ft-but what is that extra linear hanging space that you would get?is it really worth the extra cost? Would a walk in be another place that could end up as catch all and have you feeling frustrated? Could you add Pax to do a fireplace surround for extra storage? Or move laundry and Matts storage down and do Pax on either side of the French doors? You probably know the price per square ft for the added space, i would ask myself what i would/could spend that money on instead (landscape maybe 😉
We built a 20 X20 porch/family room. Seating tv, fireplace in one area. Small Table, chairs for games/casual area. Reading, chair. Zoned dimmable lighting. Near 3 full walls windows including double handicapped doors to exterior (looks like French doors).
We love it. If possible I’d flank the fireplace with windows, even if smaller, high windows that just let in light. We view nature, bird feeders, planters. Magical experiencing as much outside when inside as possible
More storage is always a great idea! Love it! Thanks for sharing.
Holy cow, when you said you were going to extend the addition by 75 feet, I about fell on the floor! Down a bit further you said 7.5 feet which sounded more like it, but why not go an even 10 feet? Only my mind working overtime.
LOL! You weren’t alone!
Every square foot added is between $100-120 added to the price. 🙂
I really like your last plan, so when I started reading this I was like “ooooh no Kristi”….and then I was immediately YES when I saw the new floor plan. Yes yes yes. You toyed with putting the dining room in the living room, this would give you the option to do so. Or not, and you just have a larger seating area. You have large gatherings at your home frequently, it makes sense. I can see you coming back and writing here in 3 years, “I have no idea how I ever thought it was too much room!” seriously, go for the extra space. This is your forever home, you love shoes (me too!) and they need a legit home where you don’t feel constrained.
I don’t think you would regret the extra space. I intentionally added four extra feet to our living room making it 19×22, it is great for family and friend gatherings. I did two extra long sofas and two side chairs, plenty of space and we don’t feel on top of each other when chatting.
I like your new design! Something to think about–what if you joined the lift closet (next to the laundry room) and the closet opening into the family room and made THAT the master closet. The long closet would then be the lift closet, and you could have a door into the bathroom for the shower wheelchair. It would prevent a congestion of equipment and having to move any one piece longer distances. I know the distance isn’t really that long…but even a few extra steps can be the difference between putting something away and leaving it out sometimes. The purpose for the little closet (opposite the long one) would come clear eventually–linens, extra toiletries, or maybe that’s your shoe closet! 🙂 And I wouldn’t worry at all about the family room feeling too big. It won’t be a cavern. You’ll make it great.
Even if you keep the long closet as the master, I’d still put a door into the shower in there to tuck the shower chair away easily.
I like this idea.
I go along with others who say you don’t need to expand the family room as well as the bedroom. I would personally prefer the pax wardrobes. I find walk in closets claustrophobic and being short, I often cannot reach the upper racks. If you have the storage space, will you fill it up with stuff or do you really need it? The reason I ask, is that you perfectly articulated the reasons for your addition in a previous post. It was so clearly laid out and thoughtful. It seemed you had really planned for your needs. It made sense before, what has changed? Also what would be the extra cost of this extra space, is it worth it?
Do it you will be happy. my closet is similar and a basic hanging clothed rod. I love finishing in the bathroom and walking right into the closet to put my clothes on. lots of extra room for sll my purses and sweaters, the fifty hats my hubby has too !
I’m wondering if you could use the end of the longest closet where the door is for Matt’s equipment. You could use the door as shown in the floor plan or close off the door then make two new doors with one facing the bedroom for Matt’s lift and one door directly into the bathroom for Matt’s shower wheelchair. Or, if the smaller closet next to the sink is large enough for Matt’s equipment or could be enlarged by making the longest closet smaller and moving the doorway into the bathroom towards the shower. Either of these ideas would make a shorter distance to move the shower wheelchair to the shower. Just a thought.
If you decide to do the larger living room, remember to center the fireplace on the wall.
Leave your original floor plan. What about adding your 7.5 feet to the side of the house behind the bed wall. The door could be to the left of the bed where the small Pax closet is and you could have a window facing the street and one facing the rear for some natural light. Windows could be higher up and be circular or hexagon, that way you wouldn’t have to worry about being seen in your unmentionables. Also very easy access from bathroom.
Hi Kristi!
I love this idea of bumping out 7.5 ft. One thing you could do with the extra space in the new family room is add to your kitchen! You need more kitchen space and area to store actual food or things like the crock pot, instapot, etc.
I like the walk-in closets idea better. I think it will give you more flexibility in the long run.
I think this is an excellent idea!
Your family room can remain the same size and the bedroom addition can extend past it. It would be interesting on the outside to have some variation.
You don’t have to do an “even” bumpout across the entire addition. A stepped out bump will keep you from a boring rectangle on the outside and gives little pockets for interesting landscaping details for the future. You can just bump out the bedroom and leave the rest like your original plan!
Or…possibly extend your kitchen into the new space with better cabinets?
I like your idea of adding more space and you will probably get more use out of a regular walk in closet.
Keep thinking on it because you still have time to change your mind.
My last place had a small walk-in closet that I adored and treated as my dressing room. Less than 100 sq ft, for sure but perfect for me. One stack of laminate drawers the height of a tall dresser for jewelry, underwear, workout clothes and everything else was open storage with almost everything hanging. Sweaters, fleece, t-shirts, tank tops all folded on shelves. Top shelves needed a stool to access and were used for fancy shoes, out of season clothing, etc. Everything was in view. Full length mirror on the back of the door, hooks for PJs and robe with hamper in the corner. My current place has PAX units built into the previous reach-in closets. Two 39-inch wide units for hanging(2 doors each) plus 4 stacks of drawers below. I hate constantly opening doors and drawers to find things. I much prefer having open storage behind ONE closet door!
Adding all that space to the family room for the sake of a walk-in closet might not be the best investment but do consider closet needs for both you and Matt!
Add the walk in closets. You can never have too many! If the family room feels too big maybe consider opening up your Kitchen into that space and include and island. You could also move the furniture in the family room to make it feel cozy by having a larger walkway through the area behind the chairs.
For me and the way I live, I would prefer a walk in over the pax system open to the bedroom. Because sometimes my closet is messy! I leave out folded jeans or sweaters to wear the next day and I would not want to see that hanging out in the bedroom. We remodeled and did a walk in closet and I love it!
I’d flip the laundry room to the outside wall & add a window. Make the doorway to the laundry & your room where the new storage room is now and just make the storage room a bit smaller.
Leave the family room the same size and make a screened porch on the extension.
Sometimes a lot of storage is too much storage. Especially if one is a stuffer and deal with it later. Wouldn’t a pax closet set up as shoe storage alone be more practical and easy to maintain? Walk in closets/storage closets can become overwhelming messes based on what I’ve seen on line and at a friends house. Save the money and keep what you first chose. You’ll still have the guest closets for overflow.
I prefer the updated solution. A walk in closed would really fit your needs so much better. And the fact that you each get your own closet; perfection! It allows more options on storage configuration too.
While you didn’t ask and I hope this is not too intrusive; I am sure you have really thought this through, but are you sure you want the laundry room by the bedroom? I always use my laundry room while I’m in the kitchen, early morning, late nights and all times in between. Would your location interfere with Matt if he happens to sleep in, go to bed early or take an afternoon nap. Just a thought.
You are certainly making a beautiful home for the two of you. And your carpentry skills are amazing!
The selfish part of me wants you to do the wardrobes because I’ve always wanted to buy the pax closets because our closets are so tiny and I couldn’t wait to see what kind of Kristin flair you would add to them to look custom
Why not add the 7.5 feet to just the bedroom? I personally love it when the outside walls to a house aren’t straight across, the pop outs, recessed in walls give the outside of the house more character.
I prefer a walk in closet and think the space in the living room will allow you to spread the furniture out a little bit more and give Matt more room to maneuver.
I was dying at the missing decimal and thought “how can she bump it out 75 feet?!”
More storage space is ALWAYS better! If you can afford it, go with the additional space!
I like putting in the extra 7.5 ft. for the walkin and shoe closets. You can never have too much storage. In the den, I’d shift the bookcase to center it on the long wall between the new storage closet door and the hallway to the bedroom. Then I’d shift the sitting area and fireplace or TV to center with it and put a table for 2 at the window. Now you have 2 more chairs for your Wednesday evening bible study group.
I do think you need to draw it out with the carport and patio in the picture though as it seems to me that the new back wall will be in line with the back posts of the carport and the carport will face a big solid wall.
I like the idea of adding the extra space. Your choice though.
Youu do not have to have the back wall of family room on the same plane as the main bedroom. You can have it jog in. Or, like Lysa said, put in a screened porch. We enclosed our back patio and it’s been a game changer for us (SoCal). We don’t have to worry about critters or animals and we sit out there almost nightly now (it would freak you out to know all the wildlife we have in our backyard!). Sometimes we even watch tv on our iPads or laptops while enjoying the evening in the screened area. We call it the CATIO because our cats enjoy it the most. They love to watch hummingbirds, flies, and butterflies! I secretly call it my “cage” because it keeps me safe from all the wildlife.
I would never not opt for a walk-in closet. If you are doing an add-on why not add one on, lol? It’s nice to have all of your clothes and shoes in one place plus your laundry baskets, etc. And those three pairs of shoes you tried on with two different pairs of jeans can be put away after your function because no one will see them! I literally hide things in mine when I don’t have time to put something away. Also, birthday and Christmas gifts! But seriously, I love the PAX system and you can either order them to fit your walk-in and then customize them to your style while still reaping the benefits of all the organization or you can build out your closet similarly becaause you have mad carpentry skills. Look on Pinterest for ideas- there are literally thousands of examples of what people have done with PAX for their own closets.
As far as bumping both the bedroom and family walls out the same amount and then worrying about the family room being too large, just forget that idea! You host groups in your home and this would be a perfect spot for that. I will again suggest putting a banquette area in the corner at the intersection of kitchen wall, pantry and breakfast room walls. You can build an “L” shaped bench with cushions and a beautiful big table. Set your goals on seating at least 6 people on the benches and the same amount in chairs on opposite side of table. We don’t have a banquette in this house but we use our huge island to put out a buffet of food on holidays, seat people, do puzzles, whatever- and that’s what you can do with a banquette and table.
I love the idea of a kitchenette that others have suggested too. If you are still thinking of opening up the kitchen wall for a pass-thru and extending a counter, then I’d put a drawer refrigerator under the counter and drawers for plasticware or paper ware, etc.
2 thoughts:
1. For me what matters for the closets is the length of the hanging/shelf space and not whether it’s linear like your PAX design or a walk-in.
2. If I’m reading the floorpan properly, it looks like the entry to your master bedroom is either through the exercise room and then through the master bath or at the far end of the family room. The distance of the entrance would be annoying to me. Personally I’d rather have it just after you walk into the family room. This of course would interfere with the closet for Matt’s equipment so it may be worth it to you. Could you enlarge your shoe closet to use for Matt’s equipment instead, make the closet that faces the family room part of your walk-in closet so there’s more room for shoes and put the bedroom entrance where Matt’s closet currently is?
I have not read through all of the comments, but the larger footprint allows for more options especially with the kitchen wall. I’m looking at how far it is to a bathroom from the family room. It appears the closet area next to the laundry room could be divided and a powder room added into this space and then accessed from the family room.
Definitely go for as large a space as you can, and most importantly, ease of access. As time goes on, there may be more equipment that you and yours may need, and you will be kicking yourself if you look back and wish you had done it when you could.
I like your bump-out idea. You can never have enough storage. Now there is room for a game table in the living room, an essential in our family.
Just keep in mind the doors for the closets, right now they’d interfere with each other, or you’d have to swing at least one of them in. I’d make the smaller closet more of a built in custom cabinet and then keep the larger one a closet with a door. I understand the appeal of another empty wall, but I’d be very tempted to move the larger closet door into the bedroom and put a pocket door on it.
Sorry if this is a repeat comment.
Kristi, it might be the same price to extend the family room as well as the bedroom, but it is less charming and liveable! I’ve been reading architecture books for the layperson lately (like Patterns Of Home) and L shaped houses create lovely negative space for outdoor rooms, making the outdoor space more inviting and comfortable than an undifferentiated oblong deck with wide open ends. Almost any kind of bump out or wing really adds to the appeal of a home.
We have walk-in closets flanking the hallway to our master bathroom and I love it – I get out of my shower and can walk into my closet to get dressed.
We keep our shoes on shelves in another closet area. I like it a lot because they are easy to see and keep them organized. So maybe keep a built-in wall of cabinets somewhere and just plan to use them for shoes?
Dear Kristi,
Good Morning. I really like your original plan for the master bedroom with Pax wardrobes. I think that fits your personality, and way of living/doing things, the best. Those contained, but easily accessed, spaces will naturally lend themselves to organization.
Extending the footprint makes the family room too large for a cozy space. It also seems to make the overall floor plan look unbalanced to my eye.
Thank you for sharing your processes and thoughts, I always learn something from you!
Enjoy your day. Each day is a gift (from YHWH)!
YHWH Bless You : )
If you’re moving the laundry room why not put in a glazed door rather than a window? Then you can make an outdoor drying area and save electricity/ the planet.
Sorry, meant to post that in the next entry! Copying it across now.
IMHO……….A walk-in closet is everything. I lived for years with standard tiny walk-in closets in my 70s built house. I now have one with hanging and storage space on 3 sides. It’s not a fancy closet by any means, but a storage area with room to see everything is a game changer. Additionally, the storage closet in the family room makes sense for storing the hoyer, etc when you are in the family room.
You could use lots of plants in the family room to make it feel more cozy. Make it a jungle room.
DO IT!!!! You can never have too much storage!!!
I think this second option is better, for a reason you haven’t considered: the opportunity to create a second, more convenient doorway into that bedroom that you will wish you had as time marches on! Especially with a wheelchair-bound husband, over time, the need to march all the way through either the master bath or the entire family room addition and then the entire bedroom just to get to the closet will eventually drive you insane (I had 19 years of caretaking experience with my one-armed, wheelchair-bound mother, so I experienced this kind of thing). Picture yourself in the kitchen or studio: you need something from the master closet, and your route will force you to traverse the entirety of two rooms, around and around, every time you need something from that laundry room or closet. You are going to go bonkers having to circulate that way, and now is the time to really look at that plan: perfect opportunity to create another bedroom entrance near where the music room flows into the family room!