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October 28, 2008
Leaving a door on the garden level?? Thoughts, please.
We're converting the bottom 2 floors of a brownstone into a duplex. The parlor level will have a deck with stairs to the backyard. The garden level is configured to have 2 small bedrooms towards the back. Here's our dilemma: we were thinking of placing a glass door in one of the bedroom to allow access to the backyard and natural sunlight in, but at the same time, we are hesitant to put a glass door in a small bedroom because it would constrict placement of furniture, and because of safety issues. Is it stupid to give up access to the backyard on the ground level or are we unlikely to use the bedroom door anyway?
Comments
Couple of thoughts:
1. Think about what you use your garden for:
Is it to look at through a window?
+ Entertaining?
+ Lying in the hammock?
+ Family Cookouts?
+ Quiet time alone?
+ Kids play space?
(these are some things we use our garden for, you may have others)
Once you have your list, think about whether you would prefer to commence those activities through the bedroom or down from the kitchen.
For us, once the got done improving our garden and making it match our needs it was like getting another room or two in the house -- three seasons of the year
2. Consider the thermal consequence of having a glass door in a small bedroom. It will be much draftier even with good double panel glass and insulation. Not saying don't do it, but consider carefully. We have a 1 story extension, with a glass door a skylight and three windows and despite my best efforts at insulation it is a three season room (unbearable in the winter -- unless we crank up the electric heater).
Posted by: phripley at October 28, 2008 9:02 PM
A good double paned exterior door is basically the same as a window in terms of thermal efficiency; you need good weatherstripping, preferably a retractable sweep at the bottom; and you could add an exterior storm door if need be.
I think it would be a great shame if you didn't do it. Extra access to the garden (fire exit as well)...
By safety issue do you mean burglaries? That's the same as a window.
Posted by: cmu at October 29, 2008 9:37 AM
Door. Would feel claustrophobic having to go all the way upstairs to get back into the garden.
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at October 29, 2008 9:46 AM
we put in a glass door in our back bedroom...the amount of light it adds to the room is astonishing...i'd post a photo but dont know how :-(
it isnt any draftier ...it actually adds some heat with sun through out the day. if you get a great door it isnt an issue.
Posted by: CGmodern at October 29, 2008 11:07 AM
I think you should definately put a door in the room for light and view, means of egress, etc. I would use french doors, very tall and narrow.... it would be lovely if the doors were a single undivided pane and would open out, rather than in. Go for the light... and in a smaller room, it's even more important. Even if you don't use it as a bedroom, it could be a lovely office or studio with the natural light.
Posted by: janeinteriorsnyc at October 29, 2008 11:08 AM
You should definitely have access to the rear yard from the garden level. You could have a security gate at the exterior if you are worried about that. And a door would take up the same amount of space as a window.
Is it too much to change the layout and have one bedroom at the front of the house and one bed at the rear of the house?
Posted by: vai at October 29, 2008 11:16 AM
hey everyone - thanks for the comments. the more I think about it, the more sensible it is to leave a door on the garden level, even though it is sort of annoying for the person whose bedroom it will be to have people traipsing back and forth through his/her room. Vai - we already have another bedroom at the front of the house, we are squeezing every last drop of space out of the layout. And yes, the glass door will be double-paned etc.
Posted by: North Sleeper at October 29, 2008 11:27 AM
You don't have to let people go through your bedroom, but yeah: closing off the yard access is a silly idea, even if someone blocks it with furniture.
I'd look at fire codes, though: I'm pretty sure you are required to have egress at both ends of a multi-family dwelling.
Posted by: serpentor at October 29, 2008 2:26 PM
We are also now doing a renovation and creating a garden/parlor duplex. For what it is worth, we went with the door on the garden floor. I'd be curious to see your plans, if you feel like swapping, I can send you a pdf. Ours does have a small extension but I can send you the alternate plans that did not include the extension. Good luck!
Posted by: Colonel at October 29, 2008 3:22 PM
Colonel - if you can figure out a way to convert huge hard copy drawings into a pdf, I'd be happy to send the plans to you. Otherwise, I'll tell you that we have squeezed 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on the garden level and a kitchen, LR & powder room on the parlor floor.
Posted by: North Sleeper at October 29, 2008 4:28 PM
I'm not sure how to do it, I got the PDF from my architect. I'm at avery.kotler@napster.com. If you email there i'd be happy to send you ours anyway.
Posted by: Colonel at October 29, 2008 5:58 PM
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