Duplex Layout
We are looking to renovate a duplex in a soon-to-be former SRO. The duplex will be the garden and parlor levels. Any insight as to layout – bedrooms on lower level and kitchen and living space on parlor level? Other configurations? Which entrance is most functional? What do you think works best for aesthetics and…
We are looking to renovate a duplex in a soon-to-be former SRO. The duplex will be the garden and parlor levels. Any insight as to layout – bedrooms on lower level and kitchen and living space on parlor level? Other configurations? Which entrance is most functional? What do you think works best for aesthetics and flow? Thanks in advance.
i am an idiot and i am lead by richard simmons
Hi,
I had a similar question. I am in the process of purchasing a brownstone where I would live in the bottom duplex. Currently, they layout has the kitchen and living space on the garden floor and the bedrooms on the parlor floor. I really don’t like that type of layout, but the cost of switching everything may be too much of a burden for me.
Can someone tell me what the ballpark costs of switching the layout so that the bedrooms are downstairs and the kitchen/living/dining rooms are on the parlor level?
Thanks!
Please send an email to radzook@hotmail.com. Thanks for your insight.
You are exactly right – the garden entrance leads to the bedroom hallway, with the stairs straight ahead. We use the space in between the exterior and interior doors to hang coats, shoe cubbies, etc. so it is a very practical entrance for the family. When we have people over, they enter upstairs, through the main house door, into the public corridor and then through our living room door. If you don’t mind posting your e-mail or phone no. on the site, I’d be happy to contact you directly. I’m sure I have pictures somewhere on my PC that I could share with you.
That’s sort of how I imagined it – but where does the entrance to the garden level of your home lead you? We were picturing the garden door leading straight to a hallway to the bedrooms as well as stairs up to parlor level.
We also duplexed the garden and parlor floors of our brownstone for our own use. We have two large bedrooms, each with its own bath, on the garden floor. The baths are in the center of the house, so they have no windows but we have not found this to be a problem. The living room, dining room and kitchen are on the parlor floor to take advantage of the high ceilings. We can enter on the garden level under the stoop (which we usually do) or upstairs (as our guests usually do). This year we added a porch off the kitchen, which is in the back of the house, with stairs down to the garden. We’ve been in the house 5+ years now and are very pleased with the layout and flow. If you need any more info, just let me know. Good luck w/your project.