Parlor Floor Bedrooms?
I know it’s definitely not preferable, but any ideas (plans, drawings) on how to make two bedrooms out of the parlor floor of a 20×35 townhouse?
I know it’s definitely not preferable, but any ideas (plans, drawings) on how to make two bedrooms out of the parlor floor of a 20×35 townhouse?
Is there a reason why you want the BR’s on the parlor floor? Having the living spaces on the parlor floor (and the bedrooms on the garden floor) would create lots of light for the general living space.
Anyway, the easiest way to do it would be be 1 BR in the front (with two windows), 1 BR in the same line but in the back (w/ 2 windows), and the bath on the side in the back (w/ 1 window). Usually the plumbing is in the back so this is straightforward. Depending on how deep your building is, you can also use the middle of the house between the two bedrooms to install closets — you could probably configure a small walk in for one of the BR’s. But speak to an architect and I am sure they would have many ideas.
Ah…I should have specified that everything else (kitchen, living room) will be on a different floor. So, on this floor, just two bedrooms and a bathroom.
Thanks so much for all the advice/ideas!
Alright I deserve that. And you’re welcome.
JH
Jim Hill has spoken. And we are all wiser. Thank you for speaking to us, Jim Hill.
I refrained from posting a response to this earlier as it falls under the “free advice that I probably could have charged for” category. But I’m in a good mood so…
It sounds to me like you’re asking for everything on one floor. Otherwise it’s easy. You need at least 8 feet for a legal bedroom so the 7 foot comment above is less than accurate. You divide one end (front or back) into two bedrooms. The hard part is that you generally have 3 windows, so you can’t put the wall right down the middle. In this condition, and it comes up a lot, we put the wall very close to that middle window, go a few feet into the room and jog it back a foot or so. This creates one bedroom with two windows slightly larger than the other and the niche at the middle window becomes a great place for a desk or low dresser.
The other side of the floor becomes an open plan kitchen living and dining area, with a bathroom between the kitchen and the bedrooms.
As for drawings, well now you’re asking too much. Hire an architect, you’ll have to anyway to do the work.
Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Urban Pioneering Architecture
yeah – are you talking about 2 bedrooms only on the parlor floor, or a whole apt on the parlor floor?
if the former, we have the same situation. we have one bedroom at each end, with a windowless room in the middle along with a bathroom. the windowless room connects to the front bedroom.
Just put beds and wardrobes in the rooms. You will need a bathroom on the same floor though. Usually those go in the little space at the back of the stair.
r u saying that there has to be living space on that floor too? or would the kitchen/living room be on a different floor?
Agreed assuming that you are in a standard old townhouse with three windows across the back and teh center beam about six or seven feet from one wall — if possible make the narrow bedroom at least 7′ wide to avoid feeling like a prison cell. The kitchen and LR will have to be a single open plan.
If this was on the top floor it would actually be very doable. Parlor floor — well, at least the higher ceilings will create the feeling of space.