Tag: stairs

The Top 5 Things to Look for When House Shopping with Kids

Whether you are building a custom dream home or shopping for an already built home, these are our top 5 things that you should look for to make your life with kids run smoothly and efficiently.

Location

This seems like a no-brainer, but have you considered which school district your potential home falls into?  The distance from the school?  These good considerations too take into account when purchasing a home.

Laundry Room

While it may not be your first thought when you are looking for a house, with kids, a fully functional laundry room is a must.  Look for a laundry room on the first floor of the house, does it double as a mudroom?  Even better.

Built-In Storage Options

Top heavy furniture can be a problem for small children and circumventing that problem, while saving yourself a bit of money (by not spending it on unneeded furniture) is entirely possible with built-ins in living spaces.  Also look for built-in storage in closets, the mudroom or laundry room, as well as the entry way which will all help cut down on clutter and keep spaces neat and tidy.

Bathrooms

A kid-friendly bathroom is another important feature to look for in a home.  Kids usually need a large tub with plenty of room for an adult to be around to supervise.  Consider how much storage space you will need for toiletries, toys, and plenty of towels.  The master bathroom is also something to consider as a private space with no kids can be a wonderful retreat to call your own when you need a break.

Stairs that have room for a safety gate

Beyond a safety gate, think about the railings and steps themselves.  Can a child get their head stuck between the railings?  Or slip through them?  If your children are past the stage of bumbling around and exploring on their own, this is not something you necessarily need to consider, but if you have a child who is learning to crawl or walk, this is a good area to carefully consider.

Best Stair Designs for a Custom Home

A great use of space for custom homes is to have a second story, there are several reasons for this:

  1. Roofing per square foot is going to be one of larger expenses that you pay for your custom home.
  2. It’s easier and cheaper to cool and heat a two story house than a one story.
  3. Some experts say that a two story house can be up to 33% cheaper per square foot to build than a one story house.

Because of these benefits, many people choose a two story house design instead of a one story, which means that unless you plan on using a ladder to access your second floor, you’ll need to consider stair designs and how they will fit into your custom house design.

Stairs have two main types: plain and elaborate.  Less expensive smaller houses designs typically include the plainer stairs while more expensive larger houses have the fancier ones.

Shape

A grand staircase can be a main design element of the character of your home, it can have a circular shape, less steep of a step, and be as wide as you’d like.  A plainer staircase will be a standard size and shape, twelve inches deep and six inches high.  While an elaborate staircase may be featured near the front entrance, a plainer staircase is usually found nearer the back of the house.  A plain staircase is likely to involve a turn or two, this is because a straight flight of steps takes up a lot of space while a 90 or 180 degree turn will save space for other rooms.  More extravagant staircases usually feature a gentle turn that is easy on the eyes.

Materials

Though many people choose carpeting for their stairs because it is a cheaper option and tends to muffle any sounds as one moves from one floor to another, hardwood, stone, or laminate will last longer and make your home look and feel more expensive.  It will cost you more to install, but this is one part of your home that will see a lot of traffic and it’s best to choose something that will stand the test of time.  Another more modern option is to choose open metal stairs, this works well in a minimalist home design.