Volume vs Sq Ft

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rkp

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I found my dream neighborhood this weekend when I visited the One Ford Road community in newport beach and kept trying to put my finger on why I loved the houses.  I realized a big part is the volume aspect of a house. 

For example, take this house:http://www.redfin.com/CA/Newport-Beach/40-Old-Course-Dr-92660/home/4653890

We have seen many 3000+ sq ft newer houses across irvine and tustin and while their sq ft is large, most dont feel large.  The house we visited in One Ford Road  is similar to the redfin link above and it felt HUGE.  It had very high ceilings everywhere and vaulted ceilings in the entry.  The curb view itself felt like it was a 5000 sq ft irvine house.

I think a new metric to add is volume.  It would help give a better idea of the house before seeing it and would help those houses that dont have huge sq ft but have lots of volume. 
 
I agree... it matters even more with the 1250-1700 sq ft homes i was looking at... unfortunately, i don't think it will really catch on.
 
The problem is lot size.

You can make volume interiors with vaulted ceilings as long as you have enough space to spread out the footprint of the home, but in Irvine, since the lots have been narrowed, much of that second story space is occupied by floors and walls (and also why you can't get a 3CWG in any new Irvine homes today).

It's also why I like the older 90s 3CWG designs like in Tustin Ranch and Westpark II... wider garage, wider driveway, wider backyard... wider lot... more volume.
 
rkp said:
I found my dream neighborhood this weekend when I visited the One Ford Road community in newport beach and kept trying to put my finger on why I loved the houses.  I realized a big part is the volume aspect of a house. 

For example, take this house:http://www.redfin.com/CA/Newport-Beach/40-Old-Course-Dr-92660/home/4653890

We have seen many 3000+ sq ft newer houses across irvine and tustin and while their sq ft is large, most dont feel large.  The house we visited in One Ford Road  is similar to the redfin link above and it felt HUGE.  It had very high ceilings everywhere and vaulted ceilings in the entry.  The curb view itself felt like it was a 5000 sq ft irvine house.

I think a new metric to add is volume.  It would help give a better idea of the house before seeing it and would help those houses that dont have huge sq ft but have lots of volume. 
Click to expand...

I love 'high volume' homes.  That is why my first house and current home has flat ceiling Cathedral ceilings in at least 50% of the home.  If I applied the 'new Irvine' floorplan style to my home by maximizing all the volume with floors and walls, I would add quite a bit of space to my home.  I have to admit though, all that un-managed airspace does make your utility bills go up. 
 
While I like vaulted ceilings and high ceilings and large windows, I really appreciate open floor plans. I always think open floor plans really open up a house and make it feel much bigger. I hate the 30-year old homes where every room is walled up. It just makes everything seem so small and confined.
 
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