What kind of home plan do you prefer? (Redux)

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irvinehomeowner

irvinehomeowner

Well-known member
So one of my first posts on the IHB was this one:

http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/forums/viewthread/3024/

First some disclaimers... this is for a family of 4.5 ranging in the 2500-3000sft range:

In no particular order:

1. 5 bedrooms (4 with a den or bonus room will work)

2. All living areas: Living room, dining room, family room and nook

3. Kitchen: Must have huge center island with eat-at bar (usually the sink will be in it) and a walk-in (or really big) pantry

4. Separate laundry room with sink (preferably upstairs)

5. Master bathroom: Separate shower and tub, shower should be sizeable with a seat and separate vanity area (for the ladies)

6. Front courtyard

7. Vaulted or high ceilings

8. 3-car garage (real 3-car? not tandem)

9. Reasonable back/side yard space

10. Cul-de-sac location
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I then followed up a few months later with:

11. Separate his/her master walk-in closets:
The sigoth loves the fact that our clothes aren't mixed. They also make great dressing rooms. Walk-in closets are like little vacation getaways.

12. Fully enclosed master shower:
Such a spa-like experience taking a shower where the only glass is on the door. Nice and private.
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Since then (almost a year ago), there are some things I can probably prune of this list:

1. 5 bedrooms:
Depending on the age/sex of your kids, you may be able to get away with 4 since they can share a room, but it is nice for each kid to have one. We currently use one for an office which would leave the 5th for a play/rec/guest room but we can probably make due with just 4.

2. All living areas:
We can probably cut a living room to make a great room and maybe the dining or nook so that there is only one eating area. Most times you don't need those additional rooms but you'll miss them when you entertain guests. I like the idea of having two tables/eating areas because one is usually used to eat at and the other is the homework/mail/etc table.

6. Front courtyard:
Although nice, not a necessity.

7. Vaulted or high ceilings:
Not really on my list anymore. I do prefer the ceilings to be higher but they don't have to be vaulted. Just as long as areas like the stairs aren't so enclosed.

9. Reasonable back/side yard space:
Honestly, with so many parks in Irvine, I'm not sure how much this is needed. Probably a small area so that I can BBQ but most times, we entertain indoors so this area doesn't really need to be big.

10. Cul-de-sac location:
I think this isn't that big of a deal anymore. I just prefer it to not be a busy street or near anywhere that has lots of noise. I would prefer a view lot over a cul-de-sac one.

Of course, peteruk would add velodrome to this list and cayci would add climate-controlled clean room for her shoes and ponies.

Remember... this is a wish list but I would like to hear what features are important to you in your home.

(where is bk and his California Room?)
 
Ideally my list would include:

1) 5 bedrooms plus loft
--would like one bedroom for each kid, plus would like one extra for use as an office/guest bedroom, and loft area as play room/kid area

2) Office/guest bedroom should be on main floor with full bath or 3/4 bath. Another plus would be 1 full bath per bedroom--but that would be luxury territory.

3) Prefer open floor plan--so okay not to have a formal living room area or dining room area. Like Great Room concept.

4) Kitchen needs large island.

5) Needs some backyard or else close proximity to neighborhood park

6) 2.5 Garage would be great. Rear setback garage would be even better.

7) And of course must follow some basic feng shui rules...BK style. <!-- s:) -->:)<!-- s:) -->
 
So after viewing a few model homes these past weeks I have more modifications:

1. 5 bedrooms:
I already said I wouldn't mind going with a 4, but now I think that I would want at least a loft upstairs... so like Plan 3 in Sonoma, 4 + Loft will work.

5. Master Bathroom:
Not a single Sonoma model had a vanity area. And I don't think it's that hard to fit one in.

11. Separate his/her master walk-in closets:
At least make a fake one where there is a hanging rod that splits the single master closet. The Plan 3 Sonoma shows it but it wasn't done that way in the model. Many times I have heard the joke when I see a couple viewing the model "Oooo... nice big closet. So where does he put his clothes?".

12. Fully enclosed master shower:
Los Arboles understood this (although they failed on Plan 3). Sonoma could have easily implemented this. Maybe they though it was more open but I don't see why they couldn't have just put that wall where they had glass.

13. California Room:
Just kidding. But I do like them. I've always liked it when builders did that balcony off the master that created a covered patio/Cali Room on the first floor. There's something to be said to have a solid roofed outside area in your backyard.
 
Zombie time!

After more than a year later... TIC is still not getting it "right" (my opinion of course).

I appreciate they are trying to build detached homes (err... condos) in the sub 2000sft range but I still think they have room to implement at least what I think should be the minimum features for any 2000sft home:

1. 4 bedrooms (1 down).

2. Upstairs loft.

Primrose Plan 3

http://www.villagesofirvine.com/Villages-And-Residences/Portola-Springs-Floorplan.aspx?type=home&Id=216

Casero Plan 2

http://www.villagesofirvine.com/Villages-And-Residences/Portola-Springs-Floorplan.aspx?type=home&Id=230

If you're gonna take away the driveway and backyard, at least put some functionality and living spaces inside the home.

/rant

EDIT: I forgot to say that Primrose P3  and Casero P2 are actually the better plans I have seen since they both have an upstairs loft and a downstairs BR.
 
To me it seems like the floor plans are getting worse in terms of additional living spaces.  I thought Carmel I was bad but it looks like San Marino cut away more living spaces.
 
How about the Casita for extended guest or home office?  It seems to be quite popular for the 1M+ homes?  I?m kinda on the fence for this one though.

3.  As for the *single level* huge center island.  It?s okay if the main sink is elsewhere, but if it?s an island with the only sink in it, I?d prefer a *raised* eat-in bar to hide the sink along with all its mess and to house all the small electrical appliances. You can have quite a workstation with built-in colander, knife block/magnet, waste-bin, etc all hidden behind the raised bar.

12.  I would definitely like a seat, but also a large glass door with a large side panel, otherwise it?ll feel too claustrophobic to me.

-just my 0.02
 
things I like:

Downstairs - Media niche (vs. tv cutout over fireplace)...  i find the viewing angle not optimal above a tall fireplace (i.e. Sonoma).  I like it when the media niche is on one wall, and the fireplace is on the adacent wall.  Example:  Greenbrier homes by MBK in Yorba Linda.  Plan 1's "super family room"...  Excellent overall design incorporating fireplace and entertainment.

Garage - extra storage space ala 3rd car tandem.  Some of the new homes in Irvine barely have room for two cars.  What, people dont store things/ bikes/ tools in their garage?  c'mon man!  I don't need a 3rd car space, just a little "extra".  my Irvine 1500 sq ft town home has a bigger garage than some of the newer SFR's...  that's just sad...  no wonder everyone is parking in their driveways and streets...

Kitchen.  Storage storage storage.  You can never have too much storage.  I'm not big on the "home management center" desks... rather just have cabinets.  I love big pantries and butler pantries (i.e. Campanile Plan 4).  Big islands are a must.  None of this 2 seater crap...  3 seat minimum.  Speaking from experience, we often find ourselves for some reason with guests congregated in the kitchen drinking/snacking what have you... big island is a nice place to just "chill".  BIG no no is to have the stove/range in the island.  Either you got a huge range hood coming down in the mid of your kitchen, or you have to use a downdraft range... Im not down with that. 

Downstairs den/bedroom... Always nice to have an extra room downstairs..  Upstairs - extra loft would be nice as a place for the kids to hang out, do homework or watch tv.  Why here?  you can have toys and store them without it being unsightly for when guests drop by.  Right now we have crap everywhere in our family room... we gave up cleaning before guests... 

Bathrooms- guest bathroom should have 2 sinks.  Laundry room - extra storage and sink is a huge plus.  Master bath - his/her walk in closets and a vanity.  French doors to a balcony in the master is awesome as well.

Did I miss anything?
 
USCTrojanCPA said:
13. A home with a reasonable price that has a full driveway and some kind of yard NOT on a motorcourt. 
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That's 3 different requests... and you can only have one of them at a time.

Choose wisely.
 
USCTrojanCPA said:
13. A home with a reasonable price that has a full driveway and some kind of yard NOT on a motorcourt.
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That'll be $850,000. Oh and I forgot, the 405 is 500 yards away. Thank you, come again.
 
IndieDev said:
USCTrojanCPA said:
13. A home with a reasonable price that has a full driveway and some kind of yard NOT on a motorcourt.
Click to expand...

That'll be $850,000. Oh and I forgot, the 405 is 500 yards away. Thank you, come again.
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Actually... it's probably more like $950k... sadly.
 
irvinehomeowner said:
USCTrojanCPA said:
13. A home with a reasonable price that has a full driveway and some kind of yard NOT on a motorcourt. 
Click to expand...
That's 3 different requests... and you can only have one of them at a time.

Choose wisely.
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It's actually 4 different requests.  ;)
 
ok... i'll bite...

1) 3 beds, 2.5 baths
2) laundry upstairs
3) 2 car garage
4) small yard (no pool to maintain, no grass to mow)
5) built after 2000
6) great room (no separate rooms for dinning or living room.)
7) no more than 1800 sq ft.

so as you can see this is very different than yours... after reading other posts, i'm beginning to wonder, am i the only one that doesn't like to live in a large home?
 
villagepeople said:
so as you can see this is very different than yours... after reading other posts, i'm beginning to wonder, am i the only one that doesn't like to live in a large home?
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Remember... I have kids... so a 3br would be too small for us.

But your post is perfect for demonstrating what some people need in certain ranges. Interestingly enough, your list looks like what TIC is currently building (although they are detached/attached condo, have no driveway and are on a motorcourt). Was your list talking about an SFR or a condo?
 
irvinehomeowner said:
Interestingly enough, your list looks like what TIC is currently building (although they are detached/attached condo, have no driveway and are on a motorcourt). Was your list talking about an SFR or a condo?
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you'll probably think i'm a TIC shill but i actually don't mind motorcourt layouts... i just want it to be detached.  i do have a toddler but even if we have another one i don't ever see needing or wanting more rooms or a bigger house.  reason being is the a/c costs, the cleaning required for such a big house... (i just don't feel comfortable having someone come in and clean my mess, or using up electricity or water that isn't necessary...  yes, i'm kinda a tree hugger.)
 
villagepeople said:
i do have a toddler but even if we have another one i don't ever see needing or wanting more rooms or a bigger house.
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I understand... everyone has different needs and lifestyles.

We felt the same way you did until we lived in a bigger home... it's one of those things where you get used to it and end up preferring it.
 
1) 3 beds, 2.5 baths
2) Kitchen with walk in pantry and island
3) laundry in the garage
4) small back yard
5) built after 2002
6) great room and a loft
7) no less than 1600 sq.ft

 
wacoonist said:
How about the Casita for extended guest or home office?  It seems to be quite popular for the 1M+ homes?
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We used to want this... but more to rent out (or else how else could you afford that $1m+ mortgage?).

We lived in a house with one... and it ended up never getting used. I think having a downstairs space with a separate external entrance is useful but there should also be some access to the main home to offer functionality for people who don't use it as an office or guest suite.
 
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