Losing a bedroom to get a formal entry way and bigger kitchen?

Disclaimer: Moving is not an option.

WWYD?
We have a 4 bedroom Levitt ranch (the one you enter from the kitchen and door faces the side yard, not the front yard).
2 bedrooms downstairs, 2 upstairs.
2 bathrooms (one in each floor). Upstairs is shower not tubb

So when you come into my house you enter in the kitchen. No foyer. then if you keep going there is a small hallway. Bathroom passed the kitchen then SMALLl bedroom (sized for a nursery or a twin bed type bedroom). Other side of hallway is a bigger bedroom.

Original plan (we are doing an addition... SOMETIME! @@) was to extend in back to give us a dinning room which we don't have now. We would move our bedrooms upstairs (we use those bedrooms as storage/playroom now). And use bigger bedroom as big playroom (much easier to watch DS) and use small bedroom for a future child at some point.

I like my house, I am NOT in love with the curb appeal.

Now... my brain is going wild. And I am thinking of transfering the bathroom where the small bedroom is and make the bathroom the foyer.

Pros:
1/ nice curb appeal. Door is now facing the front yard. It's in the middle of the house
2/ Bigger bathroom. Will transfer the washer/dryer who are now in one of the bathroom upstairs
3/ My L shape kitchen could be transformed to a U shape kitchen since the door will be gone.

Cons:
1/ Lose a bedroom
2/ Lose the playroom I wanted to do
3/ Add cost since we have to move plumbing (we are on a slab) and bathroom is only 2 yo.

WHAT TO DO...WHAT TO DO?????

Re: Losing a bedroom to get a formal entry way and bigger kitchen?

I don't think I'd buy a 3 bedroom, 1 bath house if I could afford a 3bed/2bath.

Is there anyway to keep a 1/2 bath in your plan?

Re: Losing a bedroom to get a formal entry way and bigger kitchen?

Re: Losing a bedroom to get a formal entry way and bigger kitchen?

I guess I read it wrong then.

Just wondering how much this reno would cost vs adding on?

It sounds like a lot of work - you'd have to redo the siding on the side since you were closing the kitchen door and cut a hole in the front.

Its seems like you are giving up a lot. I do like the kitchen expansion but I like to cook.

You still won't have the dining room you wanted in the expansion.

Message edited 6/2/2012 10:37:12 PM.

Re: Losing a bedroom to get a formal entry way and bigger kitchen?

Re: Losing a bedroom to get a formal entry way and bigger kitchen?

I'm having a hard time picturing..really depends on cost benefit. Probably the biggest drawback I saw to levitt's besides the slab was the lack of an entryway/ curb appeal around entry. I can't picture the rooms, but would say I'd give up a playroom on the 1 st for to gain significantly better flow, curb apeal and a larger openKitchen:


Does that help?

Re: Losing a bedroom to get a formal entry way and bigger kitchen?

I would also give up a small bedroom on the first floor to create a nicer flow.

What do you use that bedroom for now?

Would you miss it?

I have a small bedroom on my first floor and use it as an office.

Re: Losing a bedroom to get a formal entry way and bigger kitchen?

What about creating a front facing entry where the current door is. You could build out a small "bump" and create an entry way where the existing door is and not lose any rooms.
I have several friends that have done this in Levitt homes. Creates a lot more space than you think it does.