MrDinks and I are both professionals, with no plans to have children. He's in senior management of an engineering group. I am an IT project management consultant. We have been looking to move closer to the downtown area of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in order to have walking access to restaurants and other activities. MrDinks also has hobbies which are better served with a large garage.
In most cities, the idea of inner city AND a big garage would be laughable. In Calgary, the downtown core is made up of high rise office towers, but a few blocks out is filled with large lots, with small 1950s bungalows. For the last 10-15 years, developers have been buying these bungalows and tearing them down and replacing them with either 1 large home, or 2 smaller ones. It shouldn't be too much of a stretch to find one with a small house and a big garage. We thought. Unfortunately, builders all assume that buyers are all families needing lots of rooms, and the garage is just a bonus. We only need a small house, and we're willing to pay what the big houses cost. But builders won't provide it.
As Calgary is largely a car dependent city, most couples own at least 2 cars. Some people have a third car for summer driving, or camping, or just a classic car that they putter around with. And then there are lawn mowers, golf clubs, hockey gear, Christmas decorations and other random things people keep in the garage. So it really shouldn't be too crazy to ask for a 4 car garage.
In addition to the 2 cars and a potential project car, MrDinks is also into bicycles. Downhill mountain bike racing, cross country mountain biking, triathlons, or just commuting to work. They all require different types of bikes, as well as a myriad of spare parts. We currently have a 2 car garage, which is just not cutting it anymore. We can either park the cars in there, or we park the bikes. Getting a 3rd vehicle for fun is not an option.
Our current house is just under 1700 sq'. It's more than enough for 2 people. We have rooms we don't use. But we also would like different rooms. For example, our formal living room is nothing more than a dumping ground for stuff when we walk in the door. Wouldn't a mud room with storage be more appropriate? Our master bedroom is very large, but the bathroom is not. We could do laps in the bedroom, but almost can't wash our hair without bumping elbows on the wall of the shower. Neither of us has used the bathtub in years because it's too short.
We do have a great yard, though. It's 76' across the back, and backs onto a ravine. Our dog, D'Argo loves being able to run back and forth along the fence with other dogs on the other side.
So we've bought some dirt and we're hoping to keep as much yard as possible, and get a large garage. But it's going to require careful thought on the house plans.
We're likely going to keep the 3 bedrooms. Not only does this make it easier to resell, but it gives us each our own office spaces. We're also going to have an ensuite and a "main" bathroom. Our current hallway bathroom is rarely used now. But if we build one with a stand alone shower and healthy amount of counter space, I could be convinced to claim it as my own bathroom and let MrDinks have the ensuite. Or maybe he'll want to hallway bathroom.
The basement, if the budget allows us to finish it right away, will be mostly one large space. We don't have a need for more bedrooms down there. We do have home gym equipment that will be set up down there, and MrDinks' collection of arcade games. These 2 activities do not need separate spaces.
So, I hope to document this project, where time allows. I hope you find the story of the house for a couple with "double incomes and no kids" to be interesting. I hope it isn't too entertaining, as that would indicate major mishaps that allow you to laugh at our expense. But if there are mishaps, your laughter will be a small consolation.
In most cities, the idea of inner city AND a big garage would be laughable. In Calgary, the downtown core is made up of high rise office towers, but a few blocks out is filled with large lots, with small 1950s bungalows. For the last 10-15 years, developers have been buying these bungalows and tearing them down and replacing them with either 1 large home, or 2 smaller ones. It shouldn't be too much of a stretch to find one with a small house and a big garage. We thought. Unfortunately, builders all assume that buyers are all families needing lots of rooms, and the garage is just a bonus. We only need a small house, and we're willing to pay what the big houses cost. But builders won't provide it.
As Calgary is largely a car dependent city, most couples own at least 2 cars. Some people have a third car for summer driving, or camping, or just a classic car that they putter around with. And then there are lawn mowers, golf clubs, hockey gear, Christmas decorations and other random things people keep in the garage. So it really shouldn't be too crazy to ask for a 4 car garage.
In addition to the 2 cars and a potential project car, MrDinks is also into bicycles. Downhill mountain bike racing, cross country mountain biking, triathlons, or just commuting to work. They all require different types of bikes, as well as a myriad of spare parts. We currently have a 2 car garage, which is just not cutting it anymore. We can either park the cars in there, or we park the bikes. Getting a 3rd vehicle for fun is not an option.
Our current house is just under 1700 sq'. It's more than enough for 2 people. We have rooms we don't use. But we also would like different rooms. For example, our formal living room is nothing more than a dumping ground for stuff when we walk in the door. Wouldn't a mud room with storage be more appropriate? Our master bedroom is very large, but the bathroom is not. We could do laps in the bedroom, but almost can't wash our hair without bumping elbows on the wall of the shower. Neither of us has used the bathtub in years because it's too short.
We do have a great yard, though. It's 76' across the back, and backs onto a ravine. Our dog, D'Argo loves being able to run back and forth along the fence with other dogs on the other side.
So we've bought some dirt and we're hoping to keep as much yard as possible, and get a large garage. But it's going to require careful thought on the house plans.
We're likely going to keep the 3 bedrooms. Not only does this make it easier to resell, but it gives us each our own office spaces. We're also going to have an ensuite and a "main" bathroom. Our current hallway bathroom is rarely used now. But if we build one with a stand alone shower and healthy amount of counter space, I could be convinced to claim it as my own bathroom and let MrDinks have the ensuite. Or maybe he'll want to hallway bathroom.
The basement, if the budget allows us to finish it right away, will be mostly one large space. We don't have a need for more bedrooms down there. We do have home gym equipment that will be set up down there, and MrDinks' collection of arcade games. These 2 activities do not need separate spaces.
So, I hope to document this project, where time allows. I hope you find the story of the house for a couple with "double incomes and no kids" to be interesting. I hope it isn't too entertaining, as that would indicate major mishaps that allow you to laugh at our expense. But if there are mishaps, your laughter will be a small consolation.
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