Comparing Single Family Homes In Atlanta

Posted on: August 10th, 2010 | 27 Comments

This is Day 203 of the Slow Home Project and we need you to join us in our quest to evaluate the design quality of houses in nine North American cities in nine months.

Today on the Slow Home site we are doing a “Which House Should I Buy?” exercise. We need you to study the floor plans of these 2 single family houses from Atlanta and tell us which one you think is the better real estate choice.

Our clients today are Lynette and Damon and their three daughters aged 7, 5 and 3. They need a 4 bedroom home and have decided they want to live in the “Dupont Commons” community.

The first floor plan is called “Adam’s Crossing” with an attached rear yard garage. It has 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms.

The second floor plan is called the “Williamson” and it is also a 4 bedroom and 3.5 bathroom house, but it has a front drive garage.

Which house should Lynette and Damon buy and why? We look forward to your comments!

When you are ready, click on the player below to see John and Matthew’s analysis of the floor plans and which house they would recommend.

Join us tomorrow for our Design Project exercise where we will be transforming the floor plan of a badly designed single family house from Atlanta into a Slow Home!

  • Franco

    My choice this week is the first plan, the Adam’s crossing. Both plans had unique attributes and features, but after close investigation, 2 key features sold me on the Adam’s crossing!

    I really liked the entries into the unit, both at the front off the porch and the rear mud room area.
    Looking at the second floor, I prefer the organization of the bedrooms in the Adam’s crossing to the Williamson. The rooms feel more natural and seem to have better designs allowing for easier furniture placement. Plus the 3 girls’ rooms have good natural lighting.

  • Dan M

    I’m going to have to go with Adam’s crossing on this one, I really don’t like how the entry is handled on the Williamson, that long space is really dead, and the dining room seems like it would go unused.
    With the adam’s crossing, you do have issues (such as the columns in the master and a few odd things here and there, but overall, the lighting isn’t bad, the rooms are proportional (except maybe the master) and the layout is good.

  • BradW

    I would pick Adam’s Crossing but, in reality, neither is very good and here’s why. Planning. Like Matthew, I get what the developer was trying to do and I am a big proponent of back lanes. The problem here is lack of space. These detached homes have no front, rear or side yards. The boulevards are narrow. There is no space for large trees. This development, like so many others, is caught in neverland between the suburban dream and urban reality. The best suburban neighborhoods have lot sizes that permit proper setbacks, have wide streets, sometimes back lanes, grass, trees. Where we really screwed up is when suburbia got compromised, downsized. On a site like the one shown here what is wrong with row or semi-detached houses to achieve the same density and devote the extra space to public use?

  • BradW

    Or conversely, fewer homes on larger lots. Developments, whether suburban or urban, propelled by economic forces continue to miss the mark by striving to maximize density.

  • Mid America Mom

    When I ran the test…

    Interesting when I think to add dimensions how the plan reacts on design elements.

    Williamson I marked off for:
    Entry (where are the closets in this city???? doesn’t anyone have shoes that go off at the door or a light jacket? How about the kid STUFF? Will there be a line of wall pegs in that hall?). So long… However I do LOVE shared entries if done right.

    Bedrooms due to side yard conditions and closet issues. Also when I picture a bed in the master bedroom it feels limited with the door/window placements.

    Bathroom **I am surprised Matthew and John you did not pick up that the upstairs vanities are scaled at 5 feet which is really not the best for 2 bowls. *** Also this is one too many baths.

    Living I marked off due to the circulation/wasted space issues. Near the stair you need a space of 3 feet and also by the back door. When I layer in Furniture this is problem area in the plan. I have seen this type of room in action and it never seems to work. As I said yesterday a family room is a destination- not a stop to one!

    *********
    Adams Crossing I marked off for:
    Bedroom – the master bedroom with pillars and side yard? I would love to redesign that room as the rest are OK.

    Bathroom – Master supersize me! And one too many of them.

    Dining – the breakfast area has some wasted space and is one large circulation area.

    Kitchen I thought was a little long on one leg of the triangle but it is just at the max from stove to fridge.
    *****
    If I had to pick it would be Adams Crossing.

    Now if I could get the dining and kitchen space of the Williamson (add back patio sliding door) with the family room of the Adams Crossing. On teh second floor take the bedrooms of the adams crossing with a redesign on the master – life would be good :)

    Mid America Mom

  • Mid America Mom

    Before I forget I wanted to share a story about side yard condition.

    Friends of mine had an older home, long narrow lot with small side yard and a back alley with garage. Their kitchen window over the sink faced the side yard and their neighbors kitchen window over the sink faced the same one. In reality they were almost straight across from one another. Yes there were many times they would see one another and waving was popular.

    The house was built before phones were mainstream and dishwashers were non-existent. Maybe it was a great benefit way back when, gossiping? with your neighbor while doing dishes, but now it is just weird.

    Mid America Mom

  • Kyle B

    I gave both designs a slow home test score of 14. Even though the second floor of the Adam’s Crossing has a little bit of wasted space at the entrance of bedroom 3 and in the master bathroom, due to too much floor space, the deciding factor for me comes down to the entries.

    In the Adam’s Crossing the front entry could be better. It does have a hallway feel to it but a coat closet is included underneath the stairs. The back entry is very well done. The inclusion of the mudroom is nice.
    In the Williamson both the front and back entries have a hallway feel to them. Again with a coat closet at the end. In this case however, it is not redeeming.

    My choice is the Adam’s Crossing.

  • Catherine Taney

    Brad W – Agreed! Planning has a huge impact on these developments since their density limits are set through policy. When the majority of homebuyers are looking for a house to call their own, regardless of the sideyard conditions and impact on outdoor space, we get the mismatch of detached houses on townhome sites. Perhaps the policy sets different limits on density if the community is semi-detached or attached… It’s likely that, as you’ve pointed out, this is a maximized detached house master plan. I think a lot of North Americans do not like the idea of giving up private space, however stunted or light starved, for a larger, better equipped public space. The exception to this is the quality of public space available in the Great American Cities (nod to JJ) where very dense neighborhoods have park commons as a shared amenity. I think that you’re right to suggest that a pooled effort on outdoor space can be much much better than what we see in this community. Again though, this effort requires good planning, homeowner buy-in, and a quality design to be successful (which naturally means well used).

  • Amanda

    I would Choose Adams Crossing for our clients today. The main reason is that the kids bedrooms are about equal where as in the other plan the kids will be fighting over who will get the bigger bedroom with the bathroom and walk in closet. Also the Adams Crossing plan may have a long narrow master bedroom but at least the walk in closets are together. I don’t like how the Williamson plan seperates the two closets to opposite sides of the room. This seperates the husband and wife. I also like the huge porch in the front of the Adams Crossing plan.

  • Steve in Van

    Let’s see, carrots or peas? Both plans have problems in the master suite, and both have vestigial formal rooms that will be seldom used – big waste of space. We’ve also discussed the problem foyers and windows to the sideyards.

    But for me it comes down to the primary living space where the family will spend most of their time. The Williamson familyroom is separated from the kitchen/eating area by a wide, useless corridor and is itself circulation space to the stairs. Though the informal dining area in Adam’s Crossing is marginally smaller, it’s open to both the family room and kitchen — the space will feel much bigger than the Williamson. Adam’s Crossing also has the significant advantage of a useable front porch. So I’m with John on this one.

    Lastly, thanks to BradW and Catherine for their discussion of the larger planning issues.

  • Tayler

    Well both have interesting plans to say the least, but honestly I’m going to have go with the The Williamson and here is why: the garage isn’t blocking the front of the home and therefore has the potential to utilize natural light. It has more windows in the front. It’s not like here, in Calgary where having your car a step from your door is a necessity because it’s so cold. Having more natural light is nice and makes it feel more like “home”.

  • Tayler

    Sorry I meant Adams Crossing. Was typing ahead of my thoughts.

  • BradW

    Now, I am going to post my monthly drone about location. Every time we visit detached homes location is an issue. News flash – nobody is building new detached homes in walkable urban places. Location needs a broader criteria for evaluation. Walkscore = location for dummies..

  • Terri

    BradW,
    It’s true that few new single family homes are built as infills or as a part of a redesigned neighourhood (we’ve seen only a handful of those in the last 6 months).

    I believe that the Location question is there to remind everyone how urbanism–getting out of our cars and walking our communities–is the underlying philosophy of Slow Home. A home that’s light on the environment is a close second. That’s why these categories are at the top and worth so many points. The idea is to illustrate how fast our new housing market really is all across North America.

  • Joshua

    I’m keeping it simple today. I would go with the Adams Crossing, because of the back lane garage. It is nice to see neighborhoods put unto old built up locations rather than green spaces. While I can’t say there are no issues the effort from the developer to give alternatives is a huge improvement on the current model. Lack of green space would be a problem and perhaps a park somewhere central where everyone’s kids could play. The affect of the front garage on our social networks has been huge. So I am picking the Adams Crossing in the hopes that we as a culture can get away from front garages and their negative affects.

  • Grace Coulter

    Very interesting discussion today. I really enjoy how participants on this site tend to speak their minds. Brad W and Catherine, I too appreciate the dialogue on planning.
    As for today exercise… I am a huge supporter of the no front garage camp so my choice for Adam’s crossing was bias for the beginning. I am going to suggest A.C. and go a step further and say Lynette and Damon should hire the slowhome bloggers to design their new master suite. I won’t repeat what has been said because its pretty well been covered thus far today what each home is lacking. I will say I agree with the effort of trying to reclaim an area for a new use and creating a slight bit more density that what is typically seen outside the inner city.

  • Steve in Van

    First thing I look for on a new MLS listing is the walk score. It’s an immediate indication of the lifestyle associated with this home. Does the location contribute to health, environmental sustainability, and convenience? In my book, that’s a pretty good measure of good housing location.
    http://www.walkscore.com

  • nicole

    Grace took the words right out of my mouth. I’m an advocate for homes that are designed for the individuals that are going to live there, not the masses. Hire an architect (and / or an interior designer) – that would be the better choice.
    There are drawbacks to both houses – no closets, wasted space, long narrow corridors, oversized washrooms + master bedrooms.
    To chose the lesser of the 2 evils, I would choose the Adams Crossing for the clients and suggest that they do some heavy modifications prior to construction. (So allow for it in their budget!!)

  • Tara

    My vote is for Adam’s Crossing. This was a difficult decision for me as I found significant issues with both units.

    I found issue with the wasted circualtion space in the Williamson that divides the house down the middle of the house, serving no purpose. The combined “foyer” part of this space is not even usable without a closet close by for the two entrances and the dining room is much too exposed to this area.
    Though the kitchen’s work triangle is better in this unit, the kitchen still feels awkward to me.

    I think there are also wasted space cirucaltion problems in the Adam’s Crossing plan (most notably in the “breakfast area” that would be interupted by circulation and in the space at the top of the stairs).
    I also wonder how having an attached garage in the year would compriomise the size and usefulness of the back yard, which is something that is important with young children, especially in a warm climate such as Atlanta.

    Despite some flaws, I think the Adam’s Crossing is the better choice. I think it has a better flow of the spaces and is more practical. I also think the second living space at the front of the house could serve as a study or play room as an alternative.

  • Ashley P

    - Similar scoring
    – Differences are in bedrooms and entry
    Williamson I
    – Poor entry both from the front and the garage
    Adams Crossing
    – Master bedroom is in odd location and is an odd shape
    o Poor natural lighting
    Overall I think that a bedroom is far more important than an entry and thus I would suggest the Williamson I.

  • Jamie L

    This week it was hard to make a decision, since it was like giving up the entry or the bedrooms.. Well.. I would choose Williamson. Although I really like the big porch of the Adam’s but I had to take off points from bad organization on bedrooms. Williamson has somewhat long-narrow entry and garage right besides it, however I think it really use the spaces very well by putting the dining on the other side of the entry. And I also think it sure has better kitchen than Adam’s. Also both units have similar bedroom location except for the master bedroom. Wiliamson has better organization and circulation with bathroom, so my points go to Williamson.

  • ReneP

    I went with the Adams Crossing– here are the things that sold me on it: bigger front porch; better entry; garage in back with a really good mudroom (this is sooo important with 3 young children); laundry room is roomier (again – 3 lil ones); bedrooms more egalitarian and with better lighting (well, the Master Bedroom – although more detached and private than the other bedrooms could have been better – i.e. windows facing the side – but the sitting area is ok – a nice get-away from the kids); kitchen and breakfast area not great – but at least the parents would have a good view of activities in the family room; and family and living room is a good idea for this family for when Lynette and Damon have company, they can visit in the living room while the kids play in the family room.
    Now, even though the Adams master ensuite is supersized – I see Lynette looking forward to a nice relaxing bath at the end of her day. Also, one too many baths in both plans.
    I think the Adams is roomier and just much more family friendly in general.

  • bstone52

    I would choose the Williamson – I like the way the breakfast area is situated in a corner with natural light next to the kitchen as opposed to the middle of the home with minimal natural light. I also like the way the second floor is put together with the laundry located in a central location (although it could be slightly larger).

  • Frances GF

    Interesting discussion today, I think Brad kicked off this issue of the density of suburban living.
    After looking at the google map image of the site I was depressed at the thought of living in any of these units, with the possible exception of a unit backing on a green belt. Otherwise, the homes have little or no exterior living space.
    The Adams Crossing garage at the back is a good idea executed poorly. The only nod to outdoor living is a small patio next to the garage, with no space for greenery or privacy.
    Lynette and Damon, please keep looking for a home to raise your family you deserve better.

  • Andrew

    I think I would have to choose “Adam’s Crossing” for this family of 5 since I much prefer the garage at the back and the full-length front porch. I appreciate the attempts made to have this community to be more walkable and connected and I think Adam’s Crossing contributes to this a bit more. Also, it looks like the location of the 2 car garage in the back could actually help provide some privacy to the back patio, which would be nice. The position of the Master bedroom is unfortunate in Adam’s Crossing, since it could have been pushed to the back of the house in order to take advantage of a better view. But ultimately the bedrooms will be used primarily for sleeping and I think it would be better to have the nicer outdoor living spaces and the nicer 1st floor organization that Adam’s Crossing provides.

  • frazer

    today i’m going to vote for the Williamson despite it being the plan with the garage up front. I would argue that in order for the front yard to be functional there needs to be enough space and with this tight of a neighbourhood having the garage in the back doesn’t really achieve as much as it could. Also, Adam’s crossing lacks fuctionality in two important spaces: the master bedroom and the breakfast nook. There is also a lot of wasted space in Adam’s crossing which makes the williamson by comparison a much more efficient and usable layout.

  • JPod

    I’d recommend the Adams crossing, the upper floor seems less cluttered in terms of doors opening everywhere, and crazy hallway space. The kitchens in both seem small for a family of 5 and a house built for so many people, but if I HAD to decide between the two, I’d pick the Adams Crossing. I also like the garage at the back. However, if the back lane isn’t paved it could get really muddy and dirty back there.