A common misconception about buying a bigger home is that you should get more land. What is also important is that you can build up as much as you can build wide. Having a second, third or even a fourth storey in you home will increase the size of your home in a very dynamic manner and will give you that much needed space that you have been looking for. This is why you should be buying a bigger home.
When you trade up in Los Angeles, be sure to check the attic. It should be well insulated and ventilated for the varying degrees of heat and cold often felt in the coastal states. Having an attic is more than just having storage space, it is actually one more room you can use in the house. Attics make good recreational or reading rooms thanks to its high elevation from ground level. This keeps the noise level down and gives you that sense of peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Elevating also means keeping the house coordinated. You can opt to leave the first floor as a receiving area for guests. This keeps nosey friends and relatives from going upstairs and invading your private space. Just ensure that there is a bathroom they can use in the first floor. This also gives you more security.
Having rooms in the upper floor means that you can get more sunlight and air as it is more likely that the windows of the rooms upstairs are not blocked by trees and shade. This helps save you money on electricity and ventilation.
Of course, having upper floors also means that you will have stairs. Coordinate with your architect carefully if you want to have the stairs adjusted of modified. Having stairs that conform to your climbing posture is very advisable. This helps you from accidentally falling and from straining yourself when you are stepping up or stepping down. If you are living with people with disabilities, particularly those with locomotive problems, then consider adding safety features to the stairs and giving them a room in the first floor. Pets should also be considered when having stairs since they do not use steps the same way humans do. Pets also age and will eventually have trouble climbing so make sure that you have provisions for them as well.
The space that stairs consume should be used carefully, always have adequate headspace for climbing and be sure to have a good support in the landings of stairs. The area below the first staircase is often used for storage so that no space is wasted. Finally, get good banisters .