Have you taken a look at last week's House Tours? David and Teresa's aerie had me contemplating the advantages and disadvantages of living high and living low. Each has their pros ... and cons:
My own home is on the ground floor. But for the last two months, I've been living on the top floor. It has literally given me a whole new perspective. Here's what I've discovered from my own experience.
Living low:
Temperate: Despite the fact that I have no air conditioner, when it gets hot, my apartment's still nice and cool because it doesn't get direct sunlight.
Separate: The front door leads directly into my home so it can often feel like I'm living in a house. If I'm having people over for dinner, it's not unusual for me to leave my front door open. My guests can walk in without me having to interrupt my preparations to answer the buzzer.
Green: Because the complex's green spaces are right outside my front door, I've appropriated them as my own and I often sit outside to have my coffee in the morning.
Easy: Whether it's bringing in the groceries or a new piece of furniture, having my home on the ground floor makes it a lot easier to move stuff in and out of. There are no stairs to climb and no elevator to squish into.
Cozy: The soft muted light of a low floor home is calming and soothing and meditative, naturally lending itself to intimate gatherings, curling up with a good book and nurturing your soul.
Living high:
Windows: There's something about a view that feels empowering. It's also a better indicator of what the weather's like outside than the ever-fickle weathermen.
Light: Because the space gets flooded with light from morning til night, I've less of a need to turn on a lamp. I'm up earlier and, high above the street lamps, can it be that my sleep is deeper?
Safety: I don't need bars on my windows and I'm less worried about casual break-ins.
Quiet: Up high, the rush of traffic seems more like the hum of a white noise machine.
Clean: Despite the fact that this space, like my own, is on a busy street, it stays cleaner because it's not as close to the dust that gets kicked up by cars and people scurrying by.
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When I lived in a 17th floor condo, I loved the privacy (windows weren't facing any other high rises). There was never a reason to draw the shades.
I do love now that I'm back in a house on the ground floor that I can always see the trees outside from any where in my home since I have huge casement windows.
I definitely prefer higher floor living, for the reasons in the post.
Right now I have some of the advantages of living on the ground floor. I have a private entrance to my unit on ground level while the main living area is on the 2nd floor. While I do have to take things like groceries up and down the stairs , I often bring them to just inside the door first.
A few years ago I lived in an apartment building built partially into a hill. The entrance was on ground level, but looking out my windows I was on the 2nd floor.
I live in a 2nd floor (top) apartment and love the privacy. We have two balconies and a lean out balcony and love being able to open up all the doors and let fresh air breeze through the place without worrying about people looking in...or worse, walking in. The lighting is much better than any 1st floor I've ever lived in. They were all a bit too cavelike.
Best of both worlds! I'm in a house, but we're 52 stair steps up the hillside. I love the view, the light, the quiet, the safety, the green, and still being close to the ground. :)
Have lived on the ground all my life. First time on the second floor and we love it. We can leave the windows open and really enjoy all the beautiful sunlight that comes in. We are south facing and love the warmth of the sun on a cool winter day. Only drawback we have found is hauling groceries and laundry up the stairs. First time living on a lake to so we are enjoying all the ducks swimming by to windows also.
I currently live in a second floor apartment. Best pro: Safety! Anyone could break in the front or back door, but I feel comfortable leaving windows open at night and when no one is home.
Worst con: The heat! When it's 100 degrees in the summer, and I walk upstairs to my apartment after a day of work, the heat jumps at least 10 degrees from the lower floor to the second floor. The apartment has terrible old windows and poor insulation and turns into an oven in the summer and an icebox in the winter.
Other thoughts: The second floor apartment is still noisy and dirty from nearby highways and the busy street I live on. However, I get a ton of light and still see greenery as there are big trees right outside my bedroom window.
When I move I will be less concerned about upper or lower floors and more concerned about good windows/insulation!
Did I miss it? Top floor - no noise from neighbors above!
Ditto what Heather said. If you've got the legs, move to the highest floor. Then again, my knees still hurt occassionally from having lived in a fifth floor walk up for four years.
Ditto what Heather said. If you've got the legs, move to the highest floor. Then again, my knees still hurt occassionally from having lived in a fifth floor walk up for four years.
some maybe unexpected pros and cons I recently summed up (from psychological research):
http://mindshapedbox.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/high-floor-high-life-what-changes-as-you-climb-upwards/
Yes, Heather C! I sooo appreciate the relative quiet of not having upstairs neighbors. On the flip side, I have to be more careful about stomping around than if I lived on the ground floor.
When I went looking for a new place to live, number one on my list was that there be no upstairs neighbours! Huge problems with noise before. Now I'm on the top floor of a 2-storey walk-up. The only upstairs neighbours are the bats in the attic. (Oh yes!)
Also I feel like the Queen of the Universe up here in my little corner, overlooking the gardens and the river.
I have two cats that are used to the freedom of coming and going...so when I started looking for a flat, it had to be ground floor. I've found a lovely two bedroom Victorian conversion with nice leafy grounds. One thing I noticed was the security (motion sensitive) lighting. I've been going to check it out at night (haven't got the keys yet!) and the place is pretty well lit up. It also looks well kept and there are neighbors about, lights on etc...I am thinking of maybe buying an alarm system for my own peace of mind as well.
I am going to install some new windows in the main bedroom, with those little vents that create a draft without having to open the window. Also I've been looking at some cool blinds that open from the top or bottom. You can lower them down a bit for privacy but still see life outside/ and get light. I think if you do some clever mirror placements, use light enhancing paints and generally aim to decorate the place with pieces that don't suck up the light, a ground floor can seem less dark.
Ok I am going to miss my 2nd floor view, the amazing light that hits all around the place and the added security...but I am trying to stay positive about ground floor living, and think' bright and airy and added security' ...and hopefully I will enjoy it...moving in day with certainly be easier on my nerves!