Embiggen it!
Ok, we have officially reached capacity here. And then some. In fact, I am working on a new 101 list, and one of the things on it is too enlarge this house or move. Putting all four girls in one room worked in theory, because it is a large room. However, the babies are constantly in the big girls’ stuff and it is causing a whole lot of conflict. And some ill will, too. I don’t want the big girls resenting their sisters, so I am looking at house plans.
I quite sure that we could not move for less than 250K, and if you’ve read a word I have written lately, you know that isn’t even an option. Besides, I love, love, love my kitchen, and not even country house plans show kitchens this big and well laid out. I told my friend today that the first thing I saw when I walked in this house for the first time was that kitchen, and I knew when I stepped in it that this was the house for me.
I am liking some of the log home floor plans, particularly the usable loft sleeping areas. Even If I could figure out a way to incorporate those into our current house, it would effectively DOUBLE our square footage. Seriously, beds take up a LOT of room that could otherwise be occupied by sprawled out bodies crowded around toys and games, and I really want the kids to be able to do something inside besides watch tv. Right now, we can all gather at the table, and that is about it.
And since I am posting about embiggening my home, tell me some of your best space saving tips. Here’s one more of mine. Get the biggest set of bedrisers at Wal-Mart.com. Don’t get the ones from the store, they aren’t as tall. Then you can fit bins of craft supplies under your bed 
Depending on the room, you could try making loft compartments for the girls. Here in New York, they are called Dutch Beds. They are like cupboards with matresses. Curtains close the cupboards, allowing for privacy and warmth. Lots of times, cabinets or curtained shelves are below or above the Dutch beds. You could probably stack two up at a time. You could do a search and see what they look like.
Right now, with the economy the way it is, you can probably get an “upgraded” home for less money than before. Then again, a bargain with no money is no bargain, so….
I’ve always held to our Yankee motto “Use it up, make it do.” If you like your property enough, just build an addition, or finish your basement (if you have one). You could remove walls and make the living room more open. I’m just throwing out suggestions because we’ve been pondering along the same lines. Our house is large enough for us all, it’s just that half of it has no working electricity and stuff. :S
I like the idea of the Dutch beds, and when we have a few pennies to rub together for home improvement, I will look into them. Home prices continue to rise here as people from up there where you live
come down here for the “lower cost of living”. Guess what that does to our cost of living?
I do love my house, though, which we got at an excellent price right before the market exploded. It has no basement, but I have a great back yard to expand into. The living room is already wide open.