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People looking to buy or build a home have a wide variety of style options. They can choose traditional one-story cottages or multi-level houses. The two-story house is a good compromise between the two. Various types of two-story house plans include two, three, and quads.
Plans for split level homes feature two levels. The entrance to these two-story house plans usually opens into a small foyer with one set of stairs leading to the upper level and another set leading to the lower level. The general appearance of a two-story home is that of a farmhouse with a full basement that has been raised slightly so that the windows on the lower level are a little above the ground.
Two-level house plans that require three different levels are called tri-level plans. Villas usually have the main entrance on the main level, which is built with the foundation on the ground, on one side. The opposite side features an upper and lower level. The levels are not complete stories, but are usually only separated by six or seven stages. The lower level is partially below ground, with the bottoms of the windows flush with the ground.
A quad house has four separate levels arranged similarly to a three-story house. These two-story house plans resemble a farmhouse viewed from the street, as the main level of the house is in the front. The rear of the house features an upper and lower level in a tri-level configuration. This design adds a completely underground fourth level, located below the main level at the front of the house.
Most two-story house plans place the main living areas, including the family room, kitchen, and dining room, on the main floor of the house. In two-story homes, these common areas are usually on the upper floor. Bedrooms and a bathroom are usually located on the upper level, while the lower level may have a laundry area, family room, and an additional bedroom and bathroom.
Due to the standard layout of two-story house plans, home renovation options may be limited. Homeowners may choose to remove the interior wall between the kitchen and living room on the main level, build into the side of the home to extend the main level, or add a deck or sunroom to the rear of the home. Adding side windows or skylights to a two-story house can also help open up the house and get more natural light. People who want a master bathroom can do a renovation that removes the wall between the master bedroom and the upstairs bathroom, but this is not recommended for homeowners who still have children at home and need both bathrooms to be accessible to everyone.
