I would not be willing to give up the study on the main floor, particularly if its for work. IMO, "Demoted to the basement" tells you your answer on which floor plan.

But it doesn't make the hallway any shorter???

This reminds me of a hermit crab trying on different shells.

That's a small dining room right across from the laundry. How often will you use it compared to using the study? There's your answer.

Study with a wetbar

The DH-proposed plan would have three separate eating areas on the ground floor and no study. Do you need three areas to eat or drink wine in? My DH 's major hobby is wine, we have a huge conditioned wine cellar (we'll never drink it all), and he doesn't have a dedicated drinking (or winetasting) area. We drink outside when the weather is nice, and in the living area or dining area at any time and depending if and what we're eating with the wine; you could do any of those.

On moving the study, depends on how it's planned to be used. In addition to occasional home office use, do you plan for you or DH to work there? Have quiet time there? Do hobbies there? I couldn't imagine or ever agreeing to a room used for any of those purposes that would be in a basement (even if the basement space had a window). One concept that tends to go along with open-living-plan houses is another (smaller) room will be the "away" room, or quiet room. If you move the study to the basement, you will not have any main-floor quiet space. Though you could convert the seldom-used second bedroom into a combination away room for anyone and a guest bedroom.

Side comment - why have french doors on a study? They just take up space in terms of opening them into the room. Unless you like french doors, of course.

But honestly, it depends on how all of the people living in the house will be using the different spaces. Really consider how you use your current space and how you all will use the future space.

I think the current dining area could be a wine tasting area. Do you need traditional table and chairs for dining? Maybe not! You could have a lower table and chairs, what I think of as from a lounge club, and it can be used for dining AND for wine tasting, as well as for games, cards, etc. Because I think you will want a quiet area to work, to watch tv, as your away space, and id rather see you keep the study.

Hi all,

Thanks for your comments and nice sketch, i will review it with my better half :).

I agree we don't need too mamy eating areas.

The frech door was husband's request and it might help easing up the eyes to the hallway. I will get my gear ready for debate... lol..

I will post ( someday) the final floorplan (what a sagga..:):)

@lexma90, my husband also talked about a wine cellar, i said LCBO ( our wine store) is our wine cellar.. :)