Figuring Out The Function Of Each Room

The Facts...work, family and personal. Let's break it down. 

My husband and I both work remotely and my husband also travels. We need at least one dedicated office. It would be helpful to have multiple office spaces. I want to be able to work in other locations of the house so I don't feel cooped up or too stationary. We also need separation- yes because we are married (if you are married, no need to elaborate) and need spaces that act as individual offices. We both take conference calls on and off camera, and need to be able to focus without distracting one another.  Long story short, we'll make the 'Flex Room' the office and create more office spaces as we plan the rest of the house. Floor plan is referenced below. 

Our family consists of the two of us, our toddler girl Evie, and our baby girl Stella. We also have three dogs; a golden retriever and two little dogs. If you are thinking we are a little crazy then you are absolutely wrong- we are very, very crazy. 

As for the bedrooms, there is one downstairs and four upstairs. I want the downstairs bedroom to be a guest room. Almost our entire extended family is in New England, where we grew up. AKA, we always have visitors staying with us. They need their own room. (Please and thank you). 

As for the other four bedrooms upstairs, we will have the girls in their separate rooms for now, and we will be in the master. The Girl's Separate Rooms vs Shared Room is a debate between my husband and I...I'll share more about that later. In the end we decided together that we would start them out separately, then possibly put them in the same room later, and I am sure when they get to preteen age, we'll have to separate them again. So you know, the easy solution. 

For the last bedroom...I really have no idea. Let's call it a bonus room for now, and give silent thanks that I even have this decision to make. 

The first floor is also going to have an open kitchen, dining and living space. We want to figure out a way to keep the dogs on the first floor. The little dogs we can really stick anywhere, but our Golden needs a space. He's only 65 lbs and 8 months now, but he will eventually be 80 lbs. Honestly, he's a monster. (The best boy ever.) So let's add a TO DO: FIND DOG SPACE. 

I'll note we also have a two car garage and small under the stairs storage space...and also this is not related to my dog comment, the dogs are not going in the garage! 

Lastly, if you look below at the second floor you'll see the bonus room/loft space. We will make that a second TV/play area, looking a little bit into the future when the kids can do more independent play and be safe alone on the second floor. 

Alright that's decided...next?

Here are the floor plans again for reference: