Ideas for Split-Entry House Designs

Attached Garage

• Attached garages are a common feature of split-entry homes. The interior doors of an attached garage typically serve as a separate entry to a living room or kitchen space. Single-story attached garages often sit at a level midway between the adjacent structure's basement and second story. Alternatively, a two-story attached garage structures rests directly beneath a living space, typically bedrooms, and sits adjacent to an attached one- or one-and-a-half-story structure.

Basement Design

• The basements of split-entry homes generally extend above ground level to create a half-story appearance. Basement walls that extend above ground level will allow builders to install windows, which increase the comfort and potential applications of the basement space. Entry design options for basements on split-level homes include a separate, exterior entry or an interior stairwell from an attached garage.

Split-Entry Applications

• Split-entry homes allow homeowners to utilize separate spaces for a variety of residential and commercial activities. Rental for residential purposes is one of the most common applications of a split-entry home's basement space. Although renting a basement requires meeting local building codes, a finished basement apartment easily becomes a stand-alone home with the addition of a keyed door lock between the basement and the main floors. Alternatively, basements and garages are ideal for home workshops and businesses.

Split-Entry Floor Plans and Footprints

• Most split-entry and split-level homes take advantage of compact, rectangular shapes to reduce the footprint, or overall size, of the home's foundation. The condensed nature of split-entry design encourages practicality in the use and arrangement of space. If you're considering a split-entry design, you can simplify the layout and construction of your home by drawing inspiration from common split-entry house shapes. For example, split-entry designs often go hand in hand with long, thin, ranch-style homes, which typically place central living spaces at the hub of the structure's varying levels. Applying a split-entry design to a condensed floor plan allows you to reduce your home's footprint and increase your property's outdoor living area.