[quote=Eugene]Unless you’re close to the coast, a south-facing family room is a negative (it can get too hot and you will end up running higher cooling bills).[/quote]
One of the nicest aspects of our last house was our perch above neighbors in homes just south of us, and the broad view of south side of town. But man, the window-rich/super-tall family room just baked in summer. There was no covered patio in the backyard, rendering it unpleasant.
Our new place is oriented differently — solar seems a near waste — so while darker, it’s far more pleasant to be outside when hot.
