@brookeraybould: WHAT WE GOT RIGHT + GOT WRONG in our big family Texas dream home👇 ✅ WHAT WE GOT RIGHT 1. Garage Drop Zone: One of my favorite accidental decisions. I hate backpacks, shoes, sports gear, and general kid chaos making its way into the house. So we created a garage drop zone, and it's been one of the best systems we've implemented. 2. Shared Bedrooms: This house is huge, but there are only 3 bedrooms upstairs. At first, I hated the idea of my boys sharing rooms. Now? I love it. Less cleaning, more memories, and they end up together anyway. 3. Primary Bedroom Downstairs, Kids Upstairs: I resisted this one. I love everyone being together. But with 5 kids, having our own space at the end of the day has been such a gift. 4. Most of the Square Footage on the Main Level: I grew up in a one-story house and loved that everyone naturally gathered together. While the boys sleep upstairs, most of our living happens on the main floor, and I wouldn't change it. 5. Two Laundry Rooms: I questioned this at first. Now I'm obsessed. One laundry room for the kids and one off our closet for us. With 5 kids, it just works. 6. Cul-de-Sac + Flat Driveway: We've never lived on a cul-de-sac before, and now I can't imagine not having one. Add a long, flat driveway, and it's basically become an extension of our backyard for bikes, scooters, hockey, and endless play. ❌ WHAT WE GOT WRONG (Watch my IG stories to see these unfold) Project 1: Tall Ceilings = Lost Square Footage: We loved the dramatic ceilings, but ultimately realized we needed the space more than the height. We're now adding a media room where unused volume once existed. Project 2: Waiting on the Backyard. When we built the house, we intentionally skipped a pool and major backyard projects because our kids were so young. Not a huge mistake, but we've realized how much time our boys spend outside. So now we're finally building the backyard we've always wanted for our family.

Brooke Raybould, Mom to 5 Boys

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Tuesday 23 June 2026 20:20:00 GMT