The "have a look at this!" thread II

lessonlearned

Davesnave wrote: »

The house is OK, but the neighbours and the road make me somewhat less "stunned!"

Ah wasn't paying any attention to things like that. Didn't notice them.

If you see my post about needing to adapt a house to suit my OH's needs you can see why. I was just so busy thinking about what I could do with something like that. The house itself would really fit the bill.

Ah well back to the drawing board....

I would love to be able to self-build - well not me personally .....and am currently plot searching.

Either that or a wreck that I can rebuild....

moneyistooshorttomention

LESSONLEARNED

Had you noticed that there is a tv programme on today that might interest you?

ItV AT 10.20AM - 60 MINUTE MAKEOVER.

Design team transforming home of a woman who has had her leg amputated.

Don't know why your husband is in a wheelchair, but it might spark off a few more ideas.

Davesnave

lessonlearned wrote: »

Ah well back to the drawing board....

I would love to be able to self-build - well not me personally .....and am currently plot searching.

Either that or a wreck that I can rebuild....

Most post 1970 bungalows have roof trusses, which means that the internal walls are not structural, so they can be ripped out and re-configured at will.

That is what we are doing with parts of ours.

lessonlearned

Thanks - will try and catch that.

My OH - has Cerebellar Ataxia - symptoms are similar to Motor Neurone.

Just think "Stephen Hawkins" and you get the picture.

His condition is irreversible and degenerative, he will die sooner or later. Well we all die sooner or later - but you know what I mean....

He is currently in a nursing home but I would like to bring him home again one day - even if it's just so that he can end his days at home.

That is why I have recently sold the family home.

lessonlearned

Davesnave wrote: »

Most post 1970 bungalows have roof trusses, which means that the internal walls are not structural, so they can be ripped out and re-configured at will.

That is what we are doing with parts of ours.

That's exactly what I'm after. I will keep searching.

moneyistooshorttomention

Sorry to hear that lessonlearned:(

Another thought is that I don't know if you would feel comfortable giving, say, the county or counties you are looking at buying in and maybe someone might know of a suitable property coming up for sale.

But, do feel free to reject this idea if you don't wish to do so obviously.

lessonlearned

No problem

I'm a Derbyshire Lass......

I have elderly parents here who I also try to support so need to stay within the area.

I'm currently renting in a suburb on the north side about 3 miles from the city of Derby itself. My OH is in a nursing home on the south side, but just a short hop down the A38. My parents, sister, sons, friends and support network are mainly on the north side - so that will be the focus of my search.

Just half watching that makeover programme - it seems to be more of a "pretty it up" show rather than what I would term functional design. I need to look at access, bathrooms, rooms and corridors that have room for a large tilt-in-space wheelchair.

This is why I shall be looking for somewhere that can allow easy removal of dividing walls etc.

We recently sold my father in laws bungalow which, whilst it was nice and big, apart from a good sized lounge it wouldn't have worked because it had long narrow tunnel like connecting corridor. The internal walls were solid breeze block walls so not easy to reconfigure.

I just liked the layout of that house that Yorkshire Lass posted. I could see how it would work for us.

I would have pulled down the low ceiling in the lounge to make a "Cathedral" ceiling with some velux roof windows to add more light and possibly solar panels to generate more energy.

I would have then chopped up the lounge to make a large entrance hall for easy access and pinch some of the space to make a disabled user friendly en-suite bathroom to the master bedroom. I would have knocked down the dining room wall next to the kitchen to open it up and allow wheelchair access so he could sit and watch me potter about the kitchen, rather than being isolated in the lounge when I'm cooking etc.

Basically what we need is space for a large wheelchair, and then of course there are all the hoists, lifting equipment etc. Room for a nice large conservatory so he can enjoy the garden, watch the birds etc. He really feels the cold so getting nice weather for sitting outside is a rare occurance - good sized conservatory would be nice for him.

I'll get there.

Just watching the end of the programme - not much future proofing that I can see should she need a wheelchair in the future.

I can't believe that they think glass tables are safe for someone with mobility issues........Yes they reflect light but they are totally inappropriate.

I could have done a much better job;)

moneyistooshorttomention

LESSONLEARNED

Sorry to hear the programme wasnt that helpful. Glass tables indeed - wouldnt go for them myself...

Well, I think your specifications are quite clear and there has to be a very good chance that someone scanning this thread might know of a suitable place for you then (t'aint me - as I'm nowhere near you), but you never know.

One of the little points of interest I have in reading this thread is making little bets with myself how soon after decent houses get posted up on this thread that they have sold and its often pretty fast as far as I can see.

I expect there are a few "brains" working on this right now and wondering about a house they are about to put up for sale or a neighbour has that might do the job for you.

lessonlearned

You never know......

Strapped

lessonlearned wrote: »

No problem

I'm a Derbyshire Lass......

I have elderly parents here who I also try to support so need to stay within the area.

I'm currently renting in a suburb on the north side about 3 miles from the city of Derby itself. My OH is in a nursing home on the south side, but just a short hop down the A38. My parents, sister, sons, friends and support network are mainly on the north side - so that will be the focus of my search.

Just half watching that makeover programme - it seems to be more of a "pretty it up" show rather than what I would term functional design. I need to look at access, bathrooms, rooms and corridors that have room for a large tilt-in-space wheelchair.

This is why I shall be looking for somewhere that can allow easy removal of dividing walls etc.

We recently sold my father in laws bungalow which, whilst it was nice and big, apart from a good sized lounge it wouldn't have worked because it had long narrow tunnel like connecting corridor. The internal walls were solid breeze block walls so not easy to reconfigure.

I just liked the layout of that house that Yorkshire Lass posted. I could see how it would work for us.

I would have pulled down the low ceiling in the lounge to make a "Cathedral" ceiling with some velux roof windows to add more light and possibly solar panels to generate more energy.

I would have then chopped up the lounge to make a large entrance hall for easy access and pinch some of the space to make a disabled user friendly en-suite bathroom to the master bedroom. I would have knocked down the dining room wall next to the kitchen to open it up and allow wheelchair access so he could sit and watch me potter about the kitchen, rather than being isolated in the lounge when I'm cooking etc.

Basically what we need is space for a large wheelchair, and then of course there are all the hoists, lifting equipment etc. Room for a nice large conservatory so he can enjoy the garden, watch the birds etc. He really feels the cold so getting nice weather for sitting outside is a rare occurance - good sized conservatory would be nice for him.

I'll get there.

Just watching the end of the programme - not much future proofing that I can see should she need a wheelchair in the future.

I can't believe that they think glass tables are safe for someone with mobility issues........Yes they reflect light but they are totally inappropriate.

I could have done a much better job;)

We got some good advice from Leonard Cheshire Disability when it came to adapting a family member's home - installing a wet room, through-the-floor lift, widening doorways, etc.