Creating a New Life in the Country - MSE Style!

fluffpot

If you're completely changing the layout and function of the rooms it will definitely need to be completely rewired

gallygirl

gingernutbizkit wrote: »

The problems are as follows:

porch - is tiny. You have to walk sideways to get through the small door and then can only take one step before you get to the front door.
Lounge - good size but you have to walk through it to get to all the other rooms.
Kitchen - small, galley style and very dated. This will need to be ripped out.
Playroom - huge room (3.4x5.7m) but very little light as the window is small. Plus the shower room is right in the middle of the room in the most stupid place.
Shower Room - small and smelly! Can't actually bring myself to have a shower in it .
Garage - Handy but not really necessary. This is the first time I've owned a house that even has off road parking!
bathroom - great size but pink and floral!!!
Bedroom one - 3mx3.45m so quite a good size except that the chimney takes up a corner of the room and can't be removed as it's shared with neighbours. This makes getting furniture in the room tricky and the room feels cramped.
Bedroom two - 3mx3.15m. Same issue as bedroom one.
Bedroom three - TINY. 2mx1.90m. My son has a high bed in there with a wardrobe and desk below but will this do when he's a teenager??
Heating - new system required. Currently a horrible log fire in the lounge and tank taking up room in the already small second bedroom.
Electrics - need attention. We're not on a meter and need a new fuse board.
Decoration - Hideous!! We're quite retro/modern types and everything is vinyl wallpapered, artex ceilings, floral and there's some lovely kitchen tiles with ducks on them!

Yes, but apart from that, is there anything other than cosmetic work needing done :rotfl:.

Good luck with your plans, upside down or otherwise

gingernutbizkit

Wow! well I knew people would have their opinions .

In response......

Doozergirl wrote: »

The extension over the garage can be split into two smaller rooms for children. 2.4metres is 8 foot which is a decent width for a child's room. I'd anticipate that each of those rooms would be at least 10ft long which is more than absolutely fine!
- yes they would be but we would still have a master bedroom that we couldn't get a wardrobe into!.

The current smallest bedroom becomes an ensuite to your bedroom and you keep the family bathroom upstairs (or the smallest bed becomes family bathroom and the existing one, the ensuite - whichever works).

- Not possible as the smallest bedroom is at the front of the house where there is no drainage.

If you're desperate for a downstairs bedroom then have an upstairs playroom/sitting room which in some way takes advantage of the view and a downstairs bedroom instead.
- That's a lovely idea but as foster parents we are required to have all bedrooms on the same level .

Have the garage as a new kitchen dining space, though it would make sense for me, for it to be the biggest room in the house. Fitted wardrobes, built in storage etc will always help utilise space. Ikea is great for inspiration.
- we have no problem here. Our last house was like an Ikea show home!

Chimney breasts can be removed in semi detached houses, you will need a structural engineer for help.
- Already sort advice but as it's shared with the neighbours we seem to be stuck with it .

Whilst it might be nice to walk out of the bedroom into the garden, it's also pretty nice to be able to sit in your lounge with the doors open and watch the children play. Or to invite guests to sit outside and drink/eat outside in the summer and be able to step from the kitchen to a patio without trudging upstairs to the kitchen to fetch things. Ditto carrying heavy shopping up, and rubbish back down stairs in wet, snowy weather.
- True.

The expense of creating upstairs living is going to be far more than adding a storey to the side of your house and adding drainage for one new ensuite. The sheer weight of a kitchen in a family home is a massive load to bear onto 80 year old beams. need brand new drainage created for the new family bathroom downstairs, new drainage upstairs for a kitchen and you're putting up walls downstairs in an existing layout.
- drainage for a downstairs bathroom is already present. As is for upstairs kitchen. Creating a partition wall is not too difficult (might even have a go myself )

Stairs outside will be subject to building regulations, balconies are hotly contested things, planners are not keen on them in general and attached neighbours even less so with regards to privacy.
- yeah, probably have to let go of this idea but it's worth a try. Alternatively I know they let our neighbour have a balconette.

Fair enough if this is your forever house but how are you going to cope as you get older when you're constantly having to go upstairs?
- yet my nan has just moved her bedroom downstairs due to her old age.

Or if fate took a hand and it had to be sold? I'd seriously reconsider. If you ever have money to extend the house out to the back and allow it to grow with your needs, it will be infinitely easier if the living space is already downstairs.

I'm happy to help with any input that I can, I reconfigure houses for a living; I promise I'm not simply trying to throw a spanner in the works with my negativity .
-

The argument however for upstairs sleeping accommodation is that overwhelming however, it's why most houses are that way around! Super if you have a nice detached house and pots of money to turn a house around successfully, but considering that this is a semi, a 1930s build and money is an issue, moving a few walls downstairs to get the right layout and taking that cost is going to be a far better investment and arguably lower cost than extras like balconies, outside steps and the major hassle of accommodating lots of drainage upstairs - not an easy job.

I'd love to see a floorplan, I've not found one I couldn't work with - certainly not the the degree where upstairs living became a more sensible option. You can make the most of views downstairs with larger windows or indeed more windows. There's nothing to stop you from opening up what you already have.
- which we did in our last house. I'm using floorplanner.com but can't see how to create a link to here??

I'm in the process right now of buying a 1930s semi which has already been extended to the side. That extension is 2.4 metres wide. You're right that it isn't ideal for a master bedroom but it will make two decent bedrooms.

Ging x

gingernutbizkit

fluffpot wrote: »

If you're completely changing the layout and function of the rooms it will definitely need to be completely rewired

An electrician has already said that it won't need much more than we would have had to do due to the new fuse board needed and a few dodgy sockets/switches etc.

Ging x

gingernutbizkit

Hi all

I have arranged today for our electric to be changed over from a prepayment meter so we can change to DD and not get charged so much. It really makes me angry that those in society who can only afford to buy electric in this way are often the poorest and get stung on the charges :mad:.

This will happen in two weeks time and they have agreed to put an isolation switch in as my electrician has requested. They have also given me the details of th size of my amp (80) which he also wanted to know. Still awaiting his quote though and it's been a week .

No word from our architect either so I'm chasing that. he might agree with the current thought on here that upside down isn't the way to go and we're open to listening to any ideas he has to get us what we want out of the property. If he can do a traditional layout and give us a good size master with ensuite and three reasonable size bedroom for the kids without having to extend at the back as well as the side then I would be very happy .

Ging x

MrsMoo2U

Well, I love your enthusiasm and great that you are getting to follow your dream. Exciting times. (ok so there might be a bit of stress but it is worth it) Speaking from experience, I can see sheep from my bedroom window but the back of a bungalow from my living room window so I completely understand the dream of upstairs living to make the most of the views. Never say never. The architect might just be busy. I know a couple who are saying that the number of conversions and extensions they are working on is more now than ever (probably due to people staying put) so yours might just be busy. I hope that you dont mind me lurking and seeing how things are going. Very interesting indeed.

redlady_1

Having just renovated I would say allow at least an additional 50% on top of your budget. My budget by the time I have finished will be over double what I first allowed. Yeah, I didnt have a clue!!! But, now I am much wiser. Do you have reputable tradesmen in mind? I can see already you are finding the frustrations coming...they will only get worse. Tradesmen work on a different time zone. A wait of a week for a quote is very good! Make sure EVERYTHING is in writing including exactly what they are going to do.

In relation to an upside down house, I have dismissed houses as soon as I know this, no matter where they are or how they look.