I have, for a while - since March - been on about my reno project. In the process, I've fallen into the trap that I warn my clients about: my readers can't see into my head (mercifully). I've done that, and I think it's made my recent posts a bit more cryptic than I intend.
Let me fix that:
Why the vision developed
I mentioned, in June, that I was in year three of widowhood. It's taken nearly all this time to be able to really "do" life again. Partly because of more than the odd roadblock along the way. One of the things that was always clear, is that I have to support myself and I have to sweat the few assets that I have. Also, our little house - The Sandbag House - is too big for me. I don't want to leave the village and if I sold this property, finding something smaller would take all the proceeds.
The logical thing, then, is to renovate and alter my existing home into something that will both keep me, and work for me. That meant taking a step back, and looking at it with as little emotion as possible. I enlisted the help of friends, asking the question, "Do you think it's possible to split the house in to two separate units?"
They all, after some deep thinking and stomping about the house, said, "Umm....yes".
Then I spent two morning with the existing plans and with two of them who have, and do, other developments and renovations. After a lot of thinking and learning a new planning app, it began to not just seem possible, but realistically doable: to split the house down the middle and to claim wasted space in the attic - above the existing living space.
On the ground floor, I must install a new stair case with a new wall (and door) between the two, and to separate the two units. The existing bathroom remains, but the two rooms on the north side of the house will be turned into a single, open plan living space. Access will be from the east side, at the bottom of the stairs and residents will have doors leading to the stoep on three sides.
On "my" side, things remain pretty much as they are, as the 3-D render shows. Upstairs, things are in reverse - the existing bedroom remains. Except for the bathroom where the door will be swopped from one side to the other, and to open into the new bedroom which is going into the void.
The next render gives a sense of how things will look. The window, though, is smaller (but more than adequate), and I'm not sure, in the long term, about the bath, but this gives you a general sense of how it'll turn out - even with a nook for an "office".
There will be another door at the top of the original staircase, both separating the two units and creating very necessary walk-in storage, accessible only from "my" side. This is essential, not just generally, but because I plan to offer The Corner as a short term/vacation rental. Once all's said and done.
So, sense of the concept is emerging: what will be the separate entrance to The Corner @ The Sandbag House.
Oh, and if you're wondering about the name, this is the view that inspired it:
Much is still to be done, but let's just say that it's in the doing.
Until next time
Post script
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