Note, the dimensions look a bit out with the front of the house. While our current bathroom is quite small it's not postage stamp small (as shown below)! More the same size as the laundry.
Plus the following changes:
* Bifold doors will be replaced with sliding doors (possibly stacker doors)
* Still rethinking the windows in the kitchen. Windows are being ordered this afternoon so I need make the final decision today.
* Kitchen layout has been reworked with fridge on same wall as pantry and oven to go under the stove to economise space.
* Kitchen island dimensions are not finalised. Not sure whether to go 1.2m(depth) x 2.3m(width) or 1.5m(depth) x 2.1m(width). Fortunately have a bit of time before that decision needs to be made.
The reality check.
Well well. What can I say. As it turns out we cannot afford to build upstairs and renovate downstairs after all. Well, not without saving for another 2 or 3 years. So we have made the decision to abandon our second story plans in favour of extending and renovating the ground floor plan only. Yes, this is what we were thinking a good 2years ago - I know.
I'm actually really pleased with this decision. I was always nervous about building a second story extension onto what I consider a pleasingly proportioned californian bungalow. What if it turned our lovely little house into a not-so-lovely ill proportioned towering monstrosity (second story additions work best when the roof ridge line is parallel not perpendicular to the street)? We could never go back.
It does however mean living with a 3 bedroom rather than 4 bedroom house, and giving up more backyard than we would have liked, but ultimately we believe this to be the best solution given the funds we have at present.
I am currently getting these plans drafted up a.s.a.p. in order to get our permits as quickly as possible.
We have been consulting with builders and getting ball park quotes. It would appear the above plans are much more doable for us. However choosing a builder is a little more difficult.
But we think we have made a decision. God let it be a good one.
The new new floorplan
So, due to the fact that building an ensuite/WIR was potentially going to cost us well over $50k (this is due to sewerage mains and digging in a tight spot) we have had to look at other alternatives for the master suite. Below is what we have come up with. I love love love this option, however am rather concerned as to how our budget is going to accommodate such changes. Anyway, at the moment it's a case of draw it and it will come!
Our aspirational floorplan - for now anyway
After many many many false starts and changes too many to mention or count for that matter, below is the latest ground floor plan (we have yet to design the upstairs). Unfortunately (particularly for our draftsman) we could not decide if we wanted to go out (the problem with that is we have an existing garage 4.3m behind the house) or go up. We initially thought going out made the best financial sense however it started to become clear that without removing the garage (something David refused to do) we would not find an appropriate solution. It should be mentioned that we also have a 3m easement along the back fence which prevents us from repositioning the garage further down the block.The more we thought about it going up became the answer. For a host of reasons:
- we could stay within the footprint of the house by knocking down a few walls to open up the back a bit .
- have a deck that runs the full width of the house.
- leave a desirable amount of room between garage and house.
- keep the feeling of the house cozy.
- keep the backyard as large as possible.
- allow Charlie some space and separation when he gets older.
And while I would have liked a bigger family/kitchen/meals area. I like the idea of our house expanding in summer when we open up the bifold doors and servery window to the deck, and then contracting again in winter when you want to be snug, cozy and warm.
