Renovations

For the last year James and I have been chatting about, dreaming about and planning some renovations. We needed to replace our roof because it had been leaking, pretty badly at times. We started thinking that we'd just re-sheet it. Then one of our builders suggested pitching it and making an attic upstairs. We then got talking with a different builder, Dan, who suggested pitching it, putting an attic ladder in and making a study area and storage. This then led to a draftsman who suggested having a permanent staircase and another living area. This is what we are now planning to do. Crazy but exciting times ahead. 

Over the weekend we packed up the back room ready for the builders to work their magic. This morning they came nice and early and got straight into it, pulling up parts of the roof, pulling down the cover and the lattice out the back. They made a ramp up the side for easier access to the roof. They dug a large hole out the back ready for concreting to go in and prepare the stairs. They pulled down the chimney on our roof and the part down the side of the house. Amazing how much work they got done.

I am feeling good about it now that it has started but also feel nervous about how much money it is and the finished outcome - how will it look, will it be how we want it? But I also know that it will be very useful once we have it, that it will look amazing because we trust Dan. We know that it will make our house more hospitable and accommodating in the future. But in the meantime it is a bit overwhelming and something that I just need to take as each day comes. And endure the noise as they do the work.

I am also sad that the back shelves are going to be taken out to make the staircase. These shelves I fell in love with when we first saw the house. They are one of the things that made me want this house. It is sad to loose them and I have no idea how I will set up the back room when it is all done, but equally we will work something out. Here's to the next 2 months and the chaos that these renovations will bring.

The before shots of the back room: 

Before shots of outside the house.

Backroom before building started

And the state of the loungeroom. Oh the mess!

The building began this morning. The kids were mesmerised by the work Dan and Harry were doing.

Eliza wasn't coping with the noise they were making so I got her the earmuffs to wear.

Alexander wanted to keep watching them work after his naptime (which fortunately worked well because they were working on the pavers out the back so he didn't get woken up by the noise).

End of Day 1. No more fireplace pieces and a hole in the pavers.