Hello dear building experts,
At the beginning of next year, I will be taking over a house built in 1906. Two separate apartments / holiday flats have been added to this house.
Now I have some questions about the apartment in the attic.
I am not satisfied with the room layout / floor plan.
Does anyone have an idea how it could be designed more cleverly?
I can’t think of anything...
1. I don’t like that you come up a really steep staircase (more like a stairway) and immediately stand in front of the apartment door (there is no landing; unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of this).
For example, if you want to carry a suitcase upstairs, you first have to go up without it, open the door, then go back down to carry the suitcase into the apartment.
Also, the staircase extends into the apartment. It protrudes further into the apartment than shown on the drawing.
This is clearly visible in the photo. On the left is the apartment entrance door, which leads directly down the steep stairs, and straight ahead is the door to the living room.
How could this be arranged more cleverly?
2. I don’t like the current bathroom situation. There is no sink in the shower; instead, the sink is under the sloping ceiling next to the bedroom.
I would prefer a full bathroom. If the bathroom is extended to the right, the bedroom would lose its window. The shower was added there rather awkwardly. Previously, I believe there was only a toilet there. I could ask the building authority whether it would be possible to install a window in the gable above the bed, but that is very complicated and possibly not allowed due to strict building regulations.
During a holiday, I once had a small attic apartment that was more or less split in two. The bathroom was located down a short hallway.
Maybe the apartment door could be removed, the kitchen placed on the left (I don’t like the bathroom here because you would hear doors opening and closing at night if someone needs to get up. I think the kitchen is okay for that since guests usually don’t go there at night. It might also be more comfortable for guests).
The apartment door would then be on the right... this would create a landing. The current kitchen could become the living room. Of course, it would be very small and this does not solve the bathroom problem either.
Does anyone have a solution for the bathroom issue?
Maybe you are more creative than I am; that would be great.
Thank you very much in advance for your help.
Best regards and happy Easter,
Renovation
At the beginning of next year, I will be taking over a house built in 1906. Two separate apartments / holiday flats have been added to this house.
Now I have some questions about the apartment in the attic.
I am not satisfied with the room layout / floor plan.
Does anyone have an idea how it could be designed more cleverly?
I can’t think of anything...
1. I don’t like that you come up a really steep staircase (more like a stairway) and immediately stand in front of the apartment door (there is no landing; unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of this).
For example, if you want to carry a suitcase upstairs, you first have to go up without it, open the door, then go back down to carry the suitcase into the apartment.
Also, the staircase extends into the apartment. It protrudes further into the apartment than shown on the drawing.
This is clearly visible in the photo. On the left is the apartment entrance door, which leads directly down the steep stairs, and straight ahead is the door to the living room.
How could this be arranged more cleverly?
2. I don’t like the current bathroom situation. There is no sink in the shower; instead, the sink is under the sloping ceiling next to the bedroom.
I would prefer a full bathroom. If the bathroom is extended to the right, the bedroom would lose its window. The shower was added there rather awkwardly. Previously, I believe there was only a toilet there. I could ask the building authority whether it would be possible to install a window in the gable above the bed, but that is very complicated and possibly not allowed due to strict building regulations.
During a holiday, I once had a small attic apartment that was more or less split in two. The bathroom was located down a short hallway.
Maybe the apartment door could be removed, the kitchen placed on the left (I don’t like the bathroom here because you would hear doors opening and closing at night if someone needs to get up. I think the kitchen is okay for that since guests usually don’t go there at night. It might also be more comfortable for guests).
The apartment door would then be on the right... this would create a landing. The current kitchen could become the living room. Of course, it would be very small and this does not solve the bathroom problem either.
Does anyone have a solution for the bathroom issue?
Maybe you are more creative than I am; that would be great.
Thank you very much in advance for your help.
Best regards and happy Easter,
Renovation
G
Geraldina13 Apr 2020 23:01Yes, thank you very much for your reply.
Exactly, it’s the same building, just this time the apartment under the roof.
I will try to find out more about the load-bearing walls and the windows by phone tomorrow. I don’t live on site yet.
Sometimes I think I should just leave it as it is.
But it’s not only impractical, and I somehow also find it dangerous because the staircase is really very steep, but I just don’t like the way it looks. I like things to look nice. I still need to learn to think more economically. As soon as I find out what everything will cost, I will probably learn quickly.
The whole house needs to be modernized:
All the wiring must be replaced, walls and flooring, and on the ground floor the floor will have to be filled with concrete. The bathrooms need to be redone, and so on. A few openings and floor-to-ceiling windows are also planned.
I might also want to add an extra floor to the extension of the main apartment.
A contractor also came and wanted to provide an estimate for that. That was 6 weeks ago, and nothing has come through yet—is that normal?
He didn’t want to provide an estimate for renewing the electrical, water, and heating systems in the old house.
So I will have to negotiate with the local companies myself. Is that common?
I thought I could hire the contractor to organize all the trades... but he only wants to take care of the additional floor, the concrete flooring, and the openings.
The house is insulated from the outside, the roof is from 2012, and the double-glazed windows are also not that old. Only the interior has been patched up over time.
This is my first time doing such a renovation.
I first need to figure out exactly what I want, then what is possible according to the zoning/building permit, and of course, what is financially feasible.
I think that’s a good sequence, right?
On Thursday I have a video consultation about financing. Since I don’t know yet what everything will ultimately cost, I’ll start by getting advice on how getting a loan works (I’ve never had one) and what amount would be affordable for me. I’m curious!
Best regards
Exactly, it’s the same building, just this time the apartment under the roof.
I will try to find out more about the load-bearing walls and the windows by phone tomorrow. I don’t live on site yet.
Sometimes I think I should just leave it as it is.
But it’s not only impractical, and I somehow also find it dangerous because the staircase is really very steep, but I just don’t like the way it looks. I like things to look nice. I still need to learn to think more economically. As soon as I find out what everything will cost, I will probably learn quickly.
The whole house needs to be modernized:
All the wiring must be replaced, walls and flooring, and on the ground floor the floor will have to be filled with concrete. The bathrooms need to be redone, and so on. A few openings and floor-to-ceiling windows are also planned.
I might also want to add an extra floor to the extension of the main apartment.
A contractor also came and wanted to provide an estimate for that. That was 6 weeks ago, and nothing has come through yet—is that normal?
He didn’t want to provide an estimate for renewing the electrical, water, and heating systems in the old house.
So I will have to negotiate with the local companies myself. Is that common?
I thought I could hire the contractor to organize all the trades... but he only wants to take care of the additional floor, the concrete flooring, and the openings.
The house is insulated from the outside, the roof is from 2012, and the double-glazed windows are also not that old. Only the interior has been patched up over time.
This is my first time doing such a renovation.
I first need to figure out exactly what I want, then what is possible according to the zoning/building permit, and of course, what is financially feasible.
I think that’s a good sequence, right?
On Thursday I have a video consultation about financing. Since I don’t know yet what everything will ultimately cost, I’ll start by getting advice on how getting a loan works (I’ve never had one) and what amount would be affordable for me. I’m curious!
Best regards
Making the stairs less steep would require changes on every floor, and the living room on the upper level would no longer be accessible.
It is normal that there is no general contractor for renovations. It is also more cost-effective.
Quotes can take time, especially at the moment.
It is normal that there is no general contractor for renovations. It is also more cost-effective.
Quotes can take time, especially at the moment.
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