We are nearing the end of our "Hoping and Praying" stage of planning permission for our extension. The council has had our application for about a month now, and have told us we'll have a decision by 27 September, but so far it looks good. The council asks all and sundry their objections (if any) about our planned works, and so far no one has objected (fingers crossed).

So we wait. We're creating lists of builders to have at the ready, and a list of works that need doing. Angus has gotten a trade card at a local hardware shop for building supplies, and we're planning on ripping out the bathroom upstairs in favor of new bathroom goods and replacing the horrible carpet in the living room with floorboards at the end of the year ourselves, as neither of those rooms are being touched by the new building and it will save money if we handle it between the two of us. I also happen to really like tiling. It's a sickness, I know.

We're at a tricky place, really. When we bought this house a year and a half ago we got a stellar deal on the place. We were lucky-it should have cost more than it did, thereby pricing us out of this house, but the woman wanted a quick sale and priced the house as such. But much has happened in the past 18 months-interest rates here have skyrocketed, so that we have to pay more towards our mortgage than we did before (we don't have a fixed rate, as the APR at the time wasn't beautiful and we didn't want to be locked to it. Lesson learned.)

We always planned on extending this house, we just hadn't realized how urgently it would need to be done. Our house today is a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath house. We have an enormous kitchen that's very dark and 1960's. We have a big living room and a nice-sized study. There are 6 fireplaces, only 2 of which still work (but we only use one of them). The garden is fucking enormous, which was a selling point and I love it but it's far too much work for the two of us and we seriously suck at gardening.

So before we bought the house, when we were renting, we saved every last pound we could spare in hopes of renovating a house someday. We have a savings account that is for this specific purpose, but the scary thing is that it will be absolutely drained in the extension. We will wipe out our savings in one go. And it's true, we'll be adding to the value of the house, but still-it's pretty scary. Especially with two babies on the way. To save costs, we'll be fitting the rooms out ourselves, including the bathroom and the kitchen, but we both like doing that kind of thing so it'll be ok.

Hopefully.

The truth is, the way that real estate has gone here, we actually can't afford to move. Houses in our area go for far more money now than they did 2 years ago. Houses in this country in general go for stupidly insane sums of money, and there's a critical problem with people who are not on the property ladder being able to get on to it - first-time buyers simply can't afford it. I can see why-between house costs and taxes, it's scary the sums of money that people discuss. An example of the inflation - 10 years ago Angus' father bought his house for £200,000. It's now worth £1.5 million. I'm not saying this to impress you, but to illustrate that once you're in a house here you really have to stay in it, as who can afford to move? We bought our house as Angus and his ex had two large properties, one in Sweden and one in England - he got the house in England, which we sold and thus were able to buy this house, and she got the house in Sweden (I feel it's important to note that she got the more expensive house by far. And it's actually two large houses on one huge chunk of property in Stockholm, one of which she keeps empty "just because". Why is this important to note? 'Cause I'm feeling bitchy, really. That's why.)

We need to live in this area due to its location for London and for Heathrow (for Melissa and Jeff), so moving to a cheaper locale isn't an option right now, although we're hopeful that we will be able to move in about 8 years time to an area that doesn't cost so much. Truthfully, moving in general isn't possible. So we have to extend, especially as one bathroom doesn't cut it today let alone when there are 4 people living here full-time, and even more so as the sensitivities are huge regarding the two new arrivals-everyone needs a bedroom now, and so bedrooms there shall be.

Here's an architect copy of our plans (you know, in case you're interested. Or if it's angst you're looking for in my post today, then lemme' tell you-read between the lines and there's angst). I've included a link for each picture with a pop-up in case it's hard to make out what's what.

This is what the front of the house looks like today (top of the picture) and what it will look like (bottom half of the picture):

Front of the house

And here's what the back of the house looks like today (top of the pic) and what it will look like (bottom of the pic):

Back of the house

And finally the floor plans.

This is what we currently have:

Exisisting floorplans

This is what the ground floor will look like when we're done:

New ground floor

And this is what the upstairs will look like:

New first floor

Stressful times coming, my friend. Stressful times.

But it's needed. We are out of space right now for both Angus' kids and the two coming ones. It's clear that Angus' kids are unhappy with the space they have, and their happiness is important to us both, so they'll each have their own room. The Lemonheads will be sharing a room for a few years, as they'll be too small to really mind. The spare bedroom will also be Angus' study.

I love our house, but I know it's not big enough, nor light enough-half of the house is in near-total darkness a lot as there's a shortage of windows. I know the house doesn't make Angus happy, that he loved his house in Sweden more- his Swedish house was a 230 year-old renovation work, so hopefully a lot of renovation and the ability to use our imagination will be good for his love of this house.

We'll have our answer about building in about 3 weeks. We still have to hire a builder but we have a list of builders, and we won't start work until after the new year. At which point, I'll be a screaming, weeping alcoholic and you won't recognize me.

-H.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 11:52 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
Post contains 1195 words, total size 9 kb.

1 The difference is amazing; you will all have a whole lot more elbow room. I anticipate much happiness in your future. Sounds very stressful but exciting.

Posted by: Lisa at September 06, 2007 03:09 PM (e8V7B)

2 The new house looks like it will be wonderful Helen. I hope all goes well with the plan approval. The dining room/kitchen opening will be wonderful for light and openness. I'm sure you'll love the final product, but the process of living in the house while going through that kind of construction with new babies is going to drive you all nuts.

Posted by: Mr.Thomas at September 06, 2007 03:18 PM (HRp3U)

3 That looks wonderful... yes, lots of work and stress (remodeling is always that) but well worth it. I see many more windows and light and that kitchen area looks terrific. Will keep fingers crossed all goes well. I know what you mean about the values going up to the point you can't even afford to move. We were so lucky when we built three years ago because we just slipped in before all the materials and so forth started climbing to the moon. We'd never be able to afford to build the same house now - or to be able to move (if we ever wanted to). Can't wait until it is all done, the whole family is settled in and your life takes on the next phase! (But that's gonna be awhile...) Exciting and terrifying all at the same time.

Posted by: sue at September 06, 2007 03:39 PM (WbfZD)

4 That looks so WONDERFUL! Fingers crossed you'll be able to make it happen!

Posted by: caltechgirl at September 06, 2007 04:02 PM (/vgMZ)

5 *lol* OK It took me a minute to compute that the 1st floor is what we call the 2nd floor in the US. Now it makes sense. Hopefully there are detailed plans somewhere for supporting the new BR where it will be expanded over the old foundation. I look forward to seeing more of this kind of stuff.

Posted by: ~Easy at September 06, 2007 06:09 PM (WdRDV)

6 Oh my gosh, that house looks absolutely wonderful! I am in the same boat as you; I bought a year ago and didn't go for a fixed mortgage, our payments have gone up by nearly £100 in the last year. Ouch. As we speak we are mid-pulling off the disgusting woodchip wallpaper that we've been wanting to do ever since we moved here. I hate living in the dust! I am also trying to seek out a new bathroom suite and kitchen for further renovations. I can't wait to see the photographs when the renovation works are done.

Posted by: alice at September 06, 2007 08:04 PM (wPe6V)

7 It will be wonderful!! Re: the twins, my brother and I (a year apart) shared a room til we were 5 and 6 and we were quite content. Except he got the top bunk, which I guess I was supposed to want desperately but really didn't. Living within a renovation is a challenge, but just take it a day at a time and laugh whenever possible.

Posted by: Suze at September 06, 2007 09:21 PM (0doyF)

8 I like the addition of the gable window to the front - it looks complete now. Best of luck!

Posted by: maolcolm at September 06, 2007 09:44 PM (e7006)

9 Wow-that house is going to be even more gorgeous-I am totally jealous (but not of the stress, planning, and countless hours that will be put into it). The booze is here if you need it.... *hiccup* ....maybe.

Posted by: Teresa at September 06, 2007 10:32 PM (UN8r3)

10 We left the UK and the frightening housing market behind, just to move to Sydney and another terrifying housing market! Hooray for us! I never really understood the stress that comes with homeowning, somehow I always imagined the fun stuff and the feeling of security. I just didn't realise how tenuous that security can be and the ongoing fear of someone whipping the carpet out from under you. We were lucky, we did fix our rate and there has been one interest hike already since we bought in June and another one predicted for the end of the year. Ok, enough about the bad news, just to say that although we only have one little person in our lives right now, if we have another one, they will room together because we don't want to sacrifice that spare room for our friends and family. Tough times. I have to say your plans look brilliant and in a years time you are going to have a gorgeous family home!

Posted by: Super Sarah at September 06, 2007 11:24 PM (WCDGg)

11 Angusa made one helluva deal: One Swunt + one house for Helen. And thnax for your kind thoughts and remebering.

Posted by: Foggy at September 06, 2007 11:32 PM (kP4Gd)

12 We're in the same boat here in the SF Bay Area, we got a great deal on this house in 1999 and have tons of equity now, but every other house is also worth twice as much so selling isn't an option at this point. We've been slowly re-doing the rooms and have re-done them all now with the exception of the bathrooms and the kitchen. I don't envy you the next while with newborns and the extra mess of construction, but it will be fabo when you are done.

Posted by: Donna at September 07, 2007 12:58 AM (lQSbL)

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