Living out my Grand Design dreams...

[gzoom]

As much as I love Grand Designs, I do not understand this desire to have more space than you need. It makes absolutely no sense to me.

Oh don't worry we've got that bit covered, on paper we are going from a 4 bed house with a large family bathroom......to a 4 bed house with no family bathroom

Yeaph we are spending a crazy amount of ££££££ to gain zero rooms but loss a family bathroom, that is kind of Grand design madness we have started.

We have ripped out what is an amazing kitchen with 2.6x1.5 meter granite top central island, and putting in a SMALLER central island....so spend £££££ for less kitchen???!?!??!?!

It's all utter madness, anyone with sense wouldn't have started this project, but 'design' costs £££££, needs stupid amounts of steel.

Ultimately this entire project is centred around creating this, a 2 story central atrium in middle of the house that has no actual usable floor space expect for an 'open plan' study area that will overlook the garden, kitchen.

Its essential a mini hotel lobby, and there is good reason most domestic homes don't normally have this, as you can fit x3 large family bed rooms into the upper floor by it self!!!

When I was my daughters age, our entire extended family (8 people) lived, cooked, washed in a space smaller than what we are going to 'waste' in the name of 'design'..........But life is for living, life is short, what's the point of life if you don't have some fun......let's see if I feel in the same in 6 months time.

 

[Slick]

When I was my daughters age, our entire extended family (8 people) lived, cooked, washed in a space smaller than what we are going to 'waste' in the name of 'design'..........But life is for living, life is short, what's the point of life if you don't have some fun......let's see if I feel in the same in 6 months time.

Love it.

 

[Ridgeway]

Amazing project and huge courage for taking it on, it will be fantastic once complete. Enjoy the journey, that usually more enjoyable than the destination 💪

 

[AndyRM]

Oh don't worry we've got that bit covered, on paper we are going from a 4 bed house with a large family bathroom......to a 4 bed house with no family bathroom

Yeaph we are spending a crazy amount of ££££££ to gain zero rooms but loss a family bathroom, that is kind of Grand design madness we have started.

We have ripped out what is an amazing kitchen with 2.6x1.5 meter granite top central island, and putting in a SMALLER central island....so spend £££££ for less kitchen???!?!??!?!

It's all utter madness, anyone with sense wouldn't have started this project, but 'design' costs £££££, needs stupid amounts of steel.

Ultimately this entire project is centred around creating this, a 2 story central atrium in middle of the house that has no actual usable floor space expect for an 'open plan' study area that will overlook the garden, kitchen.

Its essential a mini hotel lobby, and there is good reason most domestic homes don't normally have this, as you can fit x3 large family bed rooms into the upper floor by it self!!!

When I was my daughters age, our entire extended family (8 people) lived, cooked, washed in a space smaller than what we are going to 'waste' in the name of 'design'..........But life is for living, life is short, what's the point of life if you don't have some fun......let's see if I feel in the same in 6 months time.

View attachment 679486

Apologies, I really wasn't trying to be critical, I respect and appreciate design (hell, I've got a Mondrian tattoo) and I think what you're doing looks wonderful.

It's more that on Grand Designs people do absolutely ridiculous things. This is very much not that, I think it's a great idea and will look wonderful.

I hope all goes well.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Our architect suggested, given the extent of what our project developed into, that we knock it down and rebuild. He was probably right! Oh, and we lived in it throughout*...

Bon chance, look forward to following the voyage.

*Low point was when the builders bricked all my clothes into a room prior to opening up the new doorway. All, every stitch.

 

[fossyant]

You've missed the man cave out. Lost opportunity there. Who needs a useless atrium when you NEED a man cave.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Are you in a static home onsite?

 

[gzoom]

You've missed the man cave out. Lost opportunity there. Who needs a useless atrium when you NEED a man cave.

Glad to say that sorted already, and it's fully equipped and perfectly located for just chilling, especially in summer (though not this year obviously)

 

[gzoom]

Are you in a static home onsite?

Luckily no, about 10 minute drive away. Neither us have time in the week to really 'check in' on things, I've got 100% faith with the builder, my job is to keep to day job going and the funds following.

 

[gzoom]

Progress seems swift at present, the kitchen/living room last week still looked like rooms.....not any more!

Its actually really exciting to be able to start visualizing the end result, the exposed first floor is essentially where the new link/floating corridor will go to join the two end of the house.

Work on the front has also started, there are even some steels starting to appear around the site. Need to get a move on with glazing orders!

 

[irw]

I think you might need a bigger skip…!

 

[Slick]

Progress seems swift at present, the kitchen/living room last week still looked like rooms.....not any more!

View attachment 680367

View attachment 680368

Its actually really exciting to be able to start visualizing the end result, the exposed first floor is essentially where the new link/floating corridor will go to join the two end of the house.

View attachment 680369

Work on the front has also started, there are even some steels starting to appear around the site. Need to get a move on with glazing orders!

View attachment 680370

I realise you can't make an omelette without cracking a few eggs, but thats a horrible stage your job is at. A perfectly good home pulled to bits, exposing internals to the elements. I would suggest, this is the most stressful part of the project.

 

[Twizit]

Not to mention the budget is goosed and divorce is on the cards!!

One that sticks in the mind was the big white elephant 🐘 one on the north Devon coastline that literally destroyed the guys marriage / family.

Croyde. Up for sale at present for about £10m if you fancy it!!

 

[gzoom]

I would suggest, this is the most stressful part of the project.

I guess this where personalty comes in? I was really EXCITED by the site visit, because for the first time I can physical visualise the final product in real life........and it's going to be worth every single penny!!!

In ture grand design fashion am throwing all budgeting constraints out of the window, the structure is going to be so special the interior finish needs to match, so going to put more borrowing on the mortgage to ensure we don't run into 'cash flow' issues .

Biggest job for me is to get glazing quotes sorted this week, but the day job is keeping me very busy, ran out of time last week need to make some time today!

 

[Slick]

I guess this where personalty comes in? I was really EXCITED by the site visit, because for the first time I can physical visualise the final product in real life........and it's going to be worth every single penny!!!

In ture grand design fashion am throwing all budgeting constraints out of the window, the structure is going to be so special the interior finish needs to match, so going to put more borrowing on the mortgage to ensure we don't run into 'cash flow' issues .

Biggest job for me is to get glazing quotes sorted this week, but the day job is keeping me very busy, ran out of time last week need to make some time today!

Excellent, enjoy your journey, and definitely make time for those quotes today, as I know a number of glazing companies can have quite a lead in time.

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress. I wonder if I can finish my bathroom refurb before you complete your grand design. I reckon its 50/50.