Build thread - Creating a multi-family home
Discussion
- Or adventures in madness. Not sure yet. We'll see how this goes.
So I grew up in this fantastic property. Huge house, huge garden, pasture out the back. Plenty of room to get into lots of trouble. Which my brothers and I did, a lot. Then I moved away, went to university, moved to the US, and generally got on with life. My siblings did the same, and then it was just Mum, Dad, and a couple of loopy dogs. They were rattling around a bit in the old place, but it was paid for, and they liked having the space for us all to come back and visit.
Five and half years ago, I got the phone call that would change the course of our lives dramatically. Sitting in my hire car in front of my company HQ outside LA, Dad told me he had a brain tumour. Six months, a year, two at best, but it was terminal. No doubt about it. The most devastating call of my life. The next day I was on a plane back to the UK, and I saw him before he went into surgery. That was in April. In May, we were all back again for a family wedding, and by the end of that trip, my wife and I had decided to move back to the UK so that our kids (then aged 4 and 2) could get to spend some time with their grandfather while they still could. By August, we were here. I got very lucky in that there was a position within my company in the UK open, and they ended up paying for about half of the move. We got just under a year with him before the end came. He missed meeting his third grandchild by two weeks.
Fast forward a couple of years, and both dogs are now gone too. Mum's rattling around the old place on her own, and not enjoying it. We live about half a mile up the road, and see her every day, since the house is right opposite the kids school. She's looking at other houses, but doesn't want to leave the village, since that's where all her friends live. She also doesn't want to leave her gardens, because she doesn't want to give up the chickens, orchard or vegetable patch. So we start talking about having us move in. Very quickly, we all agree that it wouldn't work to have us sharing the space. She likes to do things her way, my wife hers, and although they have a good relationship, they both know the limits.
So then we start talking about building an annex for Mum to live in, while we occupy the main house. Fast forward another 18 months, untold hours of planning, 2 architects, 2 legal agreements and such later, and we have builders on site.
The old kitchen is stripped out, and parts are re-used in the utility room as a temporary kitchen.
Today, they started demolishing the side porch and front door where the annex will go. Tomorrow the existing kitchen and sun room come down.
The first of many such skips, I suspect.
More to come as things happen. Thoughts, advice, words of wisdom, leftover xanax/Prozac/gin all gratefully received....
So I grew up in this fantastic property. Huge house, huge garden, pasture out the back. Plenty of room to get into lots of trouble. Which my brothers and I did, a lot. Then I moved away, went to university, moved to the US, and generally got on with life. My siblings did the same, and then it was just Mum, Dad, and a couple of loopy dogs. They were rattling around a bit in the old place, but it was paid for, and they liked having the space for us all to come back and visit.
Five and half years ago, I got the phone call that would change the course of our lives dramatically. Sitting in my hire car in front of my company HQ outside LA, Dad told me he had a brain tumour. Six months, a year, two at best, but it was terminal. No doubt about it. The most devastating call of my life. The next day I was on a plane back to the UK, and I saw him before he went into surgery. That was in April. In May, we were all back again for a family wedding, and by the end of that trip, my wife and I had decided to move back to the UK so that our kids (then aged 4 and 2) could get to spend some time with their grandfather while they still could. By August, we were here. I got very lucky in that there was a position within my company in the UK open, and they ended up paying for about half of the move. We got just under a year with him before the end came. He missed meeting his third grandchild by two weeks.
Fast forward a couple of years, and both dogs are now gone too. Mum's rattling around the old place on her own, and not enjoying it. We live about half a mile up the road, and see her every day, since the house is right opposite the kids school. She's looking at other houses, but doesn't want to leave the village, since that's where all her friends live. She also doesn't want to leave her gardens, because she doesn't want to give up the chickens, orchard or vegetable patch. So we start talking about having us move in. Very quickly, we all agree that it wouldn't work to have us sharing the space. She likes to do things her way, my wife hers, and although they have a good relationship, they both know the limits.
So then we start talking about building an annex for Mum to live in, while we occupy the main house. Fast forward another 18 months, untold hours of planning, 2 architects, 2 legal agreements and such later, and we have builders on site.
The old kitchen is stripped out, and parts are re-used in the utility room as a temporary kitchen.
Today, they started demolishing the side porch and front door where the annex will go. Tomorrow the existing kitchen and sun room come down.
The first of many such skips, I suspect.
More to come as things happen. Thoughts, advice, words of wisdom, leftover xanax/Prozac/gin all gratefully received....
Annexe is a splendid idea, especially if you all get along. I can see why your mum would be struggling to leave the house, very nice!A couple of updated pics. Demo work is about finished. They start digging foundations tomorrow. Unfortunately, due to a business trip, I had to miss the big moment when the current kitchen came down, but I'm assured it's well and truly gone.
Unfortunately, the words 'take many pics and often' mean a different thing to my beloved.
Unfortunately, the words 'take many pics and often' mean a different thing to my beloved.
Lovely story, hope all goes well and many more happy years are spent sharing the old place.
I'd love to take over my parents home when, er, the time comes, as it is such a cool old place. Nothing grand, but 1930's semi, well modernised, with a back garden long enough for a drag strip and parking for four cars at the front.
I have three sisters, and I currently live on the other side of the planet, so I doubt it would ever happen.
I'd love to take over my parents home when, er, the time comes, as it is such a cool old place. Nothing grand, but 1930's semi, well modernised, with a back garden long enough for a drag strip and parking for four cars at the front.
I have three sisters, and I currently live on the other side of the planet, so I doubt it would ever happen.
I didn't see that (not much time to watch the box these days). Got a link?
Here's the plan and elevations. It's been tweaked a little in that we've added some details to the roof of the annex (a couple of small skylights to get light into the hallway and en suite), but this is the latest digital copy I have.
There's an extra large version here.
Here's the plan and elevations. It's been tweaked a little in that we've added some details to the roof of the annex (a couple of small skylights to get light into the hallway and en suite), but this is the latest digital copy I have.
There's an extra large version here.
We've done something similar with my Dad, it has it's difficulties at times, but I think by coming to the realisation that you each need your own space that you've put the right amount of thought into this.
I have said that if we did this again, I'd have moved to a different property rather than us moving to my Dad's house - there is an element of "I didn't do things like that" because it's "his" house. The garden has been a bit of a war zone at times because of this - a property new to both parties might be easier in that regard BUT you know and love this house and it has history for you so as with us it's what makes sense.
Living next door at least means that you can keep an eye on the olds, I can make sure that he's eating and taking his medication which he rarely does if left to his own devices and whilst you are on hand more often to some extent it's less of a worry than being away.
I have said that if we did this again, I'd have moved to a different property rather than us moving to my Dad's house - there is an element of "I didn't do things like that" because it's "his" house. The garden has been a bit of a war zone at times because of this - a property new to both parties might be easier in that regard BUT you know and love this house and it has history for you so as with us it's what makes sense.
Living next door at least means that you can keep an eye on the olds, I can make sure that he's eating and taking his medication which he rarely does if left to his own devices and whilst you are on hand more often to some extent it's less of a worry than being away.
singlecoil said:
Presumably the Rayburn is now boxed off but still running, hence the airgap at the bottom?
Correct. Had to do that, since it powers the downstairs heat. However, if you look closely, you'll see some pretty dodgy foundation work under it, courtesy of the original extension builder (who managed to tip his own JCB on top of himself on another project up the road, but that's another story). So now there are rumblings that we may need to take it out anyway. Which would not be a 'good thing'.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff