Victorian Half House - Extension Dilemma

[Partriguez]

Hi,

My wife and I live in a 2 bedroom half-house on Silvester Road and we are currently planning a rear extension and loft conversion as we would like to start a family, love the area and don't want to move out of the area to be able to afford a 3 bed house! We are struggling to decide on a suitable layout and design.

As those of you who live in a half-house understand, the trade off with a half-house versus a normal house is you share a front door and hallway with your neighbour (with 2 internal entrance doors thereafter)and the bathroom is normally always on the ground floor. We have an existing, but very old, rear L-shaped extension incorporating a galley kitchen and bathroom. We are unsure whether to move the bathroom upstairs by using some of the precious bedroom space or to keep it downstairs but fill-in the side return and open up the kitchen - full width with bi-fold doors and sky-lights. Has anyone done this to their half-house?

We are also thinking of converting the loft at the same time (suffer the disruption in one go!) but we are struggling to visualise the space that the loft conversion with en-suite would provide. Are there any local half-house owners reading this that have converted their loft? We would be very grateful if you would be so kind as to show us your loft conversion (in person or via pictures) so that we can understand what the space will look like.

Where did you position your new staircase? was it directly above the existing staircase? If so, is the size of the second bedroom still adequate for a child's room?

Thank you so much and sorry for all the questions!

[brewski]

Hi Ive PM'd you

[montassa]

You need to get an architect to come take a look - thats the best approach..

i have recommendations ,and builders who can also help..

[tom55]

I would recommend Rhys, he's experienced in this area and lives local

Rhys Howell Owen Architects

[email protected]

He did a free consultation for us, worth emailing anyway..

[redfern]

PM'ed you

[JRK]

Sorry to jump on this thread too but we live in a half house too and would be very interested in what people have done too, as like Partriguez we are stuck at where the stairs would go or where to put the bathroom. Any info or ideas would be lovely to hear or see.

Thanks

JRK