Anatomy of an Addition: The Plan
Before I go ahead and show off the progress we’ve made on our addition, I thought I should take several steps back to the beginning of the process to give some background.
Like almost everybody else with no architectural knowledge or training, we started out with a wish and a fairly crude drawing (pen scribbles and chocolate milk stain courtesy of Deirdre).
(click for larger photo)
While our budget didn’t allow us to enlist the assistance of an architect, our contractor was able to take that scrawl and make a drawing sufficient to submit for building permits. Below is what the plan looked like after we gave it to James.
I’ve made some notations of my own on this version to help further illustrate how the kitchen/mudroom addition ties in with what we started with. I’ve also indicated the new location of our washer and dryer (which we’ve just moved into the mudroom), and where a utility sink will eventually go once a counter is built.
(click for larger photo)
The oak flooring we just had installed covers all of the existing bed/sitting room (the entire space is not on the drawing, but what is visible is designated in blue), the existing kitchen eating area (specified in green) and the area of the addition labeled ‘Kitchen Sitting Room’. The ‘Side Entry’ area (aka the mudroom) has a porcelain tile floor, and the existing kitchen prep area (what’s visible is indicated in orange) will be getting new linoleum flooring.
Below are these same coloured areas indicated on a survey of our property. The dark purple shows the new addition, and the darker shaded blue of the existing addition show where a bath and the former laundry area are located. The oak flooring for this section covers everything but the bath.
(click for larger photo)
The existing addition and the area in green (which at one time was the back porch of the house) incorporate a flat roof, and we have continued this on the new addition. While I imagine it will prove to be a supreme pain down the road, we chose this route so as not to destroy one of the only exterior architectural features of the original house—a 2nd floor ‘sleeping porch’ at the back which extends out above the kitchen prep area (orange) and basement stairs (light maroon) and is clad in painted cedar shingles.
In our next anatomy class, we’ll look at the backside of my house and some early construction photos of the serious booty we’re giving the Salvaged Beauty.
technorati tags: home+improvement, DIY, renovation
I love the “original” drawing with chocolate milk stains. You should frame it. Kinda reminds me of stories like Lincoln’s Gettysburg address or the Star Spangled Banner written on a napkin.
Comment by ben — March 22, 2006 @ 1:34 pm
I agree with Ben about the milk-stained drawing. I like you plans and think you’ll particularly apprecite the mudroom. The previous owners put a mudroom addition on our place and it is a very useful upgrade.
Comment by Josh — March 22, 2006 @ 4:23 pm
Sounds just like us! We couldn’t afford an architect either, plus, we loved the idea of going it alone and having it really and truly be “our” house. We did hire a draftsman to finalize the floorplans and help us work out a few kinks, but our hearts and souls are in those walls.
Cool evolutionary process! I keep meaning to backdate entries from last May to show where we started.
Comment by Christiane — March 24, 2006 @ 1:32 am