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allison_clement20

All the help needed!!!!

3 years ago

So after two years of searching for a house my husband and I and now two kids later finally found a house. (We were engaged when we started looking) Not our dream house but hopefully after all the Reno it will be close to our dream house /forever home. The whole house needs to be renovated it’s stuck in the 70’s I would say. Was built in 1930 so I’d love to get a few suggestions on how we could bring it back to life. We want to remodel the second floor so that we could move in and later focus on the kitchen etc. please see attached layout.

  1. For the second floor we are planning to reconfigure the jack and Jill bedroom and hopefully turn that into three bedrooms with the bigger room splitting into two. But our biggest problem is that we don’t know where the hallway would be and how it would connect the rooms.
  2. Also we’re thinking of changing the orientation of the staircase that connects the first and second floor. Right now the staircase takes you from the dining room into to the primary bedroom on the second floor but we want to switch it so that it comes from the living room up to the jack and jill bedroom(the three bedrooms after the split). The problem again is that we don’t even know how this would look we just know that we need to do something to it.
  3. Can someone recommend a free remodeling app we could use to help with reconfiguring this house. Thanks

I look forward to all the help and suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Comments (5)

  • 3 years ago

    I don't think a free remodeling app is going to be of much help to you. You need and architect to help you get the best result. How large is your budget because reorienting the stairs is $$$$

  • 3 years ago

    First check to see how many bedrooms your assessment considers the house. Usually MLS pulls from county info but you never know, it could be a 2 bedroom. So adding a real 3rd may have other ramifications. Your work requires proper as-builts, and the other floors shown. There is a lot of strange walls and such just in this diagrammatic drawing, which is expected in an old house, but isn't communicated well over the internet. The best course is moving at least a few steps forward with a contractor, architect - some pro who can verify your house so you know what opportunities you have or don't have, and reviewing your money situation. And think broader than designing 1 floor at a time, not just the stair moving, but if you ever want a Master bath for a forever home, then that will affect the downstairs.

  • 3 years ago

    Thank you guys for the suggestions so far. I agree an architect would be best before we start knocking down walls. @3onthetree thanks we will think broader , like you said what we do upstairs could affect downstairs. We were just trying to tackle one floor at a time more like a DIY project but I think this is on another level.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Unless you are very experienced in diy, this is not something you should try to tackle. This needs a very experienced and reliable contractor. Some of those walls are load bearing up there, I am sure, and will cost a small fortune to change. The stairway, will cost a whole lot of dollars to change. I would try to leave that where it is. I do notice that stairway needs railings. Its very dangerous right now. Someone could fall over the side. If the house hasnt been rewired, thats one of the very first things to do. Safety is always priority. Also plumbing, so you know the pipes dont have lead etc. Its a priority. Priorities, when they involve safety, always come before changes and wants. Congratulations on your new home. Do the priorities and then live in it a bit, before you make the changes. Chances are, your ideas and wants, will change too, in the next 6 months or so. Right now, you are in a state of excitement. Once that initial excitement wears off, you will figure things out, and it will be clearer, what needs to be done to fit your family.

  • 3 years ago

    " we will think broader , like you said what we do upstairs could affect downstairs. "


    WILL effect downstairs.