The Journal

The Plans

The Dreams

The Move

The Ranch

The Thanks

The Links

Blueprints

Site Survey

Downstairs Layout

Upstairs Layout

We are planning to convert the 2 bedrooms into the living room, the living room into the dining room, and the bathroom into a powder room, and to put three bedrooms and two full baths upstairs. If we are able to build the garage addition (depending on finances), it will be a 2-car garage with a bedroom over top under the eaves, hence the possible 4th bedroom.

We would also one day like to finish the full basement and have the rec room of our dreams, pool table included (though it will never be as cool as Dave Alberts' rec room). This includes closing off the bilco doors and having stairs down to the basement from the center hall.

Stairs down to the basement from inside the house — what a concept.

Once our blueprints are finished, we will submit them to the township for permits and bid the project out to contractors. Hopefully, whomever we choose will have some time to rip off our roof, reinforce our floor, frame out the addition, add a new roof and windows throughout, and side the whole house. The finishing will be up to us...and our whole family, who we'll be calling often for help.

Read all about our progress thus far in "The Journal."
 

Update (July 21, 2004)
It's official: Our plans are now with the Building Department! We received our zoning permits about a month ago, and once our building permits are approved in 4-6 weeks (hopefully), we will be able to break ground. We are very excited to have a possible start date in site. Our contractor (for demo, framing, roofing, siding, a/c installation), mason (for new steps/stoops, bump-out footing, foundation crack), electrician (for upgrading our 60-amp service to 200-amp), and plumber (for the new bathrooms, kitchen, and hot water heater) are all lined up and have signed the dotted line.

In the meantime, I have posted our new blueprints (for the first floor so far) and our site survey, so you can get a better idea of what we're planning.

As always, keep following our updates in "The Journal."
 

Update (March 11, 2005)
Currently, mounds of sheetrock are sitting throughout our house, waiting to be installed. It's so exciting to finally be able to think about trim and paint colors and refinishing the floors!