Shipwreck to even bigger wreck!

The first thing we had to decide on was whether we were going to keep this property and move into it and either sell/rent the existing one or vice versa?  My initial thoughts were to keep the new one as it's considerably bigger downstairs and has a lovely sunny courtyard out the back but Mr M wasn't as keen.

I think the main problem is he's not very good at visualising how it will look when it's done and is also absolutely in love with St Edmunds Lane as it's warm, cosy and clean.  I suppose when I show you what we did to it within the first month you can sympathise somewhat with his point of view.  As of this date we still haven't made a final decision (which is hindering my choices on finishes a little).  Ah well, I'm all for going with the flow and seeing where we end up : )

A decision I did make was to knock down the main internal wall as it was 600mm thick and taking up way too much room which could be better utilised.  It also accommodated my main ambition  to make a third bedroom downstairs (albeit a bunk bed room) and have a downstairs loo, here's how it looked with the wall half demolished.

You can where the two original cottages back doors were.

 And this is the magical floating wall, held up with a couple of Acro Props and very little else! I kept getting a bit nervous when 'Big Stu' our lovely demo man kept leaning on them.

Here you can see the fabulous slate walls which we will keep as features if at all possible.

The one thing this house has in abundance is fireplaces although they have either been breeze blocked up or plastered over so it's been interesting discovering what's underneath.

As you can see we had to take out the ceiling between the ground and first floor due to the wall coming down but this has enabled us to once again increase the ceiling height downstairs without adversely effecting the upstairs as they are open to the rafters, which is great for those of us in the family who are 6' 4" (Jake).

This is where one set of stairs and the kitchen (I use that word in the loosest possible sense) originally were. 

And the bathroom, soon to be bedroom 3 and a loo! The window on the left didn't make the final cut and is no more, the door in the kitchen has also moved and has changed places with the window to accommodate the all important new staircase.

Outside things are looking slightly better but not for long as this whole space was soon filled with dirt and rubble from all the demolition which was going on inside.

Next time: The new walls are going in and the space is starting to be re-defined with a much more open plan feel.  Is Mr M going to go for it when it's done......????

Watch this space!!