When the Barn it was originally converted from a cow shed to become a dwelling, it was made into two two-bedroom apartments, one on the ground floor, in which we currently live, and one on the first floor, which we let as our Bed and Breakfast With A Difference (there's lots of pictures on the website). The upstairs apartment is currently accessed by an outside staircase.
It has taken Sue and I weeks of discussions and endless measuring and drawing, but eventually we formed a concept of how we could convert the two apartments into one house by adding a small extension enclosing an internal staircase, and then altering the internal walls a bit to give us, on the ground floor, a larger open plan lounge and kitchen, utility room and ensuite bedroom, and on the first floor, two bedrooms, study, sitting room and bathroom. Here's my sketches of the plans:
Externally, the appearance of the building will change very little. There's the tiny extension, which will be in the same place as the current first floor porch, but will extend a little further forward, and two of the the first floor windows will be enlarged a bit to make the most of the view, but mostly, it will look just the same.
We both get a bit edgy when we think of the chaos we are going to have to endure while the job is carried out. We will have to pack up the entire contents, and store it all somewhere, then move ourselves into Loch View Cottage for the duration. But we know it will all be worthwhile in the end.... I'll update here when anything worth mentioning happens, and of course, come October, I will be posting photos as the work progresses.
Meanwhile, it's carry on with the all the turn-rounds and laundry...
