Last Updated on 25 June 2018 by Colette
This week, after what feels like forever, WE GOT PLANNING PERMISSION! Whooo!
When Dave & I bought our house 6 years ago we only really planned to stay in it for a few years and then move on. Â I was brought up moving house regularly and so I felt that was just what you did – bought, made a few quid, moved to somewhere bigger . . . Â Except it doesn’t work like that now does it? Â Now you have to fight tooth and nail to get on the property ladder, you are unlikely to make any money in your house unless you’re doing major developing stuff and moving is REALLY expensive . . .
Six years on we find ourselves, no longer a young couple buying our first property together but a family of 5 (and a dog) all squished into our two bedrooms. Â Although Ben and Chloe do really love sharing a room it can be a complete nightmare. Â He often disturbs her in the mornings and she certainly disturbs him at night – occasionally they do manage to just go to sleep but more often than not there’s lots of arguing and fighting (there’s even been the odd biting incident!). Â Our living room, like most I’m sure, is full of toys and we lack storage.
When we found out we were expecting Amy we looked at our options – Buying somewhere bigger? No, can’t afford that (especially as I’m not working full time). Sell our house and rent somewhere bigger? No, there’s a distinct lack of bigger properties to rent in the area. Stick them all in together? Doable, bunk beds for Ben and Chloe, cot for Amy . . . they’d all fit but it was never going to be the ideal solution.
So we made the decision to extend our current home and our two bedroom house is going to be growing somewhat over the coming months. When the extension is complete we will have gained a playroom, downstairs toilet, utility room, bike store (basically a garage that’s too small for a car), a shower room and two new bedrooms. Â I honestly don’t know what I’m more excited about!
So here’s a few photos of downstairs “before” . . .
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| Dining Room – Before |
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| Living room – Before |
Good luck with the extension. We did our extension last year and we are so pleased we did it, although the upheaval with the children in the house can be slightly stressful at times! I lost my husband most weekends to the home improvements but the end result is so worth it. You will have so much more space, very exciting for all the family.
Yes its certainly going to be a tough few months ahead! I can't wait to see the finished result though! x
Oh this is VERY exciting news you guys. So chuffed that the planning permission came through. We've yet to even GET on the market and in this day and age, unsure if we ever will! But its certainly in the life plan!! When does all the work start then? x
The garage is coming down tomorrow so I guess that's the start but I'm not 100% sure when work officially begins 🙂
Fab news Colette. So pleased for you and the family. Goes without saying it'll make everything so much easier!
I actually have no idea how you are all fitting in your house! We have a three bed house that already feels cramped with two small children in it! Your plans are so exciting and I can't wait to follow the progress. We have a ten year plan to convert our loft and extend downstairs, maybe upstairs too but it depends on the cost – Everything is so expensive isn't it? One thing is for sure, we are never moving! x
I honestly don't know myself sometimes. We are lucky that downstairs is actually reasonably spacious – especially after we extended the kitchen three years ago.
I will write another post with more 'befores' in later so you can see our sardine type arrangement upstairs 🙂 x
Exciting stuff! We are getting an extension in the near future, we want a third child so want to make the house bigger in the next few years.
Oh how exciting! I can't wait to come back and see the after pictures 🙂
Really glad you got the planning permission. Hope all the work goes smoothly 🙂
Thanks Shaz 😉 x
Good luck with the extension