When we bought our second house four years ago it was a practical decision, rather than love at first sight. We were happy in our cosy little cottage, but with a toddler and a new baby, we badly needed the extra space. The house appeared on the market – period features, good location and bags of space downstairs – and we’d have been silly not to go for it.
One of the things that we liked most about it was the potential to extend – outwards and upwards. The image above is a house almost identical to ours – but hugely improved and extended. After four years, we’ve updated and put our mark on the house, but that feeling of undeveloped potential is still niggling away at me. Plus, we are really beginning to struggle with just one bathroom. We always knew the tiny upstairs bathroom was the big compromise on this house – and it’s only going to get worse.
Crunch time is approaching. We need to decide whether to move or improve! Something has always stopped this house feeling like our forever home. Could major improvements unlock this potential at last?
The obvious thing to think about first is a loft conversion. Our loft space is quite large. It’s already boarded out and every time I go up there I can’t help imagining the potential.
Currently, it’s full of old junk, but it could be so much more…
In my dreams, I picture it as a beautiful bedroom, with an en suite bathroom. It would have light flooding in and clever storage. Lying on my bed, I’d watch the clouds scudding by.
When we stay with our family by the sea, we often sleep in the attics of the house. For this reason, I always imagine that our own loft space would have echoes of the sea – light colours, deckchair stripes and simple, unfussy details.
Bright, light soft furnishings would be key. I particularly like these beautiful blinds by VELUX which are designed to fit their windows perfectly.
Our house has a tendency to be a bit cluttered. I love the idea of creating a brighter, modern and unfussy loft space. It could be a real haven!
I’ve started a new Pinterest board here to gather my ideas.
I’ll keep you posted on our renovation plans. In the meantime, I’d love to hear any advice you could give me on loft conversions. Have you done your own and written about it? It would be great hear from you!
Lizzie x
This post is sponsored by VELUX but all words and thoughts are my own.
Hi Lizzie, Just a few thoughts on your post – You say you have a lot of space downstairs, perhaps removing a wall and adding an extension facing your back garden would give you a lovely spacious kitchen/family room.
Sometimes it is worth engaging an architect to see what could be done and then weigh up if it might be better to find a new home, remember the perfect house is hard to find!! I love your idea of the master
suite in the loft, this would give you a much needed second bathroom.
Your home looks charming with loads of character but it has to work for your family, good luck with it all.
Marie x
Thanks Marie… we would LOVE to do a kitchen extension, it would look so wonderful. If we could do that and the loft it would certainly change the way we view the house long-term. I think there’s definitely a danger of over-developing a house though – we’d definitely get expert help before deciding anything. Sometimes I wonder if it would be easier to just move house! x
sounds an exciting project, look forward to hearing progress. Our house has a mansard roof so we’ve three rooms in what is roof space – our second bedroom, a study (or fourth bedroom) and another bathroom. Sadly our house was redeveloped before en-suites were common so that’s a trick they missed! I’d say remember heat rises so ensure you can get some fresh air in there somehow – good luck 🙂
Thanks Stephanie! I would be really interested to see what we can do with our one…it just depends whether the benefits can outweigh the cost and upheaval! x
Hi Lizzie, I have a number of friends who have had loft conversions which have been great. I love extending- it’s addictive though! I can recommend an architect if you’re interested – he’ll come round and chat first! He did a friend’s fab loft conversion. Hx
Thanks Helen! x
Oh gosh what a tricky decision! I have to say I love having a loft conversion, although I wouldn’t have done it necessarily the way the previous owners did it and you can clearly tell that it’s new build quality rather than matching the quality of the rest of the house which is 1930s.
However, it’s very peaceful to sleep up here and definitely has the added advantage of space. The bedroom you found third image down is just gorgeous! ! Good luck with your decision making and I look forward to seeing what you decide to do X
I love the idea of being high up and away from everything! We certainly won’t be rushing into anything, but I’m excited about getting some people in to take a look! x
There’s just something so lovely and quirky about a loft conversion. It was my dream when I lived with my parents. I badgered them to convert their’s but they never did.
I’ve never lived in a house with one, but I always love it when we stay with our in-law – so peaceful and different! x
Ooh! SO exciting!! So many lovely ideas Lizzie 🙂 I would *definitely* engage the services of an architect and builder and price everything up. You can then work out if the cost of renovating would be more costly than moving. Personally, I think it would be cheaper but I guess it depends on the prices in your area. Exciting times either way!!! Can’t wait to find out what you do!! 🙂 Thanks so much for linking up with #HomeEtc — hope to see you again next week! x
Caro | http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk
Thanks Caro! We’re hoping to get some people in soon to take a look! I love the idea, but not so much the mess and stress. House prices are completely crazy round here so it could be a really sensible option for us x
No loft here in this new home but they look FAB!! Thanks so much for linking up with #HomeEtc — hope to see you again next week!
Jess xx
Our house was a two bed with a loft room that didn’t meet building regs. It’s now officially a 4 bed with two new staircases to meet all the regs! Our boys have the two loft rooms and we don’t regret any of it, despite the loss of head height up there (the floors all needed reinforcing and levelling). I echo all the advice above. Also, we have Veluxes up there (of course!) and have blackout blinds with them – I’d recommend the Velux blackout blind option above everything else!!!
You’ll have to share some photos of your loft conversion on your blog Katie, I’d love to get some inspiration! I hadn’t thought about doing two smaller rooms up there for the boys, but that could be a great option – especially if there was room for a bathroom too. The only complicated thing about our loft is that it has a central chimney stack running through the middle – so it’s a doughnut shape up there. This would need taking out which could be a bit scary! x