Rain

[jhetley]

Supposedly a mix of that defunct tropical storm (Michael?) and a low out of the Midwest, showers now, heavy rain forecast for tonight. Leaves falling. Cats huddling on the porch next door and wondering why those stupid humans haven't answered the dire need of _cats_ outside in _rain_.

Trying to fit a stairwell into an existing bungalow that never had one, even though it has a second floor. Evidence of a circular stair at one time, now just a hole in the ceiling, and the state Housing Authority doesn't approve of circular stairs in projects that they fund. But the client would like to have a two-bedroom unit for their transition program. A _cheap_ two-bedroom unit.

Got my 500 words in this morning, Faithful Indian Tracker on the trail of Grendel's Mom. Fresh snowfall mucking up the spoor, but Faithful Indian Tracker knows what he's doing. Beowulf leans against a white pine, watching, keeping his snowshoe tracks out of the evidence.

Comments

[cymrullewes.livejournal.com]

Two bedroom... not two one bedroom units. I was going to suggest adding a stairwell on the outside of the house and converting it in to two. But that probably wouldn't work well because you'd have to add a kitchen and bathroom to a floor. Define circular stair in this context though. You have seen the "hidden" stairs. Where there is a 90°ree; bend. But those are generally very narrow and probably would not be up to code for a state housing project.

Hmmm. I need to sketch this out idea out and see if it would work and go look at code. I'm wondering how much space a stair with two 90°ree; bends would work. Three steps, 90°ree; bend, five steps, 90°ree; bend, three steps. Sort of like a staple where one end got pulled down and the other end got pulled up.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Circular stair as in round auger-shaped thingy with pie-slice wedge treads. You have to add a couple more complications to the design criteria -- the bungalow is a "cape-style" house, with single-story roofline/headroom at the outer walls. And I have to fit a bathroom into the mix. Got something worked out, ell-shaped stair that runs up along the centerline behind a defunct fireplace and then turns left off a landing for the last four risers. May have to fit a single winder tread into that landing. Just _about_ gives us room for doors to each side at the top under _that_ low ceiling, but damned if I'd want to move furniture into the place. Good thing this is for chronic homeless, all the furnishings come from the agency and will stay there until the place burns down....

Maybe the contractor can build the renovations around a dresser and bed in each room?

This architectural moment brought to you by the letters "non-profit agency."

[cymrullewes.livejournal.com]

Sounds like the hidden stair in the story and a half that my great-grandmother built in 18mumble. I can never remember if it was before or after the Civil War. Except the stairs make the turn after the first step on the bottom. It comes up in the middle of the floor in the half story under the roof.

Something I've thought of is to build drawers in to the half wall under the roof. You really can't put anything else there so why not make built-ins?

I so wish I had your architecture job. I like designing renovations. I'm much better at redesign than I am at design.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Yeah, built-ins would be cool, and totally in character with the original construction. However, there's this little budget question. Sheetrock costs a lot less than cabinet work.

[cymrullewes.livejournal.com]

It does indeed. I'm reminded over the BBC show Changing Rooms. I think they did something like this. Plywood front and took the drawers from thrift shop dressers.

Why, yes, I am the Queen of Make-Do. :-p