The Split Level: Before Photos
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Built in 1949, this split level house is ready for some updates! It probably worked well when it was built, but for today’s lifestyle it’s a bit cramped. And from an energy efficiency standpoint, it desperately needs to be improved.
So here's the tour:
Let's start with the split layout. The house has multiple levels, so this diagram might help explain how they all fit together.
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| There are 5 levels! And most of them have pretty low ceilings. |
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| Front door leads to tight foyer with staircase to living level |
You enter the home at the garage level (level 2 in the diagram above). It’s tight and dark – straight ahead is the laundry and basement stairs, the staircase to the living level is next to the front door. There's a closet for coats, but this foyer doesn't exactly shout 'welcome' to guests.
And the staircases in this house? Well, they weren’t designed for tall people!! We’ve all bumped our heads a few times already!
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| Basement stairwell - yikes! |
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| Stairway to Living Room has a bit more headroom |
The basement is dark and damp. One of the challenges of having a house built at the bottom of a hill comprised of rocky ledge - there is always some water down here. That’s going to be one of the first areas we fix.
The main level has a surprisingly open floor plan for the 1940's. The center fireplace is charming, but takes up an absurd amount of floor space for a small home. And the ceilings are low – 7’ 4”, which makes the whole space feel smaller.
It’s a tight kitchen, but provides a good bit of cabinet and counter space.
The owners don’t do a lot of sit-down dinner parties, so the dining space had a pellet stove installed, which does an amazing job of heating the house!
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| Front Bedroom |
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| Back Bedroom |
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| Bathroom is centered between the two bedrooms |
The top level is an attic – which is dominated by the giant chimney.
The total house has 732 square feet of living space, so it's a small house. Our challenge is to increase the living space, while updating the systems and energy efficiency. Now the planning begins!
