Period Extensions - Again

[Flyfisher]

Here are a couple of interesting old photos showing the front of the house. The first is from 1908 and shows the complete cover-up of any remnants of a tudor structure.
Shocking really. :wink:

The second photo is from 1939,and was given to me a few years ago by Edward Adeane, the grandson of the owner at the time, who very kindly allowed me to scan a number of photos from his Grandmother's albums. It quite clearly shows some extensive renovation works and I assume that this was the time when the existing cement render was applied to the building. I particularly like the scaffolding!

The photo also clearly shows how the original structure has been extensively altered over the years. Many of the original wattle-and-daub panels have been replaced with brick, possibly after various parts of the frame had been cut and altered to accomodate the new windows and door. These were clearly destructive and irreversible alterations, though completely hidden when re-rendered. Also visible are some of the original tudor windows that have been covered up, presumably because they would spoil the symmetry of the new 'Georgian' makeover.

 

[Zebra]

Wanted to contribute to this thread, even with my limited knowledge of extending period properties, but think everything's already been said. Yes bit of a pity to cover it up, and I'm sure like many of us, the first reaction is "oh no!" but on reflection, the merits outweigh the drawbacks. As you said, its reversible, it does at least preserve the structure internally, and I think it will be very impressive to have the jettied, oak structure internally. Be a nightmare to dust and clean but there you are. As for the external appearance, it seems there's a balancing act between too much glass, which makes it look like a glass box, and not enough glass, which means that the view of the original house is lost from the outside, or at least is just a teasing glimpse.

 

[Flyfisher]

15 months on and time to update this topic methinks. The photo below was taken a few weeks ago while trying to complete the limewashing before winter:

 

[Flyfisher]

Here are some internal views as things currently stand, so still quite a lot to do. You'll notice that the chimney stack is still in its dilapidated state, which is because we haven't yet decided whether to remove the remaining cement render and attempt to replace the spalled bricks and leave it as exposed brick or whether to re-render the whole thing and limewash it. Current thinking is to re-render and limewash. The temporary soil pipe will be re-routed and replaced with cast iron. The floor is made from new pamments made locally by Norfolk Pamments and is currently being grouted.

 

[Feltwell]

Looking very good indeed so far FF. That will be stunning when it's done. The previously external wall now being internal works well - a very honest way to deal with putting an extension on,it blends in externally and yet it's instantly obvious internally that it is an addition.

The latest chapter in the many additions and alterations your house has had over the years!

 

[plasticpigeon]

A house within a house!!! That's impressive, nicer looking than I thought it would be from the drawing.

 

[JoceAndChris]

That's really very unique, and sympathetically done. I think the exterior blends very nicely and what a surprise to come in and see the original house! Great work FF, well done. Love the floor too - that's looking really good. I highly doubt anyone would want to reverse your work but it's rather nice that it would be possible to, as well. But I think once your kitchen is in most people will "read" the house as you do, a collection of periods and each bit with a definite mood. It would have been a shame to smash up one of the grand rooms for a kitchen, and I'm quite envious - our kitchen is shoe-horned into the Georgian laundry and cold storage rooms, no major problems with getting the water and electricity in there but serious problem getting standard kitchen units to fit the vaulted ceiling, plus the out of the way location means the kitchen can never be the heart of the house in the way modern people have come to expect. You can put what you like in yours and not be hampered by any problems like that, and create a very cosy family room, meaning, if you wanted, the other rooms could be more period pieces.

I wonder if you will think of it so much as an outside house when it's more done? What are the plans for kitchen units? It looks like you have lots of space for island units, and the timber framed wall would lend itself to a big squashy sofa.

Good idea to render the chimney breast, otherwise you'll have black and white stripey, red brick and lime wash - it could be a bit visually cluttered with too many "look at me" type textures.

 

[LadyArowana]

I love that now. Must confess that when I saw the drawings I thought it might look a bit strange and too big, but really like it. Particularly the outside that's now inside. The indoor window would be perfect with a time synchronised motor to open it and a large wooden cuckoo to pop out. It's going to be a fabulous kitchen.

 

[Feltwell]

What are the plans for kitchen units?

That's a good point - the new front wall being mostly window doesn't lend itself too easily to units. Best get some studwork knocked up quick and cover that back wall up with plasterboard, give yourself a nice flat wall to hang some Ikea units from :lol:

I like the pamments a lot - they'd look a bit "new" if they were elsewhere in the house, but being in what is a modern extension they sit very well.

 

[Feltwell]

The indoor window would be perfect with a time synchronised motor to open it and a large wooden cuckoo to pop out.

I think an animatronic busty maiden leaning out when the clock strikes the hour would be in much better taste, especially if accompanied by a recording of Kenneth Williams doing his "Ooooooo!" :wink:

Just me? OK, same as normal then!

 

[tobydog]

As you might recall FF I did have concerns with how overbearing the wall could be in that space, however, in all honesty, I do believe it works.

How do you intend to 'finish' the wall?. Clearly it still looks like an outside wall in need of some tlc so do you intend to keep it as such or do you plan to soften it up slightly by maybe removing the black on the timbers?.

 

[LadyArowana]

The indoor window would be perfect with a time synchronised motor to open it and a large wooden cuckoo to pop out.

I think an animatronic busty maiden leaning out when the clock strikes the hour would be in much better taste, especially if accompanied by a recording of Kenneth Williams doing his "Ooooooo!" :wink:

Just me? OK, same as normal then!

Do you have a twin brother that lives in London?

 

[Feltwell]

There's only one of me Lady A. Many would insert the word "thankfully" before "only". :wink:

 

[Flyfisher]

Thank you for the kind comments, particularly from PP and tobydog who I know had had reservations so I'm pleased you have been pleasantly surprised. Actually, that pretty much sums up our feelings as well because although we were convinced of the merits, as previously described, we were also nervous about doing the right thing but think it has turned out very well. I was particularly concerned about the roof and it took a while to find the right tiles but I think it looks fairly seamless.

The kitchen units have been made locally and we've opted for a painted finish because we didn't think we could blend a wooden one with all that old exposed oak. However, that's given us a dilemma about colours and we're still rather undecided even though it is due to be fitted two weeks from today. We're also undecided about the wall colours, hence the number of coloured patches on the walls at present. We're leaning towards something bold-ish and plum-ish for the walls with something less dramatic for the kitchen units but decoration is where we struggle for ideas because we'd like something more dramatic than magnolia everywhere (sorry Penners :wink: ) but we struggle to think of an alternative.

That aside, I'm now even more pleased about not having to cram a kitchen into one of the original rooms and am convinced it was the right decision for the reasons Joce has mentioned. The attached drawing shows the plan and as already pointed out we were somewhat constrained for wall units and the taller appliances (and certainly didn;t want to fit or fix anything against the original walls) but we didn't want to compromise on the main window. Time will tell how well it all 'works'.

We don't plan to do much with the original wall apart from giving it a good clean. The beams might look black in the photos but they are actually completely untouched (except by about 400 years of weathering!) so there is very little work needed, though I wonder if the timbers might benefit from something like polyx waxoil. otherwise, I'll repaint the render between the beams (cement I'm sorry to say, but there's no point in removing it and risk damaging the underlying structure now that it is indoors and protected from the weather) but that's about it really.

As for Feltwell's suggestion of a busty maiden leaning out of the upstairs inside window, that sounds good to me and any applications for the position would be seriously considered. Meanwhile, Mrs FF provides a pretty good impersonation. :wink:

 

[JoceAndChris]

What's the aspect -south? I'd do sage green walls and cream units, you can't go wrong with that colour combination and they say soft green is the very easiest colour to live with. I love strong colours but wouldn't use them in a room I planned to read the daily paper, or sew, or do fiddly baking in. You need your energies lifted by light spring colours in those types of rooms and reds are best in flop-type rooms for dining or watching.

I like the idea of plum and cream though if you want to be bolder, warm creams towards beige work much much better with plums than whites - something like Tuscan Red by Rose of Jericho with Joa's White by FnB would work. I recommend the Rof J casein distemper as it's a bit limewashy-looking, good for an older building, but do get a sample if you use them as the colour chart isn't very accurate.

Just remembered my friend has an enormous kitchen out of a converted stable with a lot of oak, FnB's Book Room Red and warm cream units - it's very nice indeed. Sure yours will be too!

 

[Flyfisher]

The large window faces exactly west. Sage green with creamy units was an early consideration, in fact the ceiling in the adjacent room (through the exposed beams) is sage green, but I think we're being swayed towards a reddish hue because of the pamments. This photo shows some of the colours we've tried. I can't remember the names but they are all Little Greene paints, which seem to cover far better than F&B. Current favourite is the rightmost 'red' - it's lighter in real life than it looks in the photo.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Is that Baked Cherry? You can always paint over in the future if it's too strong!

 

[Flyfisher]

I've lost track (and almost the will to live!).

Is that a polite way of saying it's too strong? :lol:

But you're absolutely right about being able to repaint the walls more easily than the kitchen units, hence the decision to go for something safe and creamy for the units and be a bit more daring with the walls.

 

[Zebra]

Wow Flyfisher, that's looking very good. I love the old exterior wall indoors, I'd love having that indoors to enjoy. It'll be well-protected now too.
You wondered what to treat the old timber with - I've just done my internal beams with linseed oil, they've lapped it up and it looks rich and warm without any sort of a "gloss" or "finish." It's not sticky either.

 

[Flyfisher]

Thanks Zebra.

And thanks for confirming that linseed oil has worked well your beams. I'm wondering if it's necessary at all - after all the wood is so old that I doubt it will benefit from 'feeding' now, but on the other hand they do look quite dry and dusty - but I definitely don't want to end up with a 'varnished' look.

As we so often say, the only way to really know is to test it on an inconspicuous piece and, fortunately, I have a few small pieces that came out from under the removed window, so they'll be ideal test pieces.