What would you do with this?

[rubytue]

I know I’m all over the place... but we are fixing up two houses to sell and buy a new one. I’m currently obsessing over a fixer upper that, if done, would be about $250k more than it is now. Anyway, this is one of the rooms. And I can’t quite figure out what the space was supposed to be. I’m feeling like a fireplace or wood stove might work. So, hypothesize with me... what would you do with this space?

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What is the view like out those windows? I saw a really cool see-through fireplace on Brother vs Brother last week that would look super cool with a three sided sectional wrapping around that area. I do a nice grey laminate floor and then decorate in shades of blue and green to further bring in the outdoors.

[rubytue]

I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s a really secluded 2 acre wooded lot. So... trees lol

It’s the nook space I’m stumped about. It need something in it. But what? A bar? A wine fridge? A pellet stove?

its also missing all appliances. And the one bathroom with a picture needs to be redone. But it’s 3200 sq ft for a crazy low price, bc the condition. And I love a good project, even if it’s just in my head. 

[rubytue]

Here’s all the picture. I am crazy enough to go look at it. H is... well, he likes the location. And he is good at work.

www.redfin.com/MD/Ellicott-City/4747-Bonnie-Branch-Rd-21043/home/9863581?utm_source=ios_share&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=copy_link&utm_nooverride=1&utm_content=link

[sandandsea]

Are they load bearing? My first instinct is to remove them. It seems like this isnt the main living room maybe from the pictures on the link. If it’s not the main living room I might put in a built in shelving unit with loads of storage space. If it is the main living room I would do a fireplace insert with a cool floor to ceiling tile focal wall.

[rubytue]

sandandsea, the more I think about it, the more I think it could be a bedroom.

I’m so crazy. If it turns out it’s all cosmetic... I kinda want it. Fun challenge! I wonder if they’d give me a mortgage without cooking appliances.

[mrspez07]

That looks like a solid house with lots of potential.
That built in nook looks like it was added, maybe to divide the space visually. I’d take it down if it didn’t mean too much ceiling/floor/wall work. Otherwise a display/bookshelf might be interesting, or a wood stove/fire place with a nice tile in the interior of that nook, all the way up. Though I’m wondering if it is even wide enough to have a stove and meet fire code.

As an aside, I have that tile that’s the kitchen on our “bar” in the family room. I hated it 12 years ago when we moved in, I still hate it, it’s still there. Partially because we’d prefer to reconfigure the space to make it more useable, but to tear out the bar requires some flooring work, which could involve the whole room!

[rubytue]

mrspez07, yes. That’s what is making my wheels spin. So much potential. Way way way too big for us. And I’m sure there are much worse parts, bc it’s so few pictures of a trashed 3500 sq ft home. We’ve done major remodeling before. Like, added bathrooms with only subbing out the plumbing. Tile work, etc. And once we sell the second house (where we are living now), we’d have the cash to do stuff. But, realistically, my dreams and probably bigger than my actions (said as I stare into the kitchen we’ve been painting for two weeks).

[lightbulbsun]

I agree that if they're not load bearing to remove. I guess you could put a pellet stove in there, but it looks really awkward, and you need good air circulation around the stove for it to be efficient.

[hamster]

Obviously you can't tell from a photo but those don't look particularly load bearing.

There's not enough photos for me to really get a sense of layout, but I'd either make it into a fireplace, remove it all together, or somehow divide the room.

[hazelden]

I love looking at real estate listings - so much potential! So much snooping to see inside other homes!

There's definitely potential with this house, the vaulted ceilings look so nice. One of the things that would keep me from checking it out is the length of time it's been on the market, looks like 10 months. If it was a great deal someone would have snapped it up already in our market. And photo 8 makes me think there's some water damage or pet stains going on. I wish real estate listings disclosed smells because there are plenty of fixer upper photos I've come across that just look stinky! Otherwise those weird walls look like they could come out altogether, I can't think of a good reason for them to be there.

[sandandsea]

Now I’m wondering if they are leftover and the space used to be two bedrooms and that’s the closet walls for the closets that were between the rooms? Maybe they opened it up but couldn’t remove it all for some reason?

[cosmowife]

Sept 22, 2020 22:35:41 GMT -5 hamster said:

Obviously you can't tell from a photo but those don't look particularly load bearing.

There's not enough photos for me to really get a sense of layout, but I'd either make it into a fireplace, remove it all together, or somehow divide the room.

Agree, why would they put columns right next to the end of a wall (which would be load bearing). It doesn’t make sense for them to be load bearing. The span is tiny! Disclaimer - not an engineer but I renovated a house lol.

[nicolewi]

Totally looks meant for a fireplace.

[rubytue]

Sept 22, 2020 23:13:04 GMT -5 hazelden said:

I love looking at real estate listings - so much potential! So much snooping to see inside other homes!

There's definitely potential with this house, the vaulted ceilings look so nice. One of the things that would keep me from checking it out is the length of time it's been on the market, looks like 10 months. If it was a great deal someone would have snapped it up already in our market. And photo 8 makes me think there's some water damage or pet stains going on. I wish real estate listings disclosed smells because there are plenty of fixer upper photos I've come across that just look stinky! Otherwise those weird walls look like they could come out altogether, I can't think of a good reason for them to be there.

Yes. There is always something. But, as I’ve found out recently, I need to get in the house to see what the something is. I tend to fall in love with the pictures and everything I can find online, and then we show up and there is a show stopper. Usually it’s something on the lot or in the foundation.

and I am truly all over the place. I think I want waterfront. But H is convincing me to look inland somewhat to reduce my commute. So, we are looking in the nicer communities around here. And then it comes down to the lot. We have been in a townhouse for 9 years, so it’s pretty easy to find a SFH that checks the boxes. But outdoor space for gardening and such is really important to us. *sigh* Plus real estate looking at dreaming is just so much fun!

[wildrice]

Well, I am not creative at all. If you can't take down those walls, could you turn it into a storage closet? I think a fireplace would be my first choice, actually, but I have no idea if that's realistic or if it would be a giant expense and hassle to add.

We'd practically be neighbors! I'm just 1 town over

[rubytue]

Sept 23, 2020 9:07:30 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Well, I am not creative at all. If you can't take down those walls, could you turn it into a storage closet? I think a fireplace would be my first choice, actually, but I have no idea if that's realistic or if it would be a giant expense and hassle to add.

We'd practically be neighbors! I'm just 1 town over

Yeah.  We are debating between waterfront around here, a crappy area but has water. Or nicer areas over in Ellicott city or Columbia. Maybe Catonsville. I have no idea what I want. Space is my #1 dream. 6 months stuck in this townhouse is too much!