What if you remodel, and HATE it? PIP

[heagen]

Hi there. I posted an introduction a while ago and then never posted again.

I'm the person with the 1960's open concept ranch with the scary steep spiral staircase running through the middle of the house...well I was.

We had an amazing contractor friend come over and put in a standard enclosed staircase leading down to our finished basement. The stairs are solid and awesome. The problem we are having is in order to make the stairs to code, he has to frame out a huge chunk of our upstairs and also cut into the floor.

It’s not finished yet, and I am hoping that when we paint, add trim and decorate it will feel better upstairs. Right now it feels so awkward!

We have no other choice than to learn to live with it but right now we both hate the way it looks.

Any advice? Anyone think it doesn't look that bad?

(photo attached is listing photo)

[heagen]

View from kitchen

[heagen]

View from living room

This is the part we REALLY hate. We lost a second "entryway" that led to our bedroom.

Our decorating plan is to put our tree up here and after the holidays an accent chair and tall lamp. A little reading nook.

[pamela]

It does seem like it's just stuck there out of nowhere, but I think once it's finished out and you get used to it you won't mind it as much. It's hard for me to tell since it looks like the after picture is more close up (is the dining area still to the right in that picture?). I think over time you'll come to like the safety of it better.

[FoxInFiji]

Well there isn't much you can do if it's a code requirement right? I'm not sure what your question is. It's not like you can just up and move or tear out your only staircase.

I would just plan on decorating it to fit in better with your spaces. Hang a picture collage on one side, add some wainscoting, a feature wall of wood cladding, etc.

[Deleted]

I think it's just fine.

It's not weird. It's very normal to me as in a "Doesn't every house have that?" sort of way.

Everything is also weird until you've lived with it for a bit.

My steps had to go the reverse direction of what I really wanted due to code. At first I was all WTF mad. 7 years later, I don't notice anymore and no one has ever said a word.

You also have a nice corner to do a reading nook or something down the line and a nice big wall for some awesome art..so there's a bright side.

[sjh722]

Yeah, it does change the look of things, but there's not much you can do if it's code.

I think part of it might be that you're just not used to it. Once it's all finished off and you decorate around it, I'm sure it won't stick out as much as you think it does.

[heagen]

Thank you all! I love the wainscoting idea!

I have a feeling that after it's painted and we hang some art, all will be fine. Right now DH said it looks like the front of a under construction store at the mall. haha

We are doing the tape and mud the wall ourselves tonight after the baby goes to bed. Hoping we don't mess it up!

[sju]

I am with Dairy. I think it will be fine once you finish it. If I am seeing the layout correctly, you have a more private entrance to your bedroom (?). I like that.

[auntie]

Nov 29, 2012 15:24:27 GMT -5 FoxInFiji said:

I would just plan on decorating it to fit in better with your spaces. Hang a picture collage on one side, add some wainscoting, a feature wall of wood cladding, etc.

This. The finish of the drywall doesn't quite go. But then, unfinished drywall never looks good.

Maybe if you worked some of the finishes already in place, the drywall tardis effect would be replaced by something more intentional looking. The bones are good- wainscoting of wood paneling could make it look as if the house was built that way. I envy your floors.

[aweilba]

I think once you've got it finished with pictures hung and all, it won't bug you so much. It's a huge change so it'll take some getting used to, but I think it'll look nice once finished.