If You Could Start Again
We are about to close on a new house. I have the opportunity to put ANYTHING in it that I want. So here’s the question: based on your experience and dreams- what would you do? Central Vac? Gas fireplace? Central air and heating? Soundproofing under carpets? We already have new closets ( including a cedar)and…
We are about to close on a new house. I have the opportunity to put ANYTHING in it that I want. So here’s the question: based on your experience and dreams- what would you do? Central Vac? Gas fireplace? Central air and heating? Soundproofing under carpets? We already have new closets ( including a cedar)and windows on our list.
House is a 3 story detached and has not been touched since the 70s but has great bones.
I noticed a lot of people mentioned the Spacepak miniduct A/C system. I was wondering how much does one of these systems cost (including installation) for a traditional 4 story brownstone.
We put in a dream kitchen–custom cabinets stained exactly the color I wanted, high-end appiances, country floor subway tiles, John Boos custom built butcher block island etc also knocked out the back windows and put in gliding french doors off of a new iron deck. Cost a fortune but the room is the center of our house. Everyone loves being in there so I have plenty of company when I cook which I love to do now considering my surroundings. We updated the electrical which is a must with the modern appliances. Central a/c is also big. I’d go with Unico or even look into Mitsubishi MrSlim. If you have a cellar and can afford to, dig it out and make it more of a usable space (rec-room/storage. Wish we would’ve done that, but can’t even think about another long stretch or renovation dealing with dust, etc
we are putting radiant heat in our renovated kitchen and baths, cac, researching solar panels for electric, and updating everything else.
I second renogirl and anon2:51, and add (to our 1900 Victorian):
1) floor-to-ceiling closets (access via a separate door, high-up) – with 14 ft ceilings, there is a TON of wasted storage space
2) heated floors in the bathroom + heated towel warmer (hardwired)
3) did I mention closets? more of them. not the walk-in kind – the all-along-one-wall kind
4) built-in bookcases/china cabinet
In doing our renovation, a few wish-list items (and, OK, extravagances) have made it:
• new kitchen
• new plumbing
• sauna with roof access
• laundry out of the cellar (near the master closet)
• soaking tub in “adult” bathroom
• shower with a window!
• central air (but not spacepak)
• deck on existing extension
• new electrical
• alarm system
• gas fireplace, wood-burning fireplace
• new windows in the front, re-habbing the ones in back
• larger water heater
and a new rental unit to help with all these extras!
We put a stacking washer/dryer in our 2nd bathroom but, with hindsight, I wish we’d made the top floor walk-in-closet into a dedicated laundry room. Regarding carpeting, if you are laying wall-to-wall you might want to consider putting plywood on top of the old floors. It helps the carpet wear better and provides great sound-proofing (as does a good quality underlay of course).
Add what Renogirl said to my AC suggestion. Definitely wish i had done a full network and AV wiring job as well.
-pk
1)Skylights — as much light as possible is always good
2)Yes, SOUNDPROOFING.
3) Lovely garden
4) Update your technical/wiring/internet/entertainment situation
Central air like post above. Landscape is also a good thing and a glass conservatory