Step On It

This is the staircase that was built on the side of the house where the leak was.

Basically, they dug the dirt down, away from the foundation wall and then built stairs from the front of the property to the lower level in back.  I call the little ledge on the side a "smooch bench" because it's the perfect place to get a kiss!

 
And yes, they are the same bricks from the original fireplace that we've been using for this and this and this and this!

Cubbies

As you walk down the stairs, we have all sorts of opportunities for built-ins.

I think these little spaces by the landing would be perfect to hold magazines.  (They're just under the floor of the main floor of the house.)

We're also planning some bookcases and drawers.  It's hard to get a handle on how best to use the space since it's only about 10 inches deep.

The First Step

It was a momentous day today at Goodin's Folly.

The boards covering the stairs to the basement were removed and now the whole house is joined together.  It's now twice as big as when we bought it.

It seems like a l-o-n-g time since we got the stairs approved by the city.

Creative Reuse

This is the wood that was cut out of our floor to make room for the stairs.  I am hoping to repourpose it and have it made into the table top for the breakfast nook we plan to add to the kitchen.  Fingers crossed!

Our Very Own Winchester Mansion Stairs to Nowhere

The rough framing for the stairs from the basement to the first floor of the house is finished.  The hole where the stairs will come into the house has been cut out, but plywood has been nailed over it to keep anyone from falling through. 

We're getting closer...

Stepping Up

These are the stringers for the stairs.  (And that's Rick, the framer!)

We had some issues because the engineer didn't account for the fact that half the foundation on this side of the house is sistered.  That leaves us with extra space to the side of the stairs; we're going to build in a bookcase.

Boxed In

We spent the weekend moving crap out of the spare room so we could make it our bedroom.

We had to move out of our bedroom because they cut through the floor to work on the stairs to the basement and sleeping over a sheet of plywood was too nerve-wracking.

I can't believe we've been in the house for a year and a half and still had this much to unpack. We filled 11 bookcases and still have boxes of books. Feel free to apply for a library card.

Those may just look like rectangles to you...

...but those are stairs, baby. STAIRS. And the plan has been approved by the city.

What does this mean, you're asking?

1) We don't have to go outside to go to Rob's office.
2) We get to have a shower, that right, a SHOWER, in our second bathroom.
3) We get a laundry room. Woo-hoo!

And the crazy thing is, this is what we've wanted from the beginning, asked for from the beginning, but the engineer didn't present the plans correctly, so the city kept saying, "No!"

Someday, when I have a few spare hours, I'll vent all my grievances with the engineer. Yep, he's right up there with the plumber.

Blast Off!

Hello, sand blaster; bye-bye old peeling paint!

I'm hoping these signs of progress will appease the insurance company!

The Hidden Staircase

Last weekend the Echo Park Historical Society organized a house tour focused on urban sustainable living.

We got some ideas about gray water and solar, but my favorite thing was this cool trap door that led to the downstairs. Would LOVE to do this to connect our basement to the main floor.