Progress - Foyer/Stairs

November 2013

After starting in the Storage Room (the future Ensuites 3&4), the removal of the floorboards continued into the Stairwell area, where we were somewhat surprised to see quite a lot of steel framing for the stairs. This may explain why the stairs have remained so structurally sound over the years. This photo is one of the last showing the "lovely" wallpaper in the Stairwell (which I seemed to be the only one not to dislike). However, since a lot of work was to be done in and around the Stairwell, it would be impossible to retain this wallpaper. C'est la vie!

March 2014

The new foyer (which had lost some space to EnSuite 4) would gain some space by removing the wall and doors between the Foyer and the Stairwell. Since all the bedrooms on the 1st Floor would all be self-contained and lockable, they were effectively separated from the rest of the house and so the Stairwell doors were no longer required. As shown in the middle photo below, the light flooding the Stairwell from the new roof skylight and the removal of the Stairwell wall and doors gives this landing/foyer a bright and airy feeling. The wall separating the Foyer from EnSuite 4 will go about where the laser levelling device is sitting on the floor in the middle photo.

April 2014

The construction of the timber wall frames for Ensuite 4 and the alcove entrances to the bedrooms, has given a much better idea of the space available in the Foyer, and validates the decision to remove the wall and doors between the Foyer and the Stairwell. Now there is ample space on the stairwell landing (with suitcases) to turn right or left into the bedroom entrance alcoves.

June 2014

The wall between the Foyer and Ensuite 4 has now had plasterboards attached, and starts to give an idea of the space that will be available there. Thoughts are now turning to furnishings in this area: a side table with a painting above, or maybe we can use one of the many large ornate mirrors that were left in the loft. The mirror is the current favourite. Above the Foyer, the ceiling space has been packed with insulation (as is the case in the suspended ceilings above all rooms), which will thermally isolate each level from the floors above and below. This will allow individual temperature control on each floor via the domotique home automation system. The domotique system, in association with strategically placed sensors, will also control the lighting in this Foyer space, by switching the lights on when someone enters this space and switching them off a specified time later. The same system will control the lighting in the Stairwell and in the Hallway on the ground floor.

August 2014

The Foyer and alcoves for the four bedrooms has now been finished. The Foyer lighting will be automatically controlled as per the stairwell lighting, and automatic lights are also installed in each alcove to enable visitors to be able to see and onlock their bedroom doors without searching for light switches.