["Life on the Isle" chronicles life in Uptown New Orleans as the city struggles to get back on its feet. This week's post is a continuation in an ongoing saga in home construction.]



This is a fair rendering of the existing structure, on the left, and the planned addition, on the right. Continuing reading about the plans after the jump.
The papers are signed and checks have been written. Is it wrong to pay the contractor 100% in cash before they start work? Just kidding. I've painstakingly mapped out the current layout of our downstairs and the planned addition for those of you who like that sort of thing. These are not to scale but a pretty close replica of what we are looking at. We're adding on a total of 633 sq. ft. complete with HVAC. The total estimate for the project is $81,100. So far we are only $1100 over what my maximum was ... oh well. Aren't budgets made to be broken?

Some features of the design that I would like to point out are ...

1. The Balcony. It will be four feet deep and instead of hanging off the back of the house, will actually be over the last four feet of the first story. Our next door neighbors pointed out that we will now be able to see directly into their backyard and hot tub where clothes are optional. Oops.
2. The Stairs. Did you know that you have to pay extra for "stain grade" wood? For $400 more you too can have fancy treads, landings and railings. I'm just glad that I thought to ask about this BEFORE the staircase was built.
   
3. In the downstairs dining room we are actually removing a window on the outside wall in order to accommodate the stairs. I'm not crazy about this but it was the only way that the stairs made sense.
4. Paint. We can choose as many colors as we want. AWESOME!
5. Upstairs Bathroom. I originally wanted the floors and walls tiled but due to the cost and the fact that I hate to clean, I am settling for the floors only.
6. Speaking of floors ... we will be carpeting upstairs. This will reduce the noise (not that I care, really) but I have really missed having carpeting in my bedroom.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that actual construction will being in early June as I will be heading out of town then with The Baby for several weeks. It would be a shame to return and have nothing accomplished. I think that I would cry, actually. The total number of days for the project is about 135 but I believe that time lines, like budgets, are meant to be broken. However, I hope that they don't go too far over as our expanding family is in dire need of space.