Wanna Meet My Suite?
I have not been kidnapped by aliens.
Unfortunately.
Rather, the weather forced me inside. And I have been…working on something. And really enjoying myself!
When I purchased the Cross House in 2014 my plan was to use the second floor as such:
- ROUND BEDROOM: My office
- OCTAGON BEDROOM: The work/storage room for my lighting business.
- SEWING ROOM: Guest bedroom.
- LONG BEDROOM: My bedroom.
Then, last year, for a few months I considered scrapping these plans and converting the second-floor into Airbnb rooms. I did though soon come to my senses and cancelled this plan. However, I kinda liked the idea of, at the very least, using the Sewing Room as a Airbnb room and seeing how that worked out. However, the room does not lend itself to a bedroom as there is no place to put a queen-size bed with night tables.
So, I pondered. And pondered some more.
I also disliked the idea that the huge 5-foot-wide pocket door to the Sewing and Octagon rooms would remain closed and covered over on one side. As has happened already in the long history of the house.
So, the pondering resumed.
Then I came up with an idea.
An idea!!!!!!!!
So, see the Sewing Room, middle right? See the Octagon Bedroom lower right? See the red line?
The red line is where I am going to build a new wall. This will allow the Sewing Room and Octagon Room to act as a suite. And…the big sliding door can be used!
The Sewing Room will be a sitting room, and the south end of the Octagon Room will be the bedroom. The north end of the Octagon Room will be my workspace.
The blue line to the left is where the new wall will be, and the rectangle is where the bed will be. NOTE: In reality, everything is larger than appears in this image.
The bed will center on the south window. On the ceiling I will paint a full octagon, and on the floor will be octagon-shaped rug. I am excited about reinforcing the octagon shape.
With this arrangement, I can offer a very elegant suite. The new wall can be removed if needed and with no harm to the historic fabric of the house. My workroom will be shrunk in half but I think it will be OK this smaller size.
The suite will have:
- Parlor
- Closet
- Original 1894 bathroom
- Sunporch
- Bedroom
Guests will also have full use of the main floor parlor, dining room, and kitchen.
Down the line, I also plan to convert the expansive third floor into a massive Airbnb unit, as well as the carriage house being a whole-house Airbnd.
With these three “units” being rented, I should be able to carry the house financially as I grow into old age. I hope!
Stained-glass porn! The Sewing Room has four stained-glass windows, all restored as part of the Heritage Trust grants.
The Octagon Room also has four stained-glass windows, all restored as part of the Heritage Trust grants.
In the Sewing Room, I needed to move the bathroom door over 12-inches so it did not hit the recently arrived period-correct marble vanity. NOTE: Please do not be frightened. The Home Deport door is temporary. It leads to the sun porch.
Door relocated! I reinstalled lath and will plaster all the exposed lath. I am excited about this! My first-ever plastering!
To rewire the Sewing Room, the mantel had to be removed. Originally, the mantel had gas/electric sconces to each side. And OF COURSE such sconces will be re-installed! I am crossing my fingers that Cody, the period-correct super-sleuth, will find the perfect pair of sconces (he has already found two pairs for the house). Anyway, in order to rewire for the sconces, Justin and I realized we could place the new wiring behind the mantle rather than drill into the brick chimney breast.
Mantel back! Sconce wiring in place!
The original gas lines and electrical wires to the mantel sconces were buried in the chimney breast.
So I used these original raceways for the new wires.
After removing the mantel I discovered bits of wallpaper, all the same. Could this be the 1894 paper? It is a very pale lavender in real life.
In 1929, the Sewing Room closet was gutted out, and combined with the 1894 toilet room, to create a new bathroom. The adjacent 1894 bath was converted into a kitchen. Well, imagine my great excitement in recreating the original size of the closet!
Tomorrow, Justin and I should finish all the wiring to the Sewing Room, 1894 bath, and sun porch.
Next on the To Do list will be:
- Build the new wall in the Octagon Room
- Rewire the Octagon Room
- Replaster all the damaged walls.
However, all this will have to wait! Because…on Saturday an amazing Window Of Weather will happen and work will resume on the shingling!
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Ok Ross, but where will YOU live?
Tiffaney, my office will be in the Round bedroom. My bedroom will be the Long room.
Yep, I was getting the bedrooms confused. Derp.
I think this is a wonderful plan.
And thanks for doing a post about the interior! I was missing it.
This is a very elegant solution. I particularly like that your proposed wall “continues” the existing sewing room and bathroom walls, creating a straight line that divides most of the floor in half.
Thank you, Raúl.
Once the wall is in, I think it will read as original.
Just curious, but if you make the 3rd floor into an Airbnb, will you be required to put in an outside exit again?
Yes, Debby, I will have to do something. I am hoping for a unfolding ladder.
In San Francisco I once saw a fire escape slide! A spiral affair mounted to the side of aN old Edwardian place chopped up into flats.
Jakob: There used to be fire escape slides in Emporia, on the Emporia State University campus. They were on a building the old phys ed building, which since has been torn down. I don’t remember exactly how they worked, but they ran from the top (3rd?) floor to ground level. They looked like so much fun. Rumor was they coated the insides with black grease to keep college kids from trying to climb up them from the outside to slide back down. I always wanted to sneak in and try them, but I never got up the courage. They disappeared, along with the building, sometime in the 1970s.
Old Beaver High School in Bluefield, WV, still has a spiral slide fire escape in the western (right) turret, from the auditorium balcony to street level exit doors. School now inactive, – I last slid down it 30 years ago. https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1778&bih=810&ei=FmcvXue8GOSQggfrqKnoCw&q=old+bluefield+high+school&oq=old+bluefield+high+school&gs_l=img.3..0i24.2574.9831..11715…0.0..0.204.2469.17j7j1……0….1..gws-wiz-img…….0j0i131j0i8i30.nNlaoQC2P_E&ved=0ahUKEwjnn_b17KTnAhVkiOAKHWtUCr0Q4dUDCAU&uact=5#imgrc=SFyNL-BzWl9-XM:&spf=1580164898851
Wow! I figured you had been busy! I am so excited about all you have done. I yelled out, “Uh Oh!” when I saw the wall addition idea and my husband thought I had fallen or something.
But it is interesting that I had said to him awhile back that I was leery about you using that huge, beautiful, octagon room all for your business storage (it is just too gorgeous for THAT)..and I was worried about fitting a bed and other furniture in the sewing room because of the Murphy bed (is that still tentatively in place?) AND I was planning on being the renter of that sewing room (that was mentioned BEFORE? the air bnb idea?)
SO! Now, I LOVE the idea of having my own suite! I was planning on coming down and cooking up some wonderful stuff in the kitchen one day, but you may never see me leave my lovely suite of rooms. Is that dumbwaiter going to be near my apartment? Lol
Just let me know what colors you want for your apartment!
And, yes, it has always bothered me that the stunning Octagon Room would be used only for storage. So, this new plan makes me happy.
Super! Also, to me that wallpaper you found seems to be more from the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s or 50’s ( way to pinpoint it, huh?), but not 1894. I might even bet you a pie on that….and my friends know I am serious when I bet on a pie!
Wow! You’ve really been busy and have got a lot accomplished. Whenever we don’t hear from you in a few days, I always wonder what you’re up to and it is usually something unexpected, which makes it fun. I’m so glad that you’ve been enjoying yourself!
Your plan sounds like a really creative solution for what you’re trying to accomplish. My only suggestion would be to hold off on building the actual wall, just in case you end up changing your mind. While the rewiring and plastering needs to be done regardless, you may end up changing your mind long before you would actually need the wall in place.
It may be weird, but I’m excited about the closet and wallpaper! I always love it when an original feature is discovered and/or reinstated. Wasn’t the original wallpaper in the parlor also a shade of lavender?
Anyway, I’m glad you are going to have a window with better weather. Be careful out there!
Great plan. The path to a revenue stream should ensure the Cross House has another 100 years.
You may want to consider refinishing the floors first, then build the wall on top. That way, if you decide to remove it later, you don’t have to worry about a big stripe down the middle. Same for the woodwork that would be behind the wall. I assume you are fitting the wall around the baseboards and such? I would recommend that as well if you are not.
The new wall will fit around the base, Steven.
I was not planning to refinish the whole floor first, and for two reasons:
1) The storage half of the Octagon Room will get a LOT more wear than the bedroom half. So, if the wall comes down many years from now, the floor will need to be refinished anyway.
2) I will be doing the same stripe effect on the second-floor flooring as I did on the first-floor. This makes it easy to refinish a “stripe”.
that makes sense. Just wasn’t sure how many refinishings the floor could stand. I had a wall that was built across the middle of my living room, and there was a ridge where they had refinished the floors on either side and sanded a bit aggressively.
Are you still on board with the idea of having wooden plaques made to match the thickness of the mantel, so as to give the sconces an even, level mounting surface? We talked about this on the phone, but I wasn’t sure how solid that plan was. If that is something you want to pursue, I may have a set in mind. If we go that route, what is the maximum diameter that the canopies of said sconces can be before we hit the corner of the chimney breast and the mantel?
Yes, Cody, I see no other option than to add a half-circle of wood to the over-mantel in order for the wall mounts of the sconces to…make sense.
This is a wonderful idea! In your own way you are leaving your mark on the house to make it work for you and to ensure that the Cross House lives on for another 130 years. Often it seems with historical houses the owners change their lives to work for the house instead of the house working for them. In our 1893 Folk Victorian we are going through the dilemma of making the house work versus what is historically accurate. The preservationist in me is still screaming for contemplating turning a small bedroom into a walk in closet and much needed bathroom for the second floor, while the home owner rejoices.
On another note I can only picture the colors you are planning for these rooms. Why am I picturing soft lavender may be in store for the sewing room and a coral or blue for the octagon bedroom. Also would there have been picture rail? No matter what I think it will look amazing and many people will be happy to stay there. Keep up the good work.
Joshua, I am planning highly vivid colors for each room!
The picture railing will be reinstated.
My adding the wall is in keeping with the history of the house. It has been endlessly modified to keep up with changing times and conditions. Yet, the house has nonetheless managed to remain amazingly original. My new wall may be in place for a decade, or for many decades. But I have no doubt that one day it will be removed and a later owner will say: What kind of idiot would have chopped such a great room in half?
Ross, you come up with such creative ideas to keep the integrity period of the house while making it function in the current world. I have a question….why not just block off the door from the Octagon Room to the main part of the house? The closet could become a small kitchen and the room would keep the elegant shape. With the cooking facility, you’d have the option to rent the unit out on a more permanent basis.
I’m not following you, Linda.
I need half the Octagon Room as storage for my business.
Ooh. I love it when you plot and scheme. I like this scheme. I think you’ll have a good stream of revenue from your AirBnB, once travelers discover it.
I love this idea!
* I think that I get it, but am not sure, so please bear with me and don’t think that repeating what you have written in a different way is criticism.*
1. In the second floor plan, North is to the left, not up. The new wall is in the East/West direction, the suite will be all of the space on the second floor to the South side of that E/W line, which includes the South portion of the divided octagonal bedroom as a bedroom, the sewing room is the sitting room.
2. The pocket door is between the sewing room and the new octagonal bedroom.
3. The East wall of the sewing room has three doors in it, I will call them a, b, and c.
a) the only closet for the suite is through the left hand door and is the sewing room’s original closet,
b) the middle door goes to the bath, which is to the original 1894 bath, and
c) the right hand door goes out to the porch, which has the circular openings.
4. This entire suite is the East side, second floor portion of the house upon which you are currently working.
Is this correct, or am I confused?
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I also have my own two cents to add as usual. Take what you like and leave the rest.
1. I would refinish the floor before the wall goes up and get a carpet to protect the work/storage room floor from the wear that you expect. Those modern floating floors, although not in keeping for a restoration would work well as an easily cleaned highly durable floor that could be removed with little or no impact on the finish of the original flooring below. I would put builder’s paper high quality 3/4 plywood on the floor and ceiling above and below the framing and WEDGE the framing of the wall in place, putting the wedges between the framing and plywood so as not to do any damage to the floors. The sides of the walls can be attached through easily repaired plaster into existing framing, but not baseboards or other wood trim pieces. I would not attach the framing to the walls because I believe that properly installed wedges is sufficiently strong. Any electric or other amenities would come through the sides of the framing with a box to disconnect all electric beside the framing in the existing interior wall so they could be disconnected if the wall is to be removed later.
2. I would think that it is worth considering giving the octagonal bedroom its own, private from the sewing room, closet through the new (red line) wall at its East end that would minimally impinge on your workspace.
Hope this is helpful in your thinking process.
What? WHAT? I know you need storage, and I know it’s a “temporary” wall, and I’m all for using the octagon room as part of a suite because of those pocket doors, but I just can’t get past the idea of building a wall through the middle of that room. It seems like it needs to be appreciated in all its generously-sized grandeur! You’ve done such painstaking work to undo past alterations that it hurts me to see you introduce new walls. Just my two cents!
Brian, since I purchased the house in 2014 I had planned on using ALL of the Octagon Room for storage.
The adjacent Round Room will be my office. My business is restoring vintage lights. Next to my office, I need a a place to store bubble wrap, boxes, packing paper, parts, a photography backdrop, lights in the process of being restored, lights awaiting packing, etc.
My new plan will continue to allow this vital storage, but also allow half of the Octagon Room to be made…public.
I hear you in that you don’t like my plan. So what would be your solution?
As I wrote above, the Cross House has been changed innumerable times over the last 126-years to suit changing conditions and times. What I plan to do is in keeping with this historical pattern.
The house needs to work for me. It can’t be just pretty.
I know, I know. Ultimately, it’s your house and it has to work for you. Just saying it’s not my preference. But I’ll get used to it! 🙂
It’s not ideal IMO either!
But, the house has to work for me. And what I’m doing is easily reversible, which is also the important issue for me.
When I’ve driven by in the past few days I’ve seen much activity and a trailer, I just knew something exciting was happening, I was anxiously waiting for an update. Thank you!
Fabulous plan! I love that the guests will have two rooms, the cool original bath and some vital outdoor space. In a college town like mine, you’ll have a steady stream visitors and I can’t imagine a more opulent option. Perhaps the old maid’s room could be storage and save yourself the trouble of splitting the octagon bedroom? What will the maid’s room be, besides a part for that huge shower you want to build? The house will weather the octagon bedroom alteration just fine, but the shared wall could be an inconvenience to you (don’t want to be working if they guests are late risers, don’t want to hear your guests if you’re trying to get work done, etc.). I’ve been an Air BnB host and guest, and the greater the sense of privacy and fewer shared walls/spaces, the better the experience for all parties.
Fabulous solution! In your early posts, you mentioned doing a Hollywood Regency Steampunk apartment in your basement. Has that been dismissed totally or is it something which could provide a quick money return? Just curious as it is such a COOL idea and the income could come in handy towards your other more involved restorations. You have amazing vision, Ross, thank you, thank you, thank you for the sharing of your activities. Your house the absolute QUEEN of Queen Annes!! 🙂
Hi, Robin!
I gave up on any basement apartments due to the lack of a second egress.
There is always the possibility of installing an egress window in one of the present basement windows, unobtrusive from street view and even closer until one is right upon it. This chap buzzed through similar stone to your limestone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhkp9kfi1lQ&app=desktop
There are multiple sites on the Internet discussing installation of a code-compliant egress window. All that lovely space!! Cheers for the concept that you’ve saved the house; it should be able to save you and your successors. Sustainability, thy name is Ross!
Everyone has offered such interesting feedback that I won’t add anything superfluous. Yes, you DO need a plan to keep the Cross House sustainable for another century and provide a revenue stream for you. Saving the wall for last also makes sense, though, because you are ALWAYS thinking up new ideas.
Enjoy that window of favorable weather, in the meantime.
Betsy
Can’t wait to book a stay in one of your future AirBnB spaces!
The sewing room with that porch is my favorite, probably because I’m at least a fourth generation seamstress. Thrilled by the idea that it will be part of the BnB suite. Someday, I’ll be back to stay there.
Unrelated topic- please write a book or teach future generations how to do all you do to RESTORE. Just watched another horrifying HGTV show destroy all the perfectly intact plaster walls (no visible cracks), and chop a lovely unpainted woodwork 1890s 2-story into condos. Of course, they painted the stain grade, old growth millwork to “freshen it up.” The outer red brick was in lovely shape but they wanted a smear look so tried a light coat of white plaster. That didn’t work so they SPRAY PAINTED it all WHITE. I felt ill after watching what I’d hoped would be more old neighborhoods restored, not flipped into bland. The worst is all the viewers who now believe that’s the way to save old neighborhoods.
Sorry, stepping down from my soapbox now. Your blog keeps me relatively sane. Thanks Ross for RESTORING the Cross House. They don’t build them like her anymore.
It looks like you’re being very generous to your AirBnb guests. I’d love that suite! The wall makes it self contained and I’m so glad the octagon bedroom won’t be a storage room. It’s too nice for that (no insult to your beautiful lamps!) Where are you planning to bathe? There’s just a half bath left. (In the pink basement bathroom perhaps?) Have you considered using your basement as a storage/work room? Have you thought about converting the small space you are taking from the octagon room and making it into an en-suite bathroom for the round bedroom? It looks like there’s a window there that would look nice above a claw foot tub/shower that would wash away your troubles at the end of a long day.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Victorian-Brass-Wall-Lamp-Gas-Light-Sconce-Gasolier-Electric-Converted-PAIR/333297907192?hash=item4d9a1a75f8:g:Z74AAOSwYr9dUvFI&redirect=mobile
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Great-LARGE-Pair-of-FANCY-Victorian-1890s-Brass-Gas-Electric-Wall-Sconces/114064018533?hash=item1a8ebecc65:g:LX8AAOSw6INeEo9W&redirect=mobile
I work for U.S. FOR in England and would be able to ship items from ebay.co.uk if the seller does not ship international.
I cannot tell you how much I have loved following your progress over the years and look forward to seeing the lovely Cross Mansion when I return stateside.
I don’t even remember what state the Cross house is located in…. but we’ll be there when the suite is ready to Airbnb! I’m particularly drawn to it because I know that room started out as a sewing room, so it’ll have ‘my vibe’. (First thing I look for in every house on OHD is “where is my sewing room going?”) I would love to do something similar (Airbnb/guesthouse) in our retirement to make such a huge place possible, but I know I don’t have the energy to keep up rooms to guests’ standards – so I would be hiring cleaning help which would considerably cut down on income.
Thanks for sharing your amazing journey with us!
Love and creativity are an evolving process and seen here and in you in this process. I have “watched”/ read your growth, pain, evolution and just wanna say “atta boy” Ross. This is a real life of progress, pitfall, progress, plateau, progress. It is the life of loving a house and finding a way to make it work financially. I am sad to see a big room divided BUT it will be helpful to you AND I can book the suite. How sweet.
You have and continue to inspire me in very special ways. Thank you. Today I had an opportunity to check out an old bank Kelly posted on old house dreams because you guided me to her site. Unfortunately the location couldn’t be more wrong but if it had been right I knew exactly how to restore the windows because of you.
that makes sense. Just wasn’t sure how many refinishings the floor could stand. I had a wall that was built across the middle of my living room, and there was a ridge where they had refinished the floors on either side and sanded a bit aggressively.