External restoration of a country house is about creating a strong foundation. The next stage requires an emphasis not only on reliability and durability, but also on the aesthetics of the result. After all, it is the interior decoration of the house that creates the atmosphere, makes the living space cozy and special. Here is the story of the creation of a multifunctional house of 25 square meters.
Features of modernization of suburban buildings
Wooden buildings, despite positive reviews, need to be repaired. After long-term use, even a home built according to all the rules deteriorates. Selling or breaking down and then buying or rebuilding is not an option for everyone. It’s easier and cheaper to try to make a modern cottage out of an outdated house. Although even when remodeling, you need to be prepared for big expenses, the amount of which depends on the deterioration of the building. When the project involves not partial, but global reconstruction - increasing the area, replacing the materials of walls, roofing, flooring, communications - you should prepare a tidy sum.
Also keep in mind that if the project of remodeling an old wooden house can still be done independently, then it is better to call a professional to assess the technical condition and determine the parts that must be replaced. For a competent, experienced remodeler, this is an easy task.
How to breathe new life into an old house
You can modernize a wooden house with the help of builders or yourself. If you turn the project into reality with your own hands, you can save a lot and spend the remaining money on material. It is only important to know the stages of remodeling and carry out each step in compliance with building regulations.
DIY stove restoration
We were lucky; in our house there was a Russian stove with a flood, although it was not in the best condition. The stove was missing, the ash door was missing, the bed was slightly dented, and there were two rather frightening cracks. The cracks appeared because the previous owners of the house, trying to make an underground floor, dug a hole right next to the stove; due to the instability of the soil, the back wall began to collapse. In the street part of the chimney, the upper rows of bricks had crumbled due to age and the fact that the stove was heated for many years only in the summer when making jam, that is, very rarely. In addition, the space between the chimney and the roof was not sealed, water flowed, destroying everything in its path.
Initial view of the stove
The slab near the firebox was cracked and moved, the bricks fell through
We lit the stove for the first time after cleaning the chimney and wells to check the draft.
The stove maker advised us to clean off the old plaster, open the seams by 0.5 cm, buy clay mortar and cover the cracks with it. Then re-plaster.
Our actions for the restoration of the Russian stove were as follows:
- We cleaned the stove and sewed up the seams. We did this for four days to the accompaniment of Figaro's aria, which relieved the melancholy a little. Repairing a stove in a house with your own hands is a very tedious and dusty job.
- Next is the chimney. Re-folded the top rows of crumbled bricks
- In the attic, the chimney was plastered with clay mortar, using fiberglass mesh for reinforcement
The final result after the restoration of the stove:
We closed the cracks with the same clay mortar; by the way, we did not buy it. It turned out that in our area it is possible to dig up white clay. With the help of the knowledge of our good neighbor, his book “How to fold a stove?” and stove maker forums, we identified the individual ratio of parts of the solution. To do this, we had to conduct several experiments and draw conclusions. True, making the solution yourself turned out to be a whole story; in addition to experiments, it is necessary to grind the accumulated clay through a fine mesh, which requires a lot of time, patience and fingers. The sand for the mixture is sifted through a fine sieve, it is also washed with water to remove fine organic matter, but we decided that this would be too good. The solution turned out to be successful, the seams do not crumble, no cracks have appeared in two years.
We installed the slab somehow intuitively, on the same clay mortar, trying to keep it level. Same thing with the blower, secured with wires and covered with mortar.
They primed it so that nothing would fall off. The metal elements were painted with heat-resistant paint. At this stage, the restoration of the Russian stove was completed.
We did not plaster the stove; we wanted to preserve the appearance of the brickwork. This added another interesting texture to the interior, natural and natural.
After the restoration of the Russian stove, we also used it as a fireplace!
Budget renovation of a non-residential building
A few years ago, the building looked very deplorable: the owners took old furniture and abandoned building materials there.
After the family began to grow and expand, it was decided to transform the abandoned building into a home suitable for recreation and living. The owners performed all the work on their own. We started by replacing windows and painting, then erected partitions, dividing the area into 5 rooms.
The walls were leveled and primed, and covered with wallpaper. The owner lined one of the surfaces with gypsum tiles made by herself. The owners also replaced the wiring, updated the wood floors and painted the ceilings. The old furniture, which had been waiting in the wings for a long time, was restored.
They decided to replace the porch with a spacious terrace: the owner built it himself, as well as a table and bench. Now you can relax and gather for family gatherings inside. Now the dacha is a source of pride for the owners.
From barn to summer house
The owner of this cottage is a designer who decided to move to a compact house because she felt uncomfortable in a large one.
The renovation began with cleaning. When the debris and excess boards were reduced, the walls inside were covered with wood, and the outside were decorated with dark panels. The construction turned out to be stylish and laconic. The walls, ceiling and beams were painted white, and the number of windows was increased to make the room appear lighter and wider.
The partitions in the house are installed so that the living room occupies the main place. The area of the kitchen and bathroom had to be reduced, and the hallway had to be completely abandoned. The role of a clothes hanger is played by a rod made from a thick branch.
Light textiles add special lightness to the interior: transparent curtains, bedspreads and rugs.
There are no upper cabinets in the kitchen - the hostess easily refused many appliances and additional dishes, so there is enough storage space, and open shelves make the room visually larger. The living space turned out to be airy and at the same time functional: the owner managed to achieve this with minimal means.
The bathroom contains only the essentials, including a modest-sized shower and a small sink. The owner bought many pieces of furniture and decor at discounts, and used recycled materials for decoration.
Update grandma's closet and table
Aged (artificially or with time) furniture is, of course, one of the distinctive features of country and Provence styles. But not every old cabinet looks beautiful on its own; sometimes a makeover is required.
When the inside walls of a shelving unit or cabinet with mirrored doors are unattractive, do this. Paint them a bright color or stick plain colored paper on the inside. This way, the shortcomings will be hidden, and the cabinet itself will become a bright spot against the background of a boring interior.
An old table can be painted with bright paint so that it stands out against the background of other furniture. From a chest of drawers that is no longer used for its intended purpose, you can make a flower garden. Just move the drawers out to different sizes so that the flowers don't interfere with each other.
