I’m creating an apartment in the house for future guests. The beams remain visible and timber accompanies the new fittings. The main room has about 32 m² of floor area. I keep the beams exposed and organise the new spaces around this volume.
The renovation, step by step
- Build the framing and mezzanine. Organise the spaces and retain a floor opening. Structural design is specific to this construction.
- Insulate and prepare services. The project combines wood fibre, recycled cotton and now Valosense. A photograph alone cannot identify the insulation installed.
- Line the walls. 12.5 mm gypsum-fibre boards are planned for walls and partitions, with joints treated according to the edge type.
- Build up the floor. This floor combines a 10 mm wood-fibre underlay, 2 × 10 mm floor elements and oak flooring. Compatibility must be confirmed for the specific products delivered.
- Finish the fittings. I’m continuing work on the kitchen, bathroom and heating before opening the apartment for rental.
The plan: welcome guests without erasing the place
I’m creating a rental apartment with a living area, kitchen, bathroom and sleeping spaces on the mezzanine. The main room has about 32 m² of floor area and is around 3.50 m high. This is not the total duplex area: the upper floor remains to be measured.
Timber, exposed beams and oak flooring contribute to the character I’m aiming for. The finishes must also suit everyday use: cleaning, access to equipment and maintenance between stays.
The kitchen and bathroom in the project
For the corner kitchen, I’m planning dark beige fronts and an oak-effect worktop. The plan includes an under-counter fridge, an oven with a two-ring hob, a sink near the corner and a 45 cm dishwasher. I’m checking clearances, services and appliance dimensions before finalising the build.
For the bathroom, I’m planning a 90 × 90 cm shower, a wall-hung toilet, a top-loading washing machine about 40 cm wide and a 60 cm vanity unit. Clearances must be checked after accounting for wall linings, tiles and open doors.
The connections that make the renovation work
- Mezzanine and building envelope: keep structural floor design, insulation and ceiling finishes separate.
- Wall linings and fittings: plan supports for cabinets and sanitary fittings before installing boards.
- Floors and thresholds: add up layer thicknesses before fitting doors and transitions to other rooms.
- Bathroom and wall surfaces: choose waterproofing and substrates for the area actually exposed to water.
- Ventilation and heating: allow space for them in the plan; no complete sizing calculations are published here.
What the photographs show
The gallery shows the joists, timber framing in front of stone walls, insulation between studs and wall linings alongside the flooring. It helps explain the sequence of work. It cannot verify hidden connections or identify a brand for every board.
Decisions still to document
Exact underlay references, final wall construction, the upper-floor area and equipment details will be added to the file as work progresses. No opening schedule, final budget or measured acoustic performance is announced.
| Reference point | Documented value |
|---|---|
| Main room | Approximately 32 m² of floor area |
| Room height | Approximately 3.50 m |
| Layout | Living area, bathroom and sleeping spaces upstairs |
| Status | Fitting out in progress |
The dimensions relate to my renovation. Each construction requires its own technical checks.