Here's the first house completed in Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice Neighborhood. It's the home of the Bennett sisters - "Longbourn". You can see the "before" and "after" from the remodeling. Oh what a time was had getting it finished! The house was built according to the approved blueprints but when finished the owner started having second thoughts about the windows. Something just wasn't RIGHT - the windows were too small and didn't look as she imagined they would! She was disappointed and nothing would do but to discuss it with the builder.
She showed the builder a picture of what she thought it would look like (also posted here) and asked him if he could fix the windows. Well! You can imagine that the builder was not one bit happy about that seeing as he had built the house to the specifications and now he had costly rework to do. First the old windows were removed and then some of the brick wall had to be chipped out to make room for larger windows. New, larger windows were ordered and installed. The brickmason had to be called back to the jobsite with more brick to repair the walls around the windows and do some tuckpointing to make sure all was tidy. This was no small feat considering the workers had to maneuver carefully around some of the new landscaping that had been planted! I think there was a lot of mumbling and even some cursing from the construction crew about the rework, but it's a woman's perogative to change her mind, right?
The neighborhood owner promises to be more attentive to the building process from now on. Next up is finishing the stitching of the 5 Bennett sisters (2 more to go), adding some more landscaping around their home, and some more border work. More pictures soon I hope!
She showed the builder a picture of what she thought it would look like (also posted here) and asked him if he could fix the windows. Well! You can imagine that the builder was not one bit happy about that seeing as he had built the house to the specifications and now he had costly rework to do. First the old windows were removed and then some of the brick wall had to be chipped out to make room for larger windows. New, larger windows were ordered and installed. The brickmason had to be called back to the jobsite with more brick to repair the walls around the windows and do some tuckpointing to make sure all was tidy. This was no small feat considering the workers had to maneuver carefully around some of the new landscaping that had been planted! I think there was a lot of mumbling and even some cursing from the construction crew about the rework, but it's a woman's perogative to change her mind, right?
The neighborhood owner promises to be more attentive to the building process from now on. Next up is finishing the stitching of the 5 Bennett sisters (2 more to go), adding some more landscaping around their home, and some more border work. More pictures soon I hope!
Before remodel
After remodel 
Some views of 'Longbourn' from the A&E mini-series
7 comments:
Nice! What a big improvement but so much work! The builder deserves a bonus.
Good call on the part of the owner, it looks much closer to the plan since the remodel. My sympathies to the builder for the unpaid change order...
Uh-oh. Sounds like your builder may be related to my builder. (But those window renovations look fabulous now. Just think of all the extra light they'll let in.)
I do not agree that it was the builders fault. His job is to work to the plans given by the architect and it is hard for the owner to look at a blueprint and envisage what the outcome will be. An experience architect drawing up plans for a reproduction of such an historic building should have noted things like window size. As architects are usually well paid (though mine hasnt been lol) I should dock his wages and make him pay for the alterations your builder has had to take.
Love it! I absolutely LOVE IT. :) Congrats on a fine neighborhood start.
Wow! That was a big remodel. It looks great!
Oh, how lovely!! I can't think of a better builder.
Hugs, Deb
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