So Close. Yet Worlds Away...

After signing the contracts for the flat, I suddenly realised just how much work there was to be done. I set to work on creating a floor plan and 3d rendering for planning purposes. I also, being the dork that I am, started researching the area, and the history of the building that was to be our future home.

I found some information online regarding the year the building was erected (1823) as well as interesting war anecdotes, but what REALLY caught my eye was the ad for the house next door. On the market for a cool £1.8 mil, the 5 bedroom house is spread over five floors occupying the entire building, whilst our building is split into flats.

The house has pretty much the same layout as our building with the added bonus of a lower ground floor, extending into a full garden as the plans below show. (Our own garden happens to be a tiny slice of the original space. A minuscule oasis - the result of a great garden massacre to create tiny multiple green spaces for the flats above ensuring maximum rental income.)

As I nosed around I noticed the floorplan for their second floor. Our flat is also on the second floor, and as I compared the two plans, I could only laugh for fear of crying. What is our entire flat, is just one bedroom next door.

Oh how the other half live.