The pacing of this project is the most realistic depiction of a reno I’ve seen. The semi-crippling uncertainty that surrounds major design choices in the beginning, especially for a project of your scale, can draw things out to an excruciating pace. No complaints here about the “lack” of progress, this is how things actually go.
When I compare myself to other people restoring / building homes it feels like a snale's pace, but maybe they just started documenting once all the hard decisions were made. Who knows... but thank you for the support!
I don’t see how you could present your renovation right from the beginning in a better way . I find it extremely interesting.Perhaps the commenters don’t care for the nakedness of your present work ,and would prefer to see the clothing . I like to receive my education intravenously,and the things I am accidentally learning as I watch your progress are really eye opening and interesting .One of my sons is a newly minted master carpenter and I like that I am able to more easily understand the work he is engaged in .I’m happy to see your work on those lovely Art Nouveau buildings scattered about the country is getting good recognition. Recognition for your work and the beautiful buildings it calls attention to . Without understanding, people may just walk by daily and not have any idea of the artistic architecture they are privileged to share their lives with .Do carry on as you are with your channel.
This series could last 2-3 years and I’d keep up with it every episode. Also I’m from Jersey and am In Philly 3-4 times a week so this just feels like home to me.
No competition - go with the new plan - you might regret not doing it later on when it is too late. Getting that water issue resolved and the ceiling raised would be so beneficial. We can wait to see building progress.
@davidarnott9740 Agreed. Getting the extra square footage with those ancillary benefits is a godsend. Maybe even save a little by splitting some of the costs?
The timing of the neighbor reno is so good. Aside from what you explained, there's potentially even more savings if you and the neighbor hire the same GC to cut on mobilization, labor, and ensuring uniform construction. If you are concerned for losing natural light, there are products like solartube that you could theoretically route a skylight source to the second floor room that loses a window.
If your neighbor cantilevers their 3rd floor your light will be impacted, and you have no say in that loss. I really don't think that that is a drawback you have to factor in the decision process.
We had one solar tube put into our bathroom and loved it so much we put in two more in our kitchen. They let in a lot more light than you'd think! Idr what you're thinking of using that room for, but if it's going to be a smaller room, you should be able to light it entirely with solar tubes during the day. Unless you're putting a floor above it.
Save the nails in a jar. You will probably have a few more to add to the collection. Like the lath, you may find a unique thing to use them for, shadow box of finds, or just an interesting small jar of nails. You can always toss them at the end if you change your mind...(FYI, check with the front desk of your hotel, many people accidentally leave their chargers at the hotel, so the desk collects them to share with new guests)
@@robine916 a cool idea for the nails is to eventually reuse them in those thread art pieces that make up a design. It'd be cool to have them displayed when it's all done.
@@ChrisHythadon’t make a deal with BetterHelp unless you want a warzone in the comments haha. In all seriousness, this is an amazing project and I’m really glad to see your channel growing so rapidly. I think it’s largely due to your excellent videography, renderings, and editing. Those have been top-notch since the beginning. Thanks for taking us along!
@@ChrisHytha hope you do get a sponsor but please before agreeing to anything do a quick google about any potential controversies, or maybe aak your gf to help. I don't know how much time for random research you have. Anyway, absolutely love these videos and i am stocked to see the house getting a new lease on life.
The house is 150 years old, making a solid plan that takes some more time isn't gonna hurt anyone. Renovate it right even if it takes time. Don't cave to youtube viewers that want a dopamine fix with fresh content.
Talk as much as you want. Keep true to yourself and don’t listen to the haters. Your videos are already extremely entertaining! As for the expansion on the second and third floor, you only get one single chance to make it right. Go with your gut and make it how you want it the first time, even if it’ll take more time in permitting.
I say go for this new opportunity! The added benefit outweighs the immediate inconvenience of amending your current plans. Sounds like there are a few perks here as well. The downside of less light in the kitchen can easily be amended with more internal lighting. It might be one of those situations where you would regret not doing this in the future. Plus, more square footage means more equity in the home. Love your videos!
The auspicious timing would have me on team build out to the neighbors. They’re taking some of the light anyway, and making an exterior into an interior wall is a pretty big gain - signed, a corner rowhome facing decay on 3 sides. And of course, your land is finite, so more space inside is more space.
@Hythacg Eh... keep talking. You're a natural in front of the camera. I enjoy all the thought and explanation of those thoughts and ideas. Makes for a more unique channel and not a cut and paste copy of so many others. You're doing a great job and you're growing so keep doing what you're doing. Love it.
I lived in Philly row homes for 40 years and modified my renovations to pick up six inches! Great opportunity to expand your living space. Go for it. You won’t regret it. Nobody ever says I wish I had less space.
The new plan seems like a better one for the long-term. Don't feel pressure to make decisions based on the comments - do what is right for you and the home you're building. Really enjoying this series, thanks for sharing! (and your incredible photography too!)
Even though it would take more time to get your permits approved, I vote for the cantelever. Strategically, it's a feasible solution. This delay would mean you doing more talking, but I like it because I'm learning a lot. I love your design ideas, and your discoveries. I'm learning a lot about historical architecural designs. Your explanations of the whys helps me retain that information better. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, the talking included. I love your presentation style.
100% I'd go with the higher square footage, even if it takes longer. The ability to redesign the bottom floor with higher ceilings and potentially wider stairs will be a blessing over the years you spend in the house, the same goes for the extra square footage on the 2nd and 3rd floor. Also, if you ever decide to sell, the higher square footage means a higher resale price. Either way, loving this series, even without the construction starting, I'm still enjoying the thought process behind it though, keep up the awesome work!
The visualization in this new tool looks great. Love the sea tones on the walls and how they open up to the light. Makes the narrow floorplan seem more trapezoidal
Bigger is Better. Your neighbor is doing you a huge favor. Think of the money you will save on heating your new home... That current old single brick wall provides little insulation. More skylights in a new, more open plan will be incredible. Besides, I've been in support of replacing all that termite-infested structure from the get go... Now you have a great excuse to do so with several added benefits
Reusing the old lathe sounds fun, and honestly, working the old nails into something like a paperweight could be cool too. I love this series. As a joke, perhaps you could make an ASMR video of renovation footage? I also really like the idea your neighbour has, its an opportunity to both do something cool structurally and solve some of the moisture problems that have become apparent over this series.
The universe is smiling on you with a neighbor going thru the same process and offering you a real upgrade opportunity. This is absolutely serendipitous. The cantilever should be embraced.
I think that you should consider it as an opportunity. The timing seems perfect for making any changes and your neighbour will be covering half the cost of one side of the new wall if you think of it. Definitely a great way of getting more space and cutting costs.👍
From your analysis, it is evident that your gut and mind are in agreement. I don’t know why you are questioning yourself (unless it is to get affirmation from us that you’re doing the right thing). So, go with your neighbor and revise your plans, and maybe bring on board their GC if you like them. If you don’t take this opportunity, you’ll always be saying “if only I had taken the risk”. Your die hard fans will support you and whatever happens along the way.
I'd say do it, get rid of the window and add a nice hood unit for a range. Solving the drainage issue will be a big win for the future and with your neighbor coming that far out already it'd be beneficial for both of you to have that shared interior wall, even if there is the worry of more noise, but you'll hopefully be very done with the work that needs to be there already. You could find a nice quality gas range and hood unit from a restaurant foreclosure to fit into that space and make a killer kitchen.
If you want to reuse the lath, try finding someone with a woodshop that has a surface sander. It's like a planer, but it just sands the surface. It will make quick work of them, but they are pricey machines. My school had one; it was a beast.
@@ChrisHytha Not an expert but lath are rough sawn and will take some effort to get smooth. The OP's idea is definitely the fastest by an order of magnitude. I would look into getting a simple belt sander if you can, it removes material so much faster than orbital and you're going to need that time with so much rough lath. Edit: i dont know how they are in Philly, but in portland we have tool libraries where you can borrow tools for free. Cursory search shows there is at least 1 there. It's great for tools you may not need to use a bunch or you're not ready to commit.
I just ordered a few of your prints. I want to support you in any way I can, and I really love them. I had no idea you had a setup here in Chicago, I totally would have gone! As for the decision you are faced with- sounds like a tough one. In my opinion it seems pretty serendipitous that your next door neighbor is renovating at the same time. I think it would be a cool part of these homes' stories that the neighbors are working together 150 years later- not to mention all of the other practical benefits you mentioned. But it sounds like something you'll need to sleep on. Can't wait to see what happens next!
Thank you for the support with the print order! Want me to throw in some rusty nails? Lol. And thanks for your feedback regarding the decision. Unfortunately I feel it is out of the budget. Going to need to sell more prints!
@@ChrisHytha haha yes i'll take some! and yeah that makes sense. in the end, what's meant to be will be! Let us know if you plan on making more prints from some of your other photographs! they are really beautiful!
As someone who likes to develop a plan and stick to it, I can empathise about your dilemma. It sounds like the new option has many benefits to outweigh the negatives but you need to make the right choice for you, all very well us making comment when you are the one putting in the time, effort and money. On the 'talking', talk away - like others, I'm loving it and the side quests.
My recommendation for other people like you is George Dunnett in Scotland. It's fun to watch him fix up old Scottish homes that are older than the USA!
Go for this new opportunity! Changing the stairs, raising the kitchen ceiling, eliminating the water issues and having a larger house is all worth it! Plus I know you'll find plenty to do during the delay.
loving the combination of house bits and vlogs about other stuff in these videos :) both are super interesting, and the non-house vlog bits are like a little surprise in every video
Thanks for the feedback! I love incorporating some other aspects of my life, and the vlog type format is quite new for me, so it was fun to figure out how to tell that story.
It took us many years of planning to reach our final kitchen design and it really made a difference. The internet is fickle and impatient, but your house will be there for you for however long you live there. Take your time! Everyone who's been through a reno will understand.
Obtain permit and amend to join your neighbor in the quest to cantilever. You can also apply for a demo permit and start tearing that place apart. Then you’ll have everything ready to go, including a very solid game plan / material, when you can start putting it back together.
Sounds like a cool opportunity to solve so many issues, water management, expanding living space, cool (if you choose) outdoor patio alcove. Very much enjoy the whole proses of rebuilding projects from start to finish, it will be a great joy to watch. Please take your time at your own pace. Be safe, take as much time on each step as you wish. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us.
Love your row home photos and your new RUclips channel. I used to live in Philly and love that city. My thoughts about the lathe: it can be used to make wall art or a modern chandelier. I wouldn't make a slat wall, but maybe use the wide side with waterproofing for a backslash in a downstairs bathroom. As for the overbuild, it sounds like a great opportunity. Hopefully, it won't delay permitting too long.
First, congratulations on such a successful gala auction! I love that your amazing photography is getting the respect and exposure that it deserves! Second, I am a huge fan of rooms with windows and natural light - but once your neighbor builds out over half of the alleyway, you lose almost all natural light anyway. Might as well join him. Third - as a fellow owner of an 1875 rowhome outside of Fishtown, I am so inspired by your interior mock-up!!! I could not love it more. Your videos are realistic and a joy to watch - don't change a thing!
As long as you have enough in the budget to cover the additional costs without going into your backup funds, it’s a smart way to add more square footage and reduce future water maintenance problems. Can’t wait to see your new version of the plans.
I think the benefit of saving heating costs alone can't be understated, it will save money and be more environmentally friendly for many decades to come.
I have the same feelings about saving lathe myself. I've ripped out all the outer walls on my 4 storey Edwardian (1907), saved the lathe from it and used it for numerous projects. I've built porch screens, skirting, and made much out of laminating it (after sanding and dressing). In this regard, it's especially great for creating your own butcher block. I'm going to make my main kitchen's counters out of it (I've already made a stand alone block) as it has sooo many advantages over stone/ceramic counters: it's self sterilising - as wood's own preservative has anti-biotic qualities, it's always warm and inviting to the touch (as opposed to cold with stone/ceramic - no one will sit on your counters when you're having a kitchen jam with guitars if your counters are stone), cups and crockery rarely break when dropped onto it, and you don't go deaf when you drop a knife on it. Plus, your entire counter can turn into a cutting surface - one that won't destroy your knives instantly. Some notes about using lathe. My house's lathe is both soft and hardwood - fir and ash. Because it so old, and because plaster tends to leach even more water out of it, it's incredibly dry and, moreover, hard. This means I always need to drill pilot holes for screws, as nails, and screws without pilots tend to split it. The bonus, to the hardness, is that it finishes beautifully. Fir is notorious for getting a chunky surface under sanding, but mine comes up beautifully, just using my makita belt sander. Also, the original holes from the nails are of course reusable. It also tends to drink in any finishes/varnishes, so I always use several coats. It's tends to be ridiculously true - you could make a straight-edge out of most pieces. That said, the thickness tends to vary. This allows you to sort it and keep anomalous sizes separate to be used to fit whatever dimensions you might have. Anyway, it has a thousand uses. And as a decorative feature, it also gorgeous.
Thanks for your insight! I love the idea of laminating them all together for butcher block. Such a cool way to reuse the wood. Definitely will be considering that.
I love Gemma Wheeler! She's always asking for small spaces to make content, it would be cool to see her take on your space. Your process has been fun to see and am excited to see what you do. 😻
I like the old remnants of wallpaper, maybe frame some of it as keepsake.. I would save the lathe. Once you finish , you’ll have a treasure. I love the staircase railing, so cute.. I enjoy seeing the process, great that your neighbor is renovating too, awesome opportunity. I would definitely take advantage of these new possibilities. I love your photo book, your exhibition is awesome. You scored the perfect venue. You are very talented.
I would redo the second floor by extending it, put a roof window on the third floor's roof, and frosted glass panels in each floor to bring natural light straight down in the kitchen since your existing window faces north. Can't wait!
Honestly, the planning and the talking is what I like about your videos. It's great to watch the work come together but the problem finding and decision making part of the process is the fun part as far as I'm concerned.
For the dust- put a box fan in the window blowing OUT in the room you're working in, it will help evacuate the dust and lessen it drifting through the rest of the house.
This is what we did while remodeling our bathroom except we strapped a cheap air filter to the intake side. Not sure how the air filter helped looking back. The fan itself definitely helped though. A year and many deep cleans later I still feel like we are finding dust from stripping that room though.
I would absolutely keep the stairs. The beautiful winding down end of the stairs alone is beautiful! No modern strait stairs can get close to that. It keeps the character.
Really enjoying this.. I'm in the UK and bought a very run-down 3 story terrace from about 1890. I've spent the last 25 years doing it up! So I really relate to this.
It might be fun to keep all of the old nails you find in a shadow box that you could hang up once the reno is finished. It would be a way to document how much the house has changed over its lifetime, and remind you of all the work you put into it. Or the same idea would work with a collection of random stuff you find/salvage during the reno in a shadow box.
Your house. Your project. Your creation. Your content. Your pace. People complaining, most likely have never had to deal with bureaucracy. It doesn't matter if you live in the USA or the other side of the world, like myself. Bureaucracy is a pain to deal with. As for the new opportunity, my only objection, is that you add another human factor in the process. No disrespect towards your neighbours but you have to take under consideration, potential complications in the near or not so near future. Excited to see how you will move forward and congratulations for the auction!
Explaining the process and permits makes perfect sense! Jumping into a project without them, will cause you more hassle and it doesn’t pass inspection they will make you tore it down and don’t again in some cases! Keep it the good work!
The pacing of this series is completely fine! I'm completely hooked! I also like seeing what a restoration like this is actually like...even the "boring" parts. Most renovation shows skip over all the nitty gritty stuff. Keep up the good work!
Great series! Take advantage of the neighbors reno and expand your second floor if it is financially possible. Don’t worry about your pace, these are big decisions.
Plan the work. Work the plan. You are in step 1. No need to satisfy viewers. I would choose the added light over the added space, buy that wall needs to come out either way. Gorgeous prints! No wonder you are fetching such a high price. Congrats!
Man, I love this project, your way of telling the story, the real time pace it is happening at, the lack of sensationalism, just everything! Especially how I for once am not stumbling across a project like this five years down the road, but get to see it unfold as it happens! Thanks for taking us on this journey!
The new design program looks fantastic. You made a very welcoming space. The wood on the brick by the stairs is a great find. Joining the neighbors wall sounds like a great plan too. You are a hard working man. Respect sir.
Took down a bunch of lath and plaster in my granite, 1870s house and saved all the nails, which I am slowly reusing to hang pictures, make pallet windowboxes etc. They are not so brittle they cannot be reused, and I love their hand-made look and feel.
You need to grab the new opportunity by the balls. The positives far outweigh the negatives. To keep subscribers happy while you wait for permits, you could take us on an architecture tour of the cities you visit, what influences your design choices etc.
You know what you have to do. The right thing, complete renovation. Nothing is better than a proper job ( in my opinion anyway). House is really coming on & I love the stair wall it looks great. Well done as always. Catch ya next time. You’re the best.
Ignore the haters who want to see a 1 minute, before and after, TikTok video. I like seeing the process and all the details you provide. There are many young people out here that are interested in restoration and upgrading of older, urban homes!
You may need that lath to fur out your walls. When I removed my old broken plaster walls the new drywall was shy of being flush with the door and window frames. I needed to add that thickness of the furring strips back onto the studs so the drywall would be flush. Knowing you are needing to replace most of your studs and will be changing windows, you may not have this issue.
I'm stoked you looked up Gemma, I felt your house was perfect match for her design pallet. Also I am excited that your channel continues to grow, now I will get back to watching the video. Cheers!
Don't mind the "no progress" comments. People expect an unrealistic Speedrun through a renovation as if it was Extreme Makeover home edition. But people that actually watch this type of content know renovations take literal years. If they want a before/after video, there's plenty already out there for them, so it's not someone you want or need as a subscriber anyway. Keep it up 👍🏻 these weekly updates are great. It's like checking in with a buddy for a coffee and telling you how his week has been so far.
The nails you could save in a jar or coffee can(if you want to go old school) and maybe have a use for later. The program visuals for your current plans was phenomenal! So easy to visualize. My humble opinion would be to do the connection to the neighbors, it seems like you would have more pros than cons. It’s tough though, so many big decisions. I’m so excited for you though to have your (almost) permits!
Thanks for the advice. I am leaning towards not doing the bump out due to budget and timeline, and I realized there are other (cheaper) ways to solve some of the problems, like just regrading the concrete so water doesn't drain to the alley
@@ChrisHytha cost and time are two enormous hurdles, and, you’re right, there are much more inexpensive ways to solve drainage problems. Looking forward (already) to the next video!
Go for the new plan! It’s like being in school: you’re almost done with your design but something comes up and you have to redo all that hard-work, but it’s all worth it in the end!
coming from someone who likes to rush things its great that you are taking your time. definitely wanna make sure you get everything the way you want it
![Megan Thee Stallion - Bigger In Texas [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QxTkZTLWdo4/mqdefault.jpg)
The pacing of this project is the most realistic depiction of a reno I’ve seen. The semi-crippling uncertainty that surrounds major design choices in the beginning, especially for a project of your scale, can draw things out to an excruciating pace. No complaints here about the “lack” of progress, this is how things actually go.
When I compare myself to other people restoring / building homes it feels like a snale's pace, but maybe they just started documenting once all the hard decisions were made. Who knows... but thank you for the support!
@@ChrisHythaI just tell folks I am 15 years into my 5 year plan.
I don’t see how you could present your renovation right from the beginning in a better way . I find it extremely interesting.Perhaps the commenters don’t care for the nakedness of your present work ,and would prefer to see the clothing . I like to receive my education intravenously,and the things I am accidentally learning as I watch your progress are really eye opening and interesting .One of my sons is a newly minted master carpenter and I like that I am able to more easily understand the work he is engaged in .I’m happy to see your work on those lovely Art Nouveau buildings scattered about the country is getting good recognition. Recognition for your work and the beautiful buildings it calls attention to . Without understanding, people may just walk by daily and not have any idea of the artistic architecture they are privileged to share their lives with .Do carry on as you are with your channel.
@@Adogslife54 😂😂😂
This series could last 2-3 years and I’d keep up with it every episode. Also I’m from Jersey and am In Philly 3-4 times a week so this just feels like home to me.
Definitely hook up with the neighbor's addition. That makes the most sense for the long-term.
No competition - go with the new plan - you might regret not doing it later on when it is too late. Getting that water issue resolved and the ceiling raised would be so beneficial. We can wait to see building progress.
@davidarnott9740 Agreed. Getting the extra square footage with those ancillary benefits is a godsend. Maybe even save a little by splitting some of the costs?
Also no complaints on the pacing, I think your storytelling is great and that in itself keeps me coming back each week
Glad you are enjoying the videos! Thanks you
The timing of the neighbor reno is so good. Aside from what you explained, there's potentially even more savings if you and the neighbor hire the same GC to cut on mobilization, labor, and ensuring uniform construction. If you are concerned for losing natural light, there are products like solartube that you could theoretically route a skylight source to the second floor room that loses a window.
If your neighbor cantilevers their 3rd floor your light will be impacted, and you have no say in that loss. I really don't think that that is a drawback you have to factor in the decision process.
Losing a window means that a possible bedroom space is eliminated: a bedroom on an upper story requires an egress window.
I came on here to advise on solatubes! They’re a brilliant, effective solution for more daylight with less investment.
We had one solar tube put into our bathroom and loved it so much we put in two more in our kitchen. They let in a lot more light than you'd think! Idr what you're thinking of using that room for, but if it's going to be a smaller room, you should be able to light it entirely with solar tubes during the day. Unless you're putting a floor above it.
Take advantage of your neighbors reno. Go for it. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Save the nails in a jar. You will probably have a few more to add to the collection. Like the lath, you may find a unique thing to use them for, shadow box of finds, or just an interesting small jar of nails. You can always toss them at the end if you change your mind...(FYI, check with the front desk of your hotel, many people accidentally leave their chargers at the hotel, so the desk collects them to share with new guests)
I second this as well, they would make for a good story later for the history of the house.
@@robine916 a cool idea for the nails is to eventually reuse them in those thread art pieces that make up a design. It'd be cool to have them displayed when it's all done.
That was my thought. They are so much part of the original house it would be a shame to just bin them.
@@expatpiskie 🥰
I collect rusty old nails and make wood stain out of them. It's pretty neat.
No sponsors? I bet that will change soon! Easily becoming my favorite series on RUclips right now
I appreciate the optimism! I've gotten some emails so far from sponsors, but haven't landed on anything yet
@@ChrisHythadon’t make a deal with BetterHelp unless you want a warzone in the comments haha.
In all seriousness, this is an amazing project and I’m really glad to see your channel growing so rapidly. I think it’s largely due to your excellent videography, renderings, and editing. Those have been top-notch since the beginning. Thanks for taking us along!
@@ChrisHytha hope you do get a sponsor but please before agreeing to anything do a quick google about any potential controversies, or maybe aak your gf to help. I don't know how much time for random research you have.
Anyway, absolutely love these videos and i am stocked to see the house getting a new lease on life.
Yes, please don’t get any therapy/mental health sponsors (e.g., BetterHelp)! It’s deeming to you and may cause some unsubscribing.
The house is 150 years old, making a solid plan that takes some more time isn't gonna hurt anyone. Renovate it right even if it takes time. Don't cave to youtube viewers that want a dopamine fix with fresh content.
Those of us who need that dopamine can easily get it from new design layout changes, I see only wins.
Talk as much as you want. Keep true to yourself and don’t listen to the haters. Your videos are already extremely entertaining!
As for the expansion on the second and third floor, you only get one single chance to make it right. Go with your gut and make it how you want it the first time, even if it’ll take more time in permitting.
Thanks for your feedback. Lots to consider, still cant make up my mind
I say go for this new opportunity! The added benefit outweighs the immediate inconvenience of amending your current plans. Sounds like there are a few perks here as well. The downside of less light in the kitchen can easily be amended with more internal lighting. It might be one of those situations where you would regret not doing this in the future. Plus, more square footage means more equity in the home. Love your videos!
Thanks for your feedback! It all sounds great, but the finances are stressful of the added scope. We will see
@@ChrisHytha Don't forget to add in the damage cause by moisture you were talking about and future repairs you won't have to make.
The auspicious timing would have me on team build out to the neighbors. They’re taking some of the light anyway, and making an exterior into an interior wall is a pretty big gain - signed, a corner rowhome facing decay on 3 sides. And of course, your land is finite, so more space inside is more space.
@Hythacg Eh... keep talking. You're a natural in front of the camera. I enjoy all the thought and explanation of those thoughts and ideas. Makes for a more unique channel and not a cut and paste copy of so many others. You're doing a great job and you're growing so keep doing what you're doing. Love it.
Thank you for your support! I'll keep the commentary coming
That design is unreal. 😮 Put the old nails in a glass mason jar and place on the shelf.
I lived in Philly row homes for 40 years and modified my renovations to pick up six inches! Great opportunity to expand your living space. Go for it. You won’t regret it. Nobody ever says I wish I had less space.
The new plan seems like a better one for the long-term. Don't feel pressure to make decisions based on the comments - do what is right for you and the home you're building. Really enjoying this series, thanks for sharing! (and your incredible photography too!)
Even though it would take more time to get your permits approved, I vote for the cantelever. Strategically, it's a feasible solution. This delay would mean you doing more talking, but I like it because I'm learning a lot. I love your design ideas, and your discoveries. I'm learning a lot about historical architecural designs. Your explanations of the whys helps me retain that information better. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, the talking included. I love your presentation style.
Thank you for your support! Glad you're getting some value, and learning from the videos. It might be a few months more of talking!
15:52 tweak your design. It will make the construction phase easier. Imagine trying to do exterior work in that tight of a space.
Love Gemma getting a shout out - I love some of her designs and how she incorporates storage into them.
Seems like a no brainer to join the houses together like that. Having that area not recieve any more water sounds like a real blessing.
100% I'd go with the higher square footage, even if it takes longer. The ability to redesign the bottom floor with higher ceilings and potentially wider stairs will be a blessing over the years you spend in the house, the same goes for the extra square footage on the 2nd and 3rd floor. Also, if you ever decide to sell, the higher square footage means a higher resale price. Either way, loving this series, even without the construction starting, I'm still enjoying the thought process behind it though, keep up the awesome work!
The visualization in this new tool looks great. Love the sea tones on the walls and how they open up to the light. Makes the narrow floorplan seem more trapezoidal
Thanks for the feedback!
Bigger is Better. Your neighbor is doing you a huge favor. Think of the money you will save on heating your new home... That current old single brick wall provides little insulation. More skylights in a new, more open plan will be incredible. Besides, I've been in support of replacing all that termite-infested structure from the get go... Now you have a great excuse to do so with several added benefits
Reusing the old lathe sounds fun, and honestly, working the old nails into something like a paperweight could be cool too. I love this series. As a joke, perhaps you could make an ASMR video of renovation footage? I also really like the idea your neighbour has, its an opportunity to both do something cool structurally and solve some of the moisture problems that have become apparent over this series.
The word "serendipity" comes to mind. Providing you are "fairly" confident you can shoulder the expenses, I think you should absolutely go for it.
The universe is smiling on you with a neighbor going thru the same process and offering you a real upgrade opportunity. This is absolutely serendipitous. The cantilever should be embraced.
I think that you should consider it as an opportunity. The timing seems perfect for making any changes and your neighbour will be covering half the cost of one side of the new wall if you think of it. Definitely a great way of getting more space and cutting costs.👍
From your analysis, it is evident that your gut and mind are in agreement. I don’t know why you are questioning yourself (unless it is to get affirmation from us that you’re doing the right thing). So, go with your neighbor and revise your plans, and maybe bring on board their GC if you like them. If you don’t take this opportunity, you’ll always be saying “if only I had taken the risk”. Your die hard fans will support you and whatever happens along the way.
I'd say do it, get rid of the window and add a nice hood unit for a range. Solving the drainage issue will be a big win for the future and with your neighbor coming that far out already it'd be beneficial for both of you to have that shared interior wall, even if there is the worry of more noise, but you'll hopefully be very done with the work that needs to be there already.
You could find a nice quality gas range and hood unit from a restaurant foreclosure to fit into that space and make a killer kitchen.
If you want to reuse the lath, try finding someone with a woodshop that has a surface sander. It's like a planer, but it just sands the surface. It will make quick work of them, but they are pricey machines. My school had one; it was a beast.
I was planning to just take my time with an orbital sander
@@ChrisHytha Not an expert but lath are rough sawn and will take some effort to get smooth. The OP's idea is definitely the fastest by an order of magnitude. I would look into getting a simple belt sander if you can, it removes material so much faster than orbital and you're going to need that time with so much rough lath.
Edit: i dont know how they are in Philly, but in portland we have tool libraries where you can borrow tools for free. Cursory search shows there is at least 1 there. It's great for tools you may not need to use a bunch or you're not ready to commit.
I love Gemma’s channel, and the new renderings look gorgeous!
I just ordered a few of your prints. I want to support you in any way I can, and I really love them. I had no idea you had a setup here in Chicago, I totally would have gone! As for the decision you are faced with- sounds like a tough one. In my opinion it seems pretty serendipitous that your next door neighbor is renovating at the same time. I think it would be a cool part of these homes' stories that the neighbors are working together 150 years later- not to mention all of the other practical benefits you mentioned. But it sounds like something you'll need to sleep on. Can't wait to see what happens next!
Thank you for the support with the print order! Want me to throw in some rusty nails? Lol. And thanks for your feedback regarding the decision. Unfortunately I feel it is out of the budget. Going to need to sell more prints!
@@ChrisHytha haha yes i'll take some! and yeah that makes sense. in the end, what's meant to be will be! Let us know if you plan on making more prints from some of your other photographs! they are really beautiful!
As someone who likes to develop a plan and stick to it, I can empathise about your dilemma. It sounds like the new option has many benefits to outweigh the negatives but you need to make the right choice for you, all very well us making comment when you are the one putting in the time, effort and money. On the 'talking', talk away - like others, I'm loving it and the side quests.
When you put a clear sealer on the brick it will bring out the color and look great.
My recommendation for other people like you is George Dunnett in Scotland. It's fun to watch him fix up old Scottish homes that are older than the USA!
I vote for whatever preserves the original stairway curve. I think that historical detail is really worth saving.
I say go for the overhang! Super interesting opportunity that clearly has more pros than cons
Go for this new opportunity! Changing the stairs, raising the kitchen ceiling, eliminating the water issues and having a larger house is all worth it! Plus I know you'll find plenty to do during the delay.
loving the combination of house bits and vlogs about other stuff in these videos :) both are super interesting, and the non-house vlog bits are like a little surprise in every video
Thanks for the feedback! I love incorporating some other aspects of my life, and the vlog type format is quite new for me, so it was fun to figure out how to tell that story.
It took us many years of planning to reach our final kitchen design and it really made a difference. The internet is fickle and impatient, but your house will be there for you for however long you live there. Take your time! Everyone who's been through a reno will understand.
Gemma Wheeler is so good! Love how you incorporated her inspiration into your home.
Agreed! I binged a bunch of her videos
You're talking yourself into expanding over the alley, go for it
I'm for this. Finances and permits permitting... Send it. It would be incredibly unique!
CHANGE EVERYTHING. You'll never regret more square footage
Obtain permit and amend to join your neighbor in the quest to cantilever. You can also apply for a demo permit and start tearing that place apart. Then you’ll have everything ready to go, including a very solid game plan / material, when you can start putting it back together.
Sounds like a cool opportunity to solve so many issues, water management, expanding living space, cool (if you choose) outdoor patio alcove.
Very much enjoy the whole proses of rebuilding projects from start to finish, it will be a great joy to watch. Please take your time at your own pace. Be safe, take as much time on each step as you wish. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us.
Thanks for your support! I'll just keep chugging along and things will find their place.
Love your row home photos and your new RUclips channel. I used to live in Philly and love that city. My thoughts about the lathe: it can be used to make wall art or a modern chandelier. I wouldn't make a slat wall, but maybe use the wide side with waterproofing for a backslash in a downstairs bathroom.
As for the overbuild, it sounds like a great opportunity. Hopefully, it won't delay permitting too long.
First, congratulations on such a successful gala auction! I love that your amazing photography is getting the respect and exposure that it deserves!
Second, I am a huge fan of rooms with windows and natural light - but once your neighbor builds out over half of the alleyway, you lose almost all natural light anyway. Might as well join him.
Third - as a fellow owner of an 1875 rowhome outside of Fishtown, I am so inspired by your interior mock-up!!! I could not love it more.
Your videos are realistic and a joy to watch - don't change a thing!
Great to hear from a local! I'm right in your neck of the woods. Thanks for the comment
Have been watching Gemma Wheeler's vids for a few years. Glad she provided some inspo.
As long as you have enough in the budget to cover the additional costs without going into your backup funds, it’s a smart way to add more square footage and reduce future water maintenance problems.
Can’t wait to see your new version of the plans.
I think the benefit of saving heating costs alone can't be understated, it will save money and be more environmentally friendly for many decades to come.
Every week is a little gem, a window into what will be
I have the same feelings about saving lathe myself. I've ripped out all the outer walls on my 4 storey Edwardian (1907), saved the lathe from it and used it for numerous projects. I've built porch screens, skirting, and made much out of laminating it (after sanding and dressing). In this regard, it's especially great for creating your own butcher block. I'm going to make my main kitchen's counters out of it (I've already made a stand alone block) as it has sooo many advantages over stone/ceramic counters: it's self sterilising - as wood's own preservative has anti-biotic qualities, it's always warm and inviting to the touch (as opposed to cold with stone/ceramic - no one will sit on your counters when you're having a kitchen jam with guitars if your counters are stone), cups and crockery rarely break when dropped onto it, and you don't go deaf when you drop a knife on it. Plus, your entire counter can turn into a cutting surface - one that won't destroy your knives instantly.
Some notes about using lathe. My house's lathe is both soft and hardwood - fir and ash. Because it so old, and because plaster tends to leach even more water out of it, it's incredibly dry and, moreover, hard. This means I always need to drill pilot holes for screws, as nails, and screws without pilots tend to split it. The bonus, to the hardness, is that it finishes beautifully. Fir is notorious for getting a chunky surface under sanding, but mine comes up beautifully, just using my makita belt sander. Also, the original holes from the nails are of course reusable. It also tends to drink in any finishes/varnishes, so I always use several coats. It's tends to be ridiculously true - you could make a straight-edge out of most pieces. That said, the thickness tends to vary. This allows you to sort it and keep anomalous sizes separate to be used to fit whatever dimensions you might have. Anyway, it has a thousand uses. And as a decorative feature, it also gorgeous.
Thanks for your insight! I love the idea of laminating them all together for butcher block. Such a cool way to reuse the wood. Definitely will be considering that.
Love your photography, making each building look like a stand alone is so cool!
Thank you!
I love Gemma Wheeler! She's always asking for small spaces to make content, it would be cool to see her take on your space. Your process has been fun to see and am excited to see what you do. 😻
I like the old remnants of wallpaper, maybe frame some of it as keepsake.. I would save the lathe. Once you finish , you’ll have a treasure. I love the staircase railing, so cute.. I enjoy seeing the process, great that your neighbor is renovating too, awesome opportunity. I would definitely take advantage of these new possibilities.
I love your photo book, your exhibition is awesome. You scored the perfect venue. You are very talented.
I would redo the second floor by extending it, put a roof window on the third floor's roof, and frosted glass panels in each floor to bring natural light straight down in the kitchen since your existing window faces north.
Can't wait!
Thanks for your feedback!
Honestly, the planning and the talking is what I like about your videos. It's great to watch the work come together but the problem finding and decision making part of the process is the fun part as far as I'm concerned.
For the dust- put a box fan in the window blowing OUT in the room you're working in, it will help evacuate the dust and lessen it drifting through the rest of the house.
And right out into the street where everyone can breathe it in....
This is what we did while remodeling our bathroom except we strapped a cheap air filter to the intake side. Not sure how the air filter helped looking back. The fan itself definitely helped though. A year and many deep cleans later I still feel like we are finding dust from stripping that room though.
@@chuckgoetz9875 better out than in shrek always says
I would absolutely keep the stairs. The beautiful winding down end of the stairs alone is beautiful! No modern strait stairs can get close to that. It keeps the character.
Love the reused lathe slat wall
Really enjoying this.. I'm in the UK and bought a very run-down 3 story terrace from about 1890. I've spent the last 25 years doing it up! So I really relate to this.
It might be fun to keep all of the old nails you find in a shadow box that you could hang up once the reno is finished. It would be a way to document how much the house has changed over its lifetime, and remind you of all the work you put into it. Or the same idea would work with a collection of random stuff you find/salvage during the reno in a shadow box.
Your house. Your project. Your creation. Your content. Your pace. People complaining, most likely have never had to deal with bureaucracy. It doesn't matter if you live in the USA or the other side of the world, like myself. Bureaucracy is a pain to deal with.
As for the new opportunity, my only objection, is that you add another human factor in the process. No disrespect towards your neighbours but you have to take under consideration, potential complications in the near or not so near future. Excited to see how you will move forward and congratulations for the auction!
Explaining the process and permits makes perfect sense! Jumping into a project without them, will cause you more hassle and it doesn’t pass inspection they will make you tore it down and don’t again in some cases! Keep it the good work!
You’re talking is fantastic; natural, concise, informative and interesting - don’t change!
I love the mock up! It’s so beautiful. I love the dark moody space to light and bright kitchen.
Absolutely!
Go with the over hang. the loss of light will be so worth it!
the extra space & the covered outdoor part is going to be a blessing
Honestly, Solving the water issue would be a better option, plus like you said it would give you more space
Building with the neighbor seems like a great opportunity, especially if you were to both get the same GC.
The pacing of this series is completely fine! I'm completely hooked! I also like seeing what a restoration like this is actually like...even the "boring" parts. Most renovation shows skip over all the nitty gritty stuff. Keep up the good work!
Neighbors opportunity is the best way to go
Great series! Take advantage of the neighbors reno and expand your second floor if it is financially possible. Don’t worry about your pace, these are big decisions.
Ur rendering is amazing, with the first funhouse images I did not expect the finished rendering to be so polished. Great work.
Hahahah it had to go a loooong way to look presentable
Big fan of Gemma's work so thanks for shouting her out.
Plan the work. Work the plan. You are in step 1. No need to satisfy viewers. I would choose the added light over the added space, buy that wall needs to come out either way. Gorgeous prints! No wonder you are fetching such a high price. Congrats!
Love the peak design bag!
Its a great bag!
Man, I love this project, your way of telling the story, the real time pace it is happening at, the lack of sensationalism, just everything! Especially how I for once am not stumbling across a project like this five years down the road, but get to see it unfold as it happens! Thanks for taking us on this journey!
Glad you're enjoying the process. Thanks for watching!
Definitely enjoy all the talking. My vote would be for the new plan!
The new design program looks fantastic. You made a very welcoming space. The wood on the brick by the stairs is a great find. Joining the neighbors wall sounds like a great plan too. You are a hard working man. Respect sir.
Took down a bunch of lath and plaster in my granite, 1870s house and saved all the nails, which I am slowly reusing to hang pictures, make pallet windowboxes etc. They are not so brittle they cannot be reused, and I love their hand-made look and feel.
You need to grab the new opportunity by the balls. The positives far outweigh the negatives.
To keep subscribers happy while you wait for permits, you could take us on an architecture tour of the cities you visit, what influences your design choices etc.
Congratulations on the exhibitions and auction! 🥳🎉👏🏾🎈
You know what you have to do. The right thing, complete renovation. Nothing is better than a proper job ( in my opinion anyway).
House is really coming on & I love the stair wall it looks great. Well done as always. Catch ya next time. You’re the best.
I'd go with it! I bet it'll be great looking back
People complaining about you talking too much clearly haven't listened that you don't have permits yet or a contractor, love all the info given!
The pacing has been great so far. Take this opportunity, make new plans and get that extra space!
keep one (1) nail, encase it in a cube of resin for a little keepsake that you can take with you if you ever move out.
Don't worry we know that it is a big project ! I hope you'll found what you want to do. I hope you good luck !
The new plan is absolutely gorgeous!
Glad you enjoy the design! Can't wait to bring it to life.
I think you should go ahead and expand to but up with your neighbor’s wall.
Ignore the haters who want to see a 1 minute, before and after, TikTok video. I like seeing the process and all the details you provide. There are many young people out here that are interested in restoration and upgrading of older, urban homes!
Gemma is the BEST at doing what she does so perfectly..
You may need that lath to fur out your walls. When I removed my old broken plaster walls the new drywall was shy of being flush with the door and window frames. I needed to add that thickness of the furring strips back onto the studs so the drywall would be flush. Knowing you are needing to replace most of your studs and will be changing windows, you may not have this issue.
I'm stoked you looked up Gemma, I felt your house was perfect match for her design pallet. Also I am excited that your channel continues to grow, now I will get back to watching the video. Cheers!
Thanks for your support! It was great to find her work as inspiration!
Don't mind the "no progress" comments. People expect an unrealistic Speedrun through a renovation as if it was Extreme Makeover home edition. But people that actually watch this type of content know renovations take literal years. If they want a before/after video, there's plenty already out there for them, so it's not someone you want or need as a subscriber anyway.
Keep it up 👍🏻 these weekly updates are great. It's like checking in with a buddy for a coffee and telling you how his week has been so far.
Thanks for the reassurance! Happy to hear you're along for this slow decision filled ride!
New plan, without a doubt.
The nails you could save in a jar or coffee can(if you want to go old school) and maybe have a use for later. The program visuals for your current plans was phenomenal! So easy to visualize. My humble opinion would be to do the connection to the neighbors, it seems like you would have more pros than cons. It’s tough though, so many big decisions. I’m so excited for you though to have your (almost) permits!
Thanks for the advice. I am leaning towards not doing the bump out due to budget and timeline, and I realized there are other (cheaper) ways to solve some of the problems, like just regrading the concrete so water doesn't drain to the alley
@@ChrisHytha cost and time are two enormous hurdles, and, you’re right, there are much more inexpensive ways to solve drainage problems. Looking forward (already) to the next video!
Wow looks real. Like the design too
Thanks! Its as real as I could get it. Now it will take many months to see it in real life
the models are siqq and so is the show
Go for the new plan! It’s like being in school: you’re almost done with your design but something comes up and you have to redo all that hard-work, but it’s all worth it in the end!
coming from someone who likes to rush things its great that you are taking your time. definitely wanna make sure you get everything the way you want it