The unused room was built into the roof of Gydé’s carport.
‘What do you mean you don’t use it? (gasp sputter). Why not?"
That was my somewhat flabbergasted response to my good friend Laurie Gydé when, on a tour of her home, I spotted a cool-looking "escape" through a Plexiglas panel at the top of her sunroom wall, to which she replied, "I don’t know, I just don’t... not even sure what’s up there..."
See, the reason I was there was because I asked on Facebook if anyone had a house/home that was a bit different, really cool or they just loved for whatever reason.
Laurie said, "I love my beautiful old 1919 St. Vital home (Pulberry area), maybe there’s something of interest here, that might include free coffee and fresh scones."
That immediately convinced me this was the house. So, last Monday, at 10 a.m., I arrived for the tour.
It’s a storey-and-a-half with a carport and totally charming for at least three reasons.
One, it was completely renovated by former interior designer/owner Lonn Trickett back in the late ’70s or early ’80s and has lots of built-ins. The second is that it’s totally warm, welcoming and "classy funky" inside and — the third reason — it reflects the love of life, artistry and vitality of its appreciative owner.
The energy just kind of gives you a big welcome hug.
Take that last line as proof I’m very in touch with my feminine side — and proud of it.
However, the unused room at the top of the wall, actually built in the roof of the carport, is obviously why I was "called" there. At the very least, the kid in me immediately recognized it as a perfect "fort." You just don’t leave a space like that unused!
"How do I get up there?" I asked, champing at the bit.
"Well there is a ladder stored away somewhere, but what if there are squirrels or raccoons up there... or whatever?" Laurie asked.
"I love all life as family, especially the animal members, we’ll all get along just fine," I said. "Let’s get that ladder."
And so we did.
What I saw up there just blew my mind — and it wasn’t even being used as one of the great spaces this beautiful home already has to offer. The perfect getaway.
"You have your own spa," I gushed. "The perfect meditation/yoga room. And a phenomenal place to come and lie looking up at the sky during a big thunder and lightning storm!"
When Laurie climbed up the too short ladder for a look, she too was thrilled. "Wow, I’ve got so much available space that I don’t have to climb a wall to get to, that this just sort of went out of sight, out of mind. But yes, this is the perfect ‘home away from home’ to escape to. I love it!"
So of course, we get planning about how to convert this space. She’s going shopping for yoga flooring to cover the plywood floor, and we’re both pondering the perfect permanent stairway of sorts to get there, but without using up too much space in the sunroom to do so.
The Plexiglas "door" has to go, and I’m thinking some neat stained-glass window that slides to the side for entry, and designed to reflect the theme of what her new/old room brings to her quality of life.
I suggested patio doors out of the sunroom, which she’d already thought of, but hadn’t gotten around to yet.
It just goes to show, that even in your own home, sometimes you just don’t realize what’s above your own head, until seen through the eyes of someone else.
This has me walking around my own house, looking at how I’m using all the spaces and wondering how I might repurpose a space or two to bring a totally different feel to my home.
I’d like a sunroom/office built on the roof, accessed by a spiral staircase from the study below, but something tells me that due to cost, that just isn’t going to happen. I’ll have to work with what I’ve got.
I’d also like to heat my 42-by-60 foot shed, with a heated underground tunnel leading out to it so I can play with my old cars and stuff out there in winter, but that isn’t going to happen, either.
What area is being underused or misused in your home? Have a look and see what potential you have to bring a new space and feel to your abode. And if you’ve done something amazing with a new room or old space in your home, I’d love to hear about it.
In the meantime, you’ll find me at Laurie’s, helping her design and build the perfect "stairway to heaven."
Comments or feedback, love to hear from you!
lmustard1948@gmail.com
