exposing studwork

[digger65]

hi all
i have posted this also on the projects section but we are considering removing plasterboard upstairs (which will now be our living room and kitchen, bedrooms downstairs)
ideally it would be better to remove the walls entirely but i am interested in the design aspect and look of removing plasterboard to expose the stud work
i like the idea of it being a bit shabby chic and gnarled, we could hang bamboo blinds about as room deviders ect, however i am concerned it will just look either half built or half demolished and i can't seem to find any pictorial references online
i will try to post pics soon
at the moment it is quite clean in terms of dry wall work
just wondering if anyone has done this in the past or seen it done?
any heads up regarding electrics, structural concerns?
many thanks for looking
JJP

 

[flameport]

Sounds absolutely dreadful. It will just look unfinished.
Removing most of the wall structure will also mean sound will travel between rooms, there will be no privacy, and exactly where will sockets, switches and other essential items be located?
The interior of old walls is generally filthy, and unless very recent will probably be constructed from rough sawn timbers, which will provide a never ending supply of splinters for everyone living there.

From the other thread:

upstairs we plan to remove interior walls to have a central open plan stair leading to kitchen

Building regulations will most likely prohibit that. Consider what would happen if there was a fire.
Also note that some stud walls can be loadbearing.

give a shabby chic feel to things which would be in keeping with the nature of the building

Houses had walls and doors in 1904.

Realistically, all you will be doing is destroying the interior of your house and substantially reducing it's value.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Realistically, all you will be doing is destroying the interior of your house and substantially reducing it's value.

You cannot categorically say that, it depends on the existing house, how its designed, all sorts of things. Upside down houses can make a lot of sense sometimes.

 

[digger65]

thanks
ideally just looking for practical considerations,
we can keep a door to the kitchen that wont be a problem
we really want to put the bedrooms downstairs as the rooms are darker and our loft room currently is accessed through our nippers bedroom which isn't ideal
this way we get darker cooler smaller rooms as bedrooms and a light airy 1st floor with more light better views and access to the loft/ guest room
also the garden is at 1st floor level at the rear so we cold deck of the rear of the house straight into the garden
i understand the removed plasterboard will not be to everyone's taste but i am liking the fact we could make room dividers from blinds ect
cheers
JJ

 

[noseall]

The idea sounds insane.

Plasterboard not only offers the obvious aesthetic properties but also cuts down on sound travel, air movement but above all adds stiffness to the walls themselves.

Your bamboo will be flapping about on a windy night driving you nuts.

I would agree that it would be simpler to have an all open plan arrangement with maybe crude dividers or simple partitions for each cell or room, it is wholly impractical based on a privacy basis.

 

[digger65]

hi thanks for the ideas
the room will be open plan 1st floor dining/living area so no issues with privacy
the plaster board i wish to remove is around the stairs, the staires enter the room centrally and the studwork goes around them if that makes sense
as i say i will try to post some pix and examples to show that i not a complete lunatic
but thanks though
JJ

 

[digger65]

ok two pics added
sorry but i cant get enough in to really show the situation
but if you imagine the stairs at 90 deg to front door as opposed to the more conventional inline with front door
as the stairs enter the 1st floor they create a kind of U shape if viewed from ground plan -above, (with the wall with the shelf on it forming the end) effectively cut the upstairs space in half
if i have these removed then i can still keep a separated kitchen with door
no issues with privacy as it is a diner/lounge set up
as for exposed studwork i really just wanted to know if anyone had seen this done or tried the idea?
thanks
JJ
http://media.diynot.com/175000_174869_38382_55649807_thumb.jpg
http://media.diynot.com/175000_174869_38383_95515272_thumb.jpg

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Untitled

• digger65
• 7 Oct 2011
• 1

Untitled

• digger65
• 7 Oct 2011
• 1

Removing the partitions surounding the staircase is not that unusual (or that odd IMO), as previously mentioned Building Regulations may not permit this layout (without an enclosed staircase/kitchen). You need a designer in Devon!

 

[noseall]

You need a designer in Devon!

No good letting the grass grow eh Freddy...

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

8)

 

[flameport]

Upside down houses can make a lot of sense sometimes.

They certainly can, and nothing wrong with that.

However when people start

removing plasterboard to expose the stud work

then this cannot possibly be an improvement.