The Porch/Mudroom/Half Bath Challenge

One of the things I really like about the Craftsman Cottage is there is a half bath on the first floor.  That's something that many buyers desperately want and I'm thrilled we will have one.

But it has so many problems.  As best I can tell, this started as a porch entrance to the house (one stair stringer is still there). At some point it got enclosed and became an unheated mudroom. And the last owners added fixtures to make it a half bath (still unheated).  

But it’s a big space for two bathroom fixtures, so we are going change it up a bit and make part of the space storage with the other side a half bath with a pocket door. 

Before Floor Plan

Plan to divide room and create additional storage

But before any of that can happen, we had to investigate why the room tilts so much. 

I guess we weren’t surprised to find out that the posts holding it up had completely rotted out. That explains the trampoline effect you feel when you walk to the closet corner! 

He could stick his whole hand under the post holding up the porch!!!

So the guys got to work and jacked the porch up.  Now it's nice and level!  And suddenly that exterior door is freed up and can be removed for new framing. 

And when that was done, I noticed that what I assumed was a beadboard wall was actually a door!  When I pried it open, it contained a big collection of laxatives - from multiple decades.
 

Why would someone have a medicine cabinet in their mudroom?  No idea. Why is it in a stud wall, right next to the exterior clapboards?  Again, no idea.  Any why does the wallpaper look like it's burned around the edges?  It's a southwest facing wall, so maybe summer sun could heat it up so much that it darkened?  So many mysteries!  But it how has a new nickname - the Constipation Closet!!

Introducing the Constipation Closet!!!

So many old school drugs (and some shampoo - in the mudroom!)

Our local South Portland Historical Society is taking most of the bottles (look for an exhibit on turn-of-the-century medicine cabinets in the future!) and the Androscoggin Historical Society wants the Dr. True's Elixir bottle (it has 1851 Auburn, Maine printed on the back, but maybe that's just a copyright date, since the house wasn't built until 1925).  I wish someone wanted the Senecot cans - these are from their clinical trials in 1957 and look brand new!!

Dow's Drug in South Portland!

Belladonna!!!  Highly toxic!

We have gutted the porch and rebuilding has started. Once that’s complete, electrical and plumbing will get totally redone.  And finally, the whole room will get well insulated, to keep that plumbing nice and warm. 

This stud is half a log!

Framing the new half bath with pocket door

Pin It