buying an Inn

[gillumhouse]

Greetings;
I am new to all of this, but curious to hear any feedback others might contribute.
I recently purchased a large home in a national historic neighborhood in the Milwaukee area and the home is zoned for this. The house has to be gutted and there is probably two years of work to do , but want to turn hit into a b and b and am writing to hear from other owners what they would do if they were in my shoes. Questions about adding an elevator to second floor for instance, or kitchen and bath designs, storage, linen closets, laundry chutes.
Thanks in advance for any input..

An elevator will be expensive, but would make you ADA and if you are older, your knees will bless you.
Storage is important and never enough. Ensuite bathroom for every room. If gutted, you will be required to install sprinklers. Kitchen - counter space and cabinets (never enough) - check requirements (IN WRITING) if commercial kitchen required. Laundry room (chute is a nice) needs washers/driers commeasurate with the demand of the number of rooms. Linen closet on the same floor as guest rooms - locks on everything. Owners Quarters large enough and comfortable enough for YOU to relax in. MANY OUTLETS in every room. Bathrooms - grab bars, also a grab bar to steady getting out of the shower.
I have an old house and have to "make do" with what I have but when I created an ensuite I made it large and left the original bathroom large and shared, replacing the claw-foot tub (moved to the ensuite) with a 60-inch shower. I will leave it to others to mention things that did not occur to me.
.

I just called a chair lift company to actually ASK. My stairs are 34 inches wide, wall to railing post. The slimmest chair lift will need about 13 inches (max) for the folded up unit and have a max load limit of 310 lbs. Mobility challenged (to be politically correct) are usually wider load. So, we have determined take I was correct, my stairs are not wide enough. Sigh (my knees would love it).
.

Stairs in picture Arks posted look maybe 36 - 39 not all that much wider, if this is something you would really enjoy take a hard look at the floor arrangement around your stairwell, would it be possible for the chair lift track to curve a bit at the top/bottom and in doing so place the actual chair out of the actual stairway and provide the needed space?
.

Nope- that has been considered. This was not a mansion, ALL space was accounted for. When opening the front door, one opens and stands aside or opens the door fully - door jamb to newell post is 34 inches. The hall is 48 inches staircase to wall and there is a radiator in the hall. (not taking that sucker out as it is my emergency heat if power goes out. It is a turn on the gas and light OLD water-filled radiator.Water long gone but it still works - I know from experience.) At the base of the stairs on the other side is the door to the sitting room, my only common area other than the porch or dining room.
A chair lift in this house falls into the same category as a privte bathroom for Rosi's Room - ain't gonna happen.

 

[Lee2014]

Yes, there are grants out there for B&Bs. I found out about it through Eliot at The B&B Team's Seminar. I would contact The B&B Team. They have a bunch for sale in New England right now especially Maine. I would check with regular realtors in your targeted area as well. Just go on their websites and put in 4 bedrooms and 4 baths and everything but B&Bs and estates will disappear from your search..

There are grants for b&b's, I didn't know that. Can you explain further like where to look? Thanks.
.

I would try Eliot. eliotdalton.com

 

[Lee2014]

Greetings;
I am new to all of this, but curious to hear any feedback others might contribute.
I recently purchased a large home in a national historic neighborhood in the Milwaukee area and the home is zoned for this. The house has to be gutted and there is probably two years of work to do , but want to turn hit into a b and b and am writing to hear from other owners what they would do if they were in my shoes. Questions about adding an elevator to second floor for instance, or kitchen and bath designs, storage, linen closets, laundry chutes.
Thanks in advance for any input..

An elevator will be expensive, but would make you ADA and if you are older, your knees will bless you.
Storage is important and never enough. Ensuite bathroom for every room. If gutted, you will be required to install sprinklers. Kitchen - counter space and cabinets (never enough) - check requirements (IN WRITING) if commercial kitchen required. Laundry room (chute is a nice) needs washers/driers commeasurate with the demand of the number of rooms. Linen closet on the same floor as guest rooms - locks on everything. Owners Quarters large enough and comfortable enough for YOU to relax in. MANY OUTLETS in every room. Bathrooms - grab bars, also a grab bar to steady getting out of the shower.
I have an old house and have to "make do" with what I have but when I created an ensuite I made it large and left the original bathroom large and shared, replacing the claw-foot tub (moved to the ensuite) with a 60-inch shower. I will leave it to others to mention things that did not occur to me.
.

I just called a chair lift company to actually ASK. My stairs are 34 inches wide, wall to railing post. The slimmest chair lift will need about 13 inches (max) for the folded up unit and have a max load limit of 310 lbs. Mobility challenged (to be politically correct) are usually wider load. So, we have determined take I was correct, my stairs are not wide enough. Sigh (my knees would love it).
.

Stairs in picture Arks posted look maybe 36 - 39 not all that much wider, if this is something you would really enjoy take a hard look at the floor arrangement around your stairwell, would it be possible for the chair lift track to curve a bit at the top/bottom and in doing so place the actual chair out of the actual stairway and provide the needed space?
.

Nope- that has been considered. This was not a mansion, ALL space was accounted for. When opening the front door, one opens and stands aside or opens the door fully - door jamb to newell post is 34 inches. The hall is 48 inches staircase to wall and there is a radiator in the hall. (not taking that sucker out as it is my emergency heat if power goes out. It is a turn on the gas and light OLD water-filled radiator.Water long gone but it still works - I know from experience.) At the base of the stairs on the other side is the door to the sitting room, my only common area other than the porch or dining room.
A chair lift in this house falls into the same category as a privte bathroom for Rosi's Room - ain't gonna happen.
.

Could you add an addition that has handicap lift of some sort and another bathroom for Rosi... and more common area for guest and more storage and whatever else you can think of!

 

[gillumhouse]

Greetings;
I am new to all of this, but curious to hear any feedback others might contribute.
I recently purchased a large home in a national historic neighborhood in the Milwaukee area and the home is zoned for this. The house has to be gutted and there is probably two years of work to do , but want to turn hit into a b and b and am writing to hear from other owners what they would do if they were in my shoes. Questions about adding an elevator to second floor for instance, or kitchen and bath designs, storage, linen closets, laundry chutes.
Thanks in advance for any input..

An elevator will be expensive, but would make you ADA and if you are older, your knees will bless you.
Storage is important and never enough. Ensuite bathroom for every room. If gutted, you will be required to install sprinklers. Kitchen - counter space and cabinets (never enough) - check requirements (IN WRITING) if commercial kitchen required. Laundry room (chute is a nice) needs washers/driers commeasurate with the demand of the number of rooms. Linen closet on the same floor as guest rooms - locks on everything. Owners Quarters large enough and comfortable enough for YOU to relax in. MANY OUTLETS in every room. Bathrooms - grab bars, also a grab bar to steady getting out of the shower.
I have an old house and have to "make do" with what I have but when I created an ensuite I made it large and left the original bathroom large and shared, replacing the claw-foot tub (moved to the ensuite) with a 60-inch shower. I will leave it to others to mention things that did not occur to me.
.

I just called a chair lift company to actually ASK. My stairs are 34 inches wide, wall to railing post. The slimmest chair lift will need about 13 inches (max) for the folded up unit and have a max load limit of 310 lbs. Mobility challenged (to be politically correct) are usually wider load. So, we have determined take I was correct, my stairs are not wide enough. Sigh (my knees would love it).
.

Stairs in picture Arks posted look maybe 36 - 39 not all that much wider, if this is something you would really enjoy take a hard look at the floor arrangement around your stairwell, would it be possible for the chair lift track to curve a bit at the top/bottom and in doing so place the actual chair out of the actual stairway and provide the needed space?
.

Nope- that has been considered. This was not a mansion, ALL space was accounted for. When opening the front door, one opens and stands aside or opens the door fully - door jamb to newell post is 34 inches. The hall is 48 inches staircase to wall and there is a radiator in the hall. (not taking that sucker out as it is my emergency heat if power goes out. It is a turn on the gas and light OLD water-filled radiator.Water long gone but it still works - I know from experience.) At the base of the stairs on the other side is the door to the sitting room, my only common area other than the porch or dining room.
A chair lift in this house falls into the same category as a privte bathroom for Rosi's Room - ain't gonna happen.
.

Could you add an addition that has handicap lift of some sort and another bathroom for Rosi... and more common area for guest and more storage and whatever else you can think of!

.

Could you add an addition that has handicap lift of some sort and another bathroom for Rosi... and more common area for guest and more storage and whatever else you can think of!
Rosi's Room and the Harris are on the side of the house at my side yard. The construction costs would not be worth it even if the permitting would be. the Harris could have immediate access to the "shared bath" IF I moved the sink and cut in a door. However, that room now has: door at top of stairs from hall, a wall that is actually solid wall where the dresser is located, next wall has window next to the fireplace, next to the closet. Now we are at the back wall of the house with a window and solid wall(we are not talking a large room). Then we have the wall common with the bathroom (shared). This is where I have the headboard of the queen-size bed that leaves notmuch floor-space in this room. The "cut un door" would eliminate any night stands and to even accommodate said door, the bed would have to move closer to the entrance door.
Although this house floor plan is perfect for a B & B (owner quarters are on one side of first floor and can be locked off - remainder of house guest accessible), it has no way to get plumbing to the front east corner of the house. I was able to create the ensuite for the Gillum Room by taking half of the 4th bedroom (my storage room) that also had a common wall with the original bathroom so we were able to get plumbing there. I am happy with my house as it is. We all have things we would like to do IF it were possible, but accept what is. Three rooms is what I can handle alone and as I have less oomph in my GO, am OK with how things are.

 

[Lee2014]

Greetings;
I am new to all of this, but curious to hear any feedback others might contribute.
I recently purchased a large home in a national historic neighborhood in the Milwaukee area and the home is zoned for this. The house has to be gutted and there is probably two years of work to do , but want to turn hit into a b and b and am writing to hear from other owners what they would do if they were in my shoes. Questions about adding an elevator to second floor for instance, or kitchen and bath designs, storage, linen closets, laundry chutes.
Thanks in advance for any input..

An elevator will be expensive, but would make you ADA and if you are older, your knees will bless you.
Storage is important and never enough. Ensuite bathroom for every room. If gutted, you will be required to install sprinklers. Kitchen - counter space and cabinets (never enough) - check requirements (IN WRITING) if commercial kitchen required. Laundry room (chute is a nice) needs washers/driers commeasurate with the demand of the number of rooms. Linen closet on the same floor as guest rooms - locks on everything. Owners Quarters large enough and comfortable enough for YOU to relax in. MANY OUTLETS in every room. Bathrooms - grab bars, also a grab bar to steady getting out of the shower.
I have an old house and have to "make do" with what I have but when I created an ensuite I made it large and left the original bathroom large and shared, replacing the claw-foot tub (moved to the ensuite) with a 60-inch shower. I will leave it to others to mention things that did not occur to me.
.

I just called a chair lift company to actually ASK. My stairs are 34 inches wide, wall to railing post. The slimmest chair lift will need about 13 inches (max) for the folded up unit and have a max load limit of 310 lbs. Mobility challenged (to be politically correct) are usually wider load. So, we have determined take I was correct, my stairs are not wide enough. Sigh (my knees would love it).
.

Stairs in picture Arks posted look maybe 36 - 39 not all that much wider, if this is something you would really enjoy take a hard look at the floor arrangement around your stairwell, would it be possible for the chair lift track to curve a bit at the top/bottom and in doing so place the actual chair out of the actual stairway and provide the needed space?
.

Nope- that has been considered. This was not a mansion, ALL space was accounted for. When opening the front door, one opens and stands aside or opens the door fully - door jamb to newell post is 34 inches. The hall is 48 inches staircase to wall and there is a radiator in the hall. (not taking that sucker out as it is my emergency heat if power goes out. It is a turn on the gas and light OLD water-filled radiator.Water long gone but it still works - I know from experience.) At the base of the stairs on the other side is the door to the sitting room, my only common area other than the porch or dining room.
A chair lift in this house falls into the same category as a privte bathroom for Rosi's Room - ain't gonna happen.
.

Could you add an addition that has handicap lift of some sort and another bathroom for Rosi... and more common area for guest and more storage and whatever else you can think of!

.

Could you add an addition that has handicap lift of some sort and another bathroom for Rosi... and more common area for guest and more storage and whatever else you can think of!
Rosi's Room and the Harris are on the side of the house at my side yard. The construction costs would not be worth it even if the permitting would be. the Harris could have immediate access to the "shared bath" IF I moved the sink and cut in a door. However, that room now has: door at top of stairs from hall, a wall that is actually solid wall where the dresser is located, next wall has window next to the fireplace, next to the closet. Now we are at the back wall of the house with a window and solid wall(we are not talking a large room). Then we have the wall common with the bathroom (shared). This is where I have the headboard of the queen-size bed that leaves notmuch floor-space in this room. The "cut un door" would eliminate any night stands and to even accommodate said door, the bed would have to move closer to the entrance door.
Although this house floor plan is perfect for a B & B (owner quarters are on one side of first floor and can be locked off - remainder of house guest accessible), it has no way to get plumbing to the front east corner of the house. I was able to create the ensuite for the Gillum Room by taking half of the 4th bedroom (my storage room) that also had a common wall with the original bathroom so we were able to get plumbing there. I am happy with my house as it is. We all have things we would like to do IF it were possible, but accept what is. Three rooms is what I can handle alone and as I have less oomph in my GO, am OK with how things are.
.

Okay. It was just a thought.