The Lean-To

We started off, about 20 years ago, talking about the "Lean-to."

The "Lean-to" was our imagined house: a kitchen and mead hall worthy of Beowolf—able to accommodate friends and family in huge numbers for dinner—with just enough living space tacked on for the two of us to sleep in (that's the lean-to" part).

Something like this . . .

from http://imgarcade.com

 . . . but a bit more modern, and illuminated with electricity.

For a while, we lost track of that vision and aimed for a historic house to rejuvenate. Then, we looked for commercial property that would suffice. Neither tack worked.

But then we met an architect, married to a newly made friend, and the notion of building resurfaced. And the idea of the Lean-to took on a different life: build a modern structure on the lean-to principle in the middle of an established neighborhood. 

What does it take to build a suburban loft?

•  a good real estate agent
•  a derelict property
•  lots of drawings from a talented architect
•  a patient builder
•  the Zoning Board of appeals
•  agreeable neighbors
•  an iron will and a penchant for debt 
•  encouraging friends
•  enthusiasm for insanity

This is the story of building the Lean-to, of turning an uninspiring 1950s ranch-over-basement into our dream home.

Join the fun as we document the process!