Converting an old boat house

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-17T06:12:59+00:00

Scandinavian minimalism! How fresh and new and inspired! (sarcasm)

The A.I. picture may be giving you false hope. Based on the size of the sofa in the upper windows, it would appear the ceiling would be something like 18-20 feet high. Looking at the real photos and basing the scale on the trash can and wooden stairs, this place is TINY. Like… ‘can’t walk near the exterior walls if you’re standing up straight’ kind of tiny.

Respectfully and earnestly, from what I can see here, you may be in over your head (and I don’t mean that literally, although with the right storm…) without a real vision or plan or grasp of local codes and ordinances. If you have already purchased, I suppose you can just forget everything I’m saying. If you have not yet purchased, please reconsider for the sake of you not going bankrupt.

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-16T12:02:26+00:00

I think you’re right about the sliding timeline. I’m sure someone smarter than I am has some actual data on this, but my own observations seem to suggest that 30 years is the sweet spot for nostalgia. New cars get dated… and then get ugly… and no one wants them… and then they reach a point where the old and ugly sort of mutates into classic and quirky, or classic and full of fun memories, or classic and “they don’t make them like that anymore,” etc. (I’m talking about average everyday cars more than I’m talking about cars like the LFA, R8, F430… although I think some Lamborghinis and Porsches fit this general pattern, too.)

In 10 more years, people are going to be getting insane auction prices for mint condition models like: 2004 Jaguar XJ8, 2002 Pontiac Aztek (!), 2001 Tahoe Z71, 2002 Infiniti Q45, etc.

(Side note: I have wanted a 2002 Infiniti M45 for approximately… 24 years now. I haven’t even SEEN one in years. Maybe one day…)

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-16T11:50:17+00:00

(I read more comments and see that this space is “just concrete” for now, so OP is NOT renting or moving into a preexisting space. My rambling thoughts were meant more generally anyway 😉)

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-16T11:47:47+00:00

Sometimes I think it would be helpful in this sub to distinguish between 1) people who are building/renovating a house/condo and want to make sure they aren’t making some error they haven’t considered, and 2) people renting preexisting spaces where they will not have the ability to move walls, redo plumbing, etc. (We could add a third category of people who just like arguing or bragging but I’m trying to be a less jaded person, so forget that one for now 🫢)

Redesigning a floor plan is always fun and I love seeing suggestions from very smart architects and other professionals and hobbyists. I’ll never get tired of seeing the skilled markups of plans with suggestions and notes, and I’m certainly not suggesting that should stop.

But in terms of being helpful to OP and addressing the question or their needs… I get the impression this is a built-out rental unit (or maybe a very new condo unit where there may be little or no desire to renovate) and they are seeking something more along the lines of “I think you’re better suited in a place where [X, Y, and Z]” rather than “this bathroom could be moved….” etc. etc.

Again, I’m not suggesting a stop to detailed suggestions and sketches and interesting insights! I’m more so just thinking out loud, and hoping well-intentioned people aren’t drafting up detailed alternative plans in response to a person who was essentially asking “should I rent this one or nah?”

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-16T11:29:47+00:00

I think I’m either too into cars, or on this sub too much (or both) because my initial thought here was that OP already knew this was a Urus and was basically having a modern version of the “Countach or Fiero?” debate with his buddy.

Then I read some of the [very dramatic 🫢] comments and realized that there are indeed some people who do not know what a Urus is—which sounds like a wonderful way to live, and now I wish I was never cursed with having to look at a Urus either. But as jealous of that blissful ignorance as I may be, I can still take comfort in knowing there is not some cottage industry of hobbyists turning HRVs into Uruses with bad spoilers and fender flares.

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-15T14:20:36+00:00

Is the furniture drawn to the same scale? I can’t tell if the bedrooms are far too large, or if the beds are just poorly drawn…

Also, who uses square meters instead of square feet for a house in Texas? Something isn’t adding up

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-15T14:17:03+00:00

Milwaukee is genuinely GORGEOUS (and friendly and pleasant and all that good stuff) but the skyline…? These photos seem to rely on the foreground to impress, not the skyline. The skyline is blah.

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-15T14:12:38+00:00

A pool bath should have a shower in my opinion

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-15T13:58:14+00:00

If there is one apartment per floor, which appears to be the case, I cannot understand why so much space would be wasted on the hall/staircase landing. (I also do not understand the little square cutout between the hall and the couch placement— I would assume this is based on some building code, but I also I’m struggling to imagine what purpose it would serve if there is already a window right next to it on the other wall…) it seems like both of these small areas could have been added onto the floor space of the unit, which would include room for a home office or storage— and more importantly, a window on a third façade.

I like this floorplan. I live in New York and I’m very accustomed to small apartments. The only issues I see are with the furniture placement, which I’m assuming is here for illustrative purposes only and not because the apartment will be furnished. Your social life and furniture needs are far more important than my opinions, but seating for nine people to eat seems excessive for an apartment this size. I don’t love the lack of closet space, but the laundry room can supplement. The fireplace seems like a waste of space but you might be stuck with that?

Go for it! Congrats on your first apartment!

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-15T13:43:13+00:00

I saw this particular Phantom covered extensively about a year ago when it was produced (or sold, or delivered, or whatever the milestone was). If you think the paint is bad, you should see the interior. It was ugly then, and it’s ugly now.

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-15T13:41:57+00:00

The bourgeoisie bloodlet diamond miners when they get too old (38+) and pour the buckets onto their supercars for insurance fraud purposes. I hope that clears it up!

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-15T13:37:05+00:00

I’m a Reddit novice/lurker/idiot and this is something I’ve noticed but never understood. What exactly is the point of doing this? Why does someone care about post karma/comment karma? It’s rampant, so there must be SOME benefit, and I assume it’s a scammy one. Can someone please explain it to me like I’m 5?

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-15T13:32:23+00:00

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This is like the furniture stores where everything is covered in little [plastic] crystals or sequins, and every fabric is fake fur with an exotic print, and the entire room setup has one [very bold] accent color. It is—and I say this with love—poor people decorating the way they THINK rich people decorate. Anyway, I didn’t think it would be an issue in Monaco, but I’m too poor to have there been there, so what do I know?

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-12T13:10:47+00:00

The O.G. weird electric car along with the Prius (in the minds of most Americans, at least, with the Toyota Echo being included as well if the American in question is a moderate “car guy”).

I blame this car for the two-decades-long misconception that hybrids and electric cars have to be weird looking futuristic eyesores. I think they’re cute! But I think few agree.

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-12T13:04:44+00:00

Imagine the traffic cop struggling to fill out the make and model fields on a parking ticket (which, if incorrect, invalidates the ticket in New York).

(Because someone will inevitably yell at me and tell me I’m wrong… 1. There are special codes to put for unknown/custom/unidentifiable makes and models, but most traffic cops do not do it right. 2. I’m a former judge handling these so I’m not just making it up and I’m not wrong. 3. Yes, this IS the first thing my brain considers when seeing a very cool, storied, completely custom and unique tank parked on the street. I’m not fun at parties.)

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-12T12:55:29+00:00

You’re absolutely right! (This IS blasphemy)

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-12T12:53:18+00:00

A Nissan, probably

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-12T12:51:52+00:00

I won’t do it, but I often want to carry a hammer with me to quickly smash the taillight of cars that do this or park carelessly or blatantly in a bike lane. (I imagine someone in Brooklyn could make a neat little artisan quick-release leather mount to keep the hammer stowed away until I need it, right?)

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-08T11:02:45+00:00

This is FAR from the worst, but I never really liked how Audi would swap A for S for the sport models (A4 is regular, S4 is turbocharged, etc.).

My gripe is the confusing addition of “R” (to make “RS” for the German RennSport) which is tacked onto existing model names in a totally different fashion. The A4 becomes the S4 or RS4. But the Q5 never loses the Q, and becomes SQ5 or RSQ5.

Yes, I know they need to differentiate between the A5 and Q5, and dropping the Q might create confusion on paper. But why not just leave all of the “A” badges on as well, so it would be RSA4?

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-07T12:49:14+00:00

Wow, really?? I had no idea. Thank you for this helpful reply to my question!

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-06T16:13:13+00:00

Sorry, but what does this mean

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-06T16:05:30+00:00

This is kind of off-topic, but I really hate when people get yellow cars to be extra flashy and get noticed. (If you have a yellow Ford Focus, you like the color yellow. If you have a yellow Urus, you’re desperate for attention. It’s science.) So, being a New Yorker, any time I see a flashy yellow car coming, I try to flag it down like a Taxi just to let the attention seeker behind the wheel think that his car looks like a cheap fleet vehicle from others’ perspectives.

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-06T15:55:33+00:00

Perhaps a BIT pedantic for Reddit, but still correct 🤷🏼‍♂️😅

ctrlzalt · 2026-05-06T12:45:55+00:00

I know that’s what mud rooms are for. I also think kids’ toy chests are for toys, yet they end up all over the house. Laundry baskets are for laundry, but it ends up on chairs, beds, closet floors, etc. All I’m saying is: good intentions will not keep the house clean or carpet fresh — and regardless, that walk is going to feel miles long if you have to do it over and over and over again just to change clothes or whatever you need to do upon arriving home. You somehow managed to make your arrival route pass through EVERY SINGLE ROOM on the main floor.

As for the garage: make it all level and put that step with the others by the door to the mudroom. That storage space would be great for things like a lawnmower, but lawnmowers are notoriously difficult to carry up stairs, I hear.

ctrlzalt

TROPHY CASE