A decade ago, we had an extension built on the back of our house. Looking at it now, there’s so much I would change. But back then, constrained by finances, we had to make compromises. More so because we had two children under five at the time who demanded more attention than our builders.
Nevertheless, it has served us well. When my parents visit, it converts into their room. When the children were younger, it was their playroom. In the past couple of years it has become my office. When guest descend it becomes our dining room. Yes, the extra space is a blessing.
But if we were to approach it today, better able to raise the funds to pay for it, it would probably be a larger space. We’d make more effort to bring light into the rest of the house, connecting areas with larger openings. Perhaps we’d swap kitchen and spare room around, locating the shower room elsewhere. Maybe we’d even add an extra storey.
Of course these are tales of what if, revisiting decisions we made when we were constrained by our reality. You have to work with what you can afford at any given time, and learn to make do. And then you just count your blessings, resisting the urge to critique the decisions of your younger self. They did what they could do. Today’s you is a different person altogether.
Last modified: 29 April 2023
