Author E.L. Doctorow once wrote that houses are like steel meshes with controlled bomb explosions. The family home can certainly trigger intense battles over boundaries – and there can be fewer places that inspire such intense contention then the shared bedroom. If little Leo crosses over the invisible line drawn by big brother Tim that divides their beds, toys and floor space, it can be Armageddon. 

Loft Conversions: Blue Sky Thinking

The solution is easy in theory – get a bigger house so Tim and Leo can have a room each – thus, years of bickering can be swapped for a more diplomatic co-existence. But in practice, moving to a bigger property can be impossible. Financially, you may not be able to get a bigger mortgage thanks to the credit crunch. Emotionally, you may not want to move because you love your family home. You may not want to have to move schools, or leave your neighbourhood. The solution could be some blue sky thinking – to opt for a loft conversion. Investing in an extra bedroom for your children, could also be an investment in their well being and future – research by the National Housing Federation revealed that poor housing, such as lack of space for homework, noisy neighbours and shared bedrooms can contribute to children underachieving at school. 

Attic Attack!

Writing in the Guernsey Press, columnist Shaun Shackleton voiced the concerns that many young families have struggling with a growing family. His column 'Attic Attack' describes how his two young daughters who share a bunk, end up arguing three nights out of seven: “Most kids believe there is a monster under his or her bed. With the Princess, it’s her sister,” Shackleton writes about his eldest daughter. “This is a scenario played out across the world, I imagine. Two kids, one bedroom. Both growing up. The elder needing to get away from the younger. Arguments, resentment, back-arching...the fact is, the kids are outgrowing their room. To be fair, it really is big enough for only one child...The Princess really needs her own gaff.” Shaun rules out an extension because of the recession, (“instead of adding bricks and mortar,” he writes of homeowners, “they’re just bricking themselves”), a house move because of the property crash, a tent in the garden, a camper van – the only option, he concludes is a loft conversion. Having additional space can give you the much needed mental space for a peaceful family life. Whether you are an artist who needs to escape the mayhem, a home worker who wants to physically divide work from home, or a growing family desperately in need of an extra bedroom, a loft conversion could be the solution. 

The Mad Woman in the Attic

The potential of attics clearly has a grip on our imagination. And not just when it comes to daydreaming about what you can do with that extra space. Lofts and attics have a certain romantic escapism. Attics are often used in literature and movies to represent our subconscious fears and desires – most famously in Charlotte Bronte's classic, Jane  Eyre. The attic was where Rochester kept his crazed first wife. The book launched a literary genre – the 'madwoman in the attic' – which is certainly no way to refer to your grandma if you've used your loft conversion to create a granny flat! But loft conversions have certainly come a long way from the cramped secret staircase winding up to a lonely garret. Now, lofts are not places where we hide away unwanted things – they can be transformed into sophisticated, airy, spacious spaces that can have multiple uses including an extra bedroom, art studio, office, gym, playroom or recording studio. 

Loft Conversions: Reach for the Stars

Lofts are part of the house, but still a little apart - you have to climb up your own dedicated staircase to get to the loft. Loft conversions therefore can be every little boy or girl's dream; having a bedroom in a loft conversion is something of an adventure - like having a treehouse. For parents, loft conversions can also represent a place to relax and indulge – a dedicated space cut off from teenagers – where they can take in the lofty views and breathe easy in a specially designed bedroom complete with en-suite or even a rooftop terrace. When it comes to achieving peace in our homes, loft conversions take us that little bit closer to heaven!