Conversion of under hallway cellar - advice needed Post Reply

[Camion14]

Hi everyone,

I am currently considering options with regards to the under hallway cellar in our Victorian terraced house in Wandsworth and would really appreciate your insight and advice on how best to proceed.

The cellar is about 1.5m x 7m and was originally used for the storage of coal. A thin brick wall separates the cellar from the void space below the living room on the ground floor (note that there appears to be some earth – around 1/1.5m – that would need to be removed).

I am currently envisaging the following options:
(a) Small works option - Have a basic conversion of the cellar into a utility room (and leaving the separation wall as is). This may require damp proofing and lowering the floor by 20/30cm or so but I suspect does not require any structural work
(b) Intermediate works option – as per (a) but add access to the void space (e.g. by making a whole in the wall the size of a window) to be able to store bags and all sorts of items I do not use on a regular basis
(c) Large works option - Have the entire wall removed, create a large room and take full advantage of the void space

My primary objective is to create storage space. However, if we go with option (c) we may add a washroom and space for kids to play.

I would love to hear about your experience and advice if you carried out any of the works listed above (a, b or c), the budget you think is appropriate and builders that you would recommend.

Many thanks in advance,
Camion14

[owenwe]

I turned my grotty cellar into a basic utility but couldn't easily dig down as we had a pipe just below the concrete floor. I have settled with a 5 ft3 height but my washing machine is at the foot of the stairs so that has 'full height' as it has the height of the stairwell going up to the first floor. That way I can load/empty it without ducking, but have to duck a little to access our stuff that's in old kitchen storage that I out down there.
My handyman painted the walls white, added an extra light, painted floor with a waterproof gray paint - job done!