Waste Not, Want Not - Part 1

While the planets realign themselves into the right position for the works to start, we have been mulling over some of the smaller details of the renovation. You'll remember the basement room, which you access from the front entrance and down a few steps. This will be the bike/shoe/boot/coat room or more catchily the vélo-vestiaire.
The problem is, to get bikes through the front door and down those steps is a very tight corner, impossible to negotiate without a third arm and a bruised shin. Our original idea was to widen the little staircase and add a bike rail on it - you know, the kind you see in railway stations. But having got the quote back from the wood man, we decided a re-think was needed. Maybe we could use the large window onto the street. It opens from inside onto street level, and is easily tall enough to push a bike through (or a cart with the shopping). But how to manoeuvre the drop down on the floor?

The DIY Recycling Fairy had a great idea. We simply re-use the bottom three steps from the wooden staircase from the hallway down to the basement, which will be coming out anyway. We reinforce them with something solid underneath, and add on the bile rail down one side. And voila. It's all wood, so nothing a saw and a few nails can't sort out. Well, that's the theory. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out..