As you’ve probably noticed, progress has been kinda slow. I’m still waiting for the structural engineer to finish up the seismic retrofit design and I’ve been using my time to demolish elements that are either beyond repair or too modern to suit the vintage nature of the building.
While removing non period plywood wainscotting in the saloon, I did not locate the bag of gold coins that was rumored to be hidden someplace. Instead, I discovered a letter from 1939 that discussed the Worlds Fair. I also found a mummified bat with a rather annoyed look on its face.
I figure the previous items do not warrant a new post so I’ll toss in some ideas of what I think the future floor plan may be. 
This first floor shows a rather ample saloon at 20′ x 30′. We’ll just call it a Texas sized family room that will sport a rebuilt version of the original bar, game tables and possibly a pool table if I find an old one that suits my design sense. The Kitchen beyond will be of a country design with a large harvest table in the middle to make the room worthy of a Sunset Magazine foldout. I’ll also put in an old wood stove for decoration. It won’t be functional other than being a neat place to display my cast iron cookware.
The second floor was originally a maze of tiny rooms but with a bit of judicious wall removal, I’ve turned it into 3 bedrooms with 1 bath and his and hers office spaces. Special attention is paid to placing the laundry room on the 2nd floor with the bedrooms. There were, originally, two other laundry hookups, one on the first floor near the back door and one in shed at the far end of the garage structure. The idea of lugging a laundry basket up and down 13 vertical feet of stairs, however, was not so exciting.
Now, the big question is do I want forced air or radiant heating. I’d love your opinions if you have a preference.
Radiant heating keeps the tootsies warm on the second floor. Your salon wood stove will allow heat to warm the air upstairs.
I don’t know the name for it but they have this issue at the beach, fishing cottages not made for whole house anything. You can buy a heat/air unit that sits on top of the wall, remote controlled and connects to a unit outside of the building. Very efficient and you do not have to reduct an old building!
Sounds like a mini split unit. I’ve heard good things about these units.
In our Bandon cottage a block in from the Pacific, we had a heat pump put in for the original main house. It is more than ample to heat the first and 2nd floors (it doesn’t get as cold there in the winter though; but I suspect would still be sufficient here). In the new kitchen/DR addition with porcelain tile floors, we put in radiant heat (mats with wires). It is heavenly and great for the east facing addition.