The kicker is "on each side". So the house is now [50cm | half a metre | 20 inches] shorter length overall in "both" commonly rectangular dimensions. Take any

The kicker is "on each side". So the house is now [50cm | half a metre | 20 inches] shorter length overall in "both" commonly rectangular dimensions. Take any room in your house and remove that much from it and tell me it doesn't detract from the room....