Victorian Backside Return

THE END

2010-12-23T10:22:00.000-08:00

We have finally reached the end [almost] after 14 weeks, we can now relax in our double lounge on this gorgeous L Shape sofa piled with lots of cushions, throws and sheepskin pelts. This is the cosy corner for watching movies and we even slept down here after getting our sofa re-installed, it decided to move across the road to our lovely neighbours for the duration of the build!

Lovely cream wool knitted trow and sheepskin pelt.

Our Scottish throw, brown woven throw and another pelt, very tactile though BH is like whats all this stuff! As I write this the toes are cosily ensconced in the throw, hmmm....

Our lovely vintage bag chandeliers finally in place, with the crystals reflecting on the ceiling.

Our Arco lamp has been put back in place, the curtains were rehung yesterday with the swags and tails.

View of the other end of the lounge. Our new claret sofa from sofasandstuff arrived last week despite the awful snow! And within our time slot, thrilled to bits, cosy, squishy and sublime already caught a few zeds on her. The floor looks great after being a building site and general dumping ground it's been sanded, dyed and varnished along with the skirting boards. The fireplace took 1 hour of scrubbing to clean, the Arco looks fab over the sofa for reading I cannot move it at all the base is sooooo heavy!

Another angle to see the arms and seat back of the sofa.

Expanse of lovely wooden floor.

My corner hehe!

The door is in place for the study and BH's corner is closest to do all the home entertainment. Still need to put up paintings, art, install the original marble fireplace from the old back louge at the moment it's functional so we will have a crackling fire on Christmas day!

Our lovely wenge wood dining table from GoModern arrived on Tuesday, again they battled awful weather to get it here from Portugal what a result! And our dining chairs are all set up in chocolate leather, very comfy! The table extends to seat 10 and has a brilliant gloss insert to match the colour of the cappuccino marble floor tiles.

View from the oven of the island, the chandeliers, dining table and our bi fold doors. These took 2 hours to clean and BH really went for it. The house took 9 hours to clean from top to bottom on Monday and I was putting in hours over the previous weekend too. In total maybe 2 days to be dust free?!

View of the bi fold doors, glass roof and kitchen window above the sink. Notice we have the hob installed?!

Orchid for the window ledge, mum will be taking this to her orchid sanctuary when it stops flowering and returning when it buds again, I end up killing them after they flower!

It's been great rearranging, feels like we've just moved in! Have lemon, bergmont, orange and cinnamon on the oil burner very christmassy, our gold hand from Thailand used to be in the hallway looks brilliant here!

Portrait view, look at the lovely finish of that window sill!

Our fab really heavy candle holders look amazing on the new wenge wood dining table.

View of the hob, extractor and long length of lovely clean units.

The floor to ceiling units are all jam packed now, did the food shopping yesterday, the fridge is heaving!


Our Peugeot salt and pepper mills are back, I have missed them and our cute salt pig made by our niece Maia. These are pride of place on our granite work top saver/platter in the same Brazilian Titanium Granite.

The utility room, how lovely glossy and chic is this?! Love it! Our porcelain sink is in with our flexi mixer tap, LG washer/dryer plumbed in [I have really missed it after so many shrinking clothes at the laundrette!].

This is the old kitchen and provides ample storage, all the cleaning, laundry, Dyson, ironing board, towels, candles are stored in here.

This is a fab tap, was so handy in the huge clean up.

Huge porcelain sink and drainer board.

Oops I forgot and a toilet for downstairs at last! Orange hand towel to match the mirror - natch!

Pictured only because it's so tidy not sure how long it will stay like this, Ikea here I come to buy all those baskets I snort at!

Yes almost ready needs to go on the wall looks nice here for now!

View from the hallway, the garden is reflecting in those floor tiles!

Worktops arrived!

2010-12-15T01:37:00.000-08:00

Splash back for the hob in titanium granite which is th most unusal granite, click on the picture for a large view!

In the process of installing the sink, the island and worktops are in with the upstand.

Undermounted sink is ready! There is an update to follow with the boiling water tap and the Chrome mixer tap to be installed today.

View of the wide window ledge which is 8 inches to accommodate those herb pots!

In action the holes for the taps and drilled on site to ensure no last minute changes are made!

Mini Update

2010-12-07T14:32:00.000-08:00

I call this mini as I am so used to posting weekly not bi-weekly or daily as I don't have time to badger BH to get snapping away each day. However we are impressed with the progress so far take a look at these pictures...above is the new extractor and boy is it powerful!

Our pendant lights are in situ at last remember us banging on about them months ago? The electrician came on Saturday they couldn't get to us on the Friday as planned due to the awful snow and icy conditions we were experiencing here.

Not only did they install the pendants we have spots, task lighting and the extractor lights too!

This is a view to take in, the shiny floor, glossy units[protector isn't even off yet!] The fridge freezer is plumbed, the double oven is connected.

Our island unit we were procrastinating over is in and it looks fab with the pendant lights hanging over it. Once the work tops are in we are on the finish line! Our builders have done a fab job putting this kitchen together remember all those zillions of boxes? The door handles are all in, brushed chrome to match the tap, sink, extractor, appliances and sockets.

Close up of our direction brushed chrome task lighting.

View of the chandeliers and the recessed spot lights, all are on dimmer for great mood lighting!

Voila they are home!

The kitchen is almost complete!

2010-12-02T14:36:00.000-08:00

We are so excited the units arrived last week 7 days ago and we started installing the kitchen on Tuesday, two days later and look at the progress. All the units are attached to the wall.

These are the floor to ceiling units housing the fridge/freezer, pull out pantry, double oven, microwave and grill, the wine cooler and a corner pull out pantry!

This is a view of our slick island unit which will be minimalist with sharp edges.

View of the new windows and some fancy framework.

Well I did say it was fancy, new system for easy cleaning, these are aluminium window frames, double glazed and sash to keep with the period details of the house.

We did warn you these are fancy, took us ages to get the hang of this high tech window!

The sink is in next to the window.

And a close up, no kettles in this crib, cool Insinkerator hot water tap. The tank is mounted under the sink which has cool deep drawers for keeping cleaning potions.

Close up of the sink!

And a proper sized dishwasher! Yay! We had a slim line one before which our builder commented was for one person who ate once a day!

Top of the dishwasher, so many boxes to get rid of it's like Christmas already!

What a great view, can't wait to see all the doors on, and yes we are standing in the snow taking these pictures!


Looks so slick and warm! More updates tomorrow! I can't wait the electrician is coming so these 2 beautiful chandelier lights will be installed above the island and the directional spots above the units under the glass roof!!! Now I am going to read a bit about getting crafty and into the Christmas spirit - I know totally bonkers.

warm, toasty and cosy!

2010-11-27T08:39:00.000-08:00

This is the previous state of the kitchen just 6 weeks ago!

Now look at the amazing work, during this time the wall has been plastered and rendered on both sides. Addiitonally aluminium box gutting was fitted by our builders as the roofers do not do guttering. The builders have then smoothed the edges with really neat plaster work right up to the top where the glass frame starts. And you will notice this week we got delivery of the roof in the kitchen with 2 electric opening vents.

View from below

View from the other side wall of the kitchen, check out the right where you can see the really sharp clean lines of the window frame, the window will be in place next week! Yay!

This is the kitchen, sorry the units which are going to be installed next week. Tons of boxes the most BH and I have done is wardrobes, this looks like a lot of fun!

And the boiler has been moved to insert the flue above the glass roof. This is the utility room AKA Former kitchen. The manifold in the bottom right hand corner was fitted yesterday, so we are snuggly and warm. Thanks a million as the temperature has dropped drastically and we are expecting snow!

This is another view of the utility room, all the pipe work for the upstairs bathrooms is coming through here, huge amount of work as this was all external before, lordy you saw the state of this room before and our pipe work was to say the least dire before the builders got their mitts on it. I watched Mr T using his fab blow torch to fix in all these pipes, radiators and the manifold.

The ladder radiator for the utility room is in place and drum roll... the skirting boards are in place! Don't they look amazing? Actually we know they look amazing.

Close up of the manifold it's the last time you will see this powerful beast.

Utility room door with completed victoriana framing, looks lovely.

The kitchen and utility room units.

Beautiful capaccino marble floor which is so toasty underfoot! Snow eat your heart out we are snug!

Utility room marble floor, we couldn't help it lovely and warm!

The Study

The roof is in place, and our kind builders are going to complete the work as the roofers don't do corners.

Check out those skirting boards! Neat, neat, neat, it's all looking fab, and did I say it's warm too? All heated!

This alcove is the old kitchen door which led to the garden, now it will have shelves in place.

Couldn't help it, check out these skirting boards and the finished floor!

These are the steps down into the study from the lounge, there will be a frosted glass door here, we had to have a step due to the architect doing bad plans, but our builders came up trumps. This cuts into the lounge floor and has a cool ledge on the left [thinking fab uplighters], these are also the original floor boards. Also we had a headache over the skirting boards in the lounge as the ones from the old back lounge didn't match, these look better than the original and very arty. Look at the grooves!

View of the steps from the study into the lounge - very nice!

Skirting under where the TV will be, and the step down into the study, this was such a great idea!

The Lounge

The door frame to the study is complete, with the step down. Additionally the old picture rails have been srtipped and reinstated. The radiator has been put back in too so very warm now.

A productive week so far!

2010-11-19T12:10:00.000-08:00

Its been a busy week so far we are now making headway to the finish line! We found a fabulous company which came up trumps with delivery in 2 days and a fatastic tiler who will be working throughout the weekend to finish.

The company is called Authentic Stone and they have been an absolute pleasure to deal with, we confirmed payment and details and the tiles were delivered within 48 hours, faster if we required but fine at this excellent speedy response, and they sent samples as promised before we placed our delivery. The chap to speak to is Evrim he talked through the entire order, provided the materials we needed and a tiler to finish the job over the weekend so we were not in the builders way.

The tiler has started the job here in the kitchen and you can see the Cappuccino Highly Polished Marble looks fantastic.

We have completed three quarters of the kitchen today alone!

This has not yet been grouted or sealed and it's still shiny!

All the tile edges have been lined up so neatly it will almost look like one piece when finished, can't wait!

We also present to you the framework of the roof, this was installed earlier this week, we are waiting for the glass, there will be two electric opening vents in the kitchen and one in the study all covered with glass!

View from the doorway, we are waiting for the kitchen sash window to be installed fingers crossed it's in next week.

The builders cleared out the entire kitchen area and there was a huge amount of equipment and materials in here, so the tiler could get on with everything.

Just appreciating this beautiful marble floor! You can also see the pipe work is complete for the sink, tap outside and instant hot water tap from Insinkerator the kettle is now redundant!

This is a view from the kitchen sink across the new kitchen. The plaster as you can see is still drying, wish it was summer!

The roof, no glas yet but it will be in soon. On the left the steel been has been boxed and plastered and on the right the guttering is in and the plastering is complete ready for sanding then painting.

On another note we are so excited for Christmas being just round the corner we have ordered our dining set and sofa!

We have been promised delivery one week before Christmas and these are the pieces of furniture that are coming.

Sofa from Sofas and Stuff in Parsons Green.
This is our new sofa in a divine claret colour, looks amazing in the light and beautiful plum colour and in low lighting an espresso colour.

Dining Table from Go Modern
Dining table extends from 6-8 with a cool insert in mocha gloss.

Chairs from Dwell
We snagged a bargain we saw these at Go Modern and these are identical at Dwell! Barganista!

We also got some essentials but we won't bore you, the toilet for the utility room arrived along with a funky chrome ladder radiator. You want pictures? Only when BH is in situ on the loo!

That's all folks, will update when the floor is complete.

accident in the bathroom.

2010-11-15T05:09:00.000-08:00

So I decided to have a relaxing bath on Sunday morning whilst BH was sweating it out at boot camp from 8am till 9am. I lit some oil burners in the bedroom and the bathroom, from oils4life which is a great company with fast delivery and I got free cinnamon with the order so all very seasonal.

So in the bath salts go and some oils all set up ready to go. Now instead of diluting hot and cold I prefer very hot [and leave it to cool a tad], so popped out to the laundrette with our huge Louis Vuitton laundry bag. I looked more like Kelly on the right with a face pack on too! haha. Just kidding about the face pack and seriously I do not spend £1200 for laundry bag mine was £2.50 being the true barganista and equally stylish!

SO after the quick jaunt round and ticket to collect at midday decided to wallow with a cuppa which involves making the said cuppa up on top of the washing machine in the lounge full of sweaty smelly builders clothes a hole to the study and very dusty.

Tripped back up and wallowed enjoying the mo. Our friend popped over after the boot camp [when I had finished in the bath but not emptied] for a sneak preview. After she left I unplugged the bath and cripes was I scared! Sounded like a waterfall, legged it down and the pipe wasn't fixed in the builders had forgotten and left it open!!! Water was gushing into the study and the old kitchen like mad; so shot back up re-plugged the bath then spent 15 minutes mopping up all the water from the study and the utility room. Very relaxing.

We then popped out for the footie to Stamford Bridge, wish I had stayed at home, it was freezing, raining and we [Chelsea] got mauled by Sunderland of all teams!

Anyway when we returned all the floors were dry so very relieved!

So the agenda for the week is as follows;
Kitchen to be finished by completing all plastering and white washed.
Roof frame to be installed over kitchen and study.
Boiler to be moved so flue can extend over roof..
Kitchen extractor flue to be completed.
Utility room [old kitchen] to be finished and white washed.
Window in the kitchen to be installed.
All brickwork to be pointed and completed.

where have you been?!

2010-11-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

Ok apologies for the lack of updates. we packed the camera charger in the boxes and had to order another one, then work, lack of time brings us to the end of the week and some updates.
The outside view previously you could still see the steel beams now all the bricking is complete looks like it's always been like this!

Very neat edges for the doors, check out our lovely patio hope they clean up!

View inside; notice something different? 3 things!
The kitchen wall is up separting the sudy, and the wall is plastered, and there is no more blue walls all plastered!

Beautiful sharp edge this was previously a curved edge on the left now it's sharp, clean and minimal!

This is the finished surround of the kitchen window all plastered last week it was still breeze block.

Above the doors is complete now too! BH had to sneak in another shot of the doors and we are meeting demand from those requests for more views!

This is the utility room where the washing machine, ceramic sink and tall boy unit will be with warm walnut worktops. All the pipes will be hidden, everything in place for hot and cold as well as the underfloor pipes.

Utility room view to the doorway, lovely plastered walls, remeber the green paint, the red tiles and all those wires? All gone!

This was the doorway to the old dining room, there will be a toilet on the right and the recess will hold some shelves which BH will build and install.

View of the boiler, messy pipes galore, very precarious at the moment and bit scary earlier this week, no hot water and carbon monoxide coming in!

View of the window, this is filled in with insultation at the moment to keep the heat in, the
temperatures have dropped this week, non stop rain, very high winds, glad we are finishing inside.

Bit of a teaser...

We went to the tile shop to order the tiles and the work top, dribbled around the showroom then made our way to the sports shop [def not as much fun as tiles and work tops].
Decision on the floor is Diana Royal Polished in 600X400 they are divine.
Decision on the work top, Brazilian granite called titanium, they will send me some pictures so we will update you next week! THough I have posted one pic earlier in the blog.
We will have a 3 inch upstand and use the same granite as a splashback behind the hob and on the island counter.

After a strenous morning we then made our way to the kitchen shop and here is a computerised image of the kitchen and utility room!

Smooth walls nearly...

2010-11-07T05:18:00.000-08:00

Week 9

The plastering has started!

View of the doors and finished plaster.

View of where the roof will go in, the boxing [in wood] is finished and ready for the guttering.

The floor is ready for tiles, the wet underfloor heating system is in place and the floor is now at the finished level. This was achieved the day of the tube strikes!

The other side of this wall in the neighbours side return is rendered and ready for painting.

Just waiting for the last wall to be plastered now, can see the original lounge blue paint, disappearing slowly!

View of the last wall which will have tall units and the fridge all along. The left corner was curved now prepared for a sharp corner.

View of what will be the study leading to the lounge, a wall will be in place here mid next week.

Smooth ceiling ready for painting and all the electrics will be pulled through for the light fittings.

The wall in the utility room has been put in place with sound proofing and insulation, where the ladders are will be the toilet.

The pipes here will all be hidden behind a tall boy unit with a run of units along the right hand side housing the sink, washing machine and storage space. The sink will be a belfast sink and the worktop will be dark wood.

The old kitchen door out to the original side return has been boxed in, the other side which is now a study will have recessed shelving. Our friend's idea is taking shape!

The floor in the utility room is also ready, this was a huge step down before now up to the finished level.

Trials & Tribulations

2010-11-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

OK this is called the trials and tribulations of a Victorian Side return extension and to date it's all been tribulations. The last week has been a trial of humongous proportions, I am trying to hold myself together and not freak out.

No one turned up on the previous Friday, and then they all were away on the Monday, the head honcho had a knee job so went in for an operation. Fine can't do anything about that. Then the young dude was off sick all week [he turned up today and I thought he wasn't coming back?!]

The electricians did turn up on Monday & Tuesday to rewire entire ground floor and install a new fuse box. The costs they charged has got me changing occupation, as I type I am already enrolling on a course. From Media Sales to Women Only Electrician Company, we will wear pink hot pants and crop tops for our on site visits and I will charge twice as much as these two were not pretty or funny just - never mind you catch my drift though.

Seriously they did two days work, drank loads of coffee, moaned we didn't have fresh milk only the powdered kind - work harder and finish the job and I will have a swanky kitchen with all the fresh milk you can "moo!" at. Anyway after two days they have done their bit and I will grudgingly say good job but when you can't fiddle switches or turn on a ghetto blaster and just look at the damp dank ground floor how am I supposed to get excited? And at the eye watering cost I can see, smell, feel or touch this amazing work they have done.

I will stop grumbling. Anyway the builders decided to come back on Thursday I won't include Wednesday as that's a joke a couple of hours tickling something or other and no they were not tickling BH otherwise I would have found that hilarious!

Thursday they got in ripped down the old ceiling, put up new plasterboard. Finished bricking side return wall, and the outside. Doesn't sound like a lot but a huge improvement.

Friday - gosh I can't remember!

OK. Oh they changed the soil pipe. And moved loads of other pipework for the roof. This should have been done two weeks ago for the roof guys, so that's been delayed till today for them to do final measurements. The guttering also hasn't been done yet so we need to wait a week for that to be delivered.

I hope & pray tons is done today.

You want pictures? Of What???? Nothing exciting - sorry I will promise loads of pictures later this week but well ummm I may not be able to deliver.

Anyway this made me chuckle...Construction Workers Understand

Four surgeons are discussing who makes the best type of surgery patient.

The first surgeon says, “I like to see accountants on my operating table, because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered.”

The second responds, “Yeah, but you should try electricians! Everything inside them is color coded.”

The third surgeon says, “No, I really think librarians are the best; everything inside them is in alphabetical order.”

The fourth surgeon chimes in: “You know, I like construction workers ~ they seem to understand when you have a few parts left over at the end and when the job takes longer than you said it would.”

The doors are finally here!!!

2010-10-21T11:10:00.000-07:00

So the bifold doors have arrived and been installed, it's so exciting!!!

They have the coolest track mechanism and you can operate the remote at the flick of a switch!

Only joking, Its in two locking parts so you can open two sections at a time...

The elusive electrician finally appeared and pulled a few gaping holes out the ceiling.

So if you can count 6 holes for spots we are on track, we will install an upside down bath in the huge hole in the middle of the ceiling. Art Noveau dontcha know?!

All the brincking inside is complete, and just another sneeky peek at those doors...mmmmmm

Sorry we couldn't help ourselves, we introduce you to our new crush, "the doors!"

Ok calm down in defence this is a view from he garden outside-in...

And this is to show you the kitchen window...oh ok we admit those doors again!!!!

Who is this geezer posing? Looks like a club venue not a building site, having too much fun me thinks, or I'll ask what's really in those red bull cans.

Now the two - this is getting ridiculous, looks like a love fest.

The doors - that's better.

Kitchen window, this may be your last view from the old dining room window.

Enjoy, lets take a moment...

Back to the doors, this is getting ridiculous, we have signed up to BFDA Bi Fold Doors Annonymous.

Well I have but I think BH is going bonkers, the doors in their open glory...

Drum Roll - semi open

Ish

Nice from inside

AND open glory from inside note they open outwards so no space lost, what an amazing view!

The END - quiet exhausted with all that door loving...

Wall, doors and no more steel...

2010-10-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

I have to apologise for the few updates this week, we have been forcing the builders to show real progress.

So the agenda this week is to complete the walls, the bi-fold doors are going in tomorrow, the underfloor heating pipes and materials should arrive before the end of the week and the bricking outside and in are going to be finished.

Check out the window frame, it looks so neat, this will be a double glazed Victorian sash style window in the corner above the sink.

The window sill will be wide on the inside to put potted herbs!

This wall is begging for a hanging basket!

The corner has been bricked very neatly just a few more to go, that pile on the left is really going down!

View from the present lawn. The lawn will be replaced on Monday so more exciting pictures for next week. We will no longer need a mower or to scarify and ponce about out there as we are getting very real looking astroturf! Yay!

Side of the house looks almost complete with the window side all bricked in.

View from the rear, the ceilings are so high it looks fab!

Bricking completed "almost" inside, the doors are going in then this will be plastered and smooth and slick and ok I will stop now!!

The patio outside will be level with the lintel and inside so all one level.

Sink corner!

Rubble gone-ready for screeding...

2010-10-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

The old lounge floor is now ready for screed, underfloor heating and insulation then tiling.

Old kitchen has been prepped and the pipes need to be sorted, these are the new drains until they are permanently moved - worried about shower in the morning!

This is what our sink and showers are draining into the manhole for now! Two views so you know what I am talking about...

more steel, can we have some walls? hello?

2010-10-13T11:12:00.000-07:00

OK even more steel went in today, quiet frankly the Victorians did well without this much I think building regulations are going OTT. Even have to weld a hairline gap too.

Anyway to appease you steel lovers here is a picture-knock yourself out.

Get ready for a shocker -heart in your mouth moment!

2010-10-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

And I am not kidding this is fierce progress!!!

BH thinks he's cracked the secret code on how to work with builders to get things done!
Week 6 - 10am
The house mates were set a task to find the missing walls.

"Yes done KMB!" says Thomak

Side wall view from inside.

Rear view from garden. Only 2 walls standing and a lora lora steel!

Wow check out the neat brickwork!

And again...

Side view...

Awesome! We can see the space we are working with, time to look at cool stuff soon!

Old victorian drains being relocated.

The extra steel was delivered today and BH had a lightbulb moment - not in a good way. As all the powered tools were on energy is being zapped from us, how big will the electricity bill be? Cripes the entire house was shaking as they cut the steel like paper on site!

Steel is in one more to go!!!

2010-10-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

So the entire back wall is done, the french doors were here with access to the garden from our blue Chelsea FC room!

This is Thomas hard at work gone 6pm shouting "go" "go" "go!!!!" he wanted the foundation in to put the steel in today!

Foundation being poured in...

View of the old fireplace which has been stripped and relocated. Looks naked!

View from the garden of the back elevation. You can see the rubble we are using to infill the back, we are being very green and recycling.

All that cornicing is going guys, ultra modern kitchen coming, the lounge is victoriana with all the original fireplaces, picture rails and lovely ceilings.

How precarious does this look?!

Scary

Visualising the space!

The old kitchen floor, now utility room, no wonder the boiler keeps tripping off in this mess!

Old exit to the side return will now be recessed shelving in BH's study following the old opening of the door to add some features in the new study.

Side return you can see the wall here and the bricked up window!

Door to the hallway, this will look lovely promise!

OK not so hopeful but you can see where I am going with this...

This is nicer, view from the new lounge formerly the old dining room.

The steel is in! wow...

Good bye to blue walls! I Loved this colour!

This wall is also coming down this week!

Mass destruction!

2010-10-06T01:03:00.000-07:00

OK got home yesterday and wasn't really expecting much to be completed but!

The steel beam across the back of the house will be 2.5m instead of 2.1m above the ground. More light more height!
~~The steel arrives today [I hope!] Got our 7th skip so far too so much rubbish! And we are in filling the back with rubble too can you believe and we still have spare!~~
This week the side wall where the fireplace was [old back lounge] will be coming down.
~~The fireplace marble surround will be moved to the front lounge.~~
~~The doorway for the bi-fold doors will possibly be wall at he side will~~
~~Old kitchen floor - new Utility room will be dug up.~~
Old kitchen door [now utility room will be blocked up with a recess for shelves on the study side.

The above have been ticked off! There is a huge hole at the back of the house eek!!!! Again I was so excited this was taken on my phone, I have proper pictures to upload tonight!

Victorian Tiles recovered and new craft project!

2010-10-05T05:50:00.000-07:00

We had a review with the building team this morning to discuss a few options/decisions.

The steel beam across the back of the house will be 2.5m instead of 2.1m above the ground. More light more height!
The steel arrives today [I hope!] Got our 7th skip so far too so much rubbish! And we are in filling the back with rubble too can you believe and we still have spare!
This week the side wall where the fireplace was [old back lounge] will be coming down.
The fireplace marble surround will be moved to the front lounge.
The doorway for the bi-fold doors will possibly be wall at he side will
Old kitchen floor - new Utility room will be dug up.
Old kitchen door [now utility room will be blocked up with a recess for shelves on the study side.

Well got home yesterday and my key wouldn't work! But that will be sorted today hopefully the builders are not locking us out of our home!

Here is the progress apologies in advance I was lazy and took these with my iphone!!!;

This is the utility room floor, there is damp so it is being dug out deeper to damp coarse.

Original Victorian quarry tiles were found and I have saved 4 from the skip for some abstract art in the new interiors. The back of the tiles have lovely design which I will display but I need to buy some cleaning solution to take off the cement/concrete and get them looking lovely.

The floor had been covered over with screed and cement and our old Amtico floor tiles. Had no idea this was still here! As the floor is in a Victorian terrace the Victorian quarry tiles have been laid on a lime substrate without any damp proofing.

So I need to get my mitts on Nanotech and get going, we have plenty of time for crafty projects. I may just mount inside deep Ikea frames or on the wall directly if BH wants to help even better!

The fireplace marble surround has been removed! This wall will be coming down this week.

More updates later!

Stop monopolising the laptop!!!!

2010-10-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

These were the words uttered earlier today, apparently it will be confiscated and the password will be changed if I am not quick!

There are a few updates for the week. The TV which everyone has expressed grave concern for is now happily relocated, dust free and proected in the new lounge - former dining room.
The new wall for the study and kitchen is now up, it's been very wet this week, rain everyday, but the double wall with insulation is almost complete.
So the roof chaps will be back www.barnglass.co.uk to acertain exact measurements to build it and install on site in 2-3 weeks.
Here are some pictures of the new lounge, side return and the building yard AKA the garden.

Progress.

2010-10-01T01:37:00.000-07:00

View from the back of our lounge! The fridge is in the perfect position, and with the recent weather the capitx chandelier is making loads of noise.

Fireplaces
We will be keeping the marble surround, but as you can see we have knocked a hole out the old dining room which is now part of the big lounge. SO we will be putting the original Carrera marble surround from the back lounge here.

The problem is the cast iron insert is too small for a proper fire and the old fireplace had naff red brick round it. Picture of it part dismantled in the Blue Room!

So the front fireplace cast iron insert, grille and tiles will be removed and given to our wonderful neighbours who are missing this in their front lounge as they don't use it it's just for decorative purposes.

As it's a Victorian terrace of yellow stock bricks we will tidy up the existing brick and have a big fire basket in there for both the fireplaces. So they will be matching and I think the smooth new plaster, reinstated marble surrounds with the worn brick will give it a cosy rustic feel.

Something like this but ours are much bigger.
http://www.homesandgardens.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1114

Can't wait for xmas it will be great with two fires going!

Chandeliers out the packaging!!

2010-09-30T03:02:00.000-07:00

Birthday!!!

2010-09-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

It's my Birthday tomorrow and it will be spent having breakfast with mum, then meeting the kitchen installers and planting some bulbs on the building site.

The best thing EVER though is that we now live a very monastic lifestyle, no books, no magazines or newspapers as it's so dusty.

I got my grubby mitts on a new piece of kit from BH [better Half] very nice hubby!

Amazon Kindle arrived by post last night, BH set it up and got a book within 20 seconds!

I now have the envious looks from strangers on the train, it's so slim the handbag is smaller and it holds 3500 books! Yipeeeee!!!!

OK back to the house, it's rained non stop today so I reckon not much has been done will post an update later!!!!

2010-09-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

We always have a sand pit for us to play in!!

The side return is being dug up, our defences are down, paving slabs are up. Looks big!

2010-09-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

The stud wall with soundproofing boards are up separting the new lounge from our downstairs parlour room/powder room/facilities!

Where the washing machine is now will be the downstairs throne!

Plenty of 211s here!

OMG the window is gone!!!

All bricked up to ensure extra support for the external wall. Looks so strange!

Pictures of progress...

2010-09-22T13:08:00.001-07:00

This is the new kitchen doorway! BH keeps walking straight past!
We lost the kettle and worksurfaces yesterday as the room is stripped back to nada!

Also had the builder round at 10.45pm to reinstate the boiler after discovering there was no hot water!

Thank god for that as we did not need a cold shower this AM!

The cooker and all these units are now gone!

Residing in the back yard-not a garden anymore looks like a builders yard!
:-(