Well, not much happening at the moment. We are still 'nearly there'. The sparky got the bathroom lights and fan in but not much else. He still has the ensuite lights, kids playroom and all the basic pendant fittings to finish up. We are still waiting on the network port for the snug which is on order. The TV ariel needs connecting into the loft after it was cut in November for the new roof.... unfortunately I think it was cut close to the ariel so it will probably need a new cable fitting.
The light shelves are up but not connected - a bit of channeling into the wall needed there unfortunately. The false wall under the stairs is boarded out but still needs the oven isolators and a power socket installing.
The kitchen is still missing a couple of drawer fronts, the spalashbacks and upstands, the breakfast bar and the worktop under the stairs.
The sparky is hoping to finish off next weds or thurs however the light over the piano will be missing since it's at my parent's place.
Carpets are coming a week monday which should see the last big transformation so once the kitchen looks fit we'll get the valuer in and see just how much we've really overspent!
Showing posts with label house. Show all posts
Showing posts with label house. Show all posts
Friday, 9 May 2008
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Bugger
Well great. Our part-time sparky, Gary, was doing his work at weekends and splitting his time between the UK and Spain. This caused some problems as it could be a while between his visits, but he has really done it now. With no warning, we have now discovered he has emigrated permanently - so Geoff now has to find another sparky to take on a partially finished job. There appears to be no major stuff to do - just all the fiddly finishing up - light fittings, switches/sockets in some rooms, the alarm, the outside lights, but it is a long list....... and there are a lot of wires!
Bugger....
But at least the Amtico shoudl get fitted next week and we can finally move downstairs again!
Bugger....
But at least the Amtico shoudl get fitted next week and we can finally move downstairs again!
Monday, 31 March 2008
Outside
Before and After:
The garden hasn't improved much..... but the house has certainly changed!
The front is pretty much there too - The guys spent the weekend putting the plastic trims around the doors and windows, fitting the leading to the front and painting. Most of the guttering is on - just the end and the downpipe needed now. Plus we have the arched trim above the bedroom window. They need to do the same at the back now.
The front door is almost done - a bit of tidying below the sill to do.
The bathroom tiles arrived on friday - I still haven't seen those for the surround, so that'll be a surprise! They're going on starting tomorrow. Geoff is working on the kitchen from tomorrow (maybe today?) and we painted the kids' playroom cupboard doors last night - one green and one metallic purple!
The garden hasn't improved much..... but the house has certainly changed!The front is pretty much there too - The guys spent the weekend putting the plastic trims around the doors and windows, fitting the leading to the front and painting. Most of the guttering is on - just the end and the downpipe needed now. Plus we have the arched trim above the bedroom window. They need to do the same at the back now.
The front door is almost done - a bit of tidying below the sill to do.
The bathroom tiles arrived on friday - I still haven't seen those for the surround, so that'll be a surprise! They're going on starting tomorrow. Geoff is working on the kitchen from tomorrow (maybe today?) and we painted the kids' playroom cupboard doors last night - one green and one metallic purple!
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Utility
The utility room is now plastered apart from the sink wall - Geoff had 'fun' connecting our new taps. The old taps were about 6 inches apart on the wall and the pipes ran vertically into them. The new ones are a bit different, as you can see from the picture:
These aren't the actual taps, but they're similar enough. The entry point for the controls is at the side, so lots of pipe bending was required, but it looks good, and will be very smart when it's tiled...... ah.... tiles...
We have been struggling to pick tiles for the bathroom. We want it smart, but bright, rather than too conservative.
Sarah found some nice glass border tiles - 50mm x 10mm vertical strips in different colours - but unfortunately, at £17 for a 100mm strip, I think that's about £600 just for the strip round the bath..... maybe not then!
But we have found a mirror
These aren't the actual taps, but they're similar enough. The entry point for the controls is at the side, so lots of pipe bending was required, but it looks good, and will be very smart when it's tiled...... ah.... tiles...We have been struggling to pick tiles for the bathroom. We want it smart, but bright, rather than too conservative.
Sarah found some nice glass border tiles - 50mm x 10mm vertical strips in different colours - but unfortunately, at £17 for a 100mm strip, I think that's about £600 just for the strip round the bath..... maybe not then!But we have found a mirror
Monday, 25 February 2008
Better bathroom, roofs and closing borders
A slightly better piccy of the bathroom. We have just received the mirror for over the sink - it is circular with a built in light at the top...
A new window in our old bedroom - we liked the brown walls, but the paper is off now ready for redecorating for the kids.
And the flat roof on the rear porch is now finished. I'd have preferred the proper roof, but it was a few quid and we need to save some money somewhere....
Now next door's new gable wall is up we can see just how 'open and spacious' they have kept the two houses.... At least our plot opens up once you are past the front corner, will be interesting to see how it looks once we plant some greenery along the boundary.
No more pictures of the kitchen now though. The worktop is on (but not fixed) so I'm going to wait until it's finished before I post any more. Progress wise, the extractor is up and we have a working oven, hob and the garbage disposal. Plus the popup power (which doesn't 'popup' unless you pull it - a bit disappointing) in the island is live. The bare switches and sockets are in, but no face plates until its a bit safer. Ditto the flooring.
A new window in our old bedroom - we liked the brown walls, but the paper is off now ready for redecorating for the kids.
And the flat roof on the rear porch is now finished. I'd have preferred the proper roof, but it was a few quid and we need to save some money somewhere....
Now next door's new gable wall is up we can see just how 'open and spacious' they have kept the two houses.... At least our plot opens up once you are past the front corner, will be interesting to see how it looks once we plant some greenery along the boundary.
No more pictures of the kitchen now though. The worktop is on (but not fixed) so I'm going to wait until it's finished before I post any more. Progress wise, the extractor is up and we have a working oven, hob and the garbage disposal. Plus the popup power (which doesn't 'popup' unless you pull it - a bit disappointing) in the island is live. The bare switches and sockets are in, but no face plates until its a bit safer. Ditto the flooring.
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Feb 12th update
Photos from 8th Feb
Doors! We have decided to put glazed doors on the kids room and the rear hall so we can see what the kids are up to and let even more light in at the back. We have put a solid door on the snug to keep it private - and a lock! And a solid door on the front hall to retain the surprise of entering the big room.
The hob is in albeit temporarily, and since the sparky neglected to appear this weekend, we can't really use it as there is no power. It can be lit with a match, but we're going to wait and use it properly. It is a Britannia hob with a Chef Top which is basically a thick lump of stainless steel that sits on top of the fish burner in the middle.
A better piccie of the sink with the tap in full view - full of clutter already....
The rear porch looks great. Just the glass for the door to go in - oh, and the roof to finish off,
The utility is further away than expected - the rear hall seems enormous now we've added the doorway and moved the door to the kitchen a bit.
Photos from 12th Feb.
Work has started on the utility. This used to be an outhouse which the previous owners joined to the house via the shoe room. It has a double thickness brick outside wall, but building regs require us to insulate it before we can knock through from the house and use it.
The guys took the previous poorly fixed plasterboard off and ripped out the old oil fired boiler. We are keeping the Belfast sink (but cleaning it up). We will also keep the vaulted ceiling.
Unfortunately we have a chimney box left over once we remove the wood burning stove. So we will just get that boxed in.
The guys got a bit enthusiastic taking out the windows - and removed some of the wall! But that has now been re-built.
It is actually quite a big room when it's empty! This is Jazic (apologies for the spelling).
We now have the right doors - the solid and glazed doors match.
Doors! We have decided to put glazed doors on the kids room and the rear hall so we can see what the kids are up to and let even more light in at the back. We have put a solid door on the snug to keep it private - and a lock! And a solid door on the front hall to retain the surprise of entering the big room.
The hob is in albeit temporarily, and since the sparky neglected to appear this weekend, we can't really use it as there is no power. It can be lit with a match, but we're going to wait and use it properly. It is a Britannia hob with a Chef Top which is basically a thick lump of stainless steel that sits on top of the fish burner in the middle.
A better piccie of the sink with the tap in full view - full of clutter already....
The rear porch looks great. Just the glass for the door to go in - oh, and the roof to finish off,
The utility is further away than expected - the rear hall seems enormous now we've added the doorway and moved the door to the kitchen a bit.
Photos from 12th Feb.
Work has started on the utility. This used to be an outhouse which the previous owners joined to the house via the shoe room. It has a double thickness brick outside wall, but building regs require us to insulate it before we can knock through from the house and use it.
The guys took the previous poorly fixed plasterboard off and ripped out the old oil fired boiler. We are keeping the Belfast sink (but cleaning it up). We will also keep the vaulted ceiling.
Unfortunately we have a chimney box left over once we remove the wood burning stove. So we will just get that boxed in.
The guys got a bit enthusiastic taking out the windows - and removed some of the wall! But that has now been re-built.
It is actually quite a big room when it's empty! This is Jazic (apologies for the spelling).
We now have the right doors - the solid and glazed doors match.
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
That sinking feeling....
The new drain for the utility. It used to half a 1 1/2 inch waste sunk underground running into a drain int he rear hall. Apparently, this is illegal - only 4in pipes can be underground, so we're getting another new drain laid.
The rear porch is coming on. Now they need to join the sloping roof of the old rear hall to the new flat section and install the box gutters etc.
The front hall on sunday night
and on monday night
We have stripped the stairwell wallpaper, and luckily the plaster is not that bad - just have to find a safe way of painting... time for a longer broom handle on the roller.
The kitchen..... here is the island run with temporary worktop and a gap for the dishwasher. You can see the sink at the end - not the usual installation, it woudl normally face into a corner with walls either side.
The whole kitchen. Top left are two 1000mm drawer units and a 600 drawer line cupboard, the drawer unit int he middle will have the hob on it. Then the corner unit before the run of tall units - oven, oven, larder with pull out wirework, fridge, broom cupboard, then a cupboard run to cover the UFH manifold.
The sink in place - a bit dusty! But you can see how big the main bowl is.
The tall unit run.
The sink complete with tap, soap dispenser and remote switch for the garbage disposal (an InSinkErator ISE65 - must be American with a name like that)
That ISE65 - didn't realise it was that big - good job it's a big cupboard. The clear plastic tube goes to the remote switch - it is an air switch.
Hopefully we'll have the hob in today and the rest of the units ready for the electrician to connect things by the weekend - maybe even a fridge!!!
The rear porch is coming on. Now they need to join the sloping roof of the old rear hall to the new flat section and install the box gutters etc.
The front hall on sunday night
and on monday night
We have stripped the stairwell wallpaper, and luckily the plaster is not that bad - just have to find a safe way of painting... time for a longer broom handle on the roller.
The kitchen..... here is the island run with temporary worktop and a gap for the dishwasher. You can see the sink at the end - not the usual installation, it woudl normally face into a corner with walls either side.
The whole kitchen. Top left are two 1000mm drawer units and a 600 drawer line cupboard, the drawer unit int he middle will have the hob on it. Then the corner unit before the run of tall units - oven, oven, larder with pull out wirework, fridge, broom cupboard, then a cupboard run to cover the UFH manifold.
The sink in place - a bit dusty! But you can see how big the main bowl is.
The tall unit run.
The sink complete with tap, soap dispenser and remote switch for the garbage disposal (an InSinkErator ISE65 - must be American with a name like that)
That ISE65 - didn't realise it was that big - good job it's a big cupboard. The clear plastic tube goes to the remote switch - it is an air switch.
Hopefully we'll have the hob in today and the rest of the units ready for the electrician to connect things by the weekend - maybe even a fridge!!!
Monday, 28 January 2008
That sink!
Well, it arrived today..... a bit unusual, but nothing special.........hmmm.
A Blanco Modus M-90 in Anthracite Silgranit apparently!
Maybe this makes the point a bit better!!!! IT IS HEEUUGE..... What a beast.
The oven is nice, but pretty ordinary in comparison - hopefully they'll deliver the other one soon!
Geoff has had a busy day! The porch looks great even without glass and a roof.
And the Bow window looks nice all lit up!
Tomorrow is BATH DAY!!!!! Wahey.
A Blanco Modus M-90 in Anthracite Silgranit apparently!Maybe this makes the point a bit better!!!! IT IS HEEUUGE..... What a beast.
The oven is nice, but pretty ordinary in comparison - hopefully they'll deliver the other one soon!
Geoff has had a busy day! The porch looks great even without glass and a roof.
And the Bow window looks nice all lit up!
Tomorrow is BATH DAY!!!!! Wahey.
Painting... at last
It's been a busy weekend. The main room plaster has dried so we have been painting - the first time I have wished we didn't have the vaulted ceiling with the Velux!
Anyway, the electrics are progressing - although not fast enough!! This is the current meter and fuse board.....
Soon to be replaced by this monster!!!
We've started stripping the stairwell since it was a mixture of fresh plaster and textured wall-paper.
Here is the main room in it's new white livery - I need a wide angle lens !!!!
Some of the kitchen units are here, ready and waiting
And on Saturday this arrived. We were worried that it woudl look huge in the house, but it looks quite small - maybe we should have bought a bigger one ;-)
Yes - this was that much fun to paint.
Parlo has been putting skirting boards and architrave on - what a difference it makes. Now it's starting to look like a room.
Anyway, the electrics are progressing - although not fast enough!! This is the current meter and fuse board.....
Soon to be replaced by this monster!!!
We've started stripping the stairwell since it was a mixture of fresh plaster and textured wall-paper.
Here is the main room in it's new white livery - I need a wide angle lens !!!!
Some of the kitchen units are here, ready and waiting
And on Saturday this arrived. We were worried that it woudl look huge in the house, but it looks quite small - maybe we should have bought a bigger one ;-)
Yes - this was that much fun to paint.
Parlo has been putting skirting boards and architrave on - what a difference it makes. Now it's starting to look like a room.
Friday, 25 January 2008
Completely Plastered.....
The rear porch is the only major bit of build left to do. We're going for a flat roof to save some money, but the top half is conservatory style - just waiting for it to come from the window company and be fitted.
Here is the cupboard at the top of the stairs. It's a bit smaller than we hoped because the landing needed cutting down to give us clearance up the stairs for building regs, but the cupboard in the bathroom is pretty big which will make up for it.
The ensuite. It looks a bit cramped on the photo, but it isn't in the flesh - the gap into the cubicle is 800mm wide.
This is the secret door at the bottom of the stairs so we can get things up without going round corners.
The main room - not my best photo, but it's all plastered now.
The new front door - it's brown on the outside to match the windows.
All those wires..... New consumer unit is huge to accommodate them all.
The new drain outside. Inspected and passed yesterday so ready to be finished off.
All of this is (almost) just in time. The fridge comes tomorrow, the appliances Monday and the bath on Tuesday. Flooring is booked in for 16th feb - we've found a really good deal on Amtico at T J Flooring (via eBay)
Honey Oak - Ground floor (except snug):
Ceramic dark tiles - bathroom floor:
Here is the cupboard at the top of the stairs. It's a bit smaller than we hoped because the landing needed cutting down to give us clearance up the stairs for building regs, but the cupboard in the bathroom is pretty big which will make up for it.
The ensuite. It looks a bit cramped on the photo, but it isn't in the flesh - the gap into the cubicle is 800mm wide.
This is the secret door at the bottom of the stairs so we can get things up without going round corners.
The main room - not my best photo, but it's all plastered now.
The new front door - it's brown on the outside to match the windows.
All those wires..... New consumer unit is huge to accommodate them all.
The new drain outside. Inspected and passed yesterday so ready to be finished off.
All of this is (almost) just in time. The fridge comes tomorrow, the appliances Monday and the bath on Tuesday. Flooring is booked in for 16th feb - we've found a really good deal on Amtico at T J Flooring (via eBay)
Honey Oak - Ground floor (except snug):
Ceramic dark tiles - bathroom floor:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
