Renovating duo return for 2016!

2016 – Is a fresh start for all of us and how things have moved on in our 1930’s residence already! Renovators will jointly agree that this particular month feels like torture; Coldness that penetrates through the floors, drafty gaps that have yet to be sealed and endless trips to the tip feels like the harshest of times to be coping with the temporary upheaval. As much as I enjoy the actual hands-on process of renovating, I just want the whole thing to be over and done with. That sense of utter despair when a project can linger too long and tools become your potential death trap as they litter the floor. If only, we could slip away to a nice Somerset boutique hotel and forget the mess we have become so accustomed to living in – But I know that sense of achievement is only around the corner. Here’s what we’ve been up to;

Reversing time

Ok wait,  that title might suggest that I’m not only really brilliant with sand paper but I have leapt into Doc Brown’s lab coat and can turn back the future. What I really mean is that I have been working on the internal doors, reversing them back to their original design.

As most 1930’s houses went through a new phase of modernization in the fifties and sixties, the deco styling got hidden behind blank and futuristic ply board. Financially, times were tough back then so this was the most efficient way of totally remodeling a house without actually having to remove the original doors, frames and staircase. Thank-goodness for that because that makes our job a lot easier as its all still there waiting to be uncovered.

Hidden behind ply, stripped & painted and restored to it’s original form

Fall of the wall

Perhaps the biggest change to our house this month is that we no longer lounge in a confined, segregated space. The partial temporary ply wood wall had divided the kitchen work area from the living room, securing us from the drafts and openness of the extension. Once the bi-folding doors were in place, the roof on and the walls plaster-boarded, the temporary division could be dismantled opening it up into an L shaped kitchen diner.

Featured article: Kitchen extension

 

Once the room was cleared we could get on with a little sanding, a slap of paint and lots of fiddly finishing bits. The electrician came to install the plug sockets, ceiling spot lights and appliance connections. Jason laid the Oak flooring down, fixed all the plumbing and drainage into place before he could start on building the kitchen units.

A week later…more progress

 

It was then we stumbled upon a problem. We unpacked all the boxes to find that the worktops were different types of wood and didn’t match. We also found a damaged panel that needed to be replaced, so work came to a halt. While we complained and waited for Wicks to put right their wrongs, Jason managed to fit the sink and taps and other cupboards and worked around the issues we couldn’t do anything about. We moved out of the old kitchen and into the half-finished new one.

 

I was thrilled to see the back of “old Rickety” ….

And while we ironed out these kitchen issues, I continued to prepare for the dining room area of our renovation by revamping these 6 lovely solid dining chairs.

Painted in White oil-based eggshell

So we might not have worktops or a finished kitchen but at least we have somewhere to sit and admire the view. I’ll have more to report in a fortnight, so stick with us and until then, happy renovating.

Last note – Thanks for coming back and reading my blog where ever in the world you are, I really appreciate your time. Please don’t be afraid to leave comments, I’d love to hear from you. Perhaps there’s something you’d like to see more of? less of? or simply want to say something about this blog so far? I wont bite back and if you do comment please say where in the world you are. Thank you.

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