Monday, June 12, 2006
KITCHEN: THE IDEAL HOME SHOW SESSION
Doesn't the kitchen look really nice all lit-up (and without flash)?...
IT'S ALL BEEN A LAUGH REALLY...
Nearly three months in, Tony and his team have completed the work on the house toward the end of last week, and on Saturday, we had the cleaners in, and a jolly good job they did too. Now, we actually have a clean fully working kitchen/dining room (img1-3), and the dining room table has now been assembled again and is sitting in its prime location (img4-6).
IMG: The all-clean kitchen from the dining room.
IMG2: We can now use this wonder of modern life that is our gas hob.
IMG3: Another view of the kitchen.
The lounge is also looking a lot more cosy now that it’s had the mop/hoover/duster treatment (img7-9), and we can now enjoy watching TV (or the world go by since we don’t currently have any blinds/curtains) in much more comfort than in previous weeks.
IMG4-5: The dining room table as it was, and as it is now.
IMG6: Two become one: the dining room and kitchen as one.
IMG7: Sean enjoying a bit of that footie-worldie-cuppie thing that's going on at the moment...
IMG8-9: Dust-free lounge.
Tony will be back in a few weeks just to get the last bits and pieces sorted, and the carpet is not due until another couple of weeks, but this is very much the end of the big work, and it has been all worth while.
IMG: The all-clean kitchen from the dining room.
IMG2: We can now use this wonder of modern life that is our gas hob.
IMG3: Another view of the kitchen.
The lounge is also looking a lot more cosy now that it’s had the mop/hoover/duster treatment (img7-9), and we can now enjoy watching TV (or the world go by since we don’t currently have any blinds/curtains) in much more comfort than in previous weeks.
IMG4-5: The dining room table as it was, and as it is now.
IMG6: Two become one: the dining room and kitchen as one.
IMG7: Sean enjoying a bit of that footie-worldie-cuppie thing that's going on at the moment...
IMG8-9: Dust-free lounge.
Tony will be back in a few weeks just to get the last bits and pieces sorted, and the carpet is not due until another couple of weeks, but this is very much the end of the big work, and it has been all worth while.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
BACK TO LIFE...
Came back home this evening to find the lounge all floored up and looking nice and lovely (img1-2). We haven’t reached the stage where we can move back in quite yet, and there is still work to be done in the room, but we are certainly getting closer to get the place back to what it is destined to be, that is a perfectly functioning lounge. We are looking forward to be able to watch TV elsewhere than in bed. In fact, the bedroom has become our main living space in the last week as we don’t currently have any table to eat on either.
IMG1-2: The wooden floor in the lounge
Although the kitchen/dining room is still pretty busy with boxes and some of what used to be in the lounge, we have been able to use the hob and oven for the first time at the weekend (img3), and this continues to improve our standard of living in the house. There is still a layer of dust on kitchen utensils that aren’t being used and on most of the visible work surface, so this weekend coming will be spent cleaning, cleaning and cleaning some more… If Anthea Turner is free this weekend, she’s more than welcome to come and give us a hand… I promise to be civil toward her! Now, that’s an offer or what?...
IMG3: This is an almost fully-functioning kitchen
IMG1-2: The wooden floor in the lounge
Although the kitchen/dining room is still pretty busy with boxes and some of what used to be in the lounge, we have been able to use the hob and oven for the first time at the weekend (img3), and this continues to improve our standard of living in the house. There is still a layer of dust on kitchen utensils that aren’t being used and on most of the visible work surface, so this weekend coming will be spent cleaning, cleaning and cleaning some more… If Anthea Turner is free this weekend, she’s more than welcome to come and give us a hand… I promise to be civil toward her! Now, that’s an offer or what?...
IMG3: This is an almost fully-functioning kitchen
THE END IS NIGH
Simple pleasures can be very satisfying… This is what I am currently experiencing, what with the kitchen sink being in perfect working order (img1), it means that I can actually do the dishes without having to go and fill a bowl up in the bathroom. This may not sound like the greatest advancement in history, but it makes a real difference to me, thank you for asking.
IMG1: The kitchen flamingo being put through its paces.
I was actually busy with breakfast dishes this morning when I looked up through the window and thought that the view was rather pleasing (img2). For a while, I observed a dove feeding on the garage roof while a cat was doing its morning clean on top of another garage roof in the distance. Definitely beats looking at a brick wall!...
IMG2: The view from the washing up observation post.
Since the grass was mowed at the end of last week and the crap that had progressively filled it has been removed, the garden is looking positively better (img3). The guys have also cleared the garage now (img4), so we could actually (almost) start using it to park the car again.
IMG3: Paparazzi-view of the crap-free, freshly mowed garden.
IMG4: The garage hasn't looked this 'tidy' for a while.
The floor in the hall was laid on Saturday (img5), and the lounge should be done sometime this week, as soon as the last coat of paint has been applied (img6), which means that we are getting near completion (TETC (Tony’s expected time of completion): Thursday). The banister is now finished painting and varnishing (img7), and all the doors upstairs have got brand new handles (img8), so we don't run the risk of getting locked in a room with no way to get out, as it happened to Sean the other night!
IMG5: New floor in the hallway.
IMG6: The lounge looking a lot fresher than it did before.
IMG7: Close encounter with the banister.
IMG8: No fork, just handles.
IMG1: The kitchen flamingo being put through its paces.
I was actually busy with breakfast dishes this morning when I looked up through the window and thought that the view was rather pleasing (img2). For a while, I observed a dove feeding on the garage roof while a cat was doing its morning clean on top of another garage roof in the distance. Definitely beats looking at a brick wall!...
IMG2: The view from the washing up observation post.
Since the grass was mowed at the end of last week and the crap that had progressively filled it has been removed, the garden is looking positively better (img3). The guys have also cleared the garage now (img4), so we could actually (almost) start using it to park the car again.
IMG3: Paparazzi-view of the crap-free, freshly mowed garden.
IMG4: The garage hasn't looked this 'tidy' for a while.
The floor in the hall was laid on Saturday (img5), and the lounge should be done sometime this week, as soon as the last coat of paint has been applied (img6), which means that we are getting near completion (TETC (Tony’s expected time of completion): Thursday). The banister is now finished painting and varnishing (img7), and all the doors upstairs have got brand new handles (img8), so we don't run the risk of getting locked in a room with no way to get out, as it happened to Sean the other night!
IMG5: New floor in the hallway.
IMG6: The lounge looking a lot fresher than it did before.
IMG7: Close encounter with the banister.
IMG8: No fork, just handles.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
THEN THERE WAS LIGHT! AND FLAMINGOS...
As announced earlier today, the back window and back door have now been fitted, and the back part of the kitchen is now flooded with natural light (img1-4). This actually makes a rather striking difference to the kitchen/dining room as a whole. Plus, it is nice to see the sink area decluttered and free.
IMG1-2: New observation post...
IMG3: The new door
IMG4: Out with the old...
Tonight was actually the first time I took a proper look at the kitchen sink (img5), and it looks quite good. The tap is rather camp, looking like a cross between a shiny coin and a pink flamingo…
IMG5: The kitchen flamingo
Talking of sink, the one in the bathroom has finally got a waste pipe, which means that we can no officially use it (img6). We went for a shallow wall mounted sink, and today, we filled it for the first time (img7-8). Now, that’s some excitement, I can tell you!
IMG6: The bathroom flamingo and its shallow pond
IMG7-8: The bathroom sink... Nice, isn't it?
IMG1-2: New observation post...
IMG3: The new door
IMG4: Out with the old...
Tonight was actually the first time I took a proper look at the kitchen sink (img5), and it looks quite good. The tap is rather camp, looking like a cross between a shiny coin and a pink flamingo…
IMG5: The kitchen flamingo
Talking of sink, the one in the bathroom has finally got a waste pipe, which means that we can no officially use it (img6). We went for a shallow wall mounted sink, and today, we filled it for the first time (img7-8). Now, that’s some excitement, I can tell you!
IMG6: The bathroom flamingo and its shallow pond
IMG7-8: The bathroom sink... Nice, isn't it?
SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR
We had, until Tuesday, one room, the lounge, left untouched, albeit very messy and extremely dusty (img1). This is not the case anymore. Monday, Sean and I shifted whatever was in there (clothes rails, boxes, kitchen utensils, table… you name it, we had it stored in that one room), to other rooms so the guys could get started on it.
IMG1: The subtlety and entertainment value of the old iridescent wallpaper is lost on picture.
Now, the (vile) wallpaper’s gone, the walls have been plastered and are now drying off gently (img2-4). The carpet, which was in dire need of ripping off, has been ripped off and is now sitting outside, waiting for a skip to materialise (img5). The new floor should be laid down as soon as the walls and ceiling have been painted, which should hopefully be early next week. This means that, apart from the two bedrooms, we do not have any other room properly finished.
IMG2: The lounge looking rather more empty than in recent weeks.
IMG3-4: The thing under the dust sheets is not, as one could think, a piano but a couple of settees.
IMG5: Carpet: burn!
Annoyingly, we are still missing waste pipes in both the kitchen (img6) and the bathroom (img7), although this is due to be fixed imminently (today).
IMG6-7: Pipes to nowhere.
The hole in the back wall of the kitchen should also finally be filled with a brand spanking new window (img8), and the back door changed by the time we get home this evening, which will bring us a step closer to completion. Hurray!
IMG8: The wooden window is due to be replaced with a glass one - what a novel idea!
IMG1: The subtlety and entertainment value of the old iridescent wallpaper is lost on picture.
Now, the (vile) wallpaper’s gone, the walls have been plastered and are now drying off gently (img2-4). The carpet, which was in dire need of ripping off, has been ripped off and is now sitting outside, waiting for a skip to materialise (img5). The new floor should be laid down as soon as the walls and ceiling have been painted, which should hopefully be early next week. This means that, apart from the two bedrooms, we do not have any other room properly finished.
IMG2: The lounge looking rather more empty than in recent weeks.
IMG3-4: The thing under the dust sheets is not, as one could think, a piano but a couple of settees.
IMG5: Carpet: burn!
Annoyingly, we are still missing waste pipes in both the kitchen (img6) and the bathroom (img7), although this is due to be fixed imminently (today).
IMG6-7: Pipes to nowhere.
The hole in the back wall of the kitchen should also finally be filled with a brand spanking new window (img8), and the back door changed by the time we get home this evening, which will bring us a step closer to completion. Hurray!
IMG8: The wooden window is due to be replaced with a glass one - what a novel idea!
Thursday, May 25, 2006
A GIANT LEAP...
It’s been three weeks since the last update, and while we were away sunning ourselves in Cuba, Tony and his guys have been busy with the house, getting the two bedrooms completed (img1-4), and the staircase almost ready too (img5-6). This was actually the first thing we saw when we came in on Sunday, and a nice sight it was too. The all hall is now very white and bright, which makes it a lot more welcoming that it was before I think.
IMG1-2: Front bedroom
IMG3-4: Back bedroom
IMG5-6: The freshly-painted hall and staircase
The bathroom is not quite complete yet, but should be by next week (img7-8). At least, we have a clean toilet (flushing cold water), a shower in working order, although we cannot currently quite use it yet as the shower screen still needs to be coated with a special product to stop water marks when dry. The sink is now in place too, but somehow the waste pipe has gone walkies, so better not use it yet.
IMG7-8: The nearly completed bathroom looking really nice
Despite a continued effort from MFI to mess it all up, the kitchen is almost complete too, and looking even better than I was expecting (img9-11). We are still waiting for a few bits and pieces from them, and the windows people still haven’t come round to fit the back window and new back door, but this should finally happen next week.
IMG9-11: The kitchen is now completely fitted
Just before we left for Cuba, we had to transfer the whole content of the two bedrooms into the lounge, which will be the last room to be done, and everything is still there so life is no short of chaotic. Not only about half of the kitchen is in there, but our complete wardrobes too.
IMG1-2: Front bedroom
IMG3-4: Back bedroom
IMG5-6: The freshly-painted hall and staircase
The bathroom is not quite complete yet, but should be by next week (img7-8). At least, we have a clean toilet (flushing cold water), a shower in working order, although we cannot currently quite use it yet as the shower screen still needs to be coated with a special product to stop water marks when dry. The sink is now in place too, but somehow the waste pipe has gone walkies, so better not use it yet.
IMG7-8: The nearly completed bathroom looking really nice
Despite a continued effort from MFI to mess it all up, the kitchen is almost complete too, and looking even better than I was expecting (img9-11). We are still waiting for a few bits and pieces from them, and the windows people still haven’t come round to fit the back window and new back door, but this should finally happen next week.
IMG9-11: The kitchen is now completely fitted
Just before we left for Cuba, we had to transfer the whole content of the two bedrooms into the lounge, which will be the last room to be done, and everything is still there so life is no short of chaotic. Not only about half of the kitchen is in there, but our complete wardrobes too.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
CONSTRUCTION DERBY...
It’s been nearly a week since I updated this blog last, and things have been moving steadily while I was away. The kitchen units at the back are pretty much all in now, and the work surface is partly down (img1-2), but, despite all this, it still seems as it will be a while until it is completed. There are some delays with MFI to deliver some of the missing bits, and there’s also been a bit of an issue with one of the guys cutting the work top to fit the sink the wrong way round. These things happen I suppose, but it means a further delay with this. At least, we are away from Friday, so we shouldn’t have to suffer chaos much longer.
The kitchen is starting to look more kitcheny
The tiling in the bathroom is almost complete now (img3-8), apart from the floor, which, I suppose will be finished while we’re away. The shelves unit is taking shape too, with the back panel now in place so the pipes are hidden, and half of the unit tiled. There are some issues in the bathroom too. The plate that’s supposed to sit behind the taps, landscape-way, has been engraved… portrait way! Sean’s spoke to the bathroom people and apparently it is the case with all their stock, so they are apparently going to send our to be polished… they’re good guys.
IMG3-7: Tiles and more tiles, what was done while I was away...
IMG8: ...and more progress from today.
The kitchen is starting to look more kitcheny
The tiling in the bathroom is almost complete now (img3-8), apart from the floor, which, I suppose will be finished while we’re away. The shelves unit is taking shape too, with the back panel now in place so the pipes are hidden, and half of the unit tiled. There are some issues in the bathroom too. The plate that’s supposed to sit behind the taps, landscape-way, has been engraved… portrait way! Sean’s spoke to the bathroom people and apparently it is the case with all their stock, so they are apparently going to send our to be polished… they’re good guys.
IMG3-7: Tiles and more tiles, what was done while I was away...
IMG8: ...and more progress from today.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
IN KITCHEN UNITS WE TRUST
It’s been a few days since the last update, and there’s been some more progress on quite a few fronts. The carpet’s all gone in the hallway, staircase and landing (img1-2).
IMG1-2: Who needs carpet anyway?...
The kitchen floor was finished on Tuesday (img3). The section in the dining room is protected with boards to avoid any damage (img4). Since, the guys have started putting the kitchen units together (img5-7) and the new fridge and freezer and double oven are in place (img8-9).
IMG3: The north wing of the dance floor.
IMG4: The dining room floor protected with board.
IMG5-7: The first kitchen units
IMG8: The new fridge and freezer.
IMG9: I have it in good authority that two ovens are necessary.
In the bathroom, the new taps have been fitted (img10-11), and the guys have started to tile (img12-14), and it is all looking really sexy.
IMG10-11: The new taps
IMG12-14: Now, this is starting to look more like it...
IMG1-2: Who needs carpet anyway?...
The kitchen floor was finished on Tuesday (img3). The section in the dining room is protected with boards to avoid any damage (img4). Since, the guys have started putting the kitchen units together (img5-7) and the new fridge and freezer and double oven are in place (img8-9).
IMG3: The north wing of the dance floor.
IMG4: The dining room floor protected with board.
IMG5-7: The first kitchen units
IMG8: The new fridge and freezer.
IMG9: I have it in good authority that two ovens are necessary.
In the bathroom, the new taps have been fitted (img10-11), and the guys have started to tile (img12-14), and it is all looking really sexy.
IMG10-11: The new taps
IMG12-14: Now, this is starting to look more like it...
Monday, April 24, 2006
GET DOWN ON THE NEW FLOOR
Dust gets everywhere, and it finally got on my nerves. Look at the state of our poor turntable (img1)! I know vinyls are supposed to be a thing of the past, but there’s a limit to how much dust one can leave untouched. I know I am fighting a loosing battle, so I only did dust the Hi-Fi (some would say I’ve got my priorities all wrong, but wishing to play the beautiful new Vetiver album while writing tonight’s update, I couldn’t play it on a dusty Hi-Fi system, could I?).
IMG1: This is not a 'before/after' picture, this is a 'during' picture...
Mess is a state of affair when building work is going on, and the front garden is a proof of it. (img2). I won’t even bother with the back garden. First thing I noticed when I got home is a strong smell in the hallway. Looking closer, the rest of the wallpaper has come off and the walls have had bonding of some description applied to them (img3-6).
IMG2: We may have a storage issue.
IMG3-6: The hallway, staircase and landing stripped bear
I spent part of Saturday working in the office while the guys were just above me laying boarding in the loft (img7-8). At times, they were banging so hard it felt as if the whole house was about to collapse on my head.
IMG7-8: The loft boarding
Not much progress in the bathroom, apart for the channeling for the bath pipes, tapes and spout (img9), and, to go onto my favourite topic, we have played musical throne this weekend, with the old one from upstairs interestingly being replaced with the old green one from downstairs (img10). Not really sure why… Perhaps to keep us on our toes!
IMG9: Nice brick effect in the bathroom.
IMG10: The chameleloo... even David Cameron finds it hard to keep up.
The biggest change has been in the dining room. Seeing as everything’s been shifted to the kitchen (img11), the new wood flooring has been partly laid down (img12-14), and it looks really nice.
IMG11: The kitchen is rather cosy at the moment.
IMG12-14: The newly-laid floor in the dining room.
IMG1: This is not a 'before/after' picture, this is a 'during' picture...
Mess is a state of affair when building work is going on, and the front garden is a proof of it. (img2). I won’t even bother with the back garden. First thing I noticed when I got home is a strong smell in the hallway. Looking closer, the rest of the wallpaper has come off and the walls have had bonding of some description applied to them (img3-6).
IMG2: We may have a storage issue.
IMG3-6: The hallway, staircase and landing stripped bear
I spent part of Saturday working in the office while the guys were just above me laying boarding in the loft (img7-8). At times, they were banging so hard it felt as if the whole house was about to collapse on my head.
IMG7-8: The loft boarding
Not much progress in the bathroom, apart for the channeling for the bath pipes, tapes and spout (img9), and, to go onto my favourite topic, we have played musical throne this weekend, with the old one from upstairs interestingly being replaced with the old green one from downstairs (img10). Not really sure why… Perhaps to keep us on our toes!
IMG9: Nice brick effect in the bathroom.
IMG10: The chameleloo... even David Cameron finds it hard to keep up.
The biggest change has been in the dining room. Seeing as everything’s been shifted to the kitchen (img11), the new wood flooring has been partly laid down (img12-14), and it looks really nice.
IMG11: The kitchen is rather cosy at the moment.
IMG12-14: The newly-laid floor in the dining room.
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