We did think that the lobby would be a quick job - it is our smallest room after all & the plastering & new front door had been completed a couple of months ago. And this is why Husband decided to have a go at laminate flooring himself for the first time.
However, it still has 4 corners, a radiator and oodles of white work - so it still took 3 weekends to do!
Repainted, flooring installed, new light fitting fitted, coat hooks replaced, key rack installed, interior door furniture updated.
The photograph on the wall is one we bought a couple of years ago in Corbridge & is of one of our favourite urban views (a very short list) - the Millennium Bridge looking across to the glass armadilllo Sage in Gateshead.
We haven't replaced the very 70s internal door - it is in reasonable condition & we didn't hate it! However, we changed the door handle as the old one was looking a bit past it. I'm really pleased we now have a key rack as I have had far too many key loss crises since moving in here. It is straight BTW - weird angle is down to my dodgy photography.
I won the paint 2 years ago in a competition (very rare) and after much surfing, the hooks ended up coming from Ikea.
Husband did sweat and swear quite a bit as he worked out how to fit the flooring. He's done really well with it, but I suspect we will be outsourcing this job in the future as I don't think he found it a fun project - especially around the radiator pipes.
Garage door has been fitted. It is a roller shutter so that we can keep the cars parked up close without impairing opening - I haven't pedaled up to open it yet with the remote - but am really looking forward to doing so. No more lifting muddy mountain bikes through the house.
The seal at the base is much more secure so that rodents shouldn't gain easy access!
All that's needed now is a lick of paint inside the garage & some shelving - then we can fill it with bikes, surf boards, pressure washer, inflatable canoe, paddles, buoyancy aids, pumps, gardening tools, bike carrier........ and I'd love to find a way to get the Thunderbirds theme to play as the door opens!
I can't pretend that our new front door is a style statement - we couldn't decide what we wanted. There seems to be lots of choice for front doors for older properties - but not much in our preferred price bracket for a 1970s house. So we went for no frills, basic uPVC.
More importantly than the style (or lack of!), we have a much warmer lobby & hall area. Phil kept on ringing & ringing the doorbell for me to let home back in the house the other day because he couldn't hear it ringing inside anymore - so definitely better insulated.
It's also much more secure with better locks than its predecessor - and by moving the letter box to the door rather than the sidelight, I no longer have to retrieve the post from our shoe rack!
Back door was also replaced - similar, simple uPVC glazed job.
The garage ceiling was removed very carefully today. Many, many thanks to Dave & Adam for their help - we really couldn't have done it without them!
Fortunately, Phil used to supervise asbestos removal so we were togged up in full protective gear - I even had to keep my mask on until under the shower later on!
The panels didn't come down as easily as we'd hoped - huge numbers of depressingly effective clout nails meant that it took all day.
Still, it's done.
The plasterer comes on Thursday to put up a new ceiling - and after that, the new garage door can be put up.
The old door is broken - and has a gap underneath big enough for rats to get in - and there is plenty of evidence of them having had parties in the garage in the past. The new door will be much more secure against vermin and burglars.
However, fitting it requires cutting into the ceiling - and quite rightly, the garage door firm weren't prepared to cut into asbestos insulated board. So it's been removed & wrapped ready for removal instead.
Long day, but so glad we got it done.
We have a kitchen! And that means being able to use a hob for the first time since late October & a dishwasher for the first time since August.
Units are gloss white, worktops are solid beech & floor is tile effect laminate. The pull out larder units are not quite as easy to pull out as we'd hoped, but that's a minor niggle. Hob is gas, oven is a pyrolytic electric fan version. Tony's done a fantastic job.
I'm surprised that we have filled all the units given that this kitchen is so much bigger than our old one. I'm a bit freaked out that as 2 people, we seem to own more glasses than the average wine bar!
Although we had the space for an island unit, we've gone for a trolley/island unit from IKEA instead as it gives a bit more flexibility. And we treated ourselves to a new kettle & toaster.
I also got to enjoy the breakfast view I've been aiming for since we first viewed the house this weekend - over looking the fields. The view will be improved further when the rusted metal shed moves out of the garden...
Many thanks to Debs for the clock - it fits really well.
The only bits needing more sorting is a noticeboard &the bin corner. Husband has square pedal bins in mind - but finding one at an appropriate price seems to be challenging!
We haven't replaced the very 70s internal door - it is in reasonable condition & we didn't hate it! However, we changed the door handle as the old one was looking a bit past it. I'm really pleased we now have a key rack as I have had far too many key loss crises since moving in here. It is straight BTW - weird angle is down to my dodgy photography.
