We moved in in November last year and it has been non stop since then! We've achieved a fair amount but there is still loads to do! It is proving to be a labour of love as although the house really needed (needs) some serious tender loving care and was seriously challenged in so many ways, not least of all its kerb appeal...or lack of, we absolutely love the house and its location.
So. What have we done so far?
Bathrooms....
From this...................................................................................to this...in the main bathroom.
An en suite with shower......
A downstairs loo....
And the main work in progress.....but already looking a million times better....
The kitchen!
Before..................
Progress to date....
We have had many a sleepless night deliberating on floor choice for the kitchen. I have read and re read reports on all options of flooring for kitchens and have spoken to more joiners and sales people than I wish to remember and have concluded what I always conclude....that there is virtually no consensus of opinion on this subject which is really helpful!
In the end we have gone for engineered wood in a medium to lightish oak which we intend to run throughout the whole of the down floor...once we have won the lottery or sacrificed a few more holidays and meals out and lived on beans on toast for a while!
Is wood a good choice for the kitchen? Well. I've again concluded that as long as you look after it (wipe up spills etc. which I think most people would tend to do anyway?!) then it is perfectly fine in the kitchen. In the event of plumbing disasters, are they not disasters no matter what is on the floor?
We chose wood as we wanted something with a slightly softer look than tiles and also our budget would not run to under floor heating and therefore tiles would have felt a little colder under foot.
I have to confess that when the wood turned up, I had a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach...thinking that I had made the wrong choice and that the tone of the wood was not quite right. I did not fess up to my husband at this point! It is such a difficult thing to decide and is such a significant expense that getting it wrong is painful and had it been wrong, may have resulted in my disappearing under the boards!
Thankfully, now a good area has been laid, my fears have subsided and we love it. It has very few knots which was my fear with wood. We wanted it to look quite modern and clean so that was a huge sigh of relief!! We went for an oiled finish. On this, there did seem to be a consensus of opinion. Oiled wood is easier to repair than lacquered. The downside, if you choose to see it as such, is that you have to re oil the boards every 18 months to 2 years.
So we are half way there with the kitchen. The floor should be finished in the next day or so and the kitchen fitters start after Easter.
Have a great Easter!
Really weird, I get your updates in email form but then click through to your website -usually.This time I scrolled through your email and the pictures for the main bath have been reversed! I was thinking oh no why have they destroyed a lovely bathroom like that to produce such a mess , what on earth can they replace that bathroom with, !! and then I clicked through to the website. Phew all was made clear , the empty room was before and the beautiful bathroom was the after, I am so relieved.
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