Hey hey!
I know I have been elusive for the past few years buuut perhaps the below explains why
In 2009 I purchased a 1930's auctioned property which I affectionately named "The House of Doom"! The first time I saw it I was with a friend and they looked at me and was like "Lady... this place is horrendous..." and my response: "It is it is... and guess what?... I LOVE IT!" Hahaha! It was a deceased ownership property and had not been lived in for 11years. Prior to that there was an elderly widowed lady who only lived in the back room and never left the house for 25 odd years and before that she lived there with her Ex Squadron Leader hubby from the day it was built... it's hardly changed a sausage!
The place needed a complete gut - electrics, plumbing, plastering, bathrooms, wall knocking down... you name it... it needed to be done. I remember I was single at the time and a few mates thought I'd just gone loopy and bought this place but was determined to do it myself and I have!
Most the work you see below (other than structural supports, gas plumbing, the final part of the electrics (I chased it all out and laid it all) and some of the plastering) I have completed myself! Towards the end of the project I have had my lovely fella about to help out with laying of the lawn, sanding of tarred floorboards (never again) and painting of the house exterior) but prior to I went 6weeks without electricity other than one plug after a week, 6months with only a screw tap and bucket to wash in (cold water only... and during winter) and cooked for 6months + on a BBQ every day as no kitchen!
It's been amazing! I have really learned so much on plastering now... before a bit sketchy but now as smooth as a babies bum! Only electrocuted myself a couple of times and have a tool collection that would make most men blush! Really love DIYing. Absolutely adore it! The rolls are reversed in this household, I am DIY lady and my fella is a cooking guru (not that I'm bad at cooking but he's immense ;D)
Can't wait to get back from our trip now (learning to ride a motorbike to bosh off around the world on a charity fund raising trip in 6months... see here...OCUK post Chasing Horizons ) and start up a new project! In the meantime, this place will be rented out and sold on our return!
Original upstairs toilet and separate bathroom...
Ripped it all out, knocked through a few walls and rebuilt a couple of studs...
Ended up with this:
There's a sink behind to the left too and cabinet
And don't worry I didn't get rid of the rusty iron bath nor give it to the gyppos (note... they did try and nick it when I stored it out front but I ran out of the house when it was snowing, in my undies, shouting obscenities to get rid of them! Gits!)
Kitchen:
I ripped the kitchen right up! On the right I took out the chimney and part of the wall to make a part open plan kitchen diner with a seated bench area.
To the left hand side there was a larder sectioned off with a window and door (of which Creature took out with his foot
) I knocked all this down too, filled in the window and boshed in an ikea kitchen
And now I am left with this... Door at the back goes to the utility room and downstairs toilet. I need to put a glass panel door there buut I am being a bargain princess and waiting for a glass panel door to come up that's cheap (30" door... pain in the bum to find)
Bit of poor photography and WAY too much crap about... but this is the view into the dining room now! Taken on a daaaaaark day when all our light bulbs had blown ;D
Rooms:
All the rooms have been done! Need to move some furniture about but we have a lovely large guest room, a work out/study room (still a double if needed) and our bedroom at the back! I cannot believe I had to live like this last year... I hug my bed every night I get into it and smile remembering the collapsing bed I had and wall paper that would fall off on my head at night! Haha!
All the rooms have furniture and I even treated myself to Dave... my piano! Dave is amazing and has pride of place in the Dining room!
Outside:
As you know the garden took a heck of a lot of work! Have now got a huuge decking area with steps down... need to cut the railings lower and thread through some rope but not had a chance to pick up any rope yet! Boo hiss!
Painted up the housey (and had fun drawing dinosaurs and things)
Big difference... cannot wait to get the fence and stones sorted Should take a day to sort! The last thing I will do is dip the front door... but that'll be the grand finale! I tell you what... I was a bit wibbly knee'd at the top of the ladders painting! I dropped a paint brush once and Sam went to climb up the bottom to pass it up and I just screamed like a little girl, clung on like crazy and whimpered! Such a ladder wuss! Haha!
Altogether I budgeted for about £30k's worth of work thinking I could push it for about £20k. I've managed to do everything for £25k! Whoop! Ikea was a bargain for the kitchen and the bathroom was a sale item too. I have also included the furniture in that sum too... which I didn't budget for before as it's stuff I will take with me. So there's two beds, two massive oak wardrobes, two side cabinets, two large drawer sets, a huge three seater sofa and piano in all of that costing. I will keep all of these items and because I decided to get really top quality I've spent about £2500 on these.
So in theory... I've done it in £22,500!
Wheeeeeee!
So... that's why I've not been about
I know I have been elusive for the past few years buuut perhaps the below explains why
In 2009 I purchased a 1930's auctioned property which I affectionately named "The House of Doom"! The first time I saw it I was with a friend and they looked at me and was like "Lady... this place is horrendous..." and my response: "It is it is... and guess what?... I LOVE IT!" Hahaha! It was a deceased ownership property and had not been lived in for 11years. Prior to that there was an elderly widowed lady who only lived in the back room and never left the house for 25 odd years and before that she lived there with her Ex Squadron Leader hubby from the day it was built... it's hardly changed a sausage!
The place needed a complete gut - electrics, plumbing, plastering, bathrooms, wall knocking down... you name it... it needed to be done. I remember I was single at the time and a few mates thought I'd just gone loopy and bought this place but was determined to do it myself and I have!
Most the work you see below (other than structural supports, gas plumbing, the final part of the electrics (I chased it all out and laid it all) and some of the plastering) I have completed myself! Towards the end of the project I have had my lovely fella about to help out with laying of the lawn, sanding of tarred floorboards (never again) and painting of the house exterior) but prior to I went 6weeks without electricity other than one plug after a week, 6months with only a screw tap and bucket to wash in (cold water only... and during winter) and cooked for 6months + on a BBQ every day as no kitchen!
It's been amazing! I have really learned so much on plastering now... before a bit sketchy but now as smooth as a babies bum! Only electrocuted myself a couple of times and have a tool collection that would make most men blush! Really love DIYing. Absolutely adore it! The rolls are reversed in this household, I am DIY lady and my fella is a cooking guru (not that I'm bad at cooking but he's immense ;D)
Can't wait to get back from our trip now (learning to ride a motorbike to bosh off around the world on a charity fund raising trip in 6months... see here...OCUK post Chasing Horizons ) and start up a new project! In the meantime, this place will be rented out and sold on our return!
Original upstairs toilet and separate bathroom...
Ripped it all out, knocked through a few walls and rebuilt a couple of studs...
Ended up with this:
There's a sink behind to the left too and cabinet
And don't worry I didn't get rid of the rusty iron bath nor give it to the gyppos (note... they did try and nick it when I stored it out front but I ran out of the house when it was snowing, in my undies, shouting obscenities to get rid of them! Gits!)
Kitchen:
I ripped the kitchen right up! On the right I took out the chimney and part of the wall to make a part open plan kitchen diner with a seated bench area.
To the left hand side there was a larder sectioned off with a window and door (of which Creature took out with his foot
) I knocked all this down too, filled in the window and boshed in an ikea kitchen
And now I am left with this... Door at the back goes to the utility room and downstairs toilet. I need to put a glass panel door there buut I am being a bargain princess and waiting for a glass panel door to come up that's cheap (30" door... pain in the bum to find)
Bit of poor photography and WAY too much crap about... but this is the view into the dining room now! Taken on a daaaaaark day when all our light bulbs had blown ;D
Rooms:
All the rooms have been done! Need to move some furniture about but we have a lovely large guest room, a work out/study room (still a double if needed) and our bedroom at the back! I cannot believe I had to live like this last year... I hug my bed every night I get into it and smile remembering the collapsing bed I had and wall paper that would fall off on my head at night! Haha!
All the rooms have furniture and I even treated myself to Dave... my piano! Dave is amazing and has pride of place in the Dining room!
Outside:
As you know the garden took a heck of a lot of work! Have now got a huuge decking area with steps down... need to cut the railings lower and thread through some rope but not had a chance to pick up any rope yet! Boo hiss!
Painted up the housey (and had fun drawing dinosaurs and things
)
Big difference... cannot wait to get the fence and stones sorted
Should take a day to sort! The last thing I will do is dip the front door... but that'll be the grand finale! I tell you what... I was a bit wibbly knee'd at the top of the ladders painting! I dropped a paint brush once and Sam went to climb up the bottom to pass it up and I just screamed like a little girl, clung on like crazy and whimpered! Such a ladder wuss! Haha!
Altogether I budgeted for about £30k's worth of work thinking I could push it for about £20k. I've managed to do everything for £25k! Whoop! Ikea was a bargain for the kitchen and the bathroom was a sale item too. I have also included the furniture in that sum too... which I didn't budget for before as it's stuff I will take with me. So there's two beds, two massive oak wardrobes, two side cabinets, two large drawer sets, a huge three seater sofa and piano in all of that costing. I will keep all of these items and because I decided to get really top quality I've spent about £2500 on these.
So in theory... I've done it in £22,500!
Wheeeeeee!
So... that's why I've not been about
We've done a lot to our house, but there;s still loads to do.
