Reno Diaries: Its Been A While…

Well hello! It’s mid September and whilst the days are still warm the mornings and nights are taking on that autumnal feel and the year is flying by. I’d had this idea after my last post that I was going to get loads done during my month of working from home, and try to blog every day in August. Neither of those things happened.

Instead I spent loads of time with the puppy and she’s now a thriving nearly 15 week old bundle of energy. She’s totally brilliant and has definitely settled in.

But the house, OH the house. 99% of the time I love it. It’s the peaceful, beautiful place I’d always dreamed we’d have but never thought we could. That 1% though, it drives me crazy.

Just this week we had two set backs – the electrics went in the kitchen when we had friends over for lunch on Saturday. To get the fridge working again we had to run an extension cable from a plug in the hallway. Our trusty electrician did come out to fix it on Tuesday morning but it was money we didn’t budget for and basically the electrics are a total crock of shit and the fuseboard needs replacing.

Then I waited in in the afternoon for our beautiful custom made sofa bed to be delivered. We ordered it at the end of July to go in one of the bedrooms – it’s the place where I keep my stock and we didn’t want to put a full bed in there.

Lo and behold, try as they might, they could not get that sofa bed up the stairs mainly because when the previous owners built the loft conversion, they put the top flight of stairs too low. Sob. For now, it’s gone back to the factory. The shop advise me they’re going to try again without the bed mechanism inside, but I’m not hopeful. If it doesn’t fit, it’s apparently a £319 cancellation charge. Double sob. Sometimes it feels like for every step forward we take, we go three steps back.

But enough! That’s my little moan over. Wanna see what did get done? With the realisation that puppies take up a lot more time than we thought, we decided to get a bit of help with the office and quit the idea of doing it ourselves. Here are the progress pictures:

This is the 4th bedroom. When we saw it, it had a bed in it, just. It had woodchip paper on the walls and a lovely green carpet...!
This is the 4th bedroom. When we saw it, it had a bed in it, just. It had woodchip paper on the walls and a lovely green carpet…!
Then we moved in and filled it with junk
Then we moved in and filled it with junk
Project Office! The first May Bank Holiday we stripped off the wallpaper. And half the wall.
Project Office! The first May Bank Holiday we stripped off the wallpaper. And half the wall.
Next up, we had the walls replastered and more electric sockets put in (the house dates from 1934, most rooms only have one socket). We then pulled back the carpet to reveal these lovely vinyl tiles on the floorboards!
Next up, we had the walls replastered and more electric sockets put in (the house dates from 1934, most rooms only have one socket). We then pulled back the carpet to reveal these lovely vinyl tiles on the floorboards!
It then became another junk room as we dug up the bad floorboards and fixed the squeaky ones
It then became another junk room as we dug up the bad floorboards and fixed the squeaky ones
The night before new flooring was due to be fit. We left it until the night before to try and pull the skirting off. Never. Take. The. Skirting. Off. An. Old. House.
The night before new flooring was due to be fit. We left it until the night before to try and pull the skirting off. Never. Take. The. Skirting. Off. An. Old. House.
And then there was new floor! We've found a brilliant family run company. This is a wood/laminate hybrid which looks and feels beautiful. Our formerly squeaky, holey floor is now solid as a rock.
And then there was new floor! We’ve found a brilliant family run company. This is a wood/laminate hybrid which looks and feels beautiful. Our formerly squeaky, holey floor is now solid as a rock.
Then finally, on came the paint!
Then finally, on came the paint!
Here we are. The room is nearly finished except the radiator. Then it just needs furniture.
Here we are. The room is nearly finished except the radiator. Then it just needs furniture.

I’m absolutely thrilled despite how long it’s taken that the room looks as amazing as it does. The dark grey (we used City Break by Crown) worried me but I stuck to my guns and am so glad. It looks amazing when contrasted with the white woodwork and paler floor. To think every room in this dilapidated old place could look like this!

Are you working on any home projects at the moment? Do you have a favourite room in your house?

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