Site visit

It's a glorious morning - could almost be spring except for the biting wind, but the village looks very pretty with the sun shining on it.  I haven't seen Johnny my project manager this year, although there have been lots of emails and calls going back and forward and so it's a great opportunity to catch up and see the progress on this house (which has been considerable since my last visit).  

The house is full of workers - 6 by my count including plumbers and electricians.  It's full steam ahead as there's still a lot to do.

The new internal doors have been delivered (they're under the brown paper) and will go in over the next couple of weeks - I was planning to have them painted, but Johnny suggests varnishing them, so now there's that dilemma to think about ......

I talk to the electrician about some LED strip lighting to sit on top of a couple of the beams in the hayloft to light the space - I think they'll look good but are a bit hard to imagine right now

They're also going to but some lighting behind the plasterboard in the en-suite which will also highlight the strip of stonework we've left exposed.  As in the main bathroom, the wall is an external one so it would have been too cold to have left it fully exposed.  Now the insulation is in and the room has taken shape we have to plan where the bath, shower etc are going - it's like a jigsaw puzzle, only bigger.  I think the bath will go under the window with the shower on the eaves wall, but we'll see.  I thought there would be loads of space, but am now not so sure.

Some of the internal drawers for the kitchen have also been delivered - can't wait to see it once it's in. The hayloft is becoming a great storage area which does mean (hopefully) stuff won't have to be moved around too much.

Bathroom

The bathroom on the first floor, or family bathroom as the estate agents would call it is also coming along nicely.  The walls have been sealed several times to reduce the dust and one of the radiators is in (and looking good).  The outside wall is insulated & skimmed (too cold to leave the brick exposed), the second fix plumbing is underway & the bath is delivered as are the tiles.  As the walls are very wonky (not sure that's a technical terms) we've gone for mosaics on the walls.  This room really isn't far away from being finished.  Mickey is scraping the old paint off the beam - it's work but it'll look fab when it's done.

Progress in the kitchen

Now the Aga is in, the team are full speed ahead in the kitchen so that the units can be fitted - there's still a fair bit to do before that can happen.  The walls are skimmed and Darren comes up with the great idea to build a little alcove to the side of the fireplace......you'll need to use your imagination to visualise the log basket in the bottom of it and shelves of books above it, but that's the plan

Once the walls are skimmed, they lay the tiles.  It's a messy business and the wonky walls add a challenge, but I think they look terrific.  They get sealed, grouted and then covered up carefully so that the team can get on with the second fix.