The Beginning

The Beginning
Our House

Monday, 13 August 2012

Light at the end of the tunnel!

I can't believe it's a month since my last post.  We have been so busy I don't know where to start.  We camped out for a couple of nights to blast the painting.  I was on my own one night and was just getting dressed when the electricians let themselves in!  Not sure who was most surprised!  The electricians have started attaching the sockets which makes everything so much tidier!

The bathroom has been painted fully and Jason, the tiler, has started tiling so it looks great.  The toilets and sinks have arrived and are ready to be plumbed in.  Michael has been building panelled frames to attach the sinks to so we don't crack our heads of the inlays!  He's also been busy disconnecting pipes and clearing the kitchen ready for demolition.

Hallway panelling and living room door is re-attached

The walls are blue!


Fab tiles in the bathroom

Door handles for downstairs


The plank on the left is from Inverurie Academy gym hall!!

I've nearly finished painting the boys bedroom.  I've been using my paint spray machine which makes the job much quicker!  I've also primed some doors and the panels in the hallway.  The boys helped me to sand down and paint the panels.  Typical boys, they love powertools!  We attached a couple of doors today and all of a sudden things are starting to look nearly finished!

I also had a couple of days away with the boys this week.  We headed to Glasgow first to some reclaimation yards.  I picked up door handles and also reclaimed flooring samples.  The plank on the left came out of Inverurie Academy gym hall!  I really wanted that one but I prefer the colour of the one on the right which came from Newcastle after all the flooding earlier this year.  We then had a lovely night with my friend, Jo, in Dunblane where the boys saw Andy Murray's post box!

Wednesday, 18 July 2012

Chalk paints

My finished pieces!
Thanks to my friend Kerry I found out about Annie Sloan chalk paints.  I really wish I had know about them this time last year!  This paint needs no sanding or primer and can be put on anything!  I have spent a lovely morning at Rustiques in Banchory learning some techniques.  I'm not sure about the crackle look but I love the shabby look of the plaque.  I cannot wait to try them out on my furniture.  I am off to pick up a couple of pine beds from a friend today so they will be my first project!

Tuesday, 17 July 2012

An update!

Fab mantelpiece

Dining room decorated

Boys bedroom with first coat of paint

Boys room
I feel things are moving really slowly just now!  I just want the house to look a bit finished but everywhere I look there is dust and mess!  Downstairs has now had 3 coats of paint and is ready for the final colour.  I painted the boys room today and it is beginning to look more 'New England beach house' rather than 'Ski-resort sauna'!   Michael put up the mantelpiece in the livingroom at the weekend and it looks great.  It will need a little bit of support at each side as it's so heavy!  These photos were taken at 9 o'clock tonight that's why they are a bit dull!

Wednesday, 27 June 2012

Building warrant

Just got an email from the architect to say we have our building warrant!  Hurray, we can start pulling down the kitchen during the summer holidays!

Decorating started

Dining room taped
Bedroom taped

Bedroom

Bedroom painted

Alternative view!
My dad and I spent today painting downstairs.  It's great getting some paint on the walls, feels like we are on the home straight!  We only stopped because we ran out of paint!  We picked up some furniture I had dipped too.  I bought a painted cupboard for £28 in a recent auction, it looks great now.

Hallway looking much brighter

My lovely pine cupboard stripped and ready to be waxed
If you are wondering why the floor is now blue it's because of the damp proof resin!  The floors are concrete and this epoxy resin stops any moisture coming up through the floor.  We had to mix two liquids together then had to use it within half an hour - it was a speedy job!

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

The bits I really like!

I have always loved working with fabric so I'm really enjoying this phase of the project!  I have made blinds for both upstairs bedrooms and a shower curtain for the bathroom.  With the remnants of fabric I have made a couple of cutlery rolls and drawstring bags for our camping trip!

Blinds for boys bedroom

Blinds for the master bedroom

Cutlery roll

Bag for my plates and bowls!
My dad and I are having a trip up to start painting tomorrow so the electricians can get in and get us all connected up.  Will post more photos of the decorating this week!

Monday, 21 May 2012

Planning

Hurray!!  We have our planning permission!  It has taken less than 2 months for the plans to go through Moray Council planning.  Our building warrant has also been looked at (within 2 weeks of submission!) and the architect has some amendments to make.  Looking forward to getting out the sledge hammer!