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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 8, 2015 19:54:09 GMT
As many of you know I lost my beloved Father in February. The darling man cared deeply about his 6 children and I like to think that we did him proud with his moving, yet uplifting funeral...he had already decided on a secular funeral, chose the music and paid for it all years ago...so we basically just had to add to the ceremony with our tributes and organise the after-show-party... Once we gained probate we set about sharing out his possessions in a fair manner, there was a little bit of squabbling (with six of us there were a few occasions where we all wanted something...but we settled it in a civilised manner...no falling out anyway) but on the whole I think that we all have some of Dad's possessions that are both evocative of happy times and pleasing to behold! We sold his home, altho we took some time to put it on the market as we were using it as a meeting place and we were reluctant to see it go. Anyway...my beloved felt that we should use 'my' share to spruce up our home and I thought that was a good idea.... We live in a small semi-detached house, we don't have a mortgage any more so we did consider moving, but we're settled here. OH doesn't work any more so he decided to do all the work himself. Soooooo.....plans included:- Taking out the wall between the kitchen and dining room Building a new kitchen Re-building the wall between the living room and the stairs to give us a new hallway and a smaller (but cosier) living room. Removing the double-glazed units between the dining room and the conservatory, replacing the windows in there with argon-filled double glazing. Removing the dado rails throughout Rip out all the downstairs carpets and tiles and replace with engineered wood Other stuff...... I kept a sort of photographic diary and thought I'd post some of the pics if you're interested....or not....
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Post by mossie on Jan 8, 2015 20:00:48 GMT
Ambitious, or what. Best of luck and make sure you have a good vacuum cleaner.
I often look round my kitchen, where I tend to spend most of my time, and think how it would be vastly improved by knocking out the wall to the through lounge/diner. That would mean a new kitchen as well of course. I just cannot face all the hassle and disruption, not to mention the cost.
Keep us posted on progress and make me jealous.
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Post by mich64 on Jan 8, 2015 20:01:57 GMT
Hi Cheery! Very interested to see what renovations you did.
What are dado rails?
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 8, 2015 20:03:42 GMT
'Before' pictures the old kitchen the dining room...the little Parker Knoll sofa came from Dad's house, in the pic OH had already removed the double-glazed units between the dining room and conservatory the living room (from the dining room end) from the window-end of the living room looking into the dining room ch-h-ch-ch-chnges...
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 8, 2015 20:05:48 GMT
Hi Cheery! Very interested to see what renovations you did. What are dado rails? they were very fashionable in the early seventies....batons that were stuck to the walls half way up so that the walls had two different wallpapers or paint colours on the bottom half and top half.....I know.....
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 8, 2015 20:17:30 GMT
My OH became DESTRUCTO the destroyer.... The front room had originally had a doorway from the old hallway into the kitchen...when OH pulled off the plasterboard the dorway (and old 1970s door) was still there! stud wall between the stairs and living room removed...note decorative wiring... mess...lots of mess... we ordered shedloads of timber, plaster-board, plaster, doors, tape etc ad nausium... under-lay fibre board and engineered wood flooring...
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Post by bjd on Jan 8, 2015 20:22:22 GMT
Lucky you have an OH who can do all this. What is engineered wood? Laminated wood?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2015 20:25:55 GMT
Oh, that looks exciting, cheery. I love renovating!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 8, 2015 20:28:39 GMT
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 8, 2015 20:37:18 GMT
In the meantime we decided to have the two sofas that we had from Dad's house reupholstered, the fabric for the parker Knoll came from the USA, OH chose a hard wearing corded velour for the cintique sofa...and we bought a new 'snuggle chair' that I had been lusting over to complete the seating arrangements. We always intended for the Parker Knoll to be in the dining area near the book cases. snuggle chair...we put up new white blinds throughout downstairs and some red curtains. Living room done apart from hanging cloks and pictures
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 8, 2015 20:38:03 GMT
I'll post the other pics another day
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Post by htmb on Jan 8, 2015 21:01:11 GMT
Cheery, this is great, especially since it was at your house and not mine. How wonderful that your husband could do all the work. Your photos are quite interesting and I'm looking forward to seeing more. What a nice way to commemorate your dad while also improving your living areas.
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Post by onlyMark on Jan 8, 2015 21:07:34 GMT
It's nice to see someone else doing this rather than me having to puzzle it all out. Good stuff.
I think dado rails are also known as chair rails, which gives the meaning of why they were fitted years ago.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2015 21:18:22 GMT
Those sofas are gorgeous...
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Post by mich64 on Jan 8, 2015 22:12:13 GMT
This is a really nice transformation and I am looking forward to more photos Cheery! The front room looks so much brighter with the new paint and flooring. I like that you reupholstered the sofa from your dad and that you also got the one you were longing for. I like the corner stand and I see something familiar nestled in the bottom. Dado rails are the same as chair rails, I now understand. They are still used here but in most applications I have seen, the bottom includes a bead board (type of wood panelling) that is usually painted white along with the chair rail and trim and then a different colour of paint above or wallpaper, which is making a resurgence. We are seriously considering replacing the kitchen in the condo in town. It is original, with small updates through the years. While we want to have this done for my mother-in-law to enjoy (she is eager, he thinks it is unnecessary), we do not want to disrupt their routine. We have decided to delay it until early summer when he will enjoy moving in here with us for a while until the work is completed. Since plumbing and electric can not be moved, everything will be removed but everything goes back in the same positions. I am looking forward to choosing cupboards, counter tops and flooring once I choose a colour scheme.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2015 6:04:49 GMT
OMG, what a project! So many houses could benefit by having some walls removed, although I do understand that it was important to have "heatable" cosy rooms in the past when it was too difficult (and expensive) to heat every single space.
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Post by bjd on Jan 9, 2015 8:13:00 GMT
As a big fan of wooden floors, I totally approve of your new decoration. I really like that recovered seating too.
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Post by mossie on Jan 9, 2015 8:14:15 GMT
Many thanks for the updates. Your "better half" is much, much more capable than I ever was
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 9, 2015 17:41:56 GMT
In September we went along to a local store and ordered the kitchen units that I had chosen. We decided to go for a greeny-grey colour, with solid wood doors. We ordered 3 huge worktops, it has stone chips in an acrylic medium. It was easier for OH to cut than solid stone and looks as good. We bought the tap and sink at another store, and the gas hob, eletric fan oven and cooker hood at a local electrical store. It was all delivered in a few weeks (the units were made to order) boxes....
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 9, 2015 17:59:53 GMT
OH removed the stud wall between the dining room and kitchen, we painted the walls 2 shades of grey then laid the flooring through the dining room and into the conservatory when he replaced the windows in the conservatory he also put in a false ceiling and the white blinds that we have throughout....
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 9, 2015 18:12:26 GMT
Then my beloved constructed the 'island' units these are on the 'dining room'side OH and son cutting the worktop 'kitchen side' of the island before he sorted out the electrics and built the combi-boiler cupboard and larder building the sink and hob unit, connecting up the tap finished 'island' wehad to have a certified gas fitter in to connect up the hob, but OH fitted the cooker hood and gas fan oven (which I LOVE)
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 9, 2015 18:21:51 GMT
the new hallway.... the dining area...we keep the leaves of the table closed when not in use... the pics aren't brilliant but you get the idea..I think that Daddy would be pleased that we spent his money well.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2015 18:28:35 GMT
Cheery, did you do anything useful besides taking pictures? Oh, how I would love to have a kitchen island... (not a chance considering the size of my flat)
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Post by lugg on Jan 9, 2015 18:44:40 GMT
What a fantastic transformation. LOVE your kitchen and the units just lovely. Yes I guess your Dad would be very pleased indeed.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 9, 2015 18:56:47 GMT
Thank you X I was on tea making duty when at home Kerouac, but I have been out working! I am on full admiration duty all the time anyway...that can be exhausting...OH says that he enjoyed doing the work. His next project is to sort out the garage so that he has a playroom and he has said that he will make me some new staging for my greenhouse.... I've not seen my beloved this relaxed and happy for a long time...not having to go out to work has made a huge difference to his quality of life.
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Post by htmb on Jan 9, 2015 20:33:10 GMT
Absolutely wonderful, Cheery, and how nice that the project benefitted you and your husband in so many different ways. It's great your husband has a creative, relaxing outlet. His workmanship is certainly to be admired!
Your new space looks charming and most comfortable.
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Post by mossie on Jan 10, 2015 8:56:52 GMT
Congratulations to all concerned on a job well done
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 10, 2015 18:56:38 GMT
OH pretty much did it all...I shall step up the praise level Our eldest son and DiL came to visit today, they hadn't seen the transformation and I was a bit worried as son loves this house. They were both astonished, DiL wants the kitchen.....
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jan 17, 2015 19:55:44 GMT
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Post by bjd on Jan 18, 2015 6:31:27 GMT
Well, cheery, you do have to factor in the enjoyment and use you have had of the kitchen for the past few months. Surely that's worth something?
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