Sunday 9 February 2014

Mews News Part 5 - House Renovations Update

I moved in yesterday.
Not because the house is ready but because 
my brother moved into his new flat.
He kindly offered us refuge but we decided to glamp instead.

Second floor room / our studio
You can't see our bed it is on the other side of the boxes.
We don't have curtains nor blinds so it really is camping.

We are already behind but for some reason we keep tacking on new jobs because they are needed.
We sanded down our floors that have been here since the 1950's.

Sanded and varnished once but still needs another coat
 Our street got bombed during the war so a lot of the mews houses here are reconditioned to varying degrees. 
My house is one of the few that have kept the floor. There is even one house that has the original horse feed drain. 
I would take a picture but the owner is very private.


We kept our Hudevad radiators in the room.
We originally chose them as it has a streamlined look but I chose the standard ugly radiators for other rooms. 
I also think they give out more heat.


My kitchen is on the other side of that wall.
I want to keep a counter bar with an opening like it was before.
Sorry to be a bore but the walls are painted - 
Natural Calico by Dulux.
It is a tried and tested shade. 
It used to be a special tech light enhancing white shade
but I never noticed the difference but I wanted a neutral as 
I am going to hang art.

Onto the kitchen...
Sorry about the quality.
A lot has been done since I left for Copenhagen.
Only just saw it yesterday.
Cabinets are hard to explain - they are khaki.
Green, gray, and beige so that is the best name for it.



The tiles were such a pain.
We went to loads of tiles shops and what did we get in the end?
White subway tiles. 
But they had to be a specific width because of the window ledge.


The shade of the cabinets have been hard to match and I chose 
pale powder by Farrow and Ball as that was also a tried and tested color but this time the tones just clashed.
I am going to have to choose another color now.

 That is the adjoining wall to the sitting room.
That room on the right is our "garage".

The Marmara marble went in the new bathroom.
I like the graphic element of it.
But I wish we grouted it a light grey - you can't really tell in the pictures and even in real life it is fine but just something
 I would tweak in future.


There was a little chip on one of the edges ( will show you another time because can't find the pic) but that would have meant getting a whole new block and as the stone is book matched - 
the wait and cost would have been ridiculous.
So while I love having stone that is one huge piece - 
there are things to be aware of when doing it this way.  


The bathroom sink cupboard all in one piece was from IKEA. 
 I wanted one of these 6 years ago when we did our last refurb but these types of furniture was still new and were expensive.
They were near on £2000 but IKEA now make them and they are a bargain.  Sometimes IKEA earns its place.



The original paint color was white as it seemed natural but it made the bathroom look so stark so I fought my corner and chose 
Dimpse from Farrow and Ball to match the stone.
Will show you better pictures when dust sheets come off.

I will update you with other rooms later otherwise this will just get too long!

46 comments:

  1. It's coming along nicely!!.
    I like natural Calico - think I'll return to it this summer - or when I get around to painting!

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    1. Even though magnolia is still the nation's best selling paint color - calico is second I think. But I have used this in quite a few places and it is a warm creamy white/beige and reacts well to all sorts of light so good to keep in mind Dawna

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  2. Glad you are home glamping! It is looking really good!

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    1. Trying to pretend I am glamping but as you can see I am Camping!! :)

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  3. What a great pad! Is this in London? You have so much SPACE!

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    1. You must also be in London as you think it is so much space! ;) It is still a campsite and worksite but hopefully it might become a nice pad soon??

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  4. Looks great! I love those floors and can imagine some nice art on the walls with a comfy sofa and vases of flowers and maybe an orchid or two....how very exciting to watch your home evolve before your very eyes.
    Looking forward to seeing more pics.

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    1. Thanks hostess but normally I love decor but for some reason I can't see past the boxes and dust...But I hope I have some pics to show you soon!

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  5. It looks like the long march will lead to a fine end. Bathroom looks like it will be nice.

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    1. Thanks Laoch but the camping march ends here for the time being though who knows where we might end up next!

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  6. Oh if you have indoor plumbing it is glamping. I think it is the hardest when you are sooo close to being done but it just seems painfully slow. The subway tiles seem to be "the" thing for kitchen backsplash over here...I like them, and your floor tiles are great. It is all looking lovely. Hang in there baby.

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  7. Ok then it is glamping. There is so much dust that it is getting in everything exposed though. I wanted to try and put the floor tile on wall but they said it just wasn't done. But it slowed things down. But there are so many types of subway tiles so even that wasn't easy. But thanks BB!

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  8. I love your floor! in fact, it's all looking pretty good, although it must be stressful moving in when it's not finished. The subway tiles are good - I've always loved them, and will be using them in our new kitchen and bathrooms (if we ever start!)
    I'm dreading the process of choosing stuff. I might just leave it to J....

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    1. The floor is pretty thick and has several sandings left in it. I think there is only two other houses with this floor. I like subway tiles but it wasn't as simple because as you will see there is different edges and grooves and shades and widths etc. One tip is to choose it all now!!! and choose a back up choice just in case :) Cant wait for yours to start!

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    2. haha! I'm dreading it!! you and Heidi can chortle at our trials and tribulations!

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  9. It's looking good N! Love the marble in the bathroom - so glam. Kitchen is looking really good too. It really doesn't look like it's far off completion, so another week or two and you should be able to unpack (maybe?). White is the hardest paint colour to get right. I have a couple that I like to use, and you'd be shocked how many people have knocked on my front door over the past 3 years to ask what the white is we've used outside (another one last night. It must be over 30 people by now?!)

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    1. Fingers crossed it's another two weeks although only one builder turned up today...but I didn't cross check and assumed pale powder would be ok so entirely my fault. The last white I chose took so much time but once it was on I couldn't tell why it was so special but a perfect cream and White is a keeper and calico is fool proof! Xx

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  10. Seems to be coming together! That marble is gorgeous. Almost makes me want to renovate. I hope things go smoothly for you and you have fun glamping!

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    1. If your house isn't broken, just enjoy it!! :) Reno only when you need to!

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  11. Glad you are back at home, even if it means camping out for a while! From what I can see, your kitchen and bathroom are looking fantastic. Love the marble in the bathroom, so eye-catching. Hope everything is going well!!

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    1. Thanks Louise! Yes I have an eye mask on and a screen to shield some light so I guess it's long as I can sleep at least I am at home!

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  12. It must be so good to be home .. despite the inconveniences;) The floors are just gorgeous as is the kitchen. I can't imagine all the stress and we will be following along as we sell our home and start building.. it's a labor of love;) Hang in..

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    1. It's nice but I have to admit I preferred staying at my brothers with all amenities fully available feels a little weird to be back as everything has changed including myself! But I am so excited for you Leslie!

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  13. Floor is gorgeous. Love off white paints kind of blurs edges of spaces expansive. And neutral. Its coming together hang in there! Progress will speed up soon I bet.

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    1. Calico just works, I have used it three times before and it is creamy and I am not into White partly because White looks so cold in the British light especially in the winter!! But thanks for your encouragement!

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  14. It looks fabulous so far. The floor looks great and the kitchen too. I love subway tiles, were they easy to find? Wishing you all the best.

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    1. Thanks Steph, actually subway tiles are soooo Aries but yes they are everywhere but it really depends on your needs. But it is hard to match tilled to my cabinets so in the end they worked. Nothing trendy but they will last!

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  15. It's all coming together so well and how fortunate that yours was one of the houses where they kept the floor. Such a rich, warm colour. We tend to buy Farrow and Ball paint but the decorator also dropped off a Dulux chart and we have been considering Natural Calico! It looks like everything will be finished soon - this is the best part when you can start thinking about all the finishing touches.

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    1. Much of it is due to choice fatigue so I saved time on one color but messed up another depending on old faithfuls! But calico is a genuine cream so suits most things depending on your floor though! But it is a easy color so you can't go wrong. Fingers crossed but I haven't even gotten around to thinking about the finishing touches yet!

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  16. I hope you're getting camping supplies from f&m N!

    That's pucker book marble you got there...I'll be needing a full list of suppliers, STAT!

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    1. My brother has lent us three sleeping bags so i don't zip up - i use one on bottom and one as a duvet for some civility! I wanted to wallpaper the bathroom but they said the paper would get wet or something technical like that so alas I went for this but will give you any leads I can! bar my builder's number...

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  17. Congratulations on moving in to your new home. I hope the finishing touches all go to plan. The bathroom is coming along lovely - I think it's quite modern-contemporary; I do like that sink. I can't believe you did all this 6 years ago as well, I take it you like renovating. I've always moved in to new builds (this is my second one, that made it sound like I've had loads!) and chose all the fittings and decor etc. so there will be no renovating here, but definitely maybe some upgrading of the decor xx

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    1. I like other people's renos! The last one did my head in as well...But when we got this place it needed a lot of work so the first one was boring stuff like new radiators and electrics. I wouldn't mind a new build as my brother has just gone in one and it definitely has its perks. You can just live without having to plan or save up for the reno so in a way it justifies its cost in a way. That ikea sink is great and I like the drawer bit and saves a lot of space. xx

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  18. Wow your bathroom looks fantastic! And I'm sure your home will look like all the magazines pictures you show us time to time! Congrats!
    xoxo

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    1. You are too funny - I wish it did look like that although some pics from the mags have been bad so in that case might not be too hard! xx

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  19. We are working bit by bit on bathroom upgrades and I sometimes wonder if we wouldn't be better off to rip it all out so we are forced to finish. What you show here has lovely tones and shades. My husband would move right in (when you are finished of course)!!

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    1. Thanks Mary - if my husband were handy we probably would do it in stages - once he took 6 months to reseal a bathtub...so it is a mixed blessing he isn't a plumber novice!

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  20. Great bathroom and ooooh, that floor, it's exquisite, oh you'll be glad to see the back of this, I'd never have the patience.

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    1. I think the floor is very photogenic! But I don't have the patience hence my frayed mental state at the mo!!

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  21. You do sound a bit flat. Hope you are O.K. Love the marble and can just imagine when you put thick fluffy towels etc with it. I vividly remember this stage in our reno. So close but so dragged out and the mess everywhere!! Nowhere was comfy or clean. It actually seems like ages ago now and only your photo reminded me.Have you looked back on photos? I found that helped to get things in perspective to see how far we had come. Won't be long now and you will be on that balcony with a G&T. and when you are - I want a photo. BTW my prize arrived safely - thanks for the lovely card too. Tonkath

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    1. Yes thanks Tonkath - I am ok but not very energetic and it has been very hectic of late. Yes I must concentrate on fluffy towels to destress :) I think the place will need two builders clean when done. I can not wait for that G&T! I am so glad you got it as I was just wondering last night :)

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  22. A lot of work still needs to be done, but I believe you can manage to deal with everything very well. If ever you have a hard time in arriving with what to do on some parts of the house, you can approach trusted experts that will listen to your queries.

    Martin Goodwin

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  23. I am enjoying reading up on your renovations. We have been living through renovations of one kind or another for the better part of 15 years at Darlington House. Fortunately, much of the interior work is finished and we've been concentrating on the outbuildings (three of them) for the last several years. We just had a meeting, though, with our architect only yesterdays, to ask him to start drawing up the plans for our last major indoor project: a new kitchen and informal dining area redo, a new laundry room, a new master bath, and a redo of a guestroom. For reasons too boring to relate, they all have to be done simultaneously, so will be completely disruptive. Fortunately, work won't begin for another year. As I told our architect, the renovations of two of our outbuildings must be completed first (the old carrot trick...) Reggie

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  24. @Martin - thank you for your sage advice.

    @Jen - thanks it is one of the only original features left so we do try and take care

    @Fab Spot - thanks!

    @Reggie - Hello - I don't think I can dare compare my renos to Darlington House!! While it would be disruptive, like a bandaid perhaps it is better to just rip it off all at once and quickly? I think I can say we are all looking forward to the changes there and hope your carrot trick works. Thanks for dropping by!

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Thank you for dropping by!