Sunday 8 December 2013

Mews News Part 3 - Renovation updates

Things have been slow.

As I am a bit tired, I am not going to try and come up with a new analogy so let's settle for snail's pace shall we?

The accident that my builder had eventuated in the expected post traumatic stress disorder symptoms and he stayed at home or at the pub philosophizing on life.  
Which is fine but he hardly showed up on site.

We cut him some slack but then it got to the point where he may have survived the fall but I warned him he may not survive my wrath...

We had crisis talks and I warned him that there was a clause to implement financial penalties after 16 weeks of construction.  
But there are certain things that not even Alan Dershowitz could  contend with.

My builder simply said that if we were going to implement penalties then he would rush the job, mess it up and then we would have to call him to fix things but he would be busy on the next job and he doesn't have much money so there is no point in suing him.

Builder 1 - Naomi Huh?

So in a nutshell without boring you with building details that my dear Mr CSW manages to on a nightly basis,
I shall just show you the pictures.

The new 2nd floor ( UK ) / 3rd floor elsewhere.

Plaster drying and then finally primed.



This is the decking that had to be sorted, measured, and arranged before putting out on the balcony.

This is the doorway looking out on the stairs and 
the bathroom on the left.


Due to the building at the rear, we had to have a sloping roof.

But we were lucky to have this room at all because 
my neighbor next door didn't get a bathroom due to surrounding objections of right to light.

I made that little gap of space into a storage space. 
Some neighbours use theirs to store luggage and 
one can never have too much storage right?

Now this is a cultural thing but this is 
my London interpretation of a laundry area. 

That closet/hole used to hold the water tank but we are getting a whole new boiler system that moved downstairs into the garage. 

So I decided to put our washer/dryer in there. 
All the Aussies and North Americans will give me a look of pity quietly I know! ;)
We have the one machine as many Europeans do.  
No garden to hang laundry outside.
We will use the upper half for storage and laundry essentials. 
But these are London realities.


This is on the first floor and situated right next to the master bathroom near the ensuite in our bedroom.  So it means laundry doesn't have to be taken downstairs to the kitchen where most washing machines in central London are located.  

There was, as always, unexpected decisions to be made.
This is the second bedroom just before we ripped out the closet.
We found remnants of a chimney flue that stuck out 
ever so slightly on the right wall.


Considering real estate prices are calculated per square foot we decided to take what space we could.
The walls have been insulated and sound proofed etc.


I wish I could change my windows but apparently we didn't include that in our planning permission application.  So we would have to wait another three months so the windows are staying put.
But now it is primed and ready to paint and fit in cupboards.

Our interim coffee table/meeting area.

 This is the ground floor living room.
Kitchen is the space on the left.
If we ever get around to doing the basement, 
that will become the new study.


Part of me is tempted to just leave the trestle table with a kettle because making tea is what I use the kitchen for 95% of the time.

The downstairs loo being stripped because that is where part of our new boiler is going so it now has to be redone due to friendly fire.


My garage below...
Yes a car actually fits in that space.
There is my sofa resting on my dining table. 
Our car is being used by the builders due to parking issues in London. The parking fees/fines would have eaten up into their profit and hiked up our overall cost to account for this. 



Daily parking would be at least 40 pounds without calculating possible but very likely parking fines.  
So that alone has saved us at least £3800.  
In London, cars are only allowed residential parking permits with relevant addresses hence we risked lending them our car.

Don't forget I am having a quiet unpublicized giveaway to celebrate my first year blog anniversary for my existing readers.  
I will have another one publicly so new people can enter that one but I want this just for my readers who already join me here.  
It will be in the form of either a dog, umbrella or a teapot so let me know if you want to enter the raffle ok?  
Entries close 8 am GMT on December 12, 2013.
Good luck x

69 comments:

  1. Naomi, I am cross on your behalf.
    I am presuming Mr. Builder does not read your blog.
    Sounds like tradies have similar ethics the world over....

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    1. It is one of those things but we never had these issues in Asia. I never once heard that builders didn't turn up etc...but I suppose it will be funny in five years time?! Ps he doesn't read that well but he is very bright but not schooled

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  2. Now I know why it's been quiet on the reno front, how exhausting! What an attitude from the builder, I understand there was a bad fall but you have to be frustrated with the *level* of professionalism. Naomi I think you are very calm about it and I applaud you!
    And what else can you do but focus on the positive? It's looking great and spacious which is what you want, especially in London. Is your washer/dryer one machine? How does this work?
    Oh my gosh the parking is Insane!

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    1. Shoulda gone to learn building trade instead of law school! Yes machine is all in one! Takes about two hours for wash and dry. Parking is crazy here hence I don't drive!

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    2. We constantly say " why didn't we learn a trade?" The amount of tradesman who have failed to turn up/come back/ given me utter dogs abuse - I dread calling any of them, alas I'm married to a man who can't change fuse. Yes, this is 2013, I suppose it's time I learned that household art.

      How exciting for you have all that new space, can I keep my cases in that nook too? Our flights always leave from London,I can make it work!

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    3. Dani, gasp, yes all one machine, is two the norm over there?

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    4. Luxury is twisted when you live in London. The oddest thing seems so impressive like a separate laundry room. When I see two separate top loaders I get green with envy!!

      Tabs- I am not being facetious when I say I wish I learned a trade - I went on a one day plumbing course to learn how to change a washer and it was fab.

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    5. Oh and Tabs - I shall keep a space allocated with your name on it :)

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    6. Naomi - what a star, that is so impressive, I have to call "men' for the least wee thing.
      Excellent I have my own nook in London, that's probably about £10, 000 worth!

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    7. I have never even heard of this all-in-one machine until now. Most houses here have a room devoted to laundry, with a big wash tub and cabinetry and two giant machines. I've been (not lived) in houses with two washers and two dryers!

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    8. Two separate machines would be nice and I could squeeze it in elsewhere but we all seem to make do. Only people with big families seem to have the two separate ones. A lot of people only have a washing machine in London and hang their clothes to dry on radiators. What I would really love is to hang washing out on a line and have it wind dried in the garden. ( we are such sophisticates over in London!)

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    9. This always blows my mind about the single machines in Europe..How is it possible to get much washed that way? We once rented a London apartment with one of these and I was amazed how it locks up and no clothes can be removed during the cycle! Here you have 2 and you can add a sock or something while it's on..Not all things get dried in the dryer, but there are delicate and air fluff settings for fragile items. Then you have high heat for towels and such…Just so funny it is only here we have that..I would think you guys need it more than us with the colder, wetter weather.

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  3. Looking great and I applause your seemingly calm demeanour on the blog at least! Just been through renovations myself so I know the frustration when things are snail paced - and we had a great builder/friend to oversee ours. Hang in there, it will all be worth it in the end painful though it is now. I like your windows and think the bathroom ceiling looks interesting with the slope. Keep us posted I have missed reno news.
    Keep your fingers crossed for good weather in Melbourne Australia on Saturday for our home wedding of our daughter. Its raining at the moment but forecast is for 23 degrees with 'possible showers in the evening' - hopefully it won't matter by then. Garden is looking gorgeous I must say and it was a super reason for getting everything done around the house. The power that daughters have over their fathers is mazing. Sorry to take over the blog!! Tonkath

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    1. Ometimes design is dictated to you!! I will keep fingers crossed for your daughters wedding!we have cold weather here so may it be warm with a slight breeze!:)

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    2. My wifi is patchy got cut off but thanks for your comment It is always lovely to hear from readers by the way!

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  4. Sorry to hear of your builder troubles. You know how some parents want their children to become Doctors or lawyers- my husband wants ours to become builders, due to issues we've had on previous developments. All the pressure!

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    1. Law has been sort of useful but considering I love property I really should have done an apprenticeship instead plus they never run out of jobs! Your husband is wise though bc I have the same notion.

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  5. Bless your heart. I would be going crazy. May or May not work, but it is amazing what my husband will do for his homeowners for a beer.

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    1. I went and came back from crazytown, I wish your husband would set up shop around here!

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  6. We had the same problem mid way through. They take their eye off the ball for a few weeks, and it all ends up being a bit of a disaster. Reading them the riot act is the only way forward. Although, your builder is clearly not going to work to deadlines, which is what motivates mine.
    The mess etc is all very familiar to me... you have my sympathies. It will end. Keep faith! xx

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    1. Deadline is a word he has never heard of...Funny ( I say funny but wrong word ) after my job he goes early to start another job he is massively late for! It just seems to have swallowed up half the year though and when people ask when I move back in I just look at them with that vacant stare...you can see why design details are not at the forefront of my mind :)) But I am envying how amazing your renos look!!! xx

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  7. my deepest sympathies. just keep you eyes on the prize: a great house at the finish!
    xo

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  8. I agree, you are to be applauded for your calm! It will certainly all be worth it in the end. And that's actually a pretty good idea to lend them your car instead of paying the parking fees, well done on that.

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    1. calm/given up/want to move countries? Yes if we didn't then we would have not only had increased fees but they would have somehow passed on all the parking tickets and excuses of not finding parking etc so we just lent them the car but it does seem to need tuning already!

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  9. Oh it's such a slog! Agree, the best thing to do is just keep going as best as you can. But supervise his work really closely. Any way to get a second opinion?

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    1. In the building trade unfortunately no one likes to take on another builder's badly half finished job so we are kind of stuck with him unless we decide we are going to live away for another year!

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  10. Bloody hell, Naomi! What a complete slacker!
    Hang in there - I had a bit of a chortle about your builders using your car - only in London!
    I'm DREADING our renovations..... but yours are almost over, so keep breathing!

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    1. But could you imagine looking for parking for a white van and the moving it every two hours bc you know it is illegal to park and feed the meter for the same spot now?? London is crazy!

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  11. I have to say that I winced fiercely as I read this. I am not impressed with his "freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose," kind of defense. I am contrary enough that I would have asserted my contractual defenses, sued him with enthusiasm, and then made it my life mission to execute the judgement and take every penny he had and ever will have or force him to bankruptcy court. No doubt law school did me no good.

    I admire your sensibleness.

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    1. I shoulda hired you as my rep and he would have shuddered even thinking about it! It isn't being sensible I think it's being tired!

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  12. OH GOD! Such a huge mission! Feel for you. I just absolutely couldn't go through a major renovation, it would KILL ME. Totally stone dead.

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    1. Me too slapdash mama, I can't take any stress, I live each day like buckaroo, I am constantly on the verge of a breakdown!

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  13. I'm so sorry you're having this problem with your builder. I'd be pulling my hair out...or his. You have the patience of a saint but he really does have you over a barrel. What a creep. Watch his work closely!! Hang in there.

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    1. He has me by the cojones Jennifer! The husband is there all day every day now :)

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  14. Naomi, I love seeing other people's renovations having done two myself over the years. I found that builders seem to go on holidays for two months over Christmas/New Year. Good luck with finishing the job and finding the help you need. It will be all worth it, and it's good you still have a sense of humour.

    Please include me in your mystery prize draw. Thank you, and congratulations on your first year of CSW.

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    1. Me too I love other people's renovations as well!!! I think if I were a builder I would have made a fortune bc I would have worked and my reputation would have been such that people would wait for me. It is now slowly becoming a regret...Of course you were already in the pile Carol!

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  15. Oh Naomi! I am so sorry that the reno is dragging like this, though I will admit to having my own PTSD about it after he fell ;-)!

    You are absolutely top drawer to be this patient and I think it is looking wonderful!!!But dear god I hope he snaps out of it soon and gets the work done!

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    1. Oh Wendy - I do hope that it finished in the new year??? Well let's see how we go as I sorta don't have a choice :p

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  16. What has been completed so far is looking really good Naomi. Parking in London sounds awfully expensive!! I will pass on my favourite quote from the film Madagascar which gets me through most work days "Just smile and wave boys, just smile and wave!!". Here's to a good week. Jo xx

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    1. Parking in London is so expensive plus they hire parking attendants who fiercely monitor everything and get a commission and have targets so there is a lot of parking meter rage. Not fun. What surprises me is how many people still persist driving in town? But thanks for the tip - if I start doing that I think they would be even more scared thinking I have lost it :) xx

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    2. You can get builders parking permits, which cost about £38 per month, depending on your borough, and can be bought online!

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    3. Alas Westminster is canny and the cheapest trade parking is still £16!

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  17. I think your builder chum could do with a bit of a sorting out Naomi. Yes he does seem as wylie as f***. I'd be inclined to tell him to sod-orff! Boils my blood and it's not even my build!

    You can change your windows without PP by the way. It's part of permitted development.

    Here's a short cautionary tale: A friend of mine had her washer/dryer placed on the second floor at the recommendation of a 'clever' builder using up space. Only problem was when it broke down and leaked a full load everywhere, which they do, it brought down the ceilings, and knackered a lot more than if it were placed somewhere a woman would put it... like, up the aforementioned builders jaxie, the kitchen, or the garage. Granted, it gives the builder a future source of income when the ceilings come down and you need rewired, plastered etc; but washer/dryers are not the most silent things to have beside a bedroom. Bless the delivery man who will carry a new one up two floors too.

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    1. The probs is he is as tough as nails so it is the sort of thing that would get sorted in the parking lots of caravan strongholds instead of the courts of law so I would rather not take that route.

      The windows are part of permitted developement but the problem with that is if there are objections then you have to apply for permission anyway ( I learned that the hard way a few years ago on another build - they haven't really thought permitted development through properly especially in London). My neighbours have their laundry space on the first floor and touch wood there have been no issues plus I hate lugging stuff down to the kitchen and realizing i dropped a sock on the stairs going down! But yes it is a good point to get a second non partisan plumber to check the work. But only one floor up and he will even get biscuits with his tea :)

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    2. Oh he sounds like a real gent!

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  18. It's always long to change all your house :-( But I'm so excited to see how it will be when it's finished :-)
    xoxo

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    1. Thx Gloria. Yes it was exciting beforehand but I will try and remember to enjoy it when it is over! xx

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  19. You really do have a lot going on and you seem to be so patient! Lending the builder your car is certainly a novel idea. I remember when we had building work last year I used to constantly remind myself that the end result would be worth the wait and the cold. It was a harsh winter and it was so difficult to keep the rest of the house warm.

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    1. One has no choice it seems but to be patient! Yes I had boxed up all my coats and luckily found a spare one at my brothers I kept otherwise I would be without a coat this winter!

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  20. oh wow I am impressed with your calm....! gosh that builder ! !! but you know what I ve been listening to so many bad things that I am even not that surprised (you can ask my friend Emily...she has had a big fight with hers) anyway...respect to you and your patience ! keep it up darling ! I like your coffee/meeting table in all that mess :) and can't wait to come back to the mews next easter and have a coffee / tea in your new place ! oh I want to enter the raffle !!! a teapot :) miss you xxxxx

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    1. Well you know he is a mentalist! But you know I am not patient :p Can't wait for you to come visit and see your old house - we all miss you too xxx PS you are in

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  21. dearest naomi,

    sounds like such a stressful time for you and yours. Lending your car seems like a calculated risk – I’m not sure if I would trust someone with my car but I suppose it’s kind of a pick-your-poison type of situation. I would definitely try bribing him since wielding the stick of the law didn’t seem to have worked! best of luck with the reno, it's getting cold over here in america too.

    I’d love to enter the giveaway please :)

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    1. calculated risk - pick poison - very pertinent terminology Grace! :) Yes I saw the news - it looks freezing bar FLorida.

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  22. It's freaking crazy, I can't hear of any construction that doesn't happen with HUGE problemes and fights with constructors (at least here in France).
    I didn't get anything about the giveaway =P

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  23. Your house is going to look gorgeous, however it is no doubt a very stressful process, especially with the builder, but good that he is ok too. We recently did an extremely small renovation job at our new house and it ended up taking twice as long and cost twice the price! I am not sure if I am cut out for any future renovation jobs, however your creative vision and patience will no doubt result in you having a gorgeous home. I hope the rest of the process is smooth and that you have a nice Christmas x

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  24. Oh, it must be overwhelming at times. Lots of walking with the dog seems the best solution to this renovation saga. The builder does seem to have done a good job so far though, just judging from your photos. My builder hasn't been seen for months but, fortunately, he did finish the most important part of the work before he went awol. Doesn't seem to care that I owe him money, which he won't get till he finishes the job properly.

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  25. I have heard that renovations rank among life's most stressful experiences, up there with divorce and loss of a job. I would be beside myself. I hope that he finishes the job for you quickly and professionally. On the positive side, I can tell that your home is beautiful, even in the midst of construction. I'm sure when all this is over, you will love the way it looks.

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  26. Must say, I am surprised there's no Christmas tree, fairy lights or festive streamers in your gaffe just now. Perhaps you should ask the builder to sort them out for you as it is clear he has little else to do...

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  27. @Melo - I think builders and their issues are universal except for in East Asia!

    @Fifi - I am not so sure it will look that great as we are losing steam and we are being haphazard with decisions and things change all the time so we shall see...Your job seems pretty much par for the course although the only thing is that we are not going wildly over budget...small grace Fifi! x

    @Gallivanta - funny enough the new puppy is destressing me a lot. perfect timing - at least your builder isn't cheeky and asking for money for an unfinished job! I have heard much worse....

    @Merry Wife - yes it really is - I am going through some sort of mid life crisis due to this whole experience without getting too deep! I hope he finishes soon - I am beyond aesthetics now - just want waterproof warm house!

    @Yorkshire Pudding - Ha - yes except if it was his job to do then it will not happen!!

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  28. Oh my goodness Naomi - this really is a huge renovation. I don't know which emotion would be more overpowering for me- anxiety or excitement, I hope it is the latter for you. That builder didn't know he was messing with did he - you stand your ground missy. What a well thought out plan to have the washing machine so conveniently situated where you take off your clothes! The second floor is looking lovely with that balcony - can I ask..... are you having a walk-in closet, indulge me! xx

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  29. Yes it's good to just pop it in rather than walk down dropping the odd sock! But I am trying to. Ompromise on walk in...we don't have that space but it will have to do when I show you ;) xx

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  30. What a project you have undertaken here Naomi. I'm sure at every turn it feels like 2 steps back. I know that in the end this phase will diminish to a brief stint but this phase is a challenge. I love your photos and it's clear how lovely these spaces will be. I'm just catching up after a crazy schedule but I'm so happy I saw this post. A giveaway? I'm in!
    xx, Heather

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  31. As you say, Naomi, at least you are not going over budget too much.That would be the most stressful thing for me by far.I am always paranoid about changing plans or adding things on and seeing the bill start rocketing skywards...I think because it is your house that they are in, builders always end up involving you in the details of their home lives? and it is weird how they all seem to live such complicated and dramatic lives.I hope you don't get too down with the unfinished work.If your husband is micromanaging them, it should be OK in the end.xs

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  32. @Heather - yes and I had a day that was unlike any other this week in terms of building works! You are in the raffle x

    @ Sue - yes but in terms of time I feel rather worn out but it has made me reasses things so I suppose it is good that way. But so true that builders don't have straightforward lives at all - there was more drama this week which I shall update on my next reno post! x

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  33. Holy smokes re: what you're contending! 40 pounds per day for parking? Agree one can never have too much storage.

    Patience and strength and good luck to you!!

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  34. Naomi, So feel for you with the reno. I too have been with a bad contractor who started using subs who then he didn't pay and put a lien on my house! It was terrible!
    Boy what a creep saying he will do a shoddy job if pushed..I also am amazed at the parking thing..Hopefully, it will all be worth it, but when you are living through it, nothing is more frustrating. My friend has a similar situation right now and hates the contractor so much she now has insomnia. She cannot sleep because she hates him and him being in the house!

    Hope it all gets done soon. Take care and enjoy the eating out part. xxoo Kim

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