First-time house renovation

jimbugalee

I don't think we put the coal in initially. Think he starts it with kindling then eventually I know he says put the coal at the bottom because it needs the air from underneath (we have a grate thing which we can pull backwards and forwards to shake the soot down) and puts the big wood on top.

Btw found a great way to clean the glass (it only gets dirty when you turn it down overnight and there's no air going over the glass). Get some vinegar and ash and rub it on, or you can make a paste.

jimbugalee

TomsMom wrote: »

Oh, oh, oh, just gotta tell you this. TD has had a Christmas present :j. He's just come in to show me his hair is starting to grow back :j :j :j , very fine soft stubbly looking bits but it's coming through all over his head. How good is that, just in time for Christmas :T. I think he'd like his eyelashes back soon too, perhaps he'll get those for his birthday in February :rotfl: .

Ah that's just great TM!!! how brilliant

latecomer

flying visit - big update later in the week I promise.

TM - great news about TD's hair - hopefully that will cheer him up

for everyone using coal in their multi-fuel stoves - check your stove is compatible - ours is compatible with wood and smokeless coal only i.e. man-made not natural coal.

pawpurrs

HI guys,
Can I join in, just embaraking on a a major house renovation:eek:
At the moment its all starting to feel a bit daunting.
Just ordered the kitchen, waiting on quotes for the central heating, Im blinkin freezing at the moment

TomsMom

:santa2: Hi Pawpurrs, come and join our merry throng. It seems to be a bit quiet at the moment, I think most people have downed tools for the Christmas season so there probably wont be much added for a week or so.

My house was mostly finished earlier this year and we are settled in with just a few remaining little jobs to do but all the big and messy stuff is behind us.

What's your kitchen like? Any pictures? When's it being delivered? I should probably own up to being the nosey one so feel free to start a blog (most of us have one, if not pictures get posted on here) and tell us absolutely everything you are planning and give us regular updates .

pawpurrs

I have gone for a hand built solid wood kitchen, in a shaker style, painted with A greeny/blue, with thick solid oak worktops, hand made local quarry type tiles on the floor, and an Everhot cooker in cream, retro enamel light fitting. Belfast sink, and old style Bib taps, on upstands, wanted T and G backs, but coming out too expensive. I have enough Tesco points to get some underfloor heating and wall tiles, so deciding on those at the moment........Might go for cream Metro tiles from Topps tiles, or a tavertine, the tavertine is a lot more expensive so not sure if its worth it, as I think the metro ones will go really well.
Ordered a stable door for the back, but it came in today and was crap, so its been sent back, went to Howdens and they had one that was ok, but they have 20% off doors starting in Jan so that might have to wait.
There is a lot of work to be done here, including ripping down all the ceilings as all the beams have been covered up unfortunetly. The house dates back to 1380, and all the character has been covered up, so its all exciting.

TomsMom

Oh wow! A period house, lots of lovely features to discover and your kitchen sounds fantastic. Can't wait to see some pictures as you progress.

lisal0u

Hi Everyone,

pawpurrs - Welcome to the gang! Ill look forward to your updates and piccys hopefully!

TM - Hooray for TD growing some hair back! Bless him, I hope his eyelashes come soon too! Must be really annoying not having any!

Im getting very excited about Christmas but still lots to do before then! We have finished tiling the bathroom and pantry floor, just got to grout tomorrow and seal everything. Weve also finished all the decorating and touching up.

We are hiring a van on wednesday and moving all the big things in and that will be the first night we sleep there :-)

Havent written and Christmas cards this year or wrapped any of my presents or even got the tree up. I think that will be a job for Christmas eve!

Hope all your renovations are going well, Im very pleased ours is almost coming to an end!
xxx

andrew-b

TomsMom wrote: »

Oh, oh, oh, just gotta tell you this. TD has had a Christmas present :j. He's just come in to show me his hair is starting to grow back :j :j :j .

Alright for some! I don't think anyone would notice if i lost mine in the first place! :rotfl::D

TomsMom

lisal0u wrote: »

We are hiring a van on wednesday and moving all the big things in and that will be the first night we sleep there :-)

Now that's really exciting. Doesn't matter how much of a mess you're in or how behind with Christmassy things, just get into that house and enjoy your first Christmas there!