Quit everything , and start again over 50?

enthusiasticsaver

Why don't you put blinds or curtains up AC at least on the road side of the flat? That will disguise the fact it will initially be empty. It is a ground floor flat isn't it so I would think having some sort of blinds would be essential. I am a fan of vertical blinds but you can get all sorts and that would stop passers by being able to look in.

enthusiasticsaver

Also if you are not getting your stuff out of storage straight away there won't be anything to steal or entice burglars will there? Without being complacent if Poole is anything like Plymouth where we live (outskirts) then burglaries are few and far between. It is not like London or large inner cities. I would do as Harz suggests. Decorate asap and then get blinds or curtains up.

lessonlearned

The old decorators trick is to smear Windowlene over the window whilst work is in progress. Deters prying eyes so you don't feel like a goldfish in a bowl whilst decorating and stops would be burglars casing the joint. Still allows plenty of daylight for you to work.

Gigervamp

lessonlearned wrote: »

The old decorators trick is to smear Windowlene over the window whilst work is in progress. Deters prying eyes so you don't feel like a goldfish in a bowl whilst decorating and stops would be burglars casing the joint. Still allows plenty of daylight for you to work.

Can you still get that type of Windowlene? I haven't seen it for ages. I remember doing that though, when I moved into my first flat after moving out of home.
And the bonus is, when you clean it off, you get nice sparkling windows!

another_casualty

Thanks for your input today
Just got back from the dentist . Took longer than expectrd .
Mondays hygienist appt is cancelled, and part 2 of the tricky stuff starts again next Thursday . I haven't been for 6+ years for obvious reasons . I used to go like clockwork up until then.

Windowlene . Yeah , I remember that being done in the past .
Thanks LL:) I was aprehensive about doing that , but on the contrary it seems the best solution .

Frosted film is something that is found on the windows of many pubs.
I think you've put me off that idea now harz:) But that's the good thing about this thread. Lots of ideas to bounce around .

If the key is a Yale , I may be able to just swap,the barrell over.
The outside communal,lock,, will have to remain as it is .
I'll have to see if there's a mortice lock on that .
I'd best go and order the stuff from b&q to ensure delivery tomorrow

lessonlearned

Gigervamp wrote: »

Can you still get that type of Windowlene? I haven't seen it for ages. I remember doing that though, when I moved into my first flat after moving out of home.
And the bonus is, when you clean it off, you get nice sparkling windows!

Not sure about actual windowlene but I have seen "cheapo lookilikies".

£land and old fashioned cheap hardware type places are your best bet.

(One of the advantages of living oooop norff.). Plenty of old fashioned cheap shops. :rotfl:

another_casualty

I had everything saved in the b&q basket. Just about to checkout..
..and then the server crashed . I had to start all over again . The small things in life ..:rotfl:
I found out some of the things I ordered were not available , when I tried to look for them . So tomorrow,/weekend I will head to Homebase and to hopefully get the Harris paint/ roller sets and see what gives .

dreaming

Youngest has frosted film on the bottom half of her living room windows (terraced house) and I actually like the look, so it is all a matter of personal taste. She rents so another advantage is that it is easily removed if/when she moves. I personally hate vertical blinds although they are very popular in the bungalows around me with the 70/80 year olds but they remind me too much of work. I have 2 tier louvre shutters on my front windows. I can fold the top tier right back to maximise the light or open the window whilst keeping the privacy at the bottom. Much easier to clean than venetian blinds - remember having those in our first house and they were a right pita as they were quite flimsy.
Well the sun finally turned up so have had an hour or so in the garden. Alfie cat came out briefly but there were children in the garden behind me so he beat a hasty retreat. Don't know why he doesn't like them - he can't even see them as I have tall fences all round and he doesn't worry about next door's yappy dog.

Will be watching out tomorrow for news of completion AC - good luck.

lessonlearned

There are somelovely window fillms around now, not just plain frosted. There is something for every style of property from posh mirrored glass effects for fancy new build city pads to stained glass effects for Victorian/Georgian styles.

My friend in Spain had a builder who put plain glass in their bathroom window......not ideal because it was at ground floor level:rotfl:. She put some stained glass effect Film up and the result was sensational. When the sun hit the windows the bathroom was lit up like a cathedral. It was stunning.

I love proper shutters but they can be very expensive on large areas. Although if you have time and are a bit of a handy Andy then there are DIY versions around.

Have a Google for privacy solutions, Pinterest will have loads of pictures for ideas.

Anyhoo. Good luck with legal completion tomorrow.

MrsPorridge

I have some of the stained glass effect window film on my landing window - and as you say LL, when the sun shines it lights the whole landing up with beautiful colours.