DIY Project. Livingroom modernisation. *Lots of pics inside*

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IPIP
IPIP Posts: 57 Forumite
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in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving
Hi all


So I have been doing up my living room. We have a baby on the way (due date is first week of Dec) so the idea is to get this finished by then. I started this back in May :embarasse and been doing it up on weekends. Yes this may possibly be the slowest DIY project known to man and the missus isn't too pleased with the timings lol.


Anyway, it all started with these picture on pinterest as a reference:


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  • IPIP
    IPIP Posts: 57 Forumite
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    This is the first picture I captured after removing old gas fireplace


    6d90c942838397d437b73061b65c35ef.jpg




    After removing the ceiling plasterboard, carpet etc

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  • IPIP
    IPIP Posts: 57 Forumite
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    Cleaned up the place, erected stud framings and sorted out the wiring, including ceiling speakers. The idea is to have a 65" tv which will be flush to the wall with no wiring or power cable exposed. The right cabinet will house Sky, AV reciever and the Playstation. The left cabinet will house the computer and any other 2 HDMI items. There is a power socket on each cabinet and because any power cables will be blocked by the appliences in there, I went with 1 socket with extension in mind.


    Theres a 12mm chipboard backing to support the TV weight and likewise the bottom is for an electric fireplace, again same chipboard to support the weight.



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    In the meantime, I bought one of these ceiling speakers from Ebay @ 6.5" size:
    adastra-4-x-surround-sound-ceiling-speakers-directional-tweeter-80w-easy-fit-p4270-8570_image.jpg

    and I tested it against one of the older surround speakers that I had from Richer Sounds. It seemed that they were almost identical. So I went ahead and bought 3 more to make up the 4 ceiling speakers.




    I began boarding up with a 12mm plasterboard:
    51f512955bf43cf7154c5017a122db0d.jpg
  • IPIP
    IPIP Posts: 57 Forumite
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    The boarding finally finished, I started jointing, cleaning up the edges and just getting it ready before plastering


    c7607374242a11a2318d3e51a8691eb2.jpg


    Began plastering:


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    and today, this is where I am at:


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  • TeamPlum
    TeamPlum Posts: 213 Forumite
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    I like it, are you a tradesman? You seem to know what you're doing.
  • IPIP
    IPIP Posts: 57 Forumite
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    TeamPlum wrote: »
    I like it, are you a tradesman? You seem to know what you're doing.


    Just a DIY'er and an avid Youtube viewer :beer:
    I'll post the cost spreadsheet later because I had strict budget in mind.
  • spadoosh
    spadoosh Posts: 8,732 Forumite
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    Rank amateur, you know nothing of slow DIY projects, you should introduce your OH to mine. Youd be put in the 60 minute make over category.

    4 years doing my bathroom, worked stopped about 2 years ago after peaking before baby came along but ive still yet to fit the bath panel and extractor fan..... this weekend.....

    Really like the styles your going for, should look good.

    What was the old ceiling hiding? I cant see why the fake drop is their?
  • IPIP
    IPIP Posts: 57 Forumite
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    spadoosh wrote: »
    Rank amateur, you know nothing of slow DIY projects, you should introduce your OH to mine. Youd be put in the 60 minute make over category.

    4 years doing my bathroom, worked stopped about 2 years ago after peaking before baby came along but ive still yet to fit the bath panel and extractor fan..... this weekend.....

    Really like the styles your going for, should look good.

    What was the old ceiling hiding? I cant see why the fake drop is their?


    My next project is likely to be the bathroom and my professionally slow turnaround is telling me it will take even longer than the living room.


    The ceiling drop was done by me about 8 years ago, the idea was to have spot lights and speakers but the noob in me executed it poorly.
  • FreeBear
    FreeBear Posts: 14,630 Forumite
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    spadoosh wrote: »
    Rank amateur, you know nothing of slow DIY projects, you should introduce your OH to mine. Youd be put in the 60 minute make over category.

    Agreed, a rank amateur. I've been working on my lounge for over two years now, and still haven't painted the windowsill. Kitchen is ongoing after nine months, and the less said about the garden (weed patch), the better.

    OP - If you are thinking of putting a heater below the TV, please rethink the idea. Heat rises, and it won't do any good for the life of the TV.
    Her courage will change the world.

    Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.
  • dickibobboy
    dickibobboy Posts: 1,054 Forumite
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    I love the idea of threads like these, a good thread or maybe even sub forum for project threads would be great.

    It gives members chance to post what they’ve done and get ideas for their own stuff.
    Things that are free in life are great, well most of the time :beer:
  • Ozzuk
    Ozzuk Posts: 1,884 Forumite
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    Excellent job! I assume you put insulation back in the floor before plastering??!

    Might also want to think about some LEDs around the TV frame whilst its all open - cheap and can look really nice and helps the contrast on the TV. I have warm colour changing ones.

    Also...whilst I think about what I did with mine, you can get remote control sockets which really helps fully power down stuff without trying to reach plugs, plus it looks cool when you press buttons on a remote and the lights/tv/dvd etc come on.

    Looking forward to seeing final result!

    Might be too late but with that shape room you could also look at electric drop down projector screen and even a drop down projector for the full cinema experience (I built a cinema in my basement and it gets used weekly). Great for films/gaming.
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