First, remove the chimney
which was the wall between the bathroom, hallway and the bedroom
and now it's gone!
but the old bedroom cupboard has to go too.
Here's the new gap, as seen from the top of the stairs
and along the top landing
so, a new wall is required
and is expertly constructed by Jillian's dad, George
maybe with a bit of help from Paul?
or is that him hiding?
So, the wall is up now.
tidy work indeed
and looking good.
Here's how it looked before
And this is the work completed. Very nice.
Start taking out the old . . .
First, a new wall making the room wider
Insulated and ready to finish
Where's the bath gone?
Is that a new window?
and the sink has become a toilet.
The bathroom guy has been busy
and the floor's looking good
A wee problem matching the paint!
Last thing, a tall cabinet.
And it's all looking great.
and we're very pleased with it. (all 3 of us!)
This is the starting point
New, larger hatch in a mostly new ceiling
and a bit of new wall to move the bedroom door
walls stripped and the new ceiling plastered
A new boiler in the upstairs cupboard
with remote controls - the modern way!
The new ceiling hatch & ladder in use
The landing in one direction
and now the other direction
Painting underway
The bathroom guys don't half make a mess
Bathroom done ...
doors on ...
and a surprise visitor checking up from Bahrain
then the final result - all painted and carpeted
The chimney has gone, and the wall with it
Is there no privacy at all?
Where the chimney was. You can see into the kitchen through the floor
The replacement wall under construction
and still no privacy!
The wall is up, and the door has been moved to the right
and we are ready to move forward.
New windows
Now, here is the plan. Wonder how it will turn out?
Plaster going on.
including the roof
What's this?
New cupboards?
Yes, that's new cupboards right enough
and a wee hidey-hole for Jillian?
Misting paint coat going on
Door on, and painting underway
Painting continues
It all looks absolutely brilliant.
As the heavy team delicately finish off the room.
Stripped and ready for some action
but only useful for storage at this time
Now a coat of plaster applied
all round the room
including the roof
and finlly the "feature" wall retaining the old 60's fireplace
Jillian reveals who's doing most of the work here.
New window, radiator and a coat of misting paint
now we're ready for the top coat
even more painting . . .
Door on, painting done
and the carpet to finish it all off.
Now this can be the office (temporarily, perhaps)
Another room used for storage at the start
Then a coat of plaster
Which took some time to dry
New window and radiator
then an undercoat of misting primer
and a last look at the old cupboard built long ago by Grandad Bill
Replaced by a lovely new cupboard and shelves
still using the sliding door principle, though.
Doors on, and wallpaper (now there lies a tale!)
Nursery furniture installed...
all ready for Sadie Jean's arrival.
The stairwell - stripped ready for action
Early attempts at the bannisters
Some complex "scaffolding" required
to access every nook and cranny
What would Health & Safety say?
But it's very effective, and look, a new window!
Someone trying to take the credit
but here is the real driving force.
So it's primed and ready
A concrete mixer? Surely not?
New cupboard at the foot of the stairs
Bannister next?
soon . . .
The cupboard interior looks good
Walls and bannister painted and carpet down
and it looks absolutely brilliant.
So, from this....
To this. Good Job!!
Before we start, but the heating's in.
The kitchen door has disappeared
Replaced by a new wall
This cupboard needs cleared
To be replaced by what?
Ah, ha! A secret compartment
In fact, two secret compartments!!
It looks very innocent...
but will anyone ever see the gas meter again?
New flooring going down
With the doors, all looking good.
with a very nice overall effect.
How about a wee toilet downstairs?
Knock a hole in the hall wall and fit a surround.
Put concrete on the Floor
and fit some minature fixings.
Get Grandad Paul going with the paint and paper
and it all looks really great.
Here's wht the view from the kitchen window was via a security camera before Paul & Jillian bought the house.
Here's the startin point for the kitchen conversion.
Starting to remove the chimney and wall between kitchen and living room
Some different angles of the wall coming down
Another angle
And another
And yet another
This little visitor didn't fancy the work in store.
So, the wall is gone now.
Kitchen and living room opened up
Now there's a gap being made over the kitchen window
A beam goes up where the wall was
and is fixed to the adjacent wall
with another beam over the kitchen window
and an upright to hold it all together. Now the house shouldn't fall down.
Is knocking down walls becoming a habit?
Lets knock through to the front room
Looking at the "new kitchen-diner" from the front room
Front room and front door from the kitchen.
and the larder, but this is about to change.
Last look at the kitchen door?
Last look at the back door?
Back door gone, and replaced by a new window.
Now the kitchen door's gone as well, and the pantry door also!
radiator fitted and beam boxed in.
A clue to what's happening to the pantry.
Slapping on plaster.
and ready to be painted.
What is it with this guy knocking down walls?
My, that's a big hole in the outside wall!.
Covered up for the moment, don't want anyone breaking in and leaving us something.
Look! A new back door, this time a big pair of sliding doors.
and a very large window alongside.
This pair look really really good
Box everything in, beams and all.
Run a drain & water supply to the new location for the kitchen sink.
Need to finish the boxing-in.
And covered in new plaster.
And all ready to be painted.
but there's something else to be done before we're finished here.
Breaking up the old floor
There's a lot of it!
Start laying down a new base.
With a waterproof lining.
The top layer goes on.
Smoothed out and left to solidify.
And we're done. Very nice.
Well, here's the kitchen - in boxes in the garage
and here's where it has to go!
Off to a good Start.
Some help from Kev in starting the Island.
It's coming along.
Making good progress.
Adding some lights
and it's taking shape.
but Jillian is making sure all is satisfctory.
OK. What's next?
Doors, of course.
Looking great!
The worktops have arrived!
And are looking great.
The doors look good too.
Just needs some paint to finish it Off.
Really, really very nice.
One last thing to finish it Off.
The floor.
From the front room into the kitchen
And through to the back of the room
All looking marvelous
When everything comes together.
Looks great in any light.
and a pleasure to work in.
Wow.
View from the front room
View from the back door.
One last thing required.
The feature lights.
And here's a guy trying to convince us he was in charge all along. He, He.
A hole in the wall for the beam supporting the house!
now neatly cemented in
Starting to take out the wall for the dividing doors
Slowly progressing.
Until it's all done. Neat job.
Bookshelves - Joiner No1 - Crazy Paul. Take a last look a the old fireplace
Here is the fire surround from the bedroom above as it was originally.
Here is the fire surround after it's ben tidied up.
And here is where they're thinking of putting it. Note that Joiner No2 has also tidied the book-cases
A lick of paint, and this is beginning to look really good.
More paint, and tiles in the fireplace.
The new bay windows looking a bit rough round the edges.
Some new surrounds and some plaster later!
Getting on with the painting.
Took some effort to get away from the original paintwork!
And now the floor goes down.
Looking really, really very nice.
We mean really, really, really nice.
Are we ready to move in?.
First fetch the plants from Jillians Mum.
Hoping they look as good in their new surroundings.
There's that guy again, taking all the credit!
But everything is looking brilliant.
From no matter which angle.
all ready for Sadie Jane to arrive.
This is how Uncle John left the loft. Reasonably organised, but everything ages old.
Step 1, a larger hatch and a ladder to the loft.
The view from above
Hole where the chimney used to be
and the view from above!
The loft is now floored
And ready for a new gneration of "treasured rubbish"
The roof had been replaced in 2017, so all good there. No leaks!!