Renovation Fun - But it's been slow going...

It really has been slow going over the last three weeks and although I have still taken hundreds of photo's over those weeks, every time I sat down and collated the photo's to write that weeks blog I realised as I looked through the photo's, that visually, not much had changed. So, my apologies to all of you that have taken the time to visit The Dunlins site, only to find that I have not uploaded an up-date. It's certainly my goal to write weekly, but some weeks there has just not been enough to share. I am expecting visual activity to hot up over the next weeks, so if you would like to keep up to speed between blogs, I share photo's and updates on a daily basis on my Instagram @thedunlins and FB account Tracy Hart, so if you don't do so already, do come and connect with me there.

Having said all that, don't get the wrong idea, slow progress does not mean that the lads on site have been taking it easy, they have in fact, been very busy, but the work they have been doing has been bitty, and complicated, which means it takes time. These complications are the down side of a remodel vs a new build. Connecting the new bits to the old bits is frustratingly slow. Thankfully we have Paul (AKA Dave), who's attention to detail is legendary, nothing gets past him and he relishes conquering the most complicated architectural challenges (although his patience has been tested on these ones). Best not mention Architects around him though (especially ours), doesn't bring out his best side!

Our lovely neighbours Marie and Twyd regularly take us a photo (below) from this position (their bedroom window). The next time I share it, I am hoping you will be able to see the top floor emerging.

If you look closely this shot also show's the ivy being removed from the back wall. you will see a photo later on in the blog of it now completely clear.

At last the external and internal walls started to go up. The angles of the front elevation meant slow going, but I cannot tell you how excited I was to see the front entrance start to emerge.

The back garden clearance continues, but as these photo's show, good progress has been made. We have got rid of tons of ivy and weeds. The remaining plants seem very relieved to have some space around them at long last. Even the plants we have moved, despite the hot weather, seem very happy in their new position and are doing really well. I have never been much of a gardener, but this process has really pricked my interest, green finger emerging I wonder...

You will no from my previous blogs that we have been bringing our builders different baked goods regularly every week. In the recent hot weather, we changed tack slightly and have been stocking them up with cold drinks and sharing some savoury recipes I have been trying out. My sausage rolls went down a treat in the cooler weather, so using them as my inspiration, I created my take on the very english Scotch Egg. Needless to say, they were well received.

How pleased were we to see real doorways and window apertures start to appear. At last its starting to look like it will be a house again.

This week (week 25, also saw us order our windows and external doors. All being well they should be ready for installation early August. It will be a dream come true to be water tight before the Autumn gets here.

Windows are so important from a structural perspective, but their impact on the overall aesthetics are massive. Needless to say it took us ages to find the right supplier. We visited shows, showrooms and eventually went with Aspect Windows in Exeter. We then choose the design and colour. We wanted to step away from the norm, which seems to be Anthracite Grey at the moment, so we are going for matt black, inside and out. Classic but different.

This is the "ugly duckling" area. We really can't make up our mind what to do with it. We thought we might gravel it and put some plants in pots here, but now we are thinking faux grass, with a practical recycling area up by the back parking area..... But this might change again!

The hedge we planted a few weeks ago is loving life and growing so well both at the back (first photo) and down the side boundary wall (third photo). It's already got some buds on it so we may even see it bloom this year. Bumble bee heaven.

Here's the back wall, minus its coat of Ivy. We were amazed to see what good condition the wall was in. Some new copings and a coat of paint and it will look like new.

By the end of week 25 I was able to get up on the scaffold and get a real view of what the lads had achieved over the last three weeks.

Wow, it made me smile to see the full ground floor layout appear. The first photo is from above the guest bedroom ensuite looking diagonally across to the kitchen/family room. Second photo is coming down the stairs towards the front door. Third photo is the guest ensuite (closest) and the master bathroom and the last photo is the kitchen/family room.

Despite all the progress on the house, Tim just want's his garage to be finished....

Well that's it, until next time.....

Stay safe, well and happy X