We should have been finished!.....

Yes, 40 weeks our builder had estimated to complete our remodel/renovation. We knew we would loose a little time when the dreaded Covid19 arrived in the world. In reality our builders were only not here on site for 3 weeks, yet we are likely to be about 4/5 months behind by the time we eventually move back in.

Not too much of a problem for us as we have our second home to live in which although small is very comfortable and still in Padstow. My worry is that come the end of the year, we will start to see a slow down in progress as he gets started on the new projects he has picked up for next year and the last bit of our project will end up being a slog to finish. We really hope not, because our project has been a joy so far and it would be a shame not to finish feeling the same.

I thought I would start the progress photo's with this one of our gorgeous cedar softits. It is these little details that really determine the overall look. And this is looking good.

The first photo shows the cedar in its raw state, and then after it has been fitted to the ground floor softies. Paul our site lead and Will our carpenter are both all about the detail (I am ever thankful for this) and recommended that our cedar be fitted vertically (as it is here) rather than horizontally. Horizontally would have meant less wastage, but the aesthetic results would not have been as good. We have used Osmo clear to dress the cedar, enhancing the colour, but without changing the colour drastically.

Our front door arrived. It looks a bit odd at the moment as the ground level still needs to be raised so that you will walk out of the front door onto the same level as the inside floor plate. The door is a bit wider than an average front door, but is very light to open as it is made of aluminium.

The last of our velux windows were installed and every room upstairs is now flooded with natural light.

Chimney's were installed and are ready for the fires to be installed. The very tall chimney is for the wood burner downstairs in the large family room and the little chimney you can see peeping out of the top of the dormer in the third photo is for the gas fire in the upstairs lounge. The wood burner chimney has to be a certain height above a roof, which has dictated its very tall height. We were shocked on the day it was installed, but we soon got used to it and now we don't even notice it.

The upstairs was completely transformed once the boarding was up and has given us a glimpse of just how lovely and light these rooms are going to be. You just can't have enough natural light in my opinion.

And that view never gets old, even on a dull day.

Bedroom 4 and it's en-suite (aka Tyler's suite) has come together nicely, all the boarding is done and the plastering is well underway.

Bed 3 and en-suite (aka Tasha's suite) is not far behind with the boarding very nearly complete.

The bags of plaster arrived one day and before we knew it there were lovely pink walls everywhere upstairs and even some of the render got started downstairs. I quite like the colour of the dried plaster. I think Farrow and Ball now make a paint called "Setting Plaster" which is pretty much the same colour. We are going to paint everything "white" to start, live in it and then add some colour here and there. But I am keen to keep to a neutral bas palette throughout.

I am trying to get some inspiration and idea's for fitted wardrobes. I feel really torn on this subject. Part of me want's them done now so we can move back in and unpack our stuff, but part of me feels rushed and wants to wait until we move in before `I make any set decisions.

We have ordered the second part of our stairs, along with the tiles and hand rail. Can't wait for them to be complete, very excited to see if they are as lovely as my inspiration photo here on the right.

As we have entered autumn our new hedge had it's first trim and we got started on tidying up the rest of the hedges/garden ready for it to go to sleep for the winter.

One of my most frustrating job's these last few weeks has been trying to arrange to have the kerbs dropped in front of our new garage. We already have planning permission to build the garage, but can you believe that it does not automatically allow you to get a contractor to drop the kerb. You have to use an approved council contractor and apply for a license. You can't apply for a licence until you have a quote from the approved contractor and that contractor must counter sign the application. The contractors won't give you a quote until you have written proof from the council to drop the kerb. You can see where I am going with this. Needless to say I am still waiting to hear back from the council and so I can't get a contractor and start the licence process until I do. The licence can then take up to 6 weeks to be approved. Arrrrrrrrrrh..........

The first part of the scaffold has come down.

And more hardcore has arrived to start getting the external levels to where they need to be for paving etc.

First run of cedar complete with facia board and guttering.

And other important bits are starting to get installed upstairs, water tanks, radiators and shower trays. First fix is pretty much complete throughout now.

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

Stay safe and well X