Tales from my kitchen - 1 of a series
I only usually blog once a week or so but I thought you might like to see a bit of house renovation - some of the dust and slog behind living the dream!
Last year we moved the main cooking kitchen back into the old part of the house where it belongs. We were left with an early 80s horror in the back kitchen, the peeling melamine and stained worktop setting off the mouldy patches on the wall a real treat.
So this year's job was to redo the back kitchen as a scullery/utility and work started yesterday with the emptying of cupboards.
So the new kitchen fills up with boxes from the old one, which go under the table and on the table and on the freezer and the diswasher and out into the laundry and just about everywhere.
The cupboards come out and it is going to get worse before it gets better.
Here it is getting worse as the tiles come off.
We are trying to leave the sink connected for another day or so and here is Ian actually making it a bit better by cleaning up.
And you ain't seen nothing yet. The ceiling has to come down this week so that the electrics can be redone. I am thinking a small but dense Welsh version of last year's Icelandic ash cloud. Flights over North Wales (such as they are) may be suspended.
This is on the front kitchen table to cheer me up. I had to stand quite close. From this close up it all looks quite pretty, proving conclusively that the idea that the camera never lies is total rubbish. But they are lovely and all from the garden.
When this is done I may never move again.
Last year we moved the main cooking kitchen back into the old part of the house where it belongs. We were left with an early 80s horror in the back kitchen, the peeling melamine and stained worktop setting off the mouldy patches on the wall a real treat.
So this year's job was to redo the back kitchen as a scullery/utility and work started yesterday with the emptying of cupboards.
So the new kitchen fills up with boxes from the old one, which go under the table and on the table and on the freezer and the diswasher and out into the laundry and just about everywhere.
The cupboards come out and it is going to get worse before it gets better.
Here it is getting worse as the tiles come off.
We are trying to leave the sink connected for another day or so and here is Ian actually making it a bit better by cleaning up.
And you ain't seen nothing yet. The ceiling has to come down this week so that the electrics can be redone. I am thinking a small but dense Welsh version of last year's Icelandic ash cloud. Flights over North Wales (such as they are) may be suspended.
This is on the front kitchen table to cheer me up. I had to stand quite close. From this close up it all looks quite pretty, proving conclusively that the idea that the camera never lies is total rubbish. But they are lovely and all from the garden.
When this is done I may never move again.
Good luck with all that!
ReplyDeleteOur new carpets are causing serious disruption but nothing on that scale.
Love the yellow and blue themed planting on your header :-)
Celia
Oh my, you have got your work cut out there - but it will be lovely in the end!
ReplyDeleteThat 'back kitchen' is truly super grotty! Before and after pictures are worth while because the pleasure of the new will rapidly erase all memories of those floral tiles and melamine doors.
ReplyDeleteHope it all goes smoothly.
PS you SR sweet peas are just coming out - a beautiful creamy White. Smell divine as only sweet peas can. Thank you.
What an interesting post. We'll look forward to seeing it again when all the work is done.
ReplyDeleteWhat is that tacky old phrase? "You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet?"
I'm sure the end result will be well worth the effort.
Cheers!
Canadian Chickadee
What an interesting post. We'll look forward to seeing it again when all the work is done.
ReplyDeleteWhat is that tacky old phrase? "You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet?"
I'm sure the end result will be well worth the effort.
Cheers!
Canadian Chickadee
Oh, I feel your pain! I might have to post a kitchen picture to cheer you up/depress you even more! We didn't even plan to start the kitchen just yet, but the builders have had to tear it out to rewire/replumb. The mess is driving me crazy!
ReplyDeletehow exciting - love that sort of thing, my parents were forever gutting houses. As you say it has to get worse before it gets better but it will be worth it
ReplyDeleteRenovations can be disruptive, but I found them so exciting as well. I always thought my husband was so much more verile and I would swoon over him quite a lot. Ahhhhh!
ReplyDeleteI hope things run smoothly; and gorgeous flowers.
Elizabeth - that lovely flower arrangement is enough to cheer up the darkest hour. Things can only get better once all the dust has subsided.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers look heavenly and I am sure all teh dust will settle soon...can't wait to see!
ReplyDeleteI would suggest that we do guest posts for each other, but suspect that they might sound exactly the same: It has to get worse before it gets better/it will all be worth it in the end!
ReplyDeletehi elizabeth ,when the plaster cloud clears all will be lovely- you have to believe that!Love the marigolds.
ReplyDeleteCelia - new carpets sound like a rather glorious disruption!
ReplyDeleteSu - I do hope so!
Mountainear - I am hoping that a detailed before and after will be a great thing to look back on (that is the thought which is carrying me through just now!) So glad the sweet peas are flowering. My black knight and matucana are in flower but the white ones are still holding back.
ReplyDeleteChickadee - we have broken eggs in plenty here!
It will be lovely when completed Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteAt least you have bananas on your table!!
Since our floods inNorthern Aus. Our bananas are now $13per kilo!
Chris
The first house we bought was built in 1908 and we spent 10 years in a constant state of renovation before we finally moved to Arizona, leaving many projects still to be done.
ReplyDeleteYours looks like an enormous one, but I bet it will be incredible when it's finally finished. For some reason, I'm fascinated by the very deep windowsill, which is exactly what I would have expected in a Welsh house of a certain age...like something out of a book! I can't wait to see the 'after' photos.
And the flowers are beautiful - a glorious bunch of summer!
I agree that you should never move again, but I already thought that before. I'm sorry about the mess you find yourself in, but it is temporary and you will be very happy once it's done. It's like a dream come true, after all, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt just tells the truth close up.
ReplyDeleteHope excitement about the new tides you through.
Lucy
We left the house for weeks when our kitchen was done - couldn't stand all the mess. Of course I had the luxury of having a second house where I work in Wiltshire, but I missed home terribly!
ReplyDeleteChris - photos of other people in the same boat would be quite cheering I think!
ReplyDeleteHelen - I do love it in a way. We have done lots of house renovation and my parents were always at it so I do know how to survive! Hence the flowers and ideally one tidy and calm room to retreat to.
Sandy - Love the idea of the DIY improving your sex life! I must admit I quite like to see my husband wielding a hammer too.
ReplyDeleteWeaver - more dust tomorrow I think!
Love the flowers but don't envy you the mess. Though I shall probably envy you the new scullery/utility room when it's all finished:)
ReplyDeleteTattie - even more dust settling this evening!
ReplyDeleteRachel - let's swap "it will all be worth it" exhortations!
Linda - I think we may be a while of the lovely stage yet, but yes, bound to be!
Chris - now this is what I love about blogging. I would never have known that having bananas on my table was something to celebrate without talking to you!
ReplyDeleteCaroline - the windows in the old bit of the house (built about 1610) are all like that. The kitchen one is my favourite because you can sit in it!
Nora - sure the mess will be worth it. Makes you appreciate it more is my theory!
When this is done, you may never WANT to move again :)
ReplyDeleteI am being encouraged by these renovation posts as I have the gas people coming to fit a new boiler shortly. Mind you that won't be a problem I wouldn't think, would it? Apart from clearing out the utility room. Your garden is looking wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLucy - love the idea of telling the truth close up!
ReplyDeleteMark - so you were one of those people who don't live in it while the mess is going on. My husband looks at me as if I am making it up when I say that not everyone lives like this!
Rowan - well of course it will be beautiful, for itself and by contrast with what has gone before!
Ah yes, can identify with this one! I have had builders in since 4th April. They were meant to have been doing a few quick jobs and be out in a few weeks. Not so. They have caused chaos in most rooms in the house, left plaster dust all over everything, pulled down rooves and then not known how to put them back again, blocked me in my drive on a daily basis, done my head in with volumes of awful radio stations that you can barely credit and sworn loudly and endlessly and been unreliable. My house is turned upside down, no space is my own and peace has been denied me on the handful of sunny summer days we have had up here. It has cost a fortune - and worst of all it is a friend's nephew who we were 'doing a favour' to help him start up a business. God help the world!
ReplyDeleteIf you were to move I would hope it'd be to change places with me.
ReplyDelete