Adventures in a first home

I use a teaspoon of leaves and brew in a tea filter which is quick and convenient when in the office. I then rebrew it up to three times. Each time has a slightly different flavour but all are fragrant and refreshing. I have not brewed a cup that I haven't liked and I will happily drink this at any time of day. #teaaddict #teasnob #looseleaf #fortnumandmasontea #jasminesilverneedle

#teaaddict #teasnob

So from a bright blue room to a bright white... Base coat is on! I went with the homebase.co.uk own brand basecoat which actually worked quite well. It was super thick and I put on 2 coats with a roller but it's almost completely covered the bright paint. Additionally it has helped to mask all of the imperfections in the wall and blended the areas with and without paint so that they barely stand out at all. Only took about 2 hours to paint each coat including cutting the edges. Though the prep work had taken a few days!

Ordered a 6yd skip for all the rubble and bits. Apparently you can't put plasterboard in a skip without paying loads extra so we had to take the three boards we had straight to the recycling centre. Everything slotted in very neatly and there is still plenty of space for all the extra little bits. I was super worried it wouldn't be big enough but it you pack it right it certainly fits a lot.

Replastered staircase. Apparently even though it is the middle of winter the house was almost too warm to plaster. Plasterer was super worried with how quickly it was drying. I think it will be OK though as there are no cracks. I realise now how amazing smooth walls are.. They are absolutely gorgeous and all I want to do is touch them.

Main bedroom plastered with new coving. So begins the transformation. No more woodchip! Also plasterers are the most messy of all the tradesmen. My house is now continually covered in a fine layer of dust.

Destruction in the wake of the electrician but at least one room is looking nice and neat

Stripped and lined... On the way

Decorator set up and beginning to strip

Carpenter has built me a new banister and landing. Also fixed the wobbly step. Unfortunately couldn't do anything about the creaky floorboards.

Fireplace removal in stages. Makes the room look bigger already.

So I think this blog will be of slightly short duration. I have caved and contracted a decorator, plasterer, carpenter, plumber, electrician and carpet fitter. Due to a cancellation they have all already started on a complete redecoration. Time to completion 3 weeks. After which all of the carpets will be replaced. The last few days have just been manic. Every tradesmen has come, walked around, quoted and in some cases started. I am astonished with the progress made however my home is now a complete mess. Not only a mess but not really feeling like home. I'm hoping that will change as things go on. Most dramatic change is definitely the removing the fireplace. But it's definitely coming along. Watch this space so to speak.

Although it’s getting messier by the day the whole place is starting g to feel a little bit more like my place. Not quite home yet, but definitely getting there.

Before and after. 2nd room, 2nd challenge… Removal of the built in study.

Hey ho, at least the room is now significantly bigger…

Before and in progress. My first room started. 2 days and 2 people to break down the cupboards and strip the textured wallpaper off the walls. Textured wallpaper is absolutely horrendous to remove. I have no clue why anyone uses it but I now have a deep-seated hatred for it.

So, first post, first blog. I'm a bit behind on the blogging front really but I haven't really had anything to blog about before. I have just bought my first home. That in itself was an undertaking that I won't get into. A life undertaking that would have been ideal as a first blog except for the fact that I was so busy and stressed during it that blogging it did not even cross my mind. So I have a house and 'moved' in last week so to speak. I have the keys, and am now sort of living here. However the house needs a fair amount of work and I realised that this would be the perfect thing to start with A nice easy writing experience, documenting the transformation from the house that I bought to my home. From someone who really doesn't write very well at all, please excuse the poor grammar. So here begins my journey.....