Extension Day 55: Houston We Have A Problem

A great reminder that sometimes things happen for a reason. You may remember me bemoaning the fact that the first two breakfast bars that turned up had damage; well today that proved invaluable when we realised that the old kitchen wall was slightly narrower than the new kitchen wall so if the worktop was back against the old wall the front wouldn't line up with the new one. This is where the damaged breakfast bar was used by cutting off the damaged portion and using it as a slightly deeper worktop to fit with the rest (builders really need to be able to think outside the box).

What a great day it was today, so much got done; the rest of the units were fitted, the breakfast bar worktop was put in, pipework was run for the new radiator in the old dining room and the gas and electrics were connected for our new WORKING range cooker - I love it!!!

Extension Day 54: Whose Cupboards Are They Anyway?

The rest of the storage is making an appearance now with the four tall larder units in place as well as all the units to the left of the range cooker and the smaller end unit opposite the breakfast bar. Hopefully I will actually have enough storage now (though knowing me it just gives me an opportunity to fill it with more things). In the meantime they are the perfect fit for all the builders' tools - don't get any ideas Tom, they're my cupboards!!

Tom had fun this weekend putting the wash on the new plaster in the extension, though he has now remembered why he doesn't like painting!

Extension Day 53: No More Getting Plastered

The old kitchen has had the final skim of plastering done and the walls are smooth as a baby's bum with just a few finishing touches left to be done.  Now all the groundwork has been laid we just need to wait for the plaster to dry over the weekend ready for the grand install starting next week (terrible timing for the Easter weekend though - I don't want to wait four days to see it start coming together).  I wonder if I could invite them for Easter lunch...a working one of course!!

Extension Day 52: Throne Room With A View

Wow it looks bigger every day. The old part of the kitchen has had the first round of plastering, as has the downstairs toilet. The toilet has also had the window put in place making it feel much lighter. The final plastering gets finished tomorrow so it can dry over the Easter weekend ready for some more installation next week. Feel like we're on the home stretch now, can't wait to see it all finished, every day it just looks more beautiful.

Extension Day 51: All Above Board

The old part of the kitchen is starting to be prepared for a new coat of plaster, a new ceiling has been put up and the new downstairs toilet has been boarded. The pipes leading down to the old radiator by the door have been capped and removed as there will now be cupboards there. Also today was the chasing out and running of wires for the electricity points for the washing machine and tumble dryer (surprisingly I am missing those even more than the oven).

I think overall a new coat of plaster will make all the difference in the old room as I just can't wait to see the back of the artex which was everywhere in this house - will be such a novelty to have smooth walls again.

Extension Day 50: Third Time Lucky - We're Finally Barred

Getting the breakfast bar has been a labour of love after the first one had a scratch and the second one was split, luckily they did an express next day delivery so it didn't put progress back. So the final breakfast bar is now in place and I love it, the colours in it are amazing and change with the angles and the light. I can't wait to be seated round having tea and a natter with a large slice of cake!

Admittedly it is quite an old house so the original electrics needed a bit of a tidy up which has all been done, though the amount that got pulled out is quite scary really - you never know quite was is hidden behind ceilings and walls.

Finally today was insulating what used to be the door between the original kitchen and dining room ready for plastering, all in all a very productive day.

Extension Day 49: Bogged Down In Timber

The timber structure for the walls of the downstairs toilet were built today and we can now see the size of it. We have more length than I pictured but just hoping the sink I have chosen will fit in, need to get the tape measure out. 

The dishwasher has also been plumbed into the new position (so we can stop arguing over who is going to wash and dry) and the hidden cutlery drawers have been added to the deep drawer units - love them.

Extension Day 48: Tops A Tappin'

Stunning, just stunning! The first of the worktops are in as well as the sink and new taps which are up and 'running'.... very very new taps actually as I may possibly have forgotten to buy them - thanks for the quick collect Screwfix!  The breakfast bar should have been fitted today but unfortunately showed damage once we unwrapped it (though impressed with Homebase sending a replacement tomorrow on next day delivery).  The time was not wasted though as they started to remove the old walls around what will soon be the downstairs toilet.  

The only downside to all this progress is that we now have no dishwasher or washing machine - what's the going rate for child labour?

Extension Day 47: Flat Pack Heaven

Or hell depending on who you ask!! Building of the cabinets and a few more cabinets and just for a change of scene building a few more cabinet!!  Not so sure they have enjoyed today.

Extension Day 46: A Wall Of Unity

Lovely brickwork by Lee again today who has blocked in the side door which will soon be the location for a downstairs toilet. In the new kitchen the building of the units started today - though we have found the usually chips on some of them (the joys of getting replacements commences).  Hope we have enough space for all these units now ;)

Extension Day 45: Completely Plastered

All the plastering in the new build is done now, looks beautiful and I do love the way new plaster feels like glass...so smooth. Drying out over the weekend then Monday we lose what's left of the old kitchen....baked beans on toast or soup for dinner now me thinks!!

Extension Day 44: Spending The Day Getting Plastered!

The plastering started in the new part of the kitchen today and the whole ceiling as well as one of the walls is now beautifully smooth.  It may almost be time to decide on a colour scheme!! 

Extension Day 43: Getting Board Yet?

Every day it feels more like a proper room than an empty shell as the plasterboard is now up on all four walls and the pipe work has been boxed in below the roof leaving a nice space for an invisible access hatch for those just in case moments.

Extension Day 42: Under The Boardwalk

Wow it is a sea of white and just looks amazing already, you can now see it starting to take shape.  The final plasterboard has gone onto the ceiling and the walls have been covered too and it looks even bigger! To start the open plan theme the doors have been taken out between the old dining room and the extension so we now have a really light open space (just needs another radiator in this weather)!!

Extension Day 41: Walking On Sunshine

Today the majority of the plasterboard has been fixed to the ceiling and I cannot believe the difference in how much lighter (and bigger) the room feels.  They have also removed the remainder of the back wall between the old kitchen and the extension (though the old sink it still sitting there for the time being).

Extension Day 40: I'm Floored!!

The extension floor got screed today and looks so much bigger with a nice smooth finish...sadly can't walk on it for a couple of days now. Then the trucks started arriving.......oh my what a lot of boxes (we look like a DHL warehouse)!!! Just one small problem was the huge American fridge freezer we have ordered that won't fit through the front door. Normally this would not be a problem as we could bring it through the back double doors, but we can't walk on the floor today (oops). Luckily they have agreed to re-deliver it next week.