Tuesday 1 October 2013

Our Forever Home

 
Decorating our way through the house, might be a long and slow process but it means we are getting to know the very ins and outs of the house.  Noticing it's foibles and little nooks and crannies, the way the old original skirting boards are matched up with new more modern copies. Seeing original woodwork that has never seen paint (and never will) waiting behind cupboard doors to be discovered, the same wood that was put into place in 1920 when the house was built. There's not much of the original house, but what there is will be treasured.   As I paint my mind wanders and plans emerge where once there may have been only the vaguest hints of ideas.
 
The Spare Bedroom above is complete except for the curtains and light shade which we will bring from home this coming weekend ...

 
... the bathroom is complete except for the cupboard door, which was still drying when this picture was taken just before we left on Sunday afternoon. 
 
This cupboard is the 'pop' of green for this room, every room will have one somewhere, it is a slight variation on my favourite shade of green, we had the paint mixed after taking in one of the cushions, which match the new curtains.  We have enough paint to highlight the whole of the house in one way or another.  You will have to play 'spot the green' as I reveal each room!!
 
 
The upstairs toilet is completely finished except for a net curtain which really is needed for this window, although the view is breath-taking so will the view into the room be from the main road as someone goes to sit on the toilet :-)   
 
It was truly the fiddliest room in the whole house to paint, it is so tiny hence the corner toilet.  The pop of green for the moment is the greenery outside, as that is to be masked from view by the net I will have to introduce it somewhere else.

 
The ceiling in the office is now painted and when we get back there I will start on the walls.  They are all needing at least two coats to hide the deep cream colour that is currently on them, but it is worth it as the finish looks wonderful once the second coat is on and it is so much easier to paint when there is nothing in the rooms.
 
 
Lovely Hubby has now laid the tiles that the Aga will sit on and they have almost two weeks to set solid before it is being installed.  Yay, I can't wait.  It's like the house is waiting for it's heart to be delivered, we have brought it life and love and the Aga will bring it warmth and a beating heart.  Yes .... I'm a soppy thing when it comes to Aga love :-)
 
Why the previous owners tiled around the kitchen units we'll never know, you'd think it would be so much easier to tile the whole floor and then sit the cupboards on top, especially considering they laid the floor and fitted the kitchen after the extension was built.

 
The wall behind where the Aga will sit is also being tiled and these tiles will continue around the kitchen, three high on this wall and filling the gap between the base and wall units on the other side.  We chose a simple 'Subway' tile in plain white to keep the look simple and fresh.  Although a patterned or green tile might have looked really good with this simple creamy coloured kitchen and the cream coloured Aga, what if our tastes changed and we lived to regret it.  Far better to keep the fixtures and fittings plain and simple and add the wackier and more colourful touches in things we can change for little cost in the future.
 
Well that's it ...  a weekends work, summed up in six photos. 
 
We have this week at home and then we will have two weeks at the new house to really get stuck in to the  jobs that need doing.  It's all the big jobs, the expensive ones that will be happening over the next fortnight.  The new oil fired Combi boiler is being fitted, the new larger log burner is being installed and the old one removed, the carpets are being cleaned and my wonderful re-conditioned Aga will be delivered and installed during our second week there after the kitchen units are re-arranged slightly during the first week.
 
It's lovely to watch the house accepting and rolling with our plans, slowly and surely it is turning into our place, the one we have dreamt about and planned together.  The one we have scrimped and saved for over the last couple of years, the one we will live in and grow old together in. 
 
Our Forever Home.
 
Sue xx
 

34 comments:

  1. All looking good. Not sure why there wasn't frosted glass in the toilet window. We walk by a house that has only frosted glass with no net. It is most perturbing to see a figure doing what they do when walking by. Can't help yourself, you just get drawn to the movement!

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    1. You do don't you, I'm not going to be held responsible for any accidents caused by drivers glancing up at our window and getting a shock, we're on a pretty dangerous bend as it is !!

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  2. It's looking so fresh - I think you've made a great choice. Can't wait to see it become your 'forever' home. Claire xo

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  3. Looking great so far. What a luxury to be able to get a lot of work done before moving in. In the 4 weeks I've been here I'm finding it very difficult to decorate as everything just gets moved around Tetris style to get access to the bit needing work!!

    Will be looking out for the green in every room now :-)

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    1. It is a real luxury to be able to do this, we are able to because we pay our rent six monthly on the house we are in at the moment, and it's paid up until the end of January, so we can make full use of it.

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  4. It already looks lovely and is taking on the warm and homely look, well done. I shall look forward to reading more and seeing more pics as you progress.

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  5. I love how you are romantising the creation of your home. Its lovely. I agree wholeheartedly about the neutral colours and accenting with highlights. Look forward to green spotting. Its a pity to take away that view from the bathroom. Those Agas must be good. We dont have them here but i know they are reverered by the English. They are always a highlight on Escape to the Country.

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    1. They are expensive but add their value to the house they are put in, as you can see from Escape to the Country they really entice folk in, so are worth every penny. We have luckily been able to get a reconditioned one, that is just over half the cost that a new one would have cost us :-)

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  6. The white will really freshen it up. Looking good!

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  7. Looking super, thanks for the peek, I love all that you are doing.
    Congratulations!
    Pam in TX

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  8. Thank you for sharing your progress, we too just bought a very empty house - making it a home will be half the fun!

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  9. OOhhhhh looking good, how I envy you that Aga......and cream as well. Lovely to see the house developing, can't wait to see the rest.

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  10. The ending of this post really warmed my heart. You know you've got many years to enjoy your forever home :) It's coming together beautifully, I can't wait to see your Aga :)

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    1. I can't wait to see her either :-) so close now, so close !!

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  11. How about a nice green blind in your toilet room ?

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  12. wow Sue it is lovely. I am loving the bathroom. Green is my favourite colour. And the loo with a view, pah I wouldn't want to put a curtain in, if it were a B&B, I would charge extra for that!!! Maybe like Miss Piggy Bank says a blind that you can easily pull. or maybe if funds permit a shutter?

    Gosh your house is a cracker, I am Green with ENVY. Get it Green..

    lol

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    1. Don't panic the other half of that window is in the office, so the same view will be available to stare at from the next room, that's why I CAN bring myself to protect our modesty in the toilet.

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  13. Your home is looking lovely! Can't wait to see the Aga, you lucky thing!! That really will be the heart of your new home!!

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  14. It's looking really nice already, and that's without all your bits and pieces. A question, I have always thought of Agas as being high energy users. With your frugal lifestyle, does that mean they are not?

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    1. We did a lot of research and usually an electric Aga, which we are getting will cost around £15 - £18 a week in electricity usage if used properly. And as we are planning on installing solar panels next year we will be generating our own electricity so this makes it a very sensible option.

      Having the Aga, which is a constant source of heat also means that the central heating will not have to be used except in extremely cold weather which will cut down on our fuel bill too.

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  15. Thank you for sharing your new home with us, it's lovely!

    xx

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  16. I'm loving seeing the updates on your new home, lucky you getting an AGA. I am looking forward to seeing it totally transformed into your forever home, all cosy and loved. xx

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  17. I love it! We're trying to do what your doing by using things that won't date (like our oak floor) and eveything else is easy to change - like the colour of a wall. Looks like your making a good job of it!

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    1. Yours is looking lovely Kev, it would seem we all have very similar tastes :-)

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    2. I agree, neutral for the expensive things and accessorising with colour is the best way, can't wait to see the end result

      Kev I love your floor

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  18. It looks like it is starting to come together - I love your touches of green. Keep us posted as you go along. x

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  19. Gorgeous. cannot wait for the green pops!

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  20. Wow, you have been working hard, it is going to be wonderful. The view from the toilet is stunning. Hope you have a good fortnight there to get loads done. Hard work but incredibly satisfying I imagine.

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  21. Soon you will be calling it home for ever. Love the splash of green and the simple colour scheme. Your Aga will nestle in perfectly.

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  22. Thanks for sharing your progress Sue - the house is lovely (and I love subway tiles!)

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  23. So exciting to see more pics of the house. Also looking forward to a bit of walk-about around the immediate outside of the house. Bet there are lots of thoughts there for gardening, sitting, etc. I love that white is your primary color. Accessories can change through the years when you have good design 'bones' like your place does. Don't work too hard!

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  24. It looks fantastic Sue, so pleased for you both and looking forward to following your adventures in your new home
    Sarah x

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  25. It is going to be lovely. What views.

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