* House Renovations Part 2 *

I had hoped to post Part 2 yesterday but just didn't get chance. The day started very early as I was woken around 7.30am with pressies, cards and flowers. Then it was off to the Dance School as H had a tap dancing examination. Fingers crossed she did okay! It was such a lovely sunny day we decided to go out for a walk on the beach and I was treated to lunch out as it was Mother's Day. Hope all Mums had an equally fabulous day!

So, anyway on with Part 2 of the lounge renovations!!

Once all the replastering was done, our builder fitted a new radiator!!

With the structural stuff done it was time for us to take over with the painting and decorating. We painted the walls, wallpapered the feature wall and painted the fireplace white! A new electric stove finished the fireplace and looks really cosy with the flame effect on. If we had known how difficult it would be papering around a chimney breast we would have had a rethink but it was a case of now we've started .... we have to finish!

So, now that the walls are painted, the feature wall done, window frame painted .... we could start laying the new wood floor!!

This is about where we are up to. It's a long, slow job as we only have the weekends and hubby has managed an hour or two some evenings.

We STILL have to finish the floor, fit skirting boards and the door architrave, put up the new curtain pole and ceiling lights. I'm sure it will be worth it when it's done!

* House Renovations Update ~ Part 1!! *

When I said to Hubby back in January "I think we should decorate the lounge" and he readily agreed, I honestly never expected it to become the huge renovation project that it has, and to still be going on in April! Initially we thought we would just paint the walls, put down new flooring and curtains/lighting etc. We liked the idea of a wall papered feature wall and maybe a new fireplace if our budget would allow.

It all started here and then we started stripping off the old wallpaper which you can read about here and see the "Before" pictures. Once we had got all the old wallpaper off we could see the room really was in a bad way and we had some decisions to make, do we try to patch the plaster up, hang lining paper, paint and hope for the best or do we get the walls and ceiling replastered and "do a proper job"? Decisions!!

We got some quotes for the work, priced up the materials and after some serious number crunching and a generous input of cash from a lovely relative we decided to go for it!!

So the old red brick fireplace was ripped out, I think my hubby enjoyed the demolition! The skirting boards and coving had to go, the horrible ceiling wall paper ripped off (why on earth did people put paper on a ceiling in the1970s & 80s??..Pointless!!)

Then, the builder/plasterer came in and quickly got started. He pulled down the old window that previous owners had put into the wall between the hall and lounge (where originally the door was), which so many visitors commented on as it looked so odd.

and replaced it with a door (yes, back to how it was orginally!)

He sorted all the walls out, repairing the holes and loose plaster and replastered all the walls and ceilings. The replastered chimney breast and fireplace was already looking so much better.

He sorted out all the odd jobs as well, like removing old, disused wall lights, put in a new TV aerial socket as well as repairing the archway through to the dining area, which once a spirit level was used was clearly not straight!! I'm pleased to say it now is definately straight!! lol! It was a lot of work and our house resembled a building site whilst it was going on.

As this is a long post, and photo heavy I'm going to be back with part 2 over the weekend! If you've got this far, thanks for reading and have a great evening!!