Sorry for the lack of updates recently things have been busy at work as well as with DIY in the house and trying to catch up with some friends (I vaguely remembered them before we started all this work)
So I hear the cry "what have you been up to!" well sit back, relax and enjoy the story, once the story has been read, only then, can you enjoy the pictures...
I have not fninshed though... Lets get that clear...
So the fireplace situation was a bit streesful. Next door finally agreed to let us block up their side and were in fact really good with us. In the end no smoke test was needed or a camera being put up. The company we were using sub-contracted the problem solving work out to another company. This company was a company we had considered using but decided on the one-stop-shop company we are using. The guys came round and were really nice guys and all they did was shove a chimmney sweep up, cleared the chimmney and then dropped thr flex-pipe. They were done in about 30mins. Bit annoyed with the company we used making it sound like the chimmney was collapsed without even trying to sweep the chimmney. However the fire is being installed on tomorrow and we are really excited about it.
:arty:
The fire-surround we bought my wife spent a month stripping (white paint) then sanding before waxing. She then decided she had ruined it and we needed a new one, my obvious response, being a scotsman was "Aw sweetheart, don't worry about it, if you don't like then just go and find a new one that you do like, hell its only money!"
We found a new surround that was unfinished and it arrived last Wednesday. My wife then sanded it and as I type is putting the last of six coats of wax on the bad boy now in preperation for them coming tomorrow.
I have some pictures of the fire-surround we are going to use.... NOT YET!!!
As for the room... I have had some low points recently in the room as I get towards the end, my energy levels are constantly running on almost empty. But we are getting there, my old man has been helping out loads so a big thanks has to go to him but my mum and wee bro have all pitched in as well to help us out when and where they can.
My wife with some help from my mum has put another 6 coats of wax on the skirtings and the picture rail round the room, although, again my dad and I helped with the picture rail, but the waxing has been my wifes baby and she has made a tremendous job of it with the wood looking fantastic (pictures don't do it justice.... NOT YET!).
On the painting front 2 weekends ago we put the alkaline sealing paint on all the exposed cornice and ceiling rose. I then bought 20l of Leylands latex paint and put two coats of that on the ceiling and walls with new plaster and I was really pleased with the cover it gave the plaster. During the last week and the weekend my dad and I put 3 coats of pink (dries white) emulsion on the ceiling as well as normal white emulsion on the cornice and ceiling rose. Again really pleased with the finish it has given us. Late on Saturday night a strip of lining paper was put up between the corince and picture rail and it just made the wood look fantastic.
Yesterday I was proper tired and slightly grumpy so decided just to keep quiet at which point by the end of the day because I was giving one word answers and not talking much my dad thought he had done something wrong and text me today to say he was sorry if he had done or said something... Bless, what a shame. Mind you he should feel lucky he left at 6pm my wife had to put up with me all day and night. Just one of those things and very out of character for me, I am usually the one keeping everyone else going (I think). Anyway my dad left after getting more paint on some more dry plaster and old painted walls, as well as 1 coat of laytex on the lining paper. After he left I put the laura ashley colour paint that will match the wallpaper we are putting up. this paint is going between the cornice and picture rail as well as the two alcoves. It looks great and I have just finished the 2nd coat tonight (NOT YET!!!)
So in the next few weeks we are hoping to have new radiators installed, we have decided to go for old school fashioned cast iron radiators, which are not cheap but I think they are going to look fantastic in the room once it is finished. Problem I have is getting them in the house one of them weighs over 100kg and I have 4 steps to carry them up. I am an ex front-row rugby player so not a wee lady but even that is going to be a strain for me on my own and my wife weighs 8 stone after being caught in the rain. My old man is nearly 60 with a bad back so I am going to get my wee bro to help me. Problem I have is if he is at Uni... Anyone got any suggestions on a solution for this?
Before these are installed the pipe work needs moved, wood work finished off round fireplace, floors sanded. This all before Christmas... Lets wait and see shall we....
You have earned it after me droning on... I am fairly impressed at how much I can talk sometimes (actually that is a lie I have always been able to waffle with the best!)...
NOW....