"Top Tips" for 2012.

With the New Year I think it’s time to wrap up the story of my (today very storm racked) new home and summarise the lessons learned, this, after all, being the purpose of this particular exercise: to share and learn.

The biggest lesson has been to never trust a roofer. Even the firm recommended to us by one of the largest roofing systems manufacturers in the UK took 9 months to do a 9 week job, with works still incomplete. I suppose I could update you on the imminent vicissitudes through to final completion but, in all honesty, it’s simply too boring to even contemplate. I’m sure you will agree. In essence the “largest roofing systems manufacturer” has undertaken to complete but we are still waiting over a month after their site visit. Like I say, never trust a roofer. Or a man in a red sportscar. Or a man who likes cats. Or a man in a necklace. And definitely don’t trust a roofer, in a red sports car, wearing a necklace (or indeed a bracelet) and whose clothing is sprinkled with tell tale cat hairs.

The second biggest lesson is if you find just a small bit of asbestos in a building the likelihood is that there will be a whole load more in places you hadn’t thought there would be e.g. a bit sawn up to create an ironing board. This, in spite of the previous owner being part of the scientific team that established the link between asbestos and lung disease: such a pedigree is no guarantee of the absence of asbestos.

Likewise, where there is asbestos there is a strong likelihood of there being pitch fibre drains. As I have said in earlier posts this is another sadly suspect building products invention of the 1960s, and one that invariably fails within decades. Meanwhile the terracotta and stone drains of the Romans, a civilization not entirely unknown in this part of the world, are still going strong.

But enough whinging, especially as building wouldn’t be nearly as interesting without a few challenges. In addition to lessons learned are those things that I have been reminded of, the primary factor being engaging a really good contractor, and contingent to this is taking time to research firms, their references and even their financial soundness. In this we has some luck with N. J. Whittaker Ltd.

Herewith a few other “top tips”, as the shelter mags like to call them, that I hope will guide and inspire you in any renovation you undertake this new year:

- in spite of my comments above on roofers if your roof needs fixing, fix this first, so that all the new work you need to do inside is not ruined by the weather.

- if fitting new windows and glass doors be sure you are advised by a structural engineer as the window company will not always provide in this regard.

- always insist on seeing samples and look at them in situ. And don’t be afraid to change your mind if what you thought would look good doesn’t. We’re talking a home in which we hope you will live a number of years so it’s worth getting it right.

- never take just one person’s advice. Experts will nearly always have different opinions, which are often usefully free. Make your own informed mind up.

- do be nice to your builders. They are delicate flowers and need to be loved. The odd box of doughnuts helps, especially if you’re building through the winter.

- if you’re battling with a partner over decor decisions just think about whether you would want to save them from your burning home or your cushions: some things aren’t worth fighting over.

- always negotiate on everything, especially in these trying times. People want business and you’ve got the business to give.

- budget, budget, budget. Set up that excel spreadsheet and regularly check actual figures against those you’ve projected so you can stay on top. Always factor in 20% contingency in a renovation. And if you find something extraordinary – as we did with the asbestos and drains – be prepared to drop what could be described as an indulgence, in our case a green roof, and deal with it another time when times are less stressful.

- If you are renovating a property that’s been empty for 2 years or more you should only be paying VAT at 5% instead of 20%. Not many people know this and the VAT office isn’t exactly advertising the fact either. No matter what the circumstances of you and your property it’s probably a good idea to check your status with HMRC to see what benefits are available to you as a hard-working, responsible, law-abiding, tax-paying renovator. Good luck with that!

- only finalise your lighting and electrical plan once you know exactly what fittings you are going to use. Where you might indicate a single pendant you may in fact want a cluster if you find a particularly fetching fitting that would suit clustering. It makes things much more straightforward when it comes to the Scope of Works and the Final Account.

- liaise with your electrical contractor on your choice of appliances so you can be sure he/she has allowed for any special feeds.

- try to avoid transformers. They are a pain.

- keep lighting schemes flexible to serve infinitely variable functions. A rash of recessed spot lights or simply central pendant lights are often unnecessary in spaces other than kitchens and bathrooms, when you can have circuits of well placed table lamps.

- if your decorators raise their eyebrows at your choices this is, officially, a good sign. They will usually say how much they like your scheme at the end and this is nothing to do with the fact they are after their final payment, honest.

- decorators are not a fan of poncy paints, paints that are called things like "Mouse's Arse" or "Elephants Turd". And nor am I actually. Dulux offer a thoroughly comprehensive colour range, and will match any colour, and have loads of different finishes which decorators love to work with. Having said this I understand Little Greene is acceptable too. 

- the internet is your friend. Try not to worry about bum-spread as you sit at your computer for hours, sometimes days, as you trawl through its depths. I found a seagrass wallpaper for £25 per roll instead of the £250 per roll it was being sold for by Nobilis. Though I probably could have earned ten times what I saved in the time I spent researching, it felt like it was worth it.

- ebay is your friend too. Why buy new when the world is already so full of stuff? But we really need to do something about the excess of packaging! Also try furnish.co.uk. It seems to be much more discerning that mydeco.

- a home is not complete when you move in so do not fear if it doesn’t feel like home. Real homes need stuff, the flotsam and jetsam of life. I like to use an interpretation of the saying, “something old, something new......” when assembling rooms. Try it. 

- it’s the small things that can really count. Don’t settle for white plastic or brushed steel switches and sockets, or brushed steel door furniture: look for something different for individuality at all levels. I chose the bakelite rocker switches and sockets from Bromleighs. And bronzed steel door handles from SDS.

- don’t be afraid to consider recycling and repurposing fixtures, fittings and building materials. It will make for a much richer scheme and save you in landfill fees.

- don’t worry about trends or what others think is fashionable. Read my book, "The Joy of Home", or attend one of my courses to find out how to develop your own creative ideas into successful design schemes.

- I think that’s it for now. So enjoy! 

The New/Old Cosy: sheets, blankets and a proper eiderdown.

Two eiderdowns in Liberty print tana lawn just arrived for a guest bedroom from www.englisheiderdown.com. Thank you Robert and Jill. Totally gorgeous and I know they will last for years to come.

I am not making this up, and other tails.

So the man from Chubb came by the other day to fit the alarm and associated box. Though our house is ostensibly a single story dwelling, the lowest roof being no more than about 2.5m high and, let’s not forget, flat, yes – that’s right – flat, the alarm man was prohibited from getting on a ladder to fit the box somewhere less noticeable (these are not pretty things after all) due to health and safety. Apparently, if our roof had been pitched, though much higher, he wouldn’t think twice about whipping out his extending ladder.

As the red mist began to descend, and I thought of my grandfathers fighting in the trenches, I decided it was best to leave the scene and let Oliver deal with matters. We now have a nice arrangement of alarm box juxtaposed with boiler vent and motion detector. I call it “alarm box juxtaposed with boiler vent and motion detector”.

 
 

I can confirm no cats were involved. But I can report, instead, the arrival of a fox.

 

 

 

 

A spot of french polish, or how a sow's ear can be made into a silk purse.

We really must be approaching the end of this project. The Final Account is finalised, the lampshades have been ordered and Bob the french polisher is in this morning to see if our doors can be saved.

Now some may argue that such tender loving care expended on rather cheap doors is a step too far. But I say the honeyed patina of age is a precious commodity and should be cherished and preserved where possible, especially if it means minimising landfill.

It is also a treat to watch a true craftsman at work. I'll let you know how we get on.

 

You're Never Alone

Some of you have very sweetly contacted me wondering why I haven't "posted" for a while. The answer is I simply have not had the time. When I am not working, ironically in the pursuit of designing gorgeous homes and other spaces for my clients, the gaps in between are filled to bursting with answering the door and then answering questions to and of the myriad tradesmen and delivery people that currently bless this house, for we are in the period known as "snagging".

Snagging can take an amazing amount of time - mostly because it is when the trades have to return to make any corrections and when trades are very busy, as they seem to be now, snagging is not top of their lists. Thankfully on this job, and as a result of the quality of Whittaker's workmanship, snagging has been minimal.

There has been some though.

After lots of shenanigans to do with utterly ineffectually testing various sealants on various bits of granite flooring I can now confirm that boiled linseed oil is, as I suspected but no one else believed me, the solution to most problems floor related.

As for electrics, the moral of the story is "avoid transformers", "don't go on holiday when expensive A/V cable is being installed, no matter how clear your instructions" and point out that all positions indicated on your electrical plan are not a guide but carefully considered decisions.

Then there have been the days and days Adrian the decorator has been here, meticulously removing all the paint spots from sanitaryware, brassware, window frames, woodwork etc. (he is still not finished by the way! Just as well he is a nice and very quiet man.) In this case I have two words. Frog Tape.

Finally the curtain track saga has, hopefully, reached a conclusion and the lesson learned here is never, ever buy a Silent Gliss track through a high street supplier because they won't have a clue what they are doing and you will end up screaming with rage, wondering how you can have been fleeced of nearly £1,500 for a stupid track and weeks of eye-bleeding frustration. Talk about "We saw you coming." 

And a top tip here, in case you didn't know. If your curtain maker doesn't ask you what kind of system you want your roman blinds on do ask them to tell you the options or you may end up with something you do not want. For example, it is quite likely you will not want white plastic pea chains with horrid white plastic guards screwed into your freshly painted walls.

All I can say is that this is another wonderful lesson I have learned on behalf of my future clients. How giving am I?

Then there are the things that are not actually snagging but are being done only now due to a) late deliveries and b) late decisions. Yes. I hold my hand up. I had ambitiously planned to design a wallpaper for our hallway. And maybe decoupage the walls to the small guest bedroom. Both of these ideas went up in smoke when I realised I barely had time to order wallpaper on line. Which I finally did and Nick the decorator installed just last week.....

....here in the hallway and below in the bedroom. 

Must admit I love this room - there is something so comforting about a pretty floral wallpaper and carpet in a small, girl-sized bedroom.

The hallway paper is Sequoia from Kuboaa, which I have loved for years. The bedroom paper is from Harlequin - so secret garden.

One of the last remaining items is the plumbing and here again I am partly to blame for the fact that the bath - and this no ordinary bath but a beauty from William Garvey - in our "master en suite" is still not functional due to the fact that I have been using my own bathroom as a testing ground for my new collection of brassware.

The final part is due to arrive today - please GOD!!!!! - and Mike the plumber will install tomorrow, along with the final rads, rad valves, and adjust the pipework beneath the bathroom basins so it all fits neatly behind the duct wall instead of poking out from it.

We have also had some furniture delivered. 

The sofa has just returned from upholsterer Andrew Shakespeare - if anyone should be on tele it is Andrew with a brilliant Dudley accent, sense of humour and clearly a descendant of Will - and it is perfect, at least in my eyes, though husband has commented he has given up expecting furniture in our house to be comfortable. Cheeky!

The floor lamp to the side we have had for years and only recently unwrapped it from sheaths of almost impenetrable clingfilm (???) to find that our West Indian packers had taken it apart and then just thrown away the all important fixings, same as they had done with a few other things. That's the Windies for you. I tell you, it made us feel almost nostalgic. Fortunately we tracked down the man, Henry Hay, who had refurbished this vintage dentist's light in the first place, and popped up to his holiday home in Somerset one weekend for him to fix.

If only he could source a top to go on our Guzzini lamp which I ironically lost when I was having the thing lovingly re-chromed just before we left for Nevis. Husband says it looks fine but I know it's missing its little chapeau. Here it stands next to a love seat from Conran - another thing I have coveted for some time - and an amazing Eames-type stool from.....Marks and Sparks. The yellow patch of velvet a harbinger of a yellow velvet seat cushion. Husband insists!

Andrew Shakespeare also reupholstered this wing-backed chair that we inherited with the house and I love it. The thing I don't love is the reading light husband has insisted upon. When I challenge him on how it looks like something he's ordered out of the back of the Telegraph Saturday magazine, alongside all the ads for stairlifts, he just comes back at me with something infuriating like "why would we want something in this house that actually works after all?". Hmmm. Things can (and do by the way) work and look good too you know! In every deamhome.........

We are both loving, though, our dining chairs. I picked up 8 G-Plan chairs from ebay for £500 - not bad - and then sourced a Josef Frank fabric called "Poison" - which naturally I thought v witty for a dining room - from Sweden. It's taking a while to get used to a mix of such strong primary and secondary colours but, as a celebrated Chinese female property developer once said, the best kind of design challenges our preconceptions.

I also bought my dressing table on e bay - for about £60. I hadn't planned to have a dressing table here but it was IMPOSSIBLE to find a decent chest of drawers. All the modern ones I found were either naff or hideously expensive. And all the vintage ones would have meant too much vintage bulk next to the vintage Danish bed - so we have a vintage dressing table which I may customise - or "upcycle" as we have to say these days.

Talking of vintage Danish I've had these beauties re-wired and they are back in action, both sets inherited with the house. The model on the right has black and white silk flex and mounted with proper brackets and on the left, bronze, mounted with a glue gun. Needs must.

I have found some good contemporary furniture and lighting though and a shining example is this slightly odd and very affordable storage unit from....Habitat. It really is so sad about the demise of this store, a pioneer of the "contemporary home" and "democratic design": Kathleen, my right hand woman, and I were reminiscing just the other day about how, when we were at school, how proud we would feel of our Habitat paper shopping bags. There was admittedly a little bit of swearing as husband and I put it together, he now officially the king of flat pack (I never thought I'd see the day but the day has indeed come). And it is marvellous and perfect for all my cook books.

Note lack of shade on the lamp though. Thinking of setting up a lampshade shop as am having to have 5 shades made as simply cannot find what I want. But then that goes for most things.

We are so far advanced we are even getting into details. I have invested in a French bread crock as my counter top compost bin (those plastic ones the council provide simply will not do)...

And as this is a chrome/stainless steel free home I have replaced all the little brushed s/s knobs around the place with these:

I also have my gravel drive - well almost. We just need 15 more tonnes of the stuff and we'll be finished. I'm told Kirsty has the very same stuff. Get me.

But in the frenzy to get the physical things complete I admit I am constantly questioning - for this is what I do in life - whether it all works, after so much labouring and agonising over the smallest details. And in this I must remind myself of the closing lines in my book. A real home accretes. Moving in after a build is not when your home is finished but when the home making begins.

Do as I say, not as I do.

So we moved in on Friday 13^th, a few days after I finished working on Grand Designs Live and a day before I began work on another major, public facing project.

As if moving isn’t stressful enough.

The move itself went very smoothly, thanks to my infinitely supportive husband and Brittannia Lanes – (plug alert!) - sponsor of the first leg of my nationwide design courses – so just as well eh?

In the elation of finally moving in we determined to overlook the fact the only mattress we have didn’t quite fit the Danish vintage bed I had bought for us, “Danish” and “vintage” being the telling words here.

A trip to Ikea later and we have a mattress that fits but have dumped the well-worn springs – well we know what those Scandinavians are like so well worn springs are not that surprising eh? – and Dave the carpenter is constructing a good solid mattress base base for me today, when my luxurious goose down “topper” should arrive. For a few hundred quid I will attempt to approximate the fit and pleasures of a £2,000+ bespoke equivalent. Wish me luck.

I will also, after a very sticky start having hired the cheapest curtain making company who have inevitably turned into the most expensive company as cheap companies always do (why oh why can't I follow my own advice???), have curtains in the bedroom – an especially critical factor on long summer nights.

Next in order of importance – though competing hard with the kitchen - is my studio, where I am still surrounded by boxes, and am gagging for the 24^th when I have 5 of Ikea’s Billy bookcases being delivered. Finally I will be able to unpack my entire library of books and samples which have been bound by the shredded front pages of the St Kitts and Nevis Observer (“Carpenter dies falling out of Mango tree” “Island Runs Out of Tonic Water”) and desiccated cockroaches.

So to the Kitchen.

Right now we are charging between the kitchen and the utility room like a demented Hussein Bolt just to make the evening meal. Why? Because the sinks are not plumbed into the kitchen but we do have a working sink in the utility room. And why are the sinks not plumbed in? Because we do not have taps. And the reason we do not have taps is because they are the prototypes of the collection I have designed for Barber Wilson. However, having finally, and thrillingly successfully presented them to the lucky stockist this week they are now liberated to my home.

Nevertheless my joiner will not be on site until the week of the 27^th, and he is fitting the sinks, so the taps will simply have to tease us until then.

The most important thing to remember is to not drain freshly boiled veg or pasta  into the holes where the sinks will go, partly because there are no sinks and partly because the counter top doesn’t like to get wet. Now an ordinary person might think this an eccentric choice for a kitchen countertop. I, on the other hand embrace the challenge. At least that’s what I’m telling my husband. It’s waxed concrete you see, the Russell Crowe of what he would call “bench tops”: seemingly roughty-toughty but really rather precious. And in my defence I chose it because I wanted a top that “resolved” (resolved is a design-y word by the way) into a barbecue outside. 

 We have 2 other key issues with the kitchen: the granite floor is now brown instead of grey, having not a) been sealed when laid or b) been covered when laid in the absence of sealing.

The second issue is a weird one and any thoughts gratefully received.

Our roof is flat, like the world once was. It is also now very black, thanks to the rubber EPDM, and highly insulated, as required by Building Control.

I have had low voltage recessed downlighters fitted, not my favourite fittings but sometimes needs must, and I always spec. the ones that are primed and so can be painted into the ceiling.

However, the transformers keep failing. It is probably because they are getting too hot, though is this because of the insulation or because of the black rubber roof? Or both?

We all know a ventilation gap should be created around transformers in an insulated environment. And let’s not forget that ours is a “cold roof”, and necessarily ventilated to avoid condensation.

I then discovered there are transformers specially designed to fit snuggly into insulation but while the manufacturer says there will be absolutely no fire risk a highly reputable retailer disagrees.

Now we’re talking fire things are getting a bit serious.

Lighting designer Neil Musson has suggested I put a flower-pot over the transformers as terracotta does not conduct heat. I like this idea but what’s the British Standard on this? Our dimmers are also buzzing. A fault of the transformers again apparently.

I have never encountered this issue before and I have a feeling the solution will be to change the lamp holders, the bit that holds the bulb, to be mains fed and so eliminate the transformers. We can then fit low energy bulbs, which will be a "good thing".

As I have said many times, often while trying not to scream and throw things, “every building is a prototype”.

Though this mantra has not helped much with a further two issues which one might describe as “fundamental”.

We have a private water source i.e. we have spring water which is fed to the house via a series of Victorian underground collecting tanks and some Heath Robinson plumbing, courtesy of the previous owners and, critically, original house-builders.

After 2 weeks of occupancy we ran out of water!!!!!!! This is because the water was low – thanks to the driest April on record blah blah blah and the fact the builders use a lot of water apparently – surely just making tea, right? This means the “syphon breaks” which means the pipe that sucks the water up stops sucking.

£1,000 later and Charlie the water-man arrived just this morning to relocate the pipe so it doesn’t have to suck quite as hard.

Husband says it would be cheaper and more satisfying to have a class A drug habit.

The other “fundamental” is the issue of a warranty for the roof. Any followers of my wee blog will know the problems I have been having with the new roof and its supplier, a company called Cardiff Single Ply run by a man called Les Rhodes and recommended by Alumasc.

Les’ contract says “6 weeks”, the reality is 9 months. Plus about £6k+ worth of damage, not to mention all the surrounding issues and delays to the programme, as a result of 1) him failing to protect the house properly after stripping the roof and 2) his merry men carelessly smashing through asbestos.

The latest is that Les owes Alumasc a lot of money and they will not issue our warranty until he pays up. Given that it is unlikely he will pay up we will never receive our warranty.

On the up side I have found Phil, hiding in a cable-infested corner of the local industrial estate, who is thankfully affordably re-wiring all my US-friendly lamps so they are once more UK-friendly, in addition to all the vintage lamps I have bought too.

We have also engaged Dean the blacksmith. Fresh from making a poker for my neighbour Kirsty he is making us a chic, clean-lined, bright copper fire hood accompanied by a fireguard featuring bright copper chainmail. Blacksmithery need not be all oldy-worldy and curly-wurly but stylish.

In the midst of all of this I have experienced the joys of a VAT inspection. While preparing for the visitation I discovered that because our house was empty for “2 or more years” any VAT charged on renovation works should be charged at 5% and not 20%, a well kept secret but absolutely true. See HMRC Notice 708, paragraph 8.

Well, here endeth the lastest chapter. Ideally we would have moved back in about 4 months but as my mother says, “do as I say, not as I do”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Character Building

For those of you who might have been following my renovation trials and tribulations you may remember at the beginning of this project my parquet floor was totally "REDACTED" by the roofers when they decided to cover the roof they had just stripped with the equivalent of a plastic shopping bag that may as well have been windswept into the vicinity of the exposed roof, rather than protecting properly, which they did after the floor got "REDACTED".

And then you may remember how so many people, after lots of sucking of teeth, said, "you may as well chuck it away and start again." Even the insurers!

But this girl doesn't give up that easy.

Enter Ian Trowsdale of Devon Wood Floors who, as you can see, has done an unbelievable job of sorting through the sections we managed to salvage from different parts of the house, re-laying them and then giving them a transformational polish.

Thank you Ian. You are a star. 

Of course Ian, being a professional, and floor layer to the "stars" - he has laid floors for, amongst others, Hugh Fearnley Spelling-Mistake and he would have laid a floor for Big Boobs but she apparently wanted him to pay her £10K a year for the privilege, which I have to say comes as no surprise. But I digress. Ian the professional questions my joy at what he sees as imperfections but I see this as character. And an excellent saving on my budget too.

Trust me. I'm a designer.

Husband has just very sweetly said how impressed he is at how many things I can remember about this renovation we're doing. And as anyone knows who has worked on such a project it is like juggling a thousand balls. But with so many balls in motion the odd one can not exactly drop but just slip out of sequence. 

Today, for example, I realised my error in forgetting (may as well fess up!) to give my electrical plan to my joiner and as a result I have had to come up with another solution to fitting a double socket to the island unit. In the end no one will know but me, but it goes to show how you need to think on your feet if you forget to think at your drawing board.

I also realised that 5 pendants in the dining room might be over-egging the situation so have reduced to three (only 2 of 5 below).

Dining room in progress: terracotta tiles down, blue ceiling in.

But equally my fondness for occasional episodes of moody gloom, at least in my own homes, might get the better of me in the bathrooms. So it's back to Mr Resistor and the Davey Lighting catalogue. Loving something like this below. And IP (ingress protection) rated too - so while designed for outside perfect for bathrooms too.

Kitchen taking shape though.

Island unit in and wall run also. Nathan from Fluid Stone, who's making the concrete worktop for the wall run with cantilevered barbecue the external side of the nib wall, seems confident of my templating skills. Yikes!

Snaps, combined with the fact that this is only the start, make kitchen look very cuisine ordinaire but gold mirror faced and angled wall cabinets plus bespoke larder unit and restored mid century Scandi table, chairs and light fittings inherited with house should be er....distinctive.

 
  

Shower rooms are almost done (yes, those are gold taps - my own new range, The Cuprum Collection for Barber Wilsons, to be fitted to Master bathroom and kitchen) - just need those lights. And teak boxes fitted (for toiletries): tiled recess a result of tiler enthusiasm! Tiling excellent by the way - thanks Ian and NJ Whittaker! Note my "random brick" tiling format: patent pending.

And Ali and Dave were working today on the framework for the marble counter top in the master bath.

Finally my studio is fully glazed, we just have some finishing off to do outside - after a degree of "debate" between our roofer (yes, he turned up for a couple of days) and the glazier over detailing, and another example of how people in glass houses really shouldn't throw stones (not the glazier by the way)!

We also saw the bath for the Master Bathroom in William Garvey's workshop - and it looks absolutely stunning. Sorry - forgot to take pic. So nice to be working with them again after doing an amazing kitchen for a client made by Bill Garvey and his team some years ago. Amazing coincidence I'm now locating my studio and showroom just down the road from his. I'm not stalking you Bill. 

And below a very bad snap of the dressing room, with James Emerson's fabulous wardrobes. On seeing such smoothness I think we'll retain the look and fit push catches instead of handles.

 

And Bruce the painter is doing very well with my 50+ colour (Dulux of course!) paint schedule, though apparently the boys are not sure about the paprika in the study. In my experience this is usually a good sign.

Trust me. I'm a designer.

Friday 13th

Just back from a trip out of the UK for a couple of weeks. Must admit house still looks sad - driveway a slick of mud and detritus all around while brave daffodils and primroses pushing on through, fingers in ears, pretending it's not happening - but decorating (oops! have chosen over 50 Dulux colours - hope my discount comes good) has started and tiling started yesterday. The tiler seems to have got his head around my "random brick" concept: this always get's them and then they realise this is less arduous than conventions.

Struggling to find an "insulated venting kit" for the Smeg extractor due to it extracting through a cold roof. Smeg have no idea what I'm talking about. Surely someone in the history of Smeg has had a cold flat roof through which they have vented one of their extractors?

And - sit down everyone - roof is still unfinished. 

Move in day - Friday 13th May!

With the arrival of spring come the Lesser Spotted Roofers.....

Through the tentative gleam of spring sunshine we spotted not one but 2 roofers, hopping about on the roof. Joy! There is hope, maybe. Well the truth is 2 arrived first thing on the morning of March 7th with 2 further promised. However the 2 promised "ran out of petrol" and did not arrive until the afternoon, a couple of hours after the first 2 had scarpered. I guess that's to be expected. The clue is in the name.

Any road up, the roof is almost water tight, 6 months after the 6 week programme started and we may even be able to start dry lining the North "wing". Please God!

Progress being made elsewhere as Dave and Ali courageously wrestle with the scaffolding tower..

....as the roof light to my studio develops (yes, that red dot up there on the roof is a roofer - shhhhh - you might frighten him away!).

One of the shower rooms is plastered......

 A big hole gets dug - as on all the best building sites - ready for the concrete foundation to our - say it quietly - new oil tank. I wonder whether we'll be able to convert to biodiesel? We did consider a biomass boiler but while these might be environmentally sustainable they are simply not financially sustainable, unless you a) live in a huge house or b) have a large family - neither of which, arguably, is environmentally sustainable in and of itself, no? 

Then there are the things that remind you of the pleasures of a building, like this window from the lower ground floor study, giving a worms eye view of the grass outside........

....and this one in the dining room. Poor Design Windows' (www.designwindows.co.uk - glaziers to the Royal Household no less) subbies took 4 attempts to get the glass just right so enjoy!