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B&Q unloved rooms revamp - review thread for MNers getting stuck in! NOW CLOSED

453 replies

TheOtherHelenMumsnet · 17/05/2013 11:30

This thread is for the 20 MNers who have been chosen by B&Q to revamp an unloved room in their home.

Those selected have been sent a B&Q giftcard to buy the things they need to give their unloved room a makeover. They've undertaken to complete the makeover by 3rd June, and will be keeping us up-to-date on how their revamps are going on this thread as well as posting photos.

Please do follow their stories and add your own comments if you want to show some support!

Below are the questions we'd like testers to answer but please feel free to add your own comments too. Please give us a bit of info about the room you're revamping and what you plan to do with it in your response.

  • Why is your unloved room unloved? What do you want to change about it? What has stopped you until now?
  • Where did you get your inspiration for doing up the room from? What sort of style are you going for etc?
  • Have you had much help along the way with the revamp? If so, who from? And what sort of help - practical or ideas-based?!
  • How did you find your shopping experience at B&Q? Were the staff helpful? Did you find anything in store you maybe didn't expect to beforehand?
  • Did you use any of the help and advice that B&Q offer? This includes their videos on YouTube, leaflets and classes in store etc. If so, how useful was that help and advice?
  • If B&Q could do anything more to help you next time you visit, what would it be?
  • Have you had any feedback on what you've done with the room from family/friends? Has the transformation had a big impact on you and/or your family?

If you're not an official tester but would like to be in with a chance of winning a £200 B&Q giftcard, please post on this thread to tell us about your own room revamp successes (or failures!) - we'd love to hear from all MNers who have a room makeover story to share!

Thanks very much
MNHQ

OP posts:
JParkson · 03/06/2013 22:03

Another angle, down the stairs this time. This shot isn't great as it's against the light.

JParkson · 03/06/2013 22:05

Not such a bad pic of the stairwell

JParkson · 03/06/2013 22:06

Now the main room a bit better finished. This isn't the final pic; DH is still tweaking it even now!

JParkson · 03/06/2013 22:07

Different angle

JParkson · 03/06/2013 22:09

The other end of the house...

We put doors on some of the bookcases, and they went down this end.

JParkson · 03/06/2013 22:15

Finally, the staircase.

JParkson · 03/06/2013 22:15

And the top of that killer wall!

gazzalw · 04/06/2013 06:49

Wow my SIL has a killer wall like that - it's got a massive mirror on it....You were very brave and it looks really good!

Well we were up until 9.30 pm and we did it....absolutely knackered. DW discovered that we've run out of just about everything to eat in our determination to get this job done....!

I will post some pics of before, during and after up later this morning....Yawn!

No food, the ironing pile is overflowing and as someone said upthread there's been precious little dusting or hoovering (apart from in DS's room) for the past week...back to life, back to reality.....

Everyone Wine to celebrate. Bravo! Hope B&Q will be pleased! :-)

IceNoSlice · 04/06/2013 06:53

Well done gazzalw! Have some Wine - or maybe string coffee Brew would be better this morning!

SweetestThing · 04/06/2013 07:22

These photos are amazing -well done, everyone. I have four pictures to hang and then that's me done, but they will have to wait until after work today. I keep opening the door to my revamped room and just grinning (saddo). This project has filled me with enthusiasm for tackling other decorating projects around the house, so a big thank you to Mumsnet and B&Q for being the catalyst.

My painting workshop at B&Q was excellent so I am going to sign up for some of the other classes too.

gazzalw · 04/06/2013 07:34

Thanks, IceNoSlice! Yes, coffee would be most welcome....

Yes, know what you mean SweetestThing...we will be doing DD's room next not least because we still have some lining paper left etc... but not to be used with eco-paint this time Wink....

The problem with revamping one room, for us, is that it makes everywhere else look really, really tatty....GRRRRRR

FourLittleDudes · 04/06/2013 07:46

Before

FourLittleDudes · 04/06/2013 07:46

After

FourLittleDudes · 04/06/2013 07:46

During

FourLittleDudes · 04/06/2013 07:47

(Still need to do the trunking)

FourLittleDudes · 04/06/2013 07:47

Before and after

FourLittleDudes · 04/06/2013 07:48

Other end of the room

Londonseye · 04/06/2013 07:49

So much work has been done here its great! We have finished painting the kids rooms, the hallway done today, carpets delivered and fitted Thursday. Furniture to build today. This has really made us do so much in the last two weeks. Kids have tinkerbell and batman painted on walls. Hallway is done. Thanks so much for this mumsnet and b&q

FourLittleDudes · 04/06/2013 07:53

I know I still have some little bits to finish off, the trunking mainly, and I need to attach the curtain ties to the wall (just waiting for a neighbour friendly time to use the drill) and put the air vent above the door back up but I'm feeling really pleased with what I've achieved. I never thought I would be able to manage on my own - especially with an almost 2 year old and a 4 month old with me, but I have :-)

JParkson · 04/06/2013 09:40

gazzalw again, DH takes the credit there! He did that on his own Shock

ouryve · 04/06/2013 10:07

I had one of those killer walls in my old house, too. The previous owners had painted it white, so we just pretended it wasn't there! This house has a nice low ceiling, parallel to the stairs. Just painting that, last year, took me an age because I have arthritis in my neck and can only do it in very short shifts! This is how it looks at the moment, in its current state of the cladding being half painted, which also takes an age because it's hard work for me sitting on the stairs, there's so many cracks and crevices, I can only work with the non drip satin for so long without the brush clogging up, it takes 5 coats in all over undercoat primer and top coat to get a good result and I can only manage one of those on a school day - it's still too sticky to paint over, even after 3 hours. I'm hoping to have this finished by the summer holidays! I also have fantasies about emulsioning the half of the living room that doesn't need damp proofing and re-plastering, simply because it's looking so grotty.

gazzalw · 04/06/2013 10:51

Well done to your DH then, JParkson! Actually we have that type of killer wall too but our stairs aren't as steep as yours so not entirely as virtually impossible to do Wink.

Don't you think it's amazing though how quickly you get used to the new look....?

nevergoogle · 04/06/2013 11:06

Our room is done and I love it.
i just want to sit in it and enjoy the loveliness, but haven't had a chance as we were out last night.
Just a couple of photos to go up and I'll make some cushion covers this weekend.
Photos coming soon.

nevergoogle · 04/06/2013 11:13

how are you lot doing these fancy photo montage thingies.

i want one! Envy

Babieseverywhere · 04/06/2013 14:30

I agree nevergoogle, I keep revisiting our new children's room and sit on their new bed, just to admire the clean new paintwork and new shelves :)