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

[TheOtherHelenMumsnet]

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

So jealous of all you lot that got gift cards!

We're redoing our whole house! Slowly but surely. Finances and time are issues but we moved in knowing the house needed totally updating and the only way we could afford our own home is if we were prepared for a lot of DIY!

We started off by painting the entire house white - it really helped us to see the space/where the light fell etc
And gave us a blank canvas.

So far we've done bits and pieces in each room and there's a lot that needs finishing!
We've blocked the double doors that went from the living room to the dining room to make the house flow better. This also meant we could utilise the space in the dining room as with the doors opening into it there wasn't room for a table!
We've completely gutted the kitchen and had to re wire/re plaster (house was rented but had one socket in the entire kitchen that had numerous extension leads pinned about draping over the cooker etc ). We're mostly there with the kitchen in terms of it functioning now we just need to tile, decorate and clean/make good the worktops with oil. We've gone for a classic cream shaker style kitchen with silver handles and wooden worktops. We have a v small butler sink (we don't wash up!) and have even planned where the bin is to go! We're thinking of keeping the tiles neutral and going for a raspberry colour on one wall plus accessories in a kind of lilac grey for a bit of interest. I'm trying to keep the expensive things neutral so I can change the 'theme' at a whim!
The dining room we're planning on having a kind of French feel with some toile de jour wallpaper but as its quite busy I'm contemplating doing the top third in this and creating some Batton and board for the bottom two thirds and paint the dresser the same colour as the Batton and board but add some of the wallpaper in the back (spend far too long on Pinterest!).
Our bedroom is green off white and browny mink colours, very calming even with one wall of vertical stripes! We're currently building in our own wardrobes (have the rails up but need doors!) either side of the fireplace and will match the doors to our bedside tables (off white tongue and groove). We have tree curtains and pictures of trees etc.
Dds room is pink with shelves backed in blue wallpaper with pink roses on - cath kidston feel. My mum makes patch work so a lot of her cushions and bed spread etc is patchwork, it looks very sweet. In a mismatched but matched sort of way.

My biggest regret so far is ripping up the manky carpet that was throughout the downstairs as I thought it was irreparable but since discovering industrial carpet cleaners I'm sure they would've come up ok. As I made such a rash decision and ripped them up as soon as we got the keys we had to get new flooring. We decided something wipe able would be preferable so went for laminate. We went for quite cheap as we presumed we'd replace it after a few years. I wish we hadn't bothered. It took a long time to lay throughout the downstairs and looks cheap it also clashes with the kitchen. I've since brought some real wood flooring (bargain on eBay!) and am really excited to get this down in the whole house barring the kitchen, dining room and bathroom. It's a big job though so we're having to wait until the summer. Our dining room is currently wood/half the kitchen storage though (as is the new babies room!)

We're buying things as and when we see them and I hope to complete the project within the next year.
When we get time to do it it actually doesn't take us that long. We managed to completely convert the under stairs cupboard into an office inc wallpapering, making the desk etc. within a weekend working around toddler timings!

Dh reckons that by the time we've finished ill be bored and want to re do things

Prefer eyelets. But even the pencil pleat curtains, had minimal choice of lined ones

Love the waste-not-want-not going on in your house gazzalw!

katiewalters - if it makes you feel any better we've left the manky carpet in the downstairs of our house since we moved in nearly 5 years of living here and it bugs me ENDLESSLY. You just do what you can at the time, I wouldn't beat yourself up about it

Much better to have Manky carpets for a while and then get what you really want rather than waste money like we have (never sure if this is the right face to use - it looks it on my phone but they come up differently on the site )

Oh dear, sorry JazzAnn aimed that at the wrong person, forgive me . I hope the real wood flooring solves your woes - getting it off eBay is a great idea, never thought of that

Hi, only just discovered this thread!

The rooms that I am doing are porch/hall/stairs landing. The porch has always kinda been left as I don't have to look at it much but it really needed attention. It was bland and uninviting. There was super fresco type paper on the walls but the cats had scratched it to bits and it was covered in marks. The wooden window sils were all scuffed and chipped too.

I went along to East Kilbride store the day the vouchers came purely fir inspiration... And discovered a fab purple tropical print paper that I fell in love with so used that as a starter. Bought lots of bits and pieces to help me do a proper job, rather than in the past scrimping and using a knife for everything.

Using my new electric sander I sanded all of the paint work (a wee bit too enthusiastically ) and set small child away stripping the wallpaper. Didn't take to long although the mess seemed to envelop the whole house.

I used YouTube as a quick how to guide as I have managed to get to the ripe old age of 30 without having wallpapered before. Once I had it sussed away I went and tbh I can honestly say it was easy! To be fair with it being the porch its only half height walls but I was proud non the less.

Have been back to b&q several times since then, returning bits I have changed my mind on and such like and the service has been mostly great, although they could probably do with more staff available to assist with general questions... I usually go 7pm mid week so it's quiet but a little bit if guidance would be great.

Next task is stairs and landing... Should have started tonight but lacked energy.

Watch this space!

gazzalw I mentioned your bubbling paint/wallpaper to DH. He hasn't had the issue personally, but he is a frequenter of DIY forums and said he's heard of this before. Exactly as you said, the problem is likely to be the reaction between paint and wallpaper glue that has seeped through.

He suggested using some kind of sealant over the wallpaper, but wasn't too sure. However if you have a search on a specialist DIY forum (he recommends one called 'DIY not' or something) then someone will have been there before you and will have found the solution. Apparently.

Like mumsnet but instead of kids/family etc, it's all about sanding, solvents etc. Their equivalent to P&C parking on AIBU: 'should fresh plaster be sealed with PVA or emulsion?. Gets them very excited.

Well done everyone

My first flat after leaving home was a real wreck, chipboard wallpaper, stained carpet, hideous bathroom suite. I was young, free and single and redecorated all by myself. The bedroom started out as a disaster as I removed the texture wallpaper, taking half the plaster with it.. I had to learn how to plaster (couldn't afford a professional) and the end result was pretty good. I later learned that my baking skills may have helped - a friend of a friend who is a plasterer says bakers make good plasterers because it it all about mixing and spreading correctly!

Thanks ever so for the DIY forum tip, Icenoslice!

The cat - no worries I'm just still annoyed at myself for wasting money!

We also got crap underlay which I think has been the laminates downfall!

This isn't the first DIY project we've undertaken, but it always surprises me how much work is involved. I think we broken a few EU directives on working times and definately a few parenting rules on meal/bed times! (" Are we having any tea tonight?" "Errr..hang on, just cutting some underlay..why, what's the time?" " Half past eleven!!!!" ). On the positive side, we have lost a bit of weight, my 6 year old has become a dab hand at making a cheese and ham sandwich and I haven't watched any television for a week. The gloss has remained in my hair. A friend suggested olive oil, but that made it both oily and white! (lovely). Maybe I ought to chance my hand and apply for a makeover? Knackered looking mumsnetter with white stripey hair and complete set of broken nails seeks Hello magazine style makeover, to enhance photographic log of newly decorated room. I can just picture myself in a low cut evening gown, hair cut and coloured, full pouty lipped makeup, dusting a set of Skylanders!

I am enjoying reading all the updates. I didnt get picked but wanted to do my garden, suspect that B&Q looked at the weather forecast and thought "she has to be kidding " . To be fair, I would have struggled thanks to the weather.

Allhandsondeck, I totally agree with you about under-estimating the time involved, particularly when you have the curious incident of the crackled paint in the night to contend with too (which is still to be remedied. Agree with IceNoSlice's DH's recommendation but just awaiting some expert advice from B&Q for fear of making matters worse - if that's possible).

I am still hoping that we can meet the deadline - matters would have progressed at least five days sooner if we hadn't had the missed B&Q voucher delivery (which had to be rearranged two days later) initially followed by not being able to buy the DIY stuff online with the gift-card and not having a B&Q locally. It has meant that all the work has essentially had to be crammed into 10 days, with time off for good behaviour and major birthday celebrating!

The children have seriously been left to their own devices since I went back to work yesterday and DW has already been up the ladder applying second coat of eco-paint to the ceiling (no issue with that as we just applied straight on top of the previous layer of white emulsion) this morning.....

It's actually quite hard decorating and doing normal household stuff isn't it.... ?

It will be worth it though and I guess most of us work better to pressured deadlines .

Had a big giggle at the DIY equivalent of the Mumsnet forums!

I can't do any more until my painting DIY class, which is tomorrow morning! I'm so excited, which is a bit sad . Getting there during rush hour traffic however, not fun. It's a much bigger store than my local one so I'm taking my giftcard and shopping list with me - just hope I can cram all my purchases into my tiny KA!

Allhands, just did a quick google - if the gloss is oil based, it needs to be another oil-based product to get it out. Aside from olive oil, you could try peanut butter or vaseline, but it will probably take a few tries and shampoo as well! Remind me to wear a cap next time I do glossing!

Ok so we have been busy, here is the room with the first coat of paint on the walls, but still orange wardrobes!

And another view....

And here is the room fully painted including the wardrobes....

So just need to sort the floor out now....

Well done HappyHippyChick, walls look fab!

Thanks I was a bit worried the paint was a bit bright but it looks lovely!

allhands, I've heard that tinned tuna and ketchup left on your hair overnight will remove the white gloss.

you're not wrong about decorating taking longer than you think and also the disruption to the rest of the house is major. We're still plodding on with it plus working full time plus there's those little people that live here and need things.

The deadline is stressing me a bit, and also the realisation that £300 doesn't go very far if you have expensive tastes. There was some lighting I wanted to buy in B&Q but I think the giftcard will have run out by then.

But still, it's really quite good fun and my living room already feels refreshed and calmer.

Have finally conquered the demon fireplace and it is now looking much more like it should, having had two coats of black metal paint. First coat of paint applied to the walls and it's at that patchy stage, where you can see all the flaws in the wall that you didn't realise were there!

Housework has been woefully neglected and the rest of the house is looking less than pristine :)

Great to see everyone's results - like lots of you, I seriously under-estimated how much time everything would take. Had to go and collect DS from university and clean his student flat, so that used up three days that could otherwise have been spent on the project...

Thank you for the hair gloss removing advice..Peanut butter? Tuna?! Are you sure you're not just having a laugh!! I'm sure DH will find his fishy white haired wife very attractive. .

SweetestThing but do you now have a dogsbody helper (DS) to give you a hand with the project?

Pic of the renovated fireplace please

Ok, so my latest drama. We have a new carpet being fitted on Saturday (not part of the B&Q budget but it really needed replacing!) So we needed to finish the painting, particularly the skirting boards, in plenty of time for them to dry before the carpet fitters come. So far, so good.

On Sunday I put a paint pot down on the window ledge I had recently glossed. Ruined. Tried to sand it yesterday in order to redo it. Gloss not dry, sanding made a massive mess. Gah! I now need to just leave it to dry properly before sanding and repainting the window ledge, which I'll have to do after the carpet goes in- and be really careful not to get paint on the new carpet!

HappyHippyChick, looking good....