Restoring character in an over-renovated house

[Rhubarbgarden]

We are interested in this house. I like the exterior, but to my mind, the interior has been over-renovated and is rather lacking in charm and character. I am trying to think of things that could be done to give it more appeal - put in reclaimed fireplaces, replace plastic windows with wood, replace laminate floors and downstairs carpet with reclaimed floorboards/parquet etc.

Any other imaginative ideas? Ignore the cost for now - I'm looking for blue sky thinking from all you creative types!

what was wrong with all of these houses? Twlight on and its pretty dull.

would this be this be the first thread in property where nipple tweaking was suggested :) ?

Edless those houses don't have a lake . Did you see the house they viewed with the lake. Twas bloody amazing apart from the motorway at the back door.

However they are also bloody nice houses.

So the motorway actually was at the back door then, was it? I couldn't remember why that particular house had been rejected, but I did remember someone saying 'um, isn't it a bit near the... you know, road?'

Have to say that the Grendel household is getting a huge amount of vicarious pleasure from poor Rhubarb's house search.

Well I think that was reason, but there may have been something else I'm losing track! I'm also loving Rhubarb's house hunt! I would have lived on a motorway for a house like that!!

When they do settle on somewhere I expect a huge mumsnet housewarming party .

Sorry for the silence. I actually had a bit of a 'moment' at Grendel's suggestion of hanging on in this house till DH is ready to move - I burst into tears - damn hormones! But it did alarm DH and he's spent an hour or so on Rightmove since then...

Thanks for the suggestions Edless. Not really keen on Burgess Hill, sorry. They are nice houses though. I can't get the third link to work though, my phone is being a bit odd tonight. Our preferred locations are Ditchling, Hurstpierpoint, Lewes or Brighton at a push (but large gardens and proximity to Brighton station don't combine). Or Godalming/Haslemere area in Surrey. Has to have a large garden, be close to a commutable station and walkable into a nice village/town. It doesn't actually have to have a lake or river frontage but DH has a weakness for these so we've looked at quite a few.

That infamous Mr-Darcey-lake house in Kent was just too much in the middle of nowhere. The motorway wasn't particularly close - couldn't really hear it anyway. And honestly, it just wasn't as special in the flesh as it appeared in the photos.

Now - nipple tweaking? eh??

"There is a blue plaque there somewhere . My mum was probably friends with your gran Eggy!"

I have no doubt. She knew Everybody :)

Oreo I promise a huge MN housewarming party! Only fair as you lot have very kindly endured my househunt agonies without a single 'shutup and be grateful you've got a roof over your head' - which I probably deserve quite frankly.

Oh, you poor old thing! I didnt mean to make you cry... Still, it sounds like it's done him some good if he's got onto Rightmove. I suppose I could make you cry regularly until he decides on a place he likes.

Meanwhile, my DH would like to throw an extra point into the mix. He wants to know how your business / employment is going to be affected by where you move to.

for bringing on labour - especially if we are going to be talking about Mr Darcy. Better than Vindaloo!

Has he found anything yet? Have you looked on zoopla as well as rightmove, I've noticed a bit in my area is on there and not rightmove. I'll have a squiz and see if we can find something!

Hope this surge of hormones means little legs is about to make an appearance!

it has a lake aherm pond

househunting whilst pregnant is going to be emotional.... that nesting instinct going all haywire.

I love a real search too. but i think it helps to remember that whatever you like now is just what happens to be available now....and in a month, or even tomorrow -something else could come up that really fits the bill. Or your DH might decrease in height. Try standing on his toes :)

it has a duck house!

i don't see a motorway close...am i confused?

symetrical.

I'm liking Elless' idea of standing on his toes, he might shrink, or he might come round to your way of thinking , either way its worth a shot!

There was a house they viewed a while back, big gorgeous house with a proper lake, it was like a set from pride and predjudice, but it was near a motorway, that is the house I was refering to before, it looked amazing! (but apparently less so in the flesh--. Above is my meagre offering!

Hah, Grendel it's a deal! I'll shout and you prod.

He hasn't come up with anything new, except a moneypit house we lusted after ages ago that's been reduced making it closer to being affordable. Except that it's in the Heathrow flight path and that worries him...

DH would be commuting into London, hence the need to be near a good train line. I can work anywhere.

Gosh I've never come across nipple tweaking as a means to bring on labour! I think I'll try the pineapples first!

I haven't bothered with Zoopla for ages because Rightmove seemed to have a wider net. But that could well have changed. Shout if you see anything!

nice oreo though -

*its on a swamp!
*that kitchen (changeable yes) has to go!
*as discussed on other thread, that travertine bathroom...

still, those two last things are workable. I like how the listing says 'within minutes of Waitrose'

Oh my friend swears by the nipple tweeking, and putting hot flannels on your breasts, it stimulates the milk and makes the uterus contract etc apparently. Didn't have to try it myself as I'm one of those annoying people that had the baby when they were due

Oh yes, people wouldn't want to get stuck with an asda would they!

And one mans swamp is another mans lake if you squint really really hard

Oops lots of crossed posts. The Fragbarrow one is too cottagey for Mr Picky, and the Godalming one has a teeny garden - we were looking at that one earlier and saying what a shame, because the view across the water meadows is lovely. Thanks for looking though!

Edless you are right. Whenever I get depressed and wail that DH has rejected the perfect house and nothing of its kind will ever come up again, I usually find myself falling in love with something else a month later. But then I'm easy to please, I am!

Hot flannels you say. That sounds better than nipple tweaking! I'm actually only 38 weeks but dd was two weeks early so I'm kind of expecting it at any moment, and I've really had enough of being pg now, so I'd like to get on with it!

Oh and rhubarb if you are going for the pineapples....you do know what you are meant to do with them don't you? Think I'd give tweaking a go first

Our search area last year was similar to yours, and at one point we got keen on areas around Pulborough station. Have you considered this or is the train into London to slow? For example: theoddhighceiling

You tend to get more for your money round there than near Hurst as a result of the longer commute.

Hmm the link failed. Will try again in a bit when I have tidied the kitchen.