Home extensions 2017 - Christmas is coming

[Believeitornot]

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Bleurgh. Builder has just called to say that the fitted wardrobes he ordered that were supposed to be floor to ceiling are going to be 300mm short off the ceiling as the top boxes that were ordered to be fitted on top of the main wardrobes are too tall. Why? Because he gave them the wrong measurements and never checked the CAD plans they sent before he ordered.
No refunds are available because they were custom made, and he's refusing to order replacement top boxes because a) he can't go out of pocket on a job (we hear that a lot and b) he alleges that we never made it clear that we wanted anything other than an L-shaped wardrobe so all the extra bells and whistles (i.e. a few drawers!) were more than he'd allowed in his budget, so he refers me back to point a).
I know it's a first world problem, but it's sooooo annoying. I think these things look too much better when they're all the way up to the top and now I've got 300mm to fill with something/ will just have to dust. Like in my kitchen. Bleurgh.

tatlerer - Argh, how frustrating! Can the current top boxes not be cut down by a joiner and new doors manufactured - surely that wouldn't be a huge job? You could then get most of the wardrobes in, and add the doors at a later date?

Thanks whisky. Isn't it!
Builder is now saying that taking into account the frame of the unit, the top box (if we were to have them) would only be 250mm high, so about 2 cans of coke high! So given I'd need a ladder to reach them and couldn't fit anything with them, doesn't seem to be much point in going to any expense making them right. Needless to say - I don't trust what my builder tells me these days AT ALL so I've contacted the supplier to ask them to tell me how high they would actually be and give me their best price.

Baxdream they're Neff ones. The main oven is the hide and slide thingy and the other one is the combi oven in the same range.

Where will she put her Nespresso and toaster I hear you ask? (Haha, bet you couldn't give a shit but I'm going to tell you anyway) - the unit on the far left of the wall run is a Butler's pantry which opens up to reveal more worktop and a plug socket. They will live in there. Kettle will be replaced by the boiling water tap.

I'm already thinking of where our mess is going! I think I'm going to put it in the utility so it's out of sight. Although if Santa bought me a navy kitchenaid I would happily display it in the kitchen!

Ah they look lovely. I wondered if they were the same as mine (caple) as mine are having trouble stacking although the brackets should have arrived today so hopefully I go home to a working oven!

One can dream Bax! Scuttles off to google navy Kitchenaid...

Look 😍😍😍😍

Ladies, will someone please hand me a gin and tonic. Actually, if you could just pour me a gin and just pretend there is some tonic in there for form's sake, I'd be even more grateful.

The electrician has just left having entered the house like the Tasmanian Devil, wrought havoc all over the place without really achieving much, and then left again. At one point there was a scene worthy of some sort of sitcom, where he grabbed the (totally unconnected) gateway and remote control for the smart lights and started pressing random buttons while screaming "IT DOESN'T WORK! ALL THESE FANCY MOD CONS, TUT TUT". I had to explain that you needed to connect the lights to the phone and controls, but that this didn't explain why they weren't coming on at all. It took me the best part of 40 minutes to explain that there must be a problem with is wiring; at one point I got so frustrated that I started to pretend to be a lightbulb with a wire coming out.

Turned out he hadn't connected them properly.

tatlerer - I think it's always a good idea to double-check these things -not least because I suspect that £50 gets added on here, there and everywhere if you aren't a bit vigilant.

Is he saying there is only 250mm of space above the cupboards? I wonder if you can get some kind of filler piece - I know it's a large gap, but perhaps with the right moulding you might be able to cover it elegantly?

That Kitchenaid is gorgeous! I have a Kenwood Chef Major, which isn't as attractive, but it's an absolute workhorse.

Yes that's right whisky. And yes, I'm thinking a filler piece might be a decent compromise. I'm going to see what the wardrobe peeps come back with.

Here's the massive GIN for you. Can you please film yourself pretending to be a lightbulb and post it?!?!?

here is some gin

We are coming to the end now. Sort of. The person who lays the floor is killing me with his slowness. He literally lays a few boards a day

Anyway our utility is on the way which is good!

Oh nice utility Believe
Very nice kitchen Tatler!

Nothing to report here but plumber back tomorrow! I'm not confident that underfloor heating will be on, think I need electrician as well & he's not back until Monday! Bet the cold spell will be over by then!

Best news - still nothing more from Frank! (Hope that doesn't temp fate!)

Gorgeous utility it's huge!!

We've had such a productive week! I think every trade has been in 😂 kitchen units/doors are in, plug sockets done, most the plastering done, ensuite tiled (although we're two boxes short so hopefully finish today or tomorrow if they arrive in time), ovens are in and working.
We're going to spend the weekend painting and sorting out all our belongings!

It’s lovely seeing things being finished off.

I have a day free of builders and am enjoying the peace and quiet. On Monday everything will be manic with flooring arriving so I might as well make the most of it! The cat is actually downstairs during the day looking quite shocked by the calm.

I keep saying my dog has depression! He loves the attention from the builders but he just wants a lie in!
We've had builders 7 days a week for a while but we have this Sunday free. I'm staying in bed until 10am 😂

It’s funny - when planning, I didn’t think the utility would be big enough. But given it’s our old (small) kitchen I think now seeing it, it’ll be fine

I haven’t put many wall cupboards in as want to have flexibility in terms of shelves etc as not decided exactly how I will organise laundry. But we’ve got a long run of worktop which is going to be great for folding etc

I would definitely say yours is big enough. We have three wall cupboards but one has the boiler then the under sink cupboard. I think my plan is to keep cleaning stuff in the under sink, washing stuff/pegs etc in a wall cupboard and the other one for the dog.
It still feels like such a luxury as our old kitchen was tiny!!

Your utility is definitely big enough believe! It’s a room for work, not leisure so actually the minimum space needed for efficient work and storage is the probably the right way to go. My top tip for utilities (for those still planning) is to raise the washing machine and dryer off the ground to waist level so you don’t have to bend down.

Well absolutely nothing has happened here this week. It's a so fustrating, we're so near the end, it's just doors, skirting etc to do.

Hi all, I've been lurking on and off for months. I love reading about everyone's projects .

We're slowly getting there with our extension/renovation works. Also so many delays and unexpected issues...

I am so fed up with my builder too! We were supposed to be moving in by now and spend Xmas at the new house but that's not happening. 😣

I'm due my second baby towards the end of January and the stress of the build is taking its toll.

Just wanted to say hello to everyone and say I'm admiring all your lovely projects.

believe love your laundry area. Def seems more than big enough to me. We're having an integrated laundry at the end of the kitchen. Do you mind me asking which sink is that? I'm hunting a laundry sink but keep finding them either too big or too smal!?

@EJC85 I went for a sink with a small drainer in the end.

I really wanted this but changed my mind.

Also liked this deep utility sink but I wasn’t sure about the sink base cabinet.

Ended up with this and a franke tap from eBay.

Look what's in (excuse the mess it's been tidied since!)

Bax

bax - that extractor!! wow!

bax that is stunning!

Looks great Bax!