Home Extension thread 2018

[Baxdream]

Thought we should get the new thread ready!
Our front door is in. Long story but it arrived damaged 😫 it's in and lovely but it's going to be replaced!
Our fencing has started today, the short ones are new, the others are getting ripped out

Hello all!

Just came on quickly to check how you're all getting on and OH MY GOD THERE ARE SOME PALACES NEARLY FINISHED! You must all be so pleased!

Things all fine this end. We're currently having a patio laid and waiting for some cupboards to be fitted in the next 2 weeks, and then we will be starting on decorating. I took a break from the thread as I theoretically handed over management of the last bits and pieces to DH though I still seem to be doing most of the work in practice as it turns out that "managing building work is surprisingly hard work" (his words) .

Quick shot of our now-nearly completed library.

OMG whisky, I must not show that to DH or he will be wanting one too.

Lingua I like the white or white with dark island best. And I like that marble effect top.

I had a full team of builders here today so things actually happened. This bastard rain is a problem, but at least there is inside stuff to do.

Oh whisky that is lovely! So personal and homely!
Are you on the home straight?

Wow whisky library looking good-was it you who was having some cvc carpentry done? Is this it? Looks really good! Did you measure your books?!!
I’ve ordered all of the bathroom suite now, the kitchen still needs some tweaking depending on how much protrusion we have from the steels. Big steel going in this week hopefully, builder is actually quite worried about this not which has made me worry-was blissfully ignorant before!

Linguaphile I like the white on white and grey on white. I think the white on charcoal might feel dated more quickly? But I am biased against dark kitchens generally .

Whisky your library looks lovely!

I am back to waiting for a response from the water board. I feel this may be the theme of my posts for some time to come - I got all excited when they responded last week, but as someone (Humpty?) mentioned, clearly it's going to be a five day wait every single time.

Has anyone got a good book/blog recommendation to walk through the basics on renovating/extending? I was struck, while browsing doors yesterday, with the realisation that I know nothing. How does one get a timber door frame to match the door? And does the door need to match the window frames either side? And does one get a joiner to fit the door, or do the door people provide someone? And do the tiles need to be done in the porch before the door goes in? And is an inwards or outwards opening door better? And that was all just as a result of idly googling timber doors after reading a MN thread yesterday - I suspect these questions are going to come up with every single aspect of this build! I am a total control freak so I'm going to want to have everything planned and ready so I can just instruct the builders and have lovely gantt charts (which they will ignore) and all sorts.

Hopefully give this ago, reading it has already proven useful Home Extension Manual: The step-by-step guide to planning, building and managing a project (Haynes Manuals) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1785211706/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_e625Ab7TR78QV

I'm having light on dark. Worktop yet to arrive but I'll send a pic when it's on.

Whisky that library!!!! Absolutely brilliant. I love the ladder!

Thanks for the opinions. Leaning towards the white marble on white. Is it too stark and cold do you think? I made the mistake of posting on Houzz for colour opinions and loads of Americans have come on and given it a proper roasting for 'bad design' and being cold and horrible. Which now has me hyperventilating hat I've created some horrid space! Is it just that Americans love a massive oppressively ornate kitchen with cherry cabinets and speckly granite and don't understand the pared-back sleeker German ones? Or is it genuinely cold and horrible? Our house is new and super modern, so a more traditional kitchen would look dreadfully out of place. Obviously it's just a kitchen company render, not my own drawing, so it's not like I've added backsplash, painted walls, etc.

Feel free to be gently brutal.

I think you should go with your heart and what YOU love. It's utterly personal. White kitchens can look lovely and fresh. You can always mix it up with some freestanding bits to break it up. In my last place I had white units wooden worktops and duck egg blue walls it was lovely.

Americans generally have odd taste in kitchens and a completely different design aesthetic to the UK, so don't stress at all, I'm sure it'll look lovely x

Americans have no taste so I shouldn't worry about their opinions. Most of our rooms are very pared back but we use accessories to add colour as they are easier to change if we get bored and want to change it up. You could have bright bar stools. Any of those designs you have are fine, they all suit the space. Personally I like the one with the dark island as it breaks up all the white but you could use accessories to do that.

Whisky your library looks amazing! I'm so jealous. And yes, your DH is right, managing building work is hard. At least he had a go, my DH has hardly done anything other than complain that it's taking too long and why is the skip still on the drive! I'm currently trying to persuade him we should spend £1200 on having some fitted cupboard installed in the lounge. Bit like this pic. www.sarahgordonhome.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Screen-Shot-2016-04-15-at-22.39.07.png

I agree that they have very different design taste in the US. I wouldn’t take it to heart. They also have very different houses so what works for them may not for you.

Yes, the entire library - including a ladder - is CNC manufactured in plywood. It's a really remarkable process, I'm enjoying learning how it works. We are having a floor-to-ceiling unit with doors along one side of the dining room, too - hopefully this will enable me to get everything behind closed doors and have a neater house!

lingua - I think the design looks great. Go for it! I got loads of advice from people about kitchens when we were doing ours - I think there's a moment where you have to grit your teeth and go with your gut. Everyone likes different things, at the end of the day. One person's homely is another person's old-fashioned nightmare; one person's sleek is another person's abbatoir! (I'm sure my kitchen would fall into the latter category for some people!) Have faith - I think your design is lovely!

And so it begins..... builders are starting to move their kit in and should be here in full force on Friday! Hopefully we will be finished in ten weeks (glass half full) Watch this space....

Forgot to attach picture

Wow your house is huge already! What are you having done?
Good luck and hope it goes well for you

Thought I'd put this here - we made a video with some single story extension tips (sponsored by Velux) recently.

@Baxdream 4x5m across the back which will be the new kitchen/family room (I hope). Also having some internal stuff done (electrics, lighting, extra sockets) in other rooms. The current kitchen is going to be turned into a utility and pantry. We've been planning it for the last year so very excited and just a little bit nervous 😬

hello everyone..i dropped off a while back as we are basically no further forward at all..due to one thing and another.
but i have managed to get a firm yes from DP and so got howden out to design kitchen.
told them clearly that our lovely builder had said we were to be quoted with the very best discount they would be offering to him as he does not want any mark up on the kitchen..just fitting fee.
so i tell them this, and design blokey comes out and we do design, very easy as it is basically refit of old kitchen, no new appliances and a few more cupboards.
I told nice design man that 5k was absolute top budget, no wiggle room at all, but bear in mind this is no tiling, no floor, no appliances and no lighting...just the bloody cupboards ...no fancy pants larder pull out bits , just the effing cupboards and a laminate work top ..ok did have 3 curved units in but that was all in the fancy stakes.
he said ' yep shouldnt be a problem for that budget'

so yesterday i go in and see designs ..lovely....just need to choose between navy and marble look laminate or grey and wood look laminate...
i reiterate loudly and clearly no more then 5 k in budget..

today quote arrives...£9975...

so i an raging...why not tell me i was way off at first appt, dont get my hopes up...then email says about new appliances and the better bottom line discounts available to my builder....

MORE RAGE

so i firmly email back saying ' this is clearly double the stated budget, i am sorry we will have to rethink the whole project , sorry to have wasted your time'

email pings back asap...' manager now says can do it for £8100'

so if we take off the lighting and appliances i said i didnt need or want it comes down to £7100.
But i am still effing raging....is howdens just full of BS and trying to get away with doubling my budget ??? and this seems to be before any builder's discount applied.

can anyone help me ....how much do howdens give off to builders ..can i or should i try to push them harder...and if so how much more do you reckon i can go for ?

it is so silly to have such smoke and mirrors pricing /discounts etc.

RAGE...I HAVE KITCHEN RAGE...and tears as new kitchen was looking so gorgeous...bastard howdens

or should i just take list of all the stuff howdens have quoted and go to DIY kitchens...? i am new to this, never ever bought a kitchen before

Hiya,
We are getting our extension in 4 weeks today. Single storey and loft conversion with reconfiguration of downstairs. I'm a complete novice so any advice welcome!

Welcome amazing
red I would definitely put it through the diy kitchens website to get a comparable cost, might take you an hour but most people recommend a couple of quotes anyway. I have an latge number of units with pull outs etc and my diy order less than £7k

Definitely plug it into DIY Kitchens I bet it's miles cheaper. Good luck x

red Thought it might help if I put my quote on for comparison? I have no idea if yours is of similar size/number of units or whatever but anyway - have a look.
I don't think I really like my layout as it's been done here anyway, but it might give you a comparison.
I'll add the visual images in a jif.

Visual images...