Home Extension Thread 2019 - The Extension

[TheFatberg]

Only a few posts left on the first thread of 2019, so here's a new one to get us started.

Builder came... all good I think. They start on Monday!! Very exciting

Exciting @Noroof! Welcome to the mess! :D

And LOL re:job @MyNameIsJane. Now you can concentrate on the house again!

Shrugs, it does look like you might need some more storage. Maybe a 1000 larder or def make sure the island is packed with drawers.

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo that looks like a good idea, I like it

@soakedat3 yes, I think designers go for the cleanest look but it's trying to find the balance between look and practicality. The island has loads of big drawers so pan/crockery storage is fine but food would be scattered all over the rest of the kitchen. I'm definitely more inclined to have a larder unit somewhere in the weird corners part of the kitchen, it's just working out where.

Our progress so far in the pic! Planing went in mid April, Building started 10th June.

@shrugs your "radiator" recess is quite wide, you could put a couple of shallow larder cupboards in there, maybe with a narrow open shelf unit between to break it up.
I will have a narrow pull out by hob for things like oil, seasonings, that you add a dash of to save tramping over to larder.
You're definitely right about some designers wanting everything to look nice and balanced but that doesn't always work in a practical sense. The first kitchen design I was offered was beautifully symmetrical but that was because he included two 15cm base pull outs (that I DID want) then to match added two skinny 15cm wall units above- totally useless unless I wanted to store 2 jars of spaghetti, or lose bottles of vinegar at the back!
Final design is fairly unsymmetrical but we've put units where they are needed (I hope!) rather than what looks nice.

Planing went in mid April, Building started 10th June
That's quick - our Council takes the full 8 weeks to confirm Permitted Development which doesn't involve any neighbour consultation

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo yeah, we had everything lined up beforehand- builder and architect knew each other and builder trusted architect's judgement that planning would go through so they booked diggers and stuff before planning was officially back. This meant that they started the week after planning was passed!

I'm super risk averse so I was properly stressing while we waited for the official 'yes' but everyone else seemed pretty chilled about it!

It’s breakthrough day!!! Here is my CSI style prep 😂. More pics to follow once they’re done.

@WorrisomeHeart I hope your crime scene curtains mean you don't have too much dust. I've just become one with the dust now, I don't see the point in fighting it.

Here is my CSI style prep

Wow that's a professional looking set up!

My dad is just away having helped us spend most of the day packing. Reality has hit home as I think I'd underestimated the upheaval

Shrugs, I think builders and architects work with planning so much they don't stress at all about the process. I nagged and nagged to get the commencement form filled in and New Dad Builder just called and spoke to the planner and "sorted it".

That is impressive prep @WorrisomeHeart. I would've welcomed some dust today but alas no work done yesterday OR today. Bit peeved now. I was really hoping to have that roof all finished and water tight but it's already raining now. I'm dubious that anyone will be turning up today despite the call to say he'll be around later this morning. Grrr!!

The plastic doors were my plan and I am SO glad I got them - the bedrooms are basically dust free. The rest of the house is a different story.... but we have another staircase!! Oh and veluxes!!

Oh and talking of architects and builders, I am having to be the go between mine at the moment. Both of them called me within about 5 mins of each other last night, passive aggressively complaining about the other. Sigh.

@WorrisomeHeart look at all that LIGHT!

(as an aside, I'm really regretting my username...)

And the big windows aren’t in yet!!! It was baking hot up there though.

Are you still trying to work out toilet placement then? 😂

It was baking hot up there though are the big windows boarded up at present?

(no, new toilet has been in situ for several months now, not surprisingly it ended up in exactly the same position as the old toilet! Just generally regretting having a lavatorial username)

Yep they go in next Friday. The air flow with the veluxes open is good though.

@shrugs I'd tho k
About having an L shaped peninsula sticking out from the radiator wall - to give more counter and under cupboard space. Rad could go where the plant is ?

Big day for us.

Plans are in and attached. Idea is to have kitchen where it says 'kitchen' 😂 and on lh side by the fixed window the dining table. He side by opening doors will be sofa. And the rest is space for yoga, dancing and kids playing.

Going to choose windows /doors and plan the kitchen.

We currently have a hacker German kitchen put in 4 years ago and want to
Re use as many of those units as we can (German are designed as stand alone pieces of furniture so they can be moved as Germans take kitchen with them when they move house apparently?). Hoping that will keep the cost down. Plan is for a bespoke stainless steel worktop (we had one in our flat years ago and loved it).

The builders are already outside and have left the engine running in the van while they wait. It's incredibly annoying as we're still in bed!

Worktop choice... any help??

@Noroof Are you keeping the existing floor?
Is the top one the Silver Oak that you posted upthread?

(nice shoes BTW. Do we need to coordinate kitchen with them?)

@WorrisomeHeart your pic is very exciting to me as well be having a new staircase put in. How stressful was it?

No the silver oak is top middle in this picture. It's far too shimmery and I think that with the shimmer of the doors it makes the whole thing too light.
We are changing the floor...possibly to a light oak

@loveislandfan, it was fine. I basically prepped all the doors, cleared everything out of the downstairs hallway and then hid in the kitchen working. It was hugely noisy but I didn’t even see them bring in the staircase!