Extension Thread 2021.....aka "where's the bloody builder?"

[Callmejudith]

New thread!

That's a beauty @PoshWatchShitShoes - what are you having for taps and stuff?

We can't walk in the kitchen this evening as he's had to weigh down various areas - pub it is!

@PoshWatchShitShoes that bath is stunning 😍😍

Some great progress this week

@Callmejudith that floor is lovely.
@PoshWatchShitShoes so glad the bath has arrived and you didn't have to compromise.
@MissFritton65 I love storage, I'm trying to sneak it in everywhere.

Quick question for those of you with kitchen islands - what size have you gone for and is it big enough. We can only fit in 2.38m (I had my heart set on 3m) but we then can't fit a return in, but we are less cramped on width so we can go wider than average. Will it be big enough?

@Nomoneytree ours will be 1.6 x 3m but it hasn't gone in yet so can't post a picture. We are having the sink and champagne trough in it.

@MissFritton65 I need to relook at the plans as it maybe we can go bigger if we put the sink in. We are just having some seating.

@Nomoneytree we are also having the dishwasher and wine fridge in the island so it working hard for us!

Thanks ladies. Lovely we can celebrate and commiserate with each other on our rollercoaster renovations.

Just went to site to sit in the bath...can't find it. Wonder where they've stashed it 😂

Kitchen is looking good. The utility is nearly complete too. Having a wobble on the paint colours!!! Final sign off needed by 10am tomorrow morning eeeekkkk.

@nomoneytree our island is 2.7x1.24m.

It's a good size. When you're planning your space, just be aware of pinch points. I've got a 1m gap between the island and the fitted dresser. I wouldn't want it any smaller. The gap between the range and the island is 1.2m and that feels great.

Whilst I was away today, DH made up one of the bar stools I bought from Next. I love it, lovely quality and good price 👏

Need to take it to site tomorrow and hope hope hope it's the right height for the island!!

Oh god, neighbours have disputed party wall as concerned about their foundations! Haven't even touched the soil yet and already have stress!

Posh I’m laughing at the lost bath! Where is it???

@GardensandGrandDesigns can you go and chat to them about their concerns?

@callmejudith I really hope so! Just sent them an email reply and will follow up with a chat!

Hope you can sort things with the neighbours.
Our rear neighbours have agreed that the higher fence is preferable for them which suits us too so that’s good. Phew.

Our island is 3.3m x 1.2 I think.
So 3 x 1m units with a 30cm overhang one way.
Then standard 600 depth, plus a run of shallow 300 cupboards under another 300 overhang.
Except for one end which has the drinks fridge.
The overhand kind of goes around a corner.
The pinch point for us is my concern too.
Think I have just over 1m but has to allow for someone to be sat on a stool so it concerns me still.

Like the bar stools, I really want ones that swivel, but also have a back like yours and are comfortable. Haven’t found the exact ones I want yet online.

I may have to get a bespoke light switch made! I need an 8 gang switch plate but that doesn’t look completely different from the stepped Victorian ones I already have.
Have emailed one company to see what they say.

@LivingInABuildingSite what your existing switches look like? We got ours from Elesi. They do 8 gang blank plates in various finishes, and then you can choose what pieces go in them. So you could have 4 toggles and 4 dimmers or any combination.

www.elesi.com/soho-lighting-antique-brass-8-gang-grid-plate is the plate
www.elesi.com/soho-lighting-antique-brass-2-way-toggle-grid-switch-module-screwless is an example of one of the switch modules

They are silvery/chrome square edged with a double step.

All the ones online I’ve found so far that fit 8 ‘switches’ (of any kind) have curvy corners instead of square edged.
I’d settle for a square flat plate without the steps but haven’t found that yet.

This is a website one not a photo from my house (too comfy on the sofa under a blanket to get up lol)

Morning all 👋

What's everyone's priorities today?

Mine are confirm kitchen colours!! And order lights for over dining table, order fabrics for upholstery and order the damn switches/sockets!!

I've been procrastinating on all of the above for ages 🙈

Morning all
A day of mixed fortunes already and it's not 9.30 yet! Curry 's text at 7.10 to say they were delivering the tumble dryer at 7.00 ...useful! Luckily they couldn't find the house (it's on the main road!!) so by the time they got there a builder was on site. The decorator arrived and decided it was "too busy" so left again saying he'd come back next week when it was calmer?! However reappeared about 40 mins later and said he'd start misting as presumably couldn't find another job at short notice.
The steps forward are: The ensuite window is going in today at last, the temporary kitchen is being built in the utility and apparently the UFH in the kitchen is going in tomorrow ready for tiling on Monday.
So probably a positive start overall!

I’m v good at procrastinating 😂

I’ve got DD off school, nothing specific just not well.
Keep making her do covid tests in case.

Today - the electrician is here and wants to know where I want some switches in the side extension.
Also they’re starting to batten out the side for plaster boarding, but can only do bits as a doorway into the current kitchen needs knocking through & lots of pipe work moving. Will probably only happen once the new kitchen is in.
Tomorrow we’ve got a final final visit to howdens to let DH see it all on the big screen, then hopefully order everything for as soon as poss delivery.

@PoshWatchShitShoes did you find the bath???

@MrsF that made me lol at the decorator! Our decorator is an old friend of DH and he refuses to decorate until the house is empty of other trades. He's bloody good though so I'll allow it.

]@LivingInABuildingSite hope DD is ok.

More flooring for us today, he should be finished today. Yesterday he was having issues with the bit under the fridge as it's so heavy. I had to stand there for ages pushing the fridge back to an angle so he could go under it. My arms are killing me today!

I also need to order sofas. DH is being immensely annoying and saying we can't use the front room yet even though the only thing that needs doing is plastering one wall. That's not going to get done probably until the new year

I've spent the morning rearranging the stuff in the house that is waiting to go out in the extension in a vague attempt at to make it look less like a hurricane has hit us.
Not sure it worked. I can't wait for the worktop to leave our hallway unfortunately it's the only place long enough to store it where it definitely won't get damaged. Glad I bought it in advance though as it's now out of stock.
Now I'm working on other people's house extensions/ renovations - so planning other people's chaos (hopefully well managed chaos)

I've been taking note of architects gripes to make sure I don't do any of the things that make everyone's lives harder on here, as you are never to old to improve - and I hope I don't. I try to be a good communicator which seems to be the root of many problems.

@wonkylegs I'm sure you're brilliant. There's a common denominator in the people who are crap at communicating (hint: men).

I've persuaded DH to go for the sofas, wish we could afford fancy ones but IKEA will be fine. They should come on Friday so that means we can actually sit in the front room on Friday night and watch a movie YEY!!

Lots of deliveries here today, missing kitchen cupboards, yey! So fitter can come back tomorrow. And ikea deliveries - I tried to upgrade from IKEA @Callmejudith, I prefer to buy second hand and get better quality, but after a couple of cock ups have ended up back there. They are just so good at what they do. And when i know it's not 'precious' I don't need to worry so much if the kids leap on it or make like banksy.