Extension thread 2022 part II...demolition, delays and decisions, decisions, decisions

[Sewfrickinamazeballs]

Hi! New thread!

I love that terrazzo, Gardens! And glad the flooding wasn't too much of a disaster.

I've spent a few days thinking about it, and I definitely am NOT in love with my worktops. I would never tell anyone IRL as it seems like the most ungrateful and overly-nitpicky thing ever, and I didn't even want to admit it to myself because of the enormous cost of them, but I really wish I'd chosen something different.

Hopefully the feeling wears off at some point over the next 20 years...

Show us the worktop! Bet they are gorgeous. Can you add some accessories to make them feel better? X

I must admit finishes are much more my thing than the building process. I have been unsure about the dining table since I ordered it, but now it’s here and set up in the new dining room I love it.

Do show the worktops @HouseyHouse21 - what type are they?

Love your set up and the gorgeous rooflight @Timwith2noses

So what's the plan next week? We've just had the text from DIY kitchen that our delivery is happening tomorrow or Tuesday!!!! Eek. Our rooflights are being fitted tomorrow, staircase on Tue, finish first fix electrics, fix issues with upstairs ufh and start plasterboarding. I need to order the lights and confirm d/s toilet fittings with the plumber.

Thanks @GardensandGrandDesigns

Your week ahead sounds busy! I’m away again now for a fortnight for work reasons, so I had a chat with the builders on Friday about upstairs sockets/layout/dwarf walls/storage and all that stuff. They should be carrying on with that and paving the back patio for us this week. Not much else for me to do except wait for the painter and decorator’s quote for ground floor and book that ASAP.

we know we have no one on site for the last week of August, as they’ve already said that the team need to be elsewhere the week of the bank holiday, and they’ve estimated 4-6 weeks now to completion. I’ve just started looking at tiles and bathroom stuff - I think I like marble effect with black taps/shower etc.

Builder asked last week why no bath in new upstairs bathroom, and I said I didn’t think it would be big enough, but he thinks it will be and would otherwise have a lot of wasted space so I’m now undecided about that. It will be used only by teenage child who showers rather than baths, but as it’s not an en suite so it is technically a family bathroom should we add a bath if we can?

We can’t imagine moving unless it’s to downsize in years to come so I’m very much of the ‘we will do what makes it work for us’ mindset, but obviously at some point the house will need to sell for someone’s benefit and I’m not sure if a bath, even a small bath in an upstairs main bathroom would be better. The house was previously (built in the 80s, with upstairs added in 90s) a bungalow so already has a large main bathroom on the ground floor that includes a bath and separate shower cubicle, as well as an upstairs bedroom with en suite shower room and another with en suite toilet/sink. So there is a bath and plenty of bathroom options in the house already. To bath or not to bath?!

No to the bath if it doesn't work for you guys now and you're not planning on moving anytime soon.

@Timwith2noses do what works for you. I don't think a downstairs bath is an issue.

We've already got a shower room upstairs (as we stole a bit of a bedroom to do it, so could have both) so went for a bath downstairs. For us a downstairs bath makes more sense anyway as we have a dog. Plus it'll be a good place for me to escape to when baby is a toddler & it's DHs turn to do bedtime

*couldn't have both

Sounds like a busy week ahead @GardensandGrandDesigns must be great to see the leaps forward.

@Timwith2noses I wouldn’t squeeze one in for the sake of it if there is one downstairs.

We are officially off the starting blocks! Builders are here starting to take apart the garage.

@Timwith2noses I'd also say no bath under the circumstances. It needs to work for you now, not some fictional buyer in 20-odd years (who might not need a bath either).

And your dining room is so beautiful I'd have sworn it was a render!

I'm now second guessing my paint colour choices (ammonite, with a couple of walls in railings - it looks much dark and greyer than I'd hoped) so I think I'm just feeling super wobbly about the whole thing. I'll just reassess once it's finished and styled, and we're actually using it.

@Sewfrickinamazeballs hope you're now enjoying your lovely, completed extension!? Do you happen to have a finished pic that you could share, as inspiration??

Hi! I'm still here, following all your progress. Surreal to be out the other side. Yes, we are still pinching ourselves that this is our house. I have added a few pics here but for those interested we had an Instagram account that has some before pics and lots more pics of the finished house. Still have some decorating to do but mostly there. It's a cliche, but it's so worth it despite the pain!

Reno in rosary (put underscores between the words as autocorrect won't let me)

Few more to keep you all motivated

No bath then! 🤣

@Sewfrickinamazeballs thats lovely, I’ve followed your account to have a good look later. Are you thrilled? I cannot wait to have my home back.

Good luck to those starting works today!

@HouseyHouse21 and I dont like my living floor, I was disappointed and thinking of some sort of rugs for most parts now.

We are almost done too, just trying to get coming back trips from builders for things go wrong. Loads of things need fixed, chips etc. the porch underfloor is only chipboard which is a massive regret as there will be rain and it would be rotten soon. Dont really know why I agreed to it at the time. Loads of regretted decision but at the same time I am glad that its done and we could move on.

@Timwith2noses , we also have a downstairs main bathroom and upstairs shower room, and it works
well for us (we also don’t intend to sell for eons). So don’t do it on the builders say-so, only if you want to.
your dining space looks amazing, can I ask what flooring you went for?
And same question to @Sewfrickinamazeballs . Your kitchen is gorgeous, we’ve chosen something similar and it’s good to see how it looks with the in-channel lighting. What brand of kitchen is it, I’m wondering if it’s the same as ours. And now I have a sense of déjâ-vu, I’ve possibly asked you this before 🫣.

Your kitchen is just amazing 👌👌👌

I am so pleased with it. A few minor things I would change (white hallway and stairs with no handrail = mucky walls- don't do it people!), but so pleased with how it works as a house. We have storage where we need it, we have places for everything (except clothes in our room but will get that sorted in a few months) and it just feels nice being in it. Also, it has improved our marriage believe it or not. I hadn't realised how much stress the old house put on us as a couple, constantly fighting to get everyday tasks done in a shockingly suboptimal house which was a little bit dangerous in places (electric shock inducing dishwasher). But now we can function so spend a lot less time on 'doing things' in the house and more time just 'being'. Bliss!

@SheriffCallie floor is Karndean grey lined oak herringbone (but we laid it planked as it was going to look weird around the corners of hallways)

@GardensandGrandDesigns why thank you! I love it.

This is my favourite room though, holds so much stuff!

Can I ask where this is from. Love the table and chairs and it's the sort I am after.

@Sewfrickinamazeballs wow, loving your colours and style choices. So pleased it was worth it all. Gives me hope 😊.

@SheriffCallie this is my floor
www.directwoodflooring.co.uk/hacienda-herringbone-glacier-oak-brushed-lacquered-engineered-wood-flooring.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0oyYBhDGARIsAMZEuMv0LJjPI9VsV6P7G5LX4x-ISvdKNT3PTw6NcD00sljNnz94oZc0z7oaAjVhEALw_wcB

I wanted for LVT for ages, then I realised the builders had quoted fitting a wooden floor in their overall price, and the LVT quote came to £3700 inc fitting, whereas the engineered wood floor cost me £1200 and the builders fitting was already priced in, so it was a no brainer in the end.

@Sewfrickinamazeballs Dining table is Fabb Furniture (who I had never heard of before, I think it’s a small chain), it’s stone effect but very functional as it’s heat and scratch resistant. I bought extra extending leaves so I can seat a million people at Christmas 🤣

www.fabbfurniture.com/products/brooklyn-concrete-effect-1-9m-dining-table-with-6-velvet-chairs?_pos=7&_sid=956d94b47&_ss=r

@Sewfrickinamazeballs it's looking amazing. Yes we are in a similar situation to you. House is v old, just not functioning, no one had done anything to it for years (no functioning heating, roof leaking etc.).

I am having to choose everything now upfront which I'm finding difficult! Our builders want to go as quickly as possible and prefer to order everything now - it's really hard to visualise all the spaces because they are so dark at the moment (house not opened up) and everything is covered in v stinky old dark carpet and woodchip on the walls.

still awaiting the quote back from howdens for the kitchen - I've chosen the white marble quartz worktops as we got that in our last house we refurbished and I loved it (also a north facing kitchen). Architect says I can choose the bathroom stuff and she will check if it's ok so that's a job for this weekend. Most of the house will be taken back to floorboards apart from the hall (tiles) and the kitchen (karndean rustic timber).

I'm concerned the hall will look a bit too monochrome as the tiles we have chosen are white/grey/black (victorian tiles) and at the moment, we haven't decided what colour to put on the walls but was thinking white and now may have a rethink after your comments about a white hallway and how dirty it gets!

@HouseyHouse21 what worktops did you choose?

@Sewfrickinamazeballs So amazing. And testament to proper planning (I scrolled back to your sketchup plans - you must have thought through every tiny detail). And I know exactly what you mean about the peace of living in functioning home. In our case, not having to step over DH's electric bike as we walk in the front door will stop so many arguments, as we'll have a nook for it in the utility room. And proper space to store shoes, rather than a chaotic pile at the bottom of the stairs! etc etc...

My problem with my worktops is that last time I chose white quartz with delicate light grey veining. Which I absolutely loved, but when combined with white cabinets I felt was in danger of being a bit wishy washy. So I thought this time I'd go for something relatively dramatic. But I realise now that I'd have preferred something much more minimal / understated, and what I have ended up with is not very 'me'. I also went for a waterfall edge so it feels like this obnoxious pattern is staring me right in the face every time I look into the room.

I'm sure I'll get used to it, just a shame to have spent all that money and not have something that I love. But lesson learned, I guess 🙁

oh no @HouseyHouse21 . I see what you mean and I can understand exactly why you've done that. I suspect though, it's something you will get used to? It might just be that it seems dramatic now because you're used to understated?