Library Update…Volume Three

Between us, we have so much ‘stuff’ picked up from antiques shops, travelling or ‘donations’ from friends the library seemed the ideal place to use them. When I decorated my last house everything matched, too much, now I’m much more about a ‘curated’ look. All we’ve bought new for this room is the fabric for the blind…and even that was from Ebay! 

The first item in was our Victorian Pub Shelf which we were kindly given. It originally came from an old local pub, The Bell. I expect this shelf would have been in the pub when this photo was taken.   

  

The shelf still needs a good wax and polish, but looks great and adds some real character to the room, as well as providing storage for some of our (excessive?!) alcohol collection.

    
  

The leather sofa, chair & cushions have been reused from my last house. We’ve been able to get the globe and picture that we found on weekends away over the last year or so out of the attic and found homes for them. 

  
 

The pink chair has also come to live in the library, adding a much needed splash of colour.  

  

The funny little Indonesian table & the painting we bought in Oslo have also found their home in the library.

  

The shelves now display our books & ornaments…I think they will evolve as we add to our eclectic collection. 

    
  
Other oddments lurking around, including our giant candle holder, copper pot and some plaster mouldings we bought in a junk shop in Sri Lanka. 
  

There is still a bit of snagging to do, including the strip lights under the shelves, making the window blind and a repair to the coving, but we’ve come a long way from the smelly, damp room we used to have…

Before…

 

During…

  

After…

 

Most importantly, Dottie cat loves lounging in the library…winning. 

 

A Year In The Life…

A year (and possibly a fortnight, y’all know how it is) after we got the keys for Lansdowne I thought I’d show progress room by room compared with the estate agents photos. Some rooms are much better, some much, much worse…

LOUNGE…

Agents Photo…

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It Got Worse…

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And Now…

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We’ve stripped millions of layers of paper, chipped off plaster, had DPC fitted and replastered. Skirtings have all been removed, repaired or replaced. Ceiling has been sanded and filled (x 5). Room has been rewired and had central heating fitted. Fire surround has been stripped. Fireplace has been opened out and had liner fitted. We’ve done first coats on all walls.

Still to do…

Floorboards to be stripped. Fire to be fitted. Final decoration. Window repairs booked for Spring…followed by blinds and curtains. Lighting to be fitted.

LIBRARY…

Agents Photo…

IMG_4431.JPG And Now…

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Prob best we gloss over this one! In here, we’ve had Helifix supports on outer wall, DPC internally, taken out THREE fireplaces, stripped ceiling rose…and then filled the room full of crap! This room will be replastered once aforementioned crap is dispersed to the relevant rooms.

KITCHEN…

Agents Photo…

IMG_4430.JPGAnd Now…

IMG_4642.JPGWe’ve knocked down a few walls, exposed a brick wall, put DPC in some walls, windows in others, replastered and painted. We’ve had new windows, taken down, insulated and renewed the ceiling, rewired, fitted (arguably too much) lighting, fitted floor, heating, shelves, oh and fitted a kitchen!

Still to do…

Grouting and sealing of floor, replacing socket covers, paint snagging , door fitting (I have more Ebaying to confess to…) a MASSIVE clean up operation and then, ladies and gentlemen, we’ll have a room finished! Yes that’s right, finished! I’ll do a game show worthy reveal post in the next couple of weeks.

BREAKFAST ROOM…

Agents Photo…

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And Now…

IMG_4647.JPGThe breakfast room is no more… It’s now part of the kitchen diner, as is the funny little atrium that used to be at the top of the hall. The cupboard door is the same, but everything around it has changed. We’ll be fitting a wood burner where Dottie cat is sitting after Christmas.

GUEST BEDROOM…

Agents Photo…

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And Now…

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We’ve taken off plaster, retired, replastered, fitted heating and knocked out the fireplace.

Still to do…

Fit new fireplace, sand floor, repair the ceiling, decorate and disperse junk.

GARDEN…

Agents Photo…

IMG_4426-0.JPGAnd Now…

IMG_4465-0.JPGWe’ve nuked the weeds three times, each time they came back with avengance. Finally we laid black polythene down for 6 months, which we have on excellent authority, will kill the weeds, dead. We also had the huge holly tree taken down. The garden will be fully landscaped, hopefully, though rather optimistically for next Summer.