A.W.O.L

Hello......is anybody out there?!!!

I know...it's been a while and I will forgive you if you've lost interest and have taken up train spotting, but things are all go over at The Forever House...and yes, it seems like it's taken forever!!

The carpets have now arrived...

...and Ken 'the carpet' is working like a trooper!

I know I'm not the one who's had to live there for months, but it's so nice to see and feel something fresh underfoot.

Or underpaws!!! I think Larry approves!!

We've been on a tile hunt again, and the one on the right is going in the kitchen. The left is a possibility for the kitchen flooring and whilst I write this, dad should be knee deep in grout...well o.k, perhaps knee deep is a bit of an exaggeration!!!

Mum spotted these and thought they'd be great in the en-suite. I did too. They tie in so well with the wallpaper in their bedroom and seeing as they're at opposite ends of the room, it wouldn't be overkill! This was the 'fresh' bathroom option!

However, mum also spotted these too!

This is the 'opulent' bathroom option. Guess what....opulent won!

We figured the decor in the rest of the house was fairly light so decided to darken it down somewhat in the en-suite. The idea is to use a lovely rich cerise on the walls and to glitz it up a little with the metallic tile. If you look in the top right of the picture you'll see a sample of the material used to make the wardrobes. This has also been used to make a vanity which will be tiled on top alongside the countertop basin. I just love the combination of the wood effect and the metallic tile. What do you think?

Change of heart

Mum had a sample of this wallpaper delivered and loves it.

You may see it making an appearance in the master bedroom , that is unless she falls for another of their gorgeous papers in the meantime!

Image: via Skona Hem

Today is Victor day!!!

...because this is how we're feeling!

Yes, we're G.R.U.M.P.Y with a huge big capital G!!! 

To add to the list of 'things carried out by other people which have gone wrong,' the bedroom shutters now don't fit! Yes, you were meant to be looking at a lovely picture of the master bedroom in all it's new shutters glory and now I'm afraid all you get is a picture of Victor Meldrew - sorry! 

Harumpffff!

I'm sure this will catch on!!

If you can't decide between curtains, venetians, rollers or shutters, just opt for bubble wrap like mum! 

Ingenious!

Sunday sneak peek

Ok, so I've been lazy on the photo front this weekend. 

I did actually pay a visit to the house yesterday to see the finished bathroom...(when I say finished, I mean the sanitaryware is now plumbed in - wallpaper to be added!) and I did take pictures, but I decided I'd post all the pictures tomorrow as I've been shopping and cooking for my lovely friend Ange today! Instead, I thought I'd show you the cushions mum bought this morning for her bedroom. They're super nice (well we think so don't we mum?!)

The makings of a bathroom

Give yourself a big pat on the back dad!

I think he's done a darn good job, don't you?

The next stage is to seal it which will darken the slate down, but you get the idea!

Dad looking for his screwdriver (again!!)

Oh, and the newly fitted wardrobes...how did I forget?!

I'm not usually one for fitted wardrobes as such, but with a few omissions (ie. handles!) and 

a nice choice of materials, I think these have turned out great. Well done mum!

They just tuck nicely into the corner of the room so leave plenty of space for other furniture.

Oh, and this is mum and dad's pile of timber flooring...

...actually there's more!

I'm sure there will be an entire two weeks worth of posts devoted to this parquet once we start looking to scrape, lay, sand, brush and oil the flooring...phew, I'm tired just thinking about it! 

Tuesday morning sneak peek!

The wardrobes in the master bedroom.

Yes...what will definitely be a labour of love has arrived!!

...and finally, the main bathroom. More pictures to follow this evening!

A visual feast

Ok, here goes.

Kitchen snug before & levitating kettle!

...currently being plastered.

Snug & entryway before.

Spot the difference?!

Oven area in kitchen before.

As it stands + 2 handsome chaps!

2 handsome chaps in utility room.

Looking towards kitchen - before.

...and now + clerk of works!

Landing upstairs looking at main bathroom.

One newly plastered wall minus 1 door!

Looking into en-suite - before.

...and now.

Looking through to master bedroom (before plastering).

Far wall in bedroom, minus wardrobes.

Looking through to master bedroom now - nice new plaster!

So, there are the latest pictures of the house to help give you an idea of how it's all coming along. It's amazing how the colours in the rooms change each time I visit the house and with each layer that is stripped back. Thanks Sheila & Gordon for the wallpaper steamer - much appreciated!!! However....

wallpaper steamer + mum = removed wallpaper (with 2 inches of wall attached!)