Christmas Crafting

Happy holidays!  After an absolutely lovely week in Newcastle with Mark's parents for Christmas, I've finally found the time to work on the mini wardrobe that I found on my walk home from work, way back in September.  Mark drilled holes in the back for us to use the cabinet to house the Xbox and new Apple TV in our living room.  I sanded the wood, primed and painted it, then applied contact paper in a chevron pattern.

I'm a sucker for stray dogs and furniture.

Lonely little cabinet abandoned on Girdlers Road

Sanded and primed

Applying the contact paper cut-outs to the doors

Finished!  

Floor-y, Part 2

Here are photos of the finished floors...

Floor-y, Floor-y Hallelujah!

Once again, Mark has worked his magic, this time on our hardwood floors.  We originally had linoleum in our kitchen and carpet in our hallway.  Mark pulled up the carpet to reveal what we think is 100 year-old pine.  Mark spent weeks and weeks sanding, filling, planing and wood dying these floors and they look amazing.  We chose Burmese teak as the dye; a rich chocolate colour that brings out the grain in the wood.

My job was to varnish them, which didn't go so well.  But at least they are now water-tight!  All we need is a bit of light sanding and a few more coats of varnish to make these floors look incredible, definitely a feature of the house.

 

 

The first coat of the wood dye goes on

Pillow Talk

It's amazing how pillows can instantly transform a room.  I initially ordered 2 beautiful pillow covers from a woman who sews her own on Etsy (ElemenOPillows) and when they arrived, I had to buy more.  Now if I only had more surfaces to put them on...

I just ordered this one..

These look great on our new sofa!

Wake Up and Smell the Bitumen!

It's been a while since my last post as things have gotten quite busy for me with work and friends / family in town.  Mark's parents were in town 2 weekends ago and were a tremendous help with the house (even though we wish they were relaxing instead!).

Mark and I have been slaving away on some reclaimed flooring that we decided to purchase for the new loft.  At £50 off per square meter for teak parquet, I jumped at the deal!  But as with everything in life, you get what you pay for...

It all arrived in a pile and the smell of bitumen (black tar on the back of the block) makes you want to cry.  Mark and I have spent almost two weeks scraping each wood block which are all covered in old paint, dried & hairy carpet adhesive and/or a gummy substance.

We've definitely made some headway with it.  Now we need to find someone to lay it for us (unless we decide to get EXTREMELY ambitious) and then it will be sanded to a completely different color.  I know it'll be great in the end.  That's what I keep telling myself every time we wake up to throbbing hands and the smell of bitumen.

Days Away

We've taken about a week off from the building which was necessary to recharge our batteries.  Dave  says he's about 2 more days from finishing.  This week he tiled the balcony (beautifully, I might add!!), installed more spots in the hallway and installed new fire alarms.  Mark painted the entrance curbs black on the outside of the house and painted the stone window sills.

The iPhone photos don't do the work justice but the outside of our house has never looked better (we just need to remove the painters tape)!

Balcony tiles (facing into the loft)

Now we just need a balustrade

Let there be light

Adopted!

While walking home from work on Friday, I came across an abandoned mini wardrobe that looks proper old (1930's/1940's?).  Inside, there are multiple side shelves and an adjustable rail that pulls out for easy access to your hanging clothing.  I absolutely love the art deco lines and its hard to see from the photo, but there is a block of carved "fish scales" on either side of the doors. I think with a little sanding, new door pulls and some paint, this little wardrobe could look even better than new.  Watch this space for updates!

Week in Review

This week, Mark spent more time on the windows and the bricks.  He did a lovely job although it hasn't been easy for him.  Dave has added more spots in our hallway, which look great and are very handy.  We haven't had proper lighting for almost 4 months now, I feel spoiled!

Mark put acid on our pathway to remove the cement our ex-brick guy left.  They look beautiful now!

Dave, rendering the balcony

Are We There Yet?

Nearly!  Most of the walls have been primed, the balcony has been rendered, the spot lights have been installed and the regulation fire wall is up between the lounge and the hallway:

Entrance to loft

Required fire wall (staircase to loft)

Rendered balcony wall

The spot lights have been attached in the loft

To the left is the loft bathroom, to the right is the loft entrance

Pane-Less

I walked up to our home yesterday after work and saw this...

Mark and Dave are working on restoring our windows to their full glory.  And if that means we have to be window-less for a few days, then that's what needs to happen.

Am I Crazy?!?!

I think I already know the answer to that question.  These 1950 cinema chairs are for sale at our local salvage yard, Retrouvius.  I've been looking for additional seating for our living room and feel these are the answer.  They're vintage, beautifully crafted and unique; my favorite qualities in furniture (and did I mention a steal at £150 for a row of three?).

Mark was looking for something not so stiff but can appreciate their beauty...  Thoughts??

Completely Gratuitous

Love...

Love...

Love.

Photo Update

Freshly plastered walls in our hallway

Plasterer Alan, doing what he does

Freshly sanded brick and stone (and Mama Allgood)

This was the splinter that was under Mark's fingernail

Roofer's welding kit and of course, tea

The top of our balcony, lead work

Plaster board, specifically for fire prevention (thanks Dave!)