Progress

The dry wall & insulation have started to go up, walls are being constructed for storage space and the plumbing is being configured for the bathroom.  It's starting to take shape!

A view of our soon-to-be closet space

Mudlarking on the Thames

After reading a NY Times article on treasure hunting the shores of the Thames, I've pulled out my Wellies, bookmarked the tide tables and am searching my calendar for when I can go!  Etsy also had a similar article recently and it looks like this trend is catching on. The thought of uncovering broken pottery and mementos from centuries ago (really anything, for that matter) makes me more excited than when we got our stairs to the loft installed.  And that's hard to top!

NY Times - The Wading Game
Etsy.com - Mudlarking

Done and Done

I've finally finished the trim at the top of the house.  I know now that there were faster ways to finish the work but its done and I'm onto my next DIY project.

Before...

During the sanding and chipping process...

Done

Happy Friday!

Our new Velux windows have arrived!  Our builder Dave was busy today installing one of them and then found a broken tile in our roof which he spent some time fixing.  I'd rather a small delay to the loft than a leaky roof later!

Before...

After!  (Matt, one of our builders)

Dave the Builder replacing a broken roof slate 

I spent the day sanding and chipping paint from the apex trim and applied the first coat of primer.  And I learned a new skill in order to get to the hard-to-reach places...  Balancing my weight on a piece of plywood at the top of the scaffolding with an electric sander in my hand.  I am sure this will come in handy someday, in a "Stupid Human Tricks That Could Likely End in Death" competition.

Like my shades?  

It's Raining, It's Pouring!

I get that I live in London but this constant rain in June is getting ridiculous.  I want last summer's weather back.

We now officially have the means for heat and running water up to the loft.  Mark's also been stripping the hallway of the wallpaper that has accumulated over 100 years and has been slowly peeling away.

I've been busy showing my dear friends Reid and Ian from Seattle, all the sites of London over the past 2 days.  I'm simply exhausted.  : )  As my punishment for slacking, I get to clean the thick dust, that turns quickly to greasy mud, that has formed over our appliances, dishes and work tops.

Our kitchen boiler with the new loft plumbing installed

One hundred years of wallpaper and paint, gone

Let There Be Light

Right now, nothing makes me more happy than this couple's kitchen, featured yesterday on Design*Sponge.  Mark and I would like to achieve this same airy effect in our loft or hallway (somehow)...

Photo courtesy of Design*Sponge

The Great Oudoors

I'm taking advantage of our scaffolding and am repairing the white trim at the top of our house.  I never noticed how badly it needed a paint job until our builder pointed it out.  The rest of the week will be dedicated to more chipping and sanding, then I'll apply the gloss paint.  It's a longer process than I thought but it's been lovely to be outside and have our neighbors scream at me from below, just to say "hi" (I usually have my iPod on).  I also think everyone should experience paint chips being flicked into their eyes...

Dyna was concerned for my safety

Hitting the Ceiling

While we're doing the loft conversion and the house looks like a bomb site, we've decided to repair other issues with the house.  Mark took advantage of this time to take down the entire ceiling in our hallway today, due to rotting wood around the existing skylight caused by rain over many years.  He also took out old large slate tiles to alleviate some weight from the roof.  We will be gaining extra height in the hallway now, once Mark replaces the ceiling.  It's win-win all around (and I get to be married to a coal miner for a few hours!).

Job well done, honey, let me make you some tea!

Look at his grey hand!

Something Old, Something New

I LOVE anything vintage because it has a story.  I came across a knackered, 1950's Revelation suitcase for £15 when antique hunting with a friend in Deal, Kent.  I thought with a little leather polish, I'd whip this baby back to life and use it for some bedroom storage.  However, no amount of leather cleaner in the world could revive this badly damaged case.  After being inspired by a few sites like Design Sponge, I decided to paint it and I think it came out pretty well!  Before and after shots below.

*The day I was finishing the now yellow and grey suitcase project, I found a beautiful black trunk abandoned on our street, which is also pictured below.  Result!

Before

After! (and with a new free trunk from the neighbor's garbage)

My inspiration. Love this look!

Beam Me Up

If you notice in the previous post (photo with the staircase), you'll see a red RSJ beam in the background running along one side of the ceiling.  We're not fans of losing the extra height there by covering it up with plaster board or dry wall.  I found this interesting website for RSJ covers, custom made out of resin to look like an old wood beam.  I was totally down until I requested a quote.  But you gotta hand it to the guy, pretty incredible work.

Carving knots and splits out of the resin cast

Staining it

Adds rusty nails and other features for authenticity

You've got an old beam in your kitchen

Photos by:  http://www.replicabeams.co.uk

STAIRS!

The stairs are in, the stairs are in!  We haven't been this excited since we taught Dyna how to speak Spanish...

The Art of Patience

My husband keeps telling me we need to focus on one project at a time and our loft conversion just started.  But I can't help longing for the day when we have a beautiful, functional kitchen (complete with a garbage disposal and a fridge taller than my waist).  I love the look of stainless steel counter tops, like these.

Lofty Ambitions

Here are a few photos of the work being done to the space.  The scariest part is over (lifting the massive RSJs / I-beams through a third story window by a crane operated by a 75 year-old Irish pub landlord who kept answering his phone during this dangerous process).  We've got another couple of weeks before we start the dormer which involves cutting into the roof and lifting it, to give us more head space.  As much as I love living with rubble in every room, I'm looking forward to the day that I'm not showering with dirt permanently in the bathtub.  We've got a long way to go until then...

Mark helping the builders.  He's got mad DIY skills...

Dyna's been project managing.

This day aged us (and our builders)

GET OFF YOUR PHONE

Mark guiding one of the RSJs up to the builders

Loft Loft Loft

My husband and I have recently embarked on a loft conversion and will be adding a master bedroom, bathroom and balcony in our loft space.  I've been scouring the internet for loft inspiration and have come across these gorgeous ones.  Someday (*le sigh*)...