We started working through the below lists in the first few months of 2021. I'll add links to the relevant blog-post(s) as we work on each item.
House Projects
When we moved in, the interior of the house appeared to be in a reasonable state. New carpets had been laid throughout and walls had been freshly painted. However, it soon became clear that this was only superficial; there were many things that needed attention though thankfully not much was urgent.
Top priorities:
- Extension to provide a fit-for-purpose kitchen with dining room
- Planning - First steps (who needs to be involved)
- Planning - What does the space need to do?
- Planning - Creating the plans
- Building - Decommissioning the conservatory
- Building - Decommissioning the conservatory, part II
- Replace lead mains water pipe
- Convert loft into a bedroom (inc. replacing the roof)
Then there's all the decorating that needs doing. Unfortunately each bit of redecorating will also involve some degree of modernisation, or repairing previous work. There's never a simple job, is there?!
- Fix all the squeaky floorboards
- Fit thermal insulation where possible
- Convert original kitchen to a utility room
- Create a reading nook and associated bookcase
- Rebuild porch before it falls down by itself
- Convert under-stairs cupboard into a downstairs toilet
While we await the major building work to happen, we can do some other little decorating jobs:
- Bedroom 3 (the small room)
- Living Room
Garden Projects
The
garden is very important to us. We wanted to move to the countryside
but, alas, circumstances have prevented that. So we'll just have to
bring the countryside to us! Key goals are having an area for the kids
to play, an area to grow fruit / vegetables and an area for entertaining
people. With over 200m² of garden, this should be doable but if anyone can make a mess of it it's me...
- Get garden back under control until extension is built
- See what the garden looked like to start with
- See what a difference a hedge trimmer and a jet washer can make
- Some more hard grafting to reclaim the garden
- Even more garden reclamation
- Replace / improve retaining wall for a raised bit of land
- Build base for greenhouse
- Create vegetable patches that allow crop rotation
- Design and construct water storage and distribution systems
- Landscape the area in front of extension to create a courtyard type area