Detached Victorian renovation, London.
Discussion
Burwood said:
p1stonhead said:
ashleyman said:
You've probably heard this before, but your homes are immaculate and your taste faultless.
Indeed. A career in interior design beckons if you ever get bored Harry. Trust me, deal with them every day and some of your installations put some of them to shame.
king hideous. Cost 200k lol. Some people aye.
Burwood said:
Those two kitchen pics look completely different. I'm a fan of stone too. BTW Harry, where did you do for kitchen cabinets etc? oh and the fancy kitchen sink tap. Very cool 
Hi - I used www.solidwoodkitchencabinets.co.ukEdited by Burwood on Tuesday 9th April 12:45
Nice stuff, and excellent customer service on the phone, but both times I used them there were a couple of issues with damaged doors etc turning up, which they rectified. More seriously, the first wooden worktop they supplied warped badly (oak). I switched to walnut, which is more stable. These delays were fine for me as I was not living in the house whilst renovating. They would have been seriously annoying had I needed a working kitchen by a set deadline.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 11th April 10:19
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
Harry, could you please share where you bought the copper light shades, or what brand they are?
Hi chum - do you mean the shades ones in the pic above, or the ones in the new house (green kitchen)?The former are from eBay, at about £30 each for solid copper. Bargain. They are mounted on some wall lamps from www.made.com that I bought in the sale, replacing the rubbish paper shades with the copper ones.
The latter are from Trinity Marine and are salvaged ships' lanterns, and I have used them in the kitchen and bathroom, with some of their wall mounted ones in passageways. www.trinitymarine.co.uk. Surprisingly reasonable for some very nice pieces.
In return, I need some car trimming advice. My beloved 1994 E320 cab needs reupholstering in mushroom (I think) leather. The driver's and front seats have clearly been cheaply done in PU leather at some point, and it has got wet, dried, and cracked. Any ideas on rough costs etc? The car also needs some engine work, and a bit of bodywork where some fool has backed into the front bumbetr, so if you know a good Merc specialist near you, I could consider getting it transported and sorted this spring...
Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 11th April 07:04
AlmostUseful said:
To be fair, Fermit is a car interior guy, so he’s the one to help.
True! Off topic, but here's a pic of the patient...I am currently trying to find a way to get dry storage for it. Our garage is too small - I may have to resort to an outdoor carcoon. I also need someone to take the awful ducktail spoiler off too...
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrHarry Flashman said:
Thanks for the comments chaps, very kind. I wish I could do design/build project management for a living, but it doesn't really pay...one to consider if Lady F's career overtakes mine, and I can step back a bit!
Hopefully She'll renounces US citizenship or you could be paying a lot of Money to the IRS!!Harry Flashman said:
True!
Off topic, but here's a pic of the patient...I am currently trying to find a way to get dry storage for it. Our garage is too small - I may have to resort to an outdoor carcoon. I also need someone to take the awful ducktail spoiler off too...
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Harry, we had a Carcoon for the Turbo R that is languishing in the garage. It is flipping huge so your car would fit easily. I can get it out over Easter weekend to make sure it is ok. If it is I can send pics and you can make us an offer?Off topic, but here's a pic of the patient...I am currently trying to find a way to get dry storage for it. Our garage is too small - I may have to resort to an outdoor carcoon. I also need someone to take the awful ducktail spoiler off too...
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrHarry Flashman said:
Fermit and Sexy Sarah said:
Harry, could you please share where you bought the copper light shades, or what brand they are?
Hi chum - do you mean the shades ones in the pic above, or the ones in the new house (green kitchen)?The former are from eBay, at about £30 each for solid copper. Bargain. They are mounted on some wall lamps from www.made.com that I bought in the sale, replacing the rubbish paper shades with the copper ones.
The latter are from Trinity Marine and are salvaged ships' lanterns, and I have used them in the kitchen and bathroom, with some of their wall mounted ones in passageways. www.trinitymarine.co.uk. Surprisingly reasonable for some very nice pieces.
In return, I need some car trimming advice. My beloved 1994 E320 cab needs reupholstering in mushroom (I think) leather. The driver's and front seats have clearly been cheaply done in PU leather at some point, and it has got wet, dried, and cracked. Any ideas on rough costs etc? The car also needs some engine work, and a bit of bodywork where some fool has backed into the front bumbetr, so if you know a good Merc specialist near you, I could consider getting it transported and sorted this spring...
Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 11th April 07:04
It's not one I can assist with I'm afraid. My company refinishes leather/ repairs damaged leather, rather than reupholstering it. If you can't find a trusty trimmer your way one company I back off trimming to is Auto Trim in Leicester, on 0116 2169920. They would do a great job for you.
Do email a few pictures though (website in profile) just so I know we're singing from the same hymn sheet, and that it's not something I can assist with.
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Thursday 11th April 20:17
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Thursday 11th April 22:24
Edited by Fermit and Sexy Sarah on Wednesday 24th April 20:28
Well, what does one say , an amazing thread. Just finished reading through from page 1 on and off over the the past 10 days or so. I did a few refurbs myself back in the day,mostly 20's/30's propeties, one Victorian, but nothing even remotely on this scale .I dread to think how many hours of brainstorming have gone into this project. I was going to opine that some rooms appeared a bit dark, then came the letting agent photo's , so no, not dark at all. As others have said HF, if the day job goes tits up , you have another calling to effortlessly slide into.
One thing has really piqued my curiosity , your forebears shotgun(s). Do you have details on who the gunmakers are/were? If the barrels are fluid steel, as against damascus , then its very likely they were an expensive buy back in 1891, be they box or sidelock. My own , pride of ownership gun (as against my more utilitarian Berreta's) is a "London Best" sidelock by F T Baker of Piccadily , made around 1905. The quality is remarkable , balance superb, it's like waving a wand , and the wood is utterly fantastic, clearly of the highest grade. The makers were taken over in 1914 , by, I beleive Westley Richards , so its a name little known today , except in some circles where it's known that a certain E J Churchill cut his gun smithing teeth at the company.Like your functioning gun, its been reproofed for 2 and threequarter chambers, which is a big help on the cartridge front, although in a gesture to its age I stick mainly to old time game load.. I've compared it to best guns offered by some of the more famous makers and the quality is comparable, I'm of the feeling that had this gun a name more famous on its locks , then I'd be paying what they command in the market, which is 3 or 4 times what I paid for this. Always good to achieve minor victories in life.
I was interested in seeing Trinity Marine mentioned in the thread, I have a specialist maritime collecting hobby and have known of them for some years.
I'm mainly an auction buyer though, and those with eclectic tatses may find these 2 links interesting
https://www.charlesmillerltd.com/ Specialise in things nautical.
https://www.summersplaceauctions.com/ The stuff that turns up here boggles the mind. Wooly Mammoth skeleton? No problem sir.
Anyhow, enough of my rabbiting, keep up the good work HF, it really is, very good.
One thing has really piqued my curiosity , your forebears shotgun(s). Do you have details on who the gunmakers are/were? If the barrels are fluid steel, as against damascus , then its very likely they were an expensive buy back in 1891, be they box or sidelock. My own , pride of ownership gun (as against my more utilitarian Berreta's) is a "London Best" sidelock by F T Baker of Piccadily , made around 1905. The quality is remarkable , balance superb, it's like waving a wand , and the wood is utterly fantastic, clearly of the highest grade. The makers were taken over in 1914 , by, I beleive Westley Richards , so its a name little known today , except in some circles where it's known that a certain E J Churchill cut his gun smithing teeth at the company.Like your functioning gun, its been reproofed for 2 and threequarter chambers, which is a big help on the cartridge front, although in a gesture to its age I stick mainly to old time game load.. I've compared it to best guns offered by some of the more famous makers and the quality is comparable, I'm of the feeling that had this gun a name more famous on its locks , then I'd be paying what they command in the market, which is 3 or 4 times what I paid for this. Always good to achieve minor victories in life.
I was interested in seeing Trinity Marine mentioned in the thread, I have a specialist maritime collecting hobby and have known of them for some years.
I'm mainly an auction buyer though, and those with eclectic tatses may find these 2 links interesting
https://www.charlesmillerltd.com/ Specialise in things nautical.
https://www.summersplaceauctions.com/ The stuff that turns up here boggles the mind. Wooly Mammoth skeleton? No problem sir.
Anyhow, enough of my rabbiting, keep up the good work HF, it really is, very good.
Ace T - thank you! We are still in France for Easter, but I would definitely be interested in buying that Carcoon from you.
Hosenbugler - the guns are Greeners, so not worth a lot. The barrels may not be original, as they were my great grandfather's guns, and my grandfather may have had them re-barrelled. I will investigate.
And Fermit - thanks, as ever!
Hosenbugler - the guns are Greeners, so not worth a lot. The barrels may not be original, as they were my great grandfather's guns, and my grandfather may have had them re-barrelled. I will investigate.
And Fermit - thanks, as ever!
Harry - not sure if this has come up in the 80 odd pages, but did we ever learn a rough number you spent on the refurb? I had a figure in mind but looks like you went all out on the finishes so wouldnt be surprised if you were over it.
Understand if you are keeping this private though of course.
Understand if you are keeping this private though of course.
Burwood said:
I find high end taps bathroom and kitchens stuff very expensive but good savings if you know where to shop. Any tips, Harry? I know of a German site.
I completely agree. I used Grohe toilet frames and cisterns as you do not mess around with the hidden stuff that is hard to change. Do NOT go cheap on wall hanging loos. There is a reason that everyone on the continent uses Grohe or Geberit. They are bombproof. Easily found cheap on eBay from trusted sellers importing from Germany. I used a German store, but they really messed up the shipping and they were delayed by weeks, and missing some parts. I prefer someone who has stock on the ground in the UK and has a rating/reputation to worry about, even if they are marginally more expensive to buy this way.Bath mixers are electronic, Mira Mode, and I completely recommend these. I really should have done the showers this way too. No more expensive than pricey (Crosswater, Hansgrohe) mixers/taps, but electrical work obviously needed. Not a problem in a full bathroom renovation. Awesome to use - we have preset bath temps and volumes for me, wife, baby and me/wife, switched on by phone.
The basin taps and shower mixers are Hudson Reed, which is a mid-priced brand, which I bought cheap on sale from www.wayfair.co.uk. They have performed just fine, and definitely look the part. Easy to replace if there are problems, but spares availability is good and customer support (one tap came with the wrong handles) was good.
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