Detached Victorian renovation, London.
Discussion
Just got the quote for painting this house top to bottom, and had to sit down. It needs everything doing, from skirting to ornate coving.
I want to find the cash though, as a professional decorator, doing the correct preparation, makes all the difference. Painting is something we can all do ourselves but frankly, most of us do not have the patience or time required to do the prep that turns an OK job into a great job. We get bored and just start rolling the paint on. All the filling, sanding, rubbing down is what you pay for.
I know this as I painted my first place myself plenty of times. Eventually got a professional in, and loved it. Made me enjoy the place so much more - and after all, you spend a lot of time in your home.
But prepping and decorating this house top to bottom will be the price of a decent E39 M5.
It seems…a lot.
I want to find the cash though, as a professional decorator, doing the correct preparation, makes all the difference. Painting is something we can all do ourselves but frankly, most of us do not have the patience or time required to do the prep that turns an OK job into a great job. We get bored and just start rolling the paint on. All the filling, sanding, rubbing down is what you pay for.
I know this as I painted my first place myself plenty of times. Eventually got a professional in, and loved it. Made me enjoy the place so much more - and after all, you spend a lot of time in your home.
But prepping and decorating this house top to bottom will be the price of a decent E39 M5.
It seems…a lot.
Oh well. Have a picture of some mosaic tiles going into a couple of shower enclosures. It's straighter than it looks in the photos!
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrUntitled by baconrashers, on FlickrThe space i that shower is deceptive - that floor is 1.8 x 1.8m, and ceiling is 2.5m. Photo doesn't really show that. It's also the top floor shower, so frankly won't get much use until teenage children are shoved up there, so who cares if they're uncomfortable! 
Encaustic tiles (inherited with the house) are beginning to go in. Quite wacky - I love them, but they are definitely bold (deceased owner was an artist and had these custom made). Lady F and I have a love for weird ceramic - but not everyone does. Half of the folk that saw our current house (including the buyers) loved them. Others really didn't like them, and far preferred a sleeker, more modern look. A high risk choice if aiming for resale - which must be why so many developer refurbished homes are so carefully neutral, using pale metro tiles or plain porcelain. If I were doing this to move on, something much more conservative would go in.
Small en-suite guest room shower:
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Some of the floral tiles for the family bathroom shower enclosure
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Mira bath filler thingy - from PH recommendations! Expensive piece of kit, so put somewhere accessible in case it breaks...
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Encaustic tiles (inherited with the house) are beginning to go in. Quite wacky - I love them, but they are definitely bold (deceased owner was an artist and had these custom made). Lady F and I have a love for weird ceramic - but not everyone does. Half of the folk that saw our current house (including the buyers) loved them. Others really didn't like them, and far preferred a sleeker, more modern look. A high risk choice if aiming for resale - which must be why so many developer refurbished homes are so carefully neutral, using pale metro tiles or plain porcelain. If I were doing this to move on, something much more conservative would go in.
Small en-suite guest room shower:
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrSome of the floral tiles for the family bathroom shower enclosure
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrMira bath filler thingy - from PH recommendations! Expensive piece of kit, so put somewhere accessible in case it breaks...
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrEdited by Harry Flashman on Monday 18th September 21:02
uncovered the lovely front bay frames - visible for the first time after removing junk. Some trim will go in those wall spaces underneath them for a fully panelled look.
Again, the picture doesn't really convey the proportions - those ceilings are 3 meters high!
Untitled by baconrashers, on Flickr
Again, the picture doesn't really convey the proportions - those ceilings are 3 meters high!
Untitled by baconrashers, on FlickrI think the arch is original - next door have one too. The upstairs room with a bay also has an arch.
I don't want to think about the heating bills. The place is getting a full Honeywell Evohome setup and draughtproofing for doors so that we only heat rooms that we are actually using...
I don't want to think about the heating bills. The place is getting a full Honeywell Evohome setup and draughtproofing for doors so that we only heat rooms that we are actually using...
Thanks dbdb. I think the key with this one is decorating it to be soft and inviting, rather than hard-edged and contemporary. It's a grand old building and could very easily be rendered quite stuffy and formal. The exposed brick may not work - especially if we want nice fireplace surrounds - we are going to wait and see.
I'm looking forward to playing with color. I'm particularly excited about the kitchen - the half with the cooking bit in it is being floor tiled with a grey flagstone, and the kitchen itself is painted a very dark green, and will be trimmed with traditional brass cup handles and knobs, for a really country feel. The dining area will retain the wood floors, oiled, to give it warmth and to set off the exposed brick chimney breast and bottle green tiles we found in the hearth, with an old Afghan rug I've had for years to go in there and make things interesting
rest of the rooms will be heritage sort of colors rather than edgy contemporary ones. The current trend for heritage pastels will really suit this house I think. I quite like the idea of different rooms having different feels, so you can go into different bits of the place for a different atmosphere. Dark snug, airy living room, grand-ish kitchen and warm, slightly more rustic informal dining area etc.
The bedroom has been massively feminised with warm plum and peach tones. I need a man cave. Front guest room is to be an olive green, which I may nick as my own space and make guests sleep somewhere else. Kids rooms (we hope!) will remain in white for later decisions...
I'm looking forward to playing with color. I'm particularly excited about the kitchen - the half with the cooking bit in it is being floor tiled with a grey flagstone, and the kitchen itself is painted a very dark green, and will be trimmed with traditional brass cup handles and knobs, for a really country feel. The dining area will retain the wood floors, oiled, to give it warmth and to set off the exposed brick chimney breast and bottle green tiles we found in the hearth, with an old Afghan rug I've had for years to go in there and make things interesting
rest of the rooms will be heritage sort of colors rather than edgy contemporary ones. The current trend for heritage pastels will really suit this house I think. I quite like the idea of different rooms having different feels, so you can go into different bits of the place for a different atmosphere. Dark snug, airy living room, grand-ish kitchen and warm, slightly more rustic informal dining area etc.
The bedroom has been massively feminised with warm plum and peach tones. I need a man cave. Front guest room is to be an olive green, which I may nick as my own space and make guests sleep somewhere else. Kids rooms (we hope!) will remain in white for later decisions...
Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 1st February 13:09
This wallpaper is going in entrance hall and downstairs cloakroom. It is lovely stuff - we bought it for the old house and never put it up. Looks hand-drawn even right up close.
https://www.designerwallpapers.co.uk/nina-campbell...
We are also using a sheet of this Sugar Skull stuff in an upstairs cloakroom. I wasn't keen on the latter as I don't think it suits the house, but Lady F loves it and insisted. So I hid it away in the smallest room I could find...
http://www.anatomyboutique.com/product/new-mexican...
She is paying for half the house - I can't have it all my own way! So far some exposed brick, a double sunken whirlpool and a small wall of this stuff are the demands I have acceded to (although I was keen to try the brickwork too, so can't put that on her). It could have been a lot worse...
https://www.designerwallpapers.co.uk/nina-campbell...
We are also using a sheet of this Sugar Skull stuff in an upstairs cloakroom. I wasn't keen on the latter as I don't think it suits the house, but Lady F loves it and insisted. So I hid it away in the smallest room I could find...
http://www.anatomyboutique.com/product/new-mexican...
She is paying for half the house - I can't have it all my own way! So far some exposed brick, a double sunken whirlpool and a small wall of this stuff are the demands I have acceded to (although I was keen to try the brickwork too, so can't put that on her). It could have been a lot worse...
Finally found my camera so can get off narrow angle iPhone photos.
Floors being sanded - coming up lovely and a bit distressed (black patches around nails etc) - exactly what I wanted in this house.
DSC_0931 by baconrashers, on Flickr
View from kitchen through to front room. Archway will have french doors in it, so not open plan - just opened.
DSC_0940 by baconrashers, on Flickr
Dressing room, showing new loo and view to master bedroom
DSC_0919 by baconrashers, on Flickr
Master bedroom, showing electrical work being done. Quiet and overlooks garden, and new lift shaft bathroom will be off this. Slightly weird setup as you walk through dressing room, which is bigger, to bedroom to bathroom. Dressing room should have been where thesis, but Lady F preferred the garden view for bedroom. We disagreed - first world problems, I think.
DSC_0920 by baconrashers, on Flickr
Floors being sanded - coming up lovely and a bit distressed (black patches around nails etc) - exactly what I wanted in this house.
DSC_0931 by baconrashers, on FlickrView from kitchen through to front room. Archway will have french doors in it, so not open plan - just opened.
DSC_0940 by baconrashers, on FlickrDressing room, showing new loo and view to master bedroom
DSC_0919 by baconrashers, on FlickrMaster bedroom, showing electrical work being done. Quiet and overlooks garden, and new lift shaft bathroom will be off this. Slightly weird setup as you walk through dressing room, which is bigger, to bedroom to bathroom. Dressing room should have been where thesis, but Lady F preferred the garden view for bedroom. We disagreed - first world problems, I think.
DSC_0920 by baconrashers, on FlickrEdited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 20th September 19:54
Finally, some pretty stuff happening.
Shower enclosures:
DSC_0917 by baconrashers, on Flickr
DSC_0927 by baconrashers, on Flickr
First coat of paint in main guest bedroom
DSC_0924 by baconrashers, on Flickr
DSC_0926 by baconrashers, on Flickr
Shower enclosures:
DSC_0917 by baconrashers, on FlickrDSC_0927 by baconrashers, on FlickrFirst coat of paint in main guest bedroom
DSC_0924 by baconrashers, on FlickrDSC_0926 by baconrashers, on FlickrCoolHands said:
Lol. It's like an in & out driveway - it's got two doors!
one is an en-suite loo and shower room. The one with the blue and white tiles. Didn't want it too Hotel-suite matched, so went for clashing colours. House is meant to look a bit eclectic rather than too styled.I grew up with lots of friends whose parents had these lovely old Victorian houses that were a bit haphazardly/eccentrically decorated, but felt really homely yet grand. I'd like something similar but with modern functionality.
A lot of houses in London are beautifully styled in shades of grey, but feel a bit too slick. As we don't intend to sell this unless we are forced to, we wanted to have something a bit different inside.
Thanks for the kind comments, everyone.
Don't mind questions at all. On trades, I decided not to try and co-ordinate different ones - it never works. People who don't know each other hate working with each other, in my experience, and fail to turn up at agreed times, holding the whole thing up. This time, I found a proper, VAT registered builder who could do everything. It helps that it is a reasonably big job, with the carrot of more to do outside next year. In London, many won't get out of bed to do small jobs - too many big renovation opportunities around.
I auditioned loads from Mybuilder and Checkatrade. as soon as our offer was accepted, and picked the one who was:
- most responsive on phone and e-mail. Many took days to come back. These guys took a couple of hours.
- who had brilliant references. I met previous customers in person to ask for reviews, not trusting e-mail. People will rarely lie to your face - those sites can be gamed (I have had workmen who did a shoddy job offer me discounts for a great review: I am sure many customers take that offer.
- Who embraced technology. Any trade who wants to call you all day long whilst you are at work, rather than WhatsApp or send e-mails is more hassle than they are worth. You cannot run a project that way, with nothing in writing, and constant phone calls
- who had done previous good work, but who saw the project as a way to prove themselves. These guys saw this house as an opportunity to showcase their work and bid for more jobs in London.
- who also do commercial work. People who are used to contracts, deadlines, logistics and penalties if they mess up.
Note that price (whilst not out of consideration) was not the main driver. These guys were not the cheapest quote (they weren't the priciest either). More expensive than the local company who did my last house, who I will never hire again (totally disorganized both financially and logistically).
And whilst I hate to say it, the most responsive, dynamic and interested were the Poles. As I always have been, I found our local talent to be disinterested, obstructive and negative - even at quote stage. This is what happens when young folk don't take up skilled trades, leaving older, traditional and complacent builders to represent Britain in this arena. The two guys that own and run this company are in their thirties, and we get on very well.
On decor/design, well, it's one of my hobbies really, and I am lucky that Lady F and I are quite aligned on stuff; we both prefer eclectic to super-sleek. I take the lead on things, presenting her with a few options from many I have been over. We look at it all, and pick the one that suits us both the best. Usually a compromise. www.houzz.co.uk is a godsend here - you can pick out stuff you both like and add these photos to idea books, find something you both like, and design from there.
She leaves fixtures, fittings and tech totally to me - interested really only in the style. Makes things a lot easier.
Don't mind questions at all. On trades, I decided not to try and co-ordinate different ones - it never works. People who don't know each other hate working with each other, in my experience, and fail to turn up at agreed times, holding the whole thing up. This time, I found a proper, VAT registered builder who could do everything. It helps that it is a reasonably big job, with the carrot of more to do outside next year. In London, many won't get out of bed to do small jobs - too many big renovation opportunities around.
I auditioned loads from Mybuilder and Checkatrade. as soon as our offer was accepted, and picked the one who was:
- most responsive on phone and e-mail. Many took days to come back. These guys took a couple of hours.
- who had brilliant references. I met previous customers in person to ask for reviews, not trusting e-mail. People will rarely lie to your face - those sites can be gamed (I have had workmen who did a shoddy job offer me discounts for a great review: I am sure many customers take that offer.
- Who embraced technology. Any trade who wants to call you all day long whilst you are at work, rather than WhatsApp or send e-mails is more hassle than they are worth. You cannot run a project that way, with nothing in writing, and constant phone calls
- who had done previous good work, but who saw the project as a way to prove themselves. These guys saw this house as an opportunity to showcase their work and bid for more jobs in London.
- who also do commercial work. People who are used to contracts, deadlines, logistics and penalties if they mess up.
Note that price (whilst not out of consideration) was not the main driver. These guys were not the cheapest quote (they weren't the priciest either). More expensive than the local company who did my last house, who I will never hire again (totally disorganized both financially and logistically).
And whilst I hate to say it, the most responsive, dynamic and interested were the Poles. As I always have been, I found our local talent to be disinterested, obstructive and negative - even at quote stage. This is what happens when young folk don't take up skilled trades, leaving older, traditional and complacent builders to represent Britain in this arena. The two guys that own and run this company are in their thirties, and we get on very well.
On decor/design, well, it's one of my hobbies really, and I am lucky that Lady F and I are quite aligned on stuff; we both prefer eclectic to super-sleek. I take the lead on things, presenting her with a few options from many I have been over. We look at it all, and pick the one that suits us both the best. Usually a compromise. www.houzz.co.uk is a godsend here - you can pick out stuff you both like and add these photos to idea books, find something you both like, and design from there.
She leaves fixtures, fittings and tech totally to me - interested really only in the style. Makes things a lot easier.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 20th September 23:01
Underside of new floor in lift shaft - big steels to take weight of that sunken bath.Building control folk turned up today and signed off on all the insulation and structural steel work; just the new glazing to sign off on once it is in now.
I really hope the builders can keep this momentum. This is all happening FAST!
DSC_0915 by baconrashers, on Flickr
I really hope the builders can keep this momentum. This is all happening FAST!
DSC_0915 by baconrashers, on FlickrEdited by Harry Flashman on Wednesday 20th September 23:19
Thanks - I know that site too! Although I have. Even threatened with divorce if I take us into another project, I would one day love to scratch build a modern house in a spectacular coastal/waterside location, to Passivhaus and energy neutral standards...
The Mornington Terrace house they have listed is spectacular. Exactly the kind of old and new that I love.
The Mornington Terrace house they have listed is spectacular. Exactly the kind of old and new that I love.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 21st September 06:50
Rads are just Stelrads - not very attractive, came with the house. The ones I like are by Revive Radiators, available from Mr Central Heating. These are what are going in downstairs.
Anyway the house was broken into last night, and all the builder’s tools stolen. It looks as if one of them left the garden doors open, as no forced entry.
This will be the first real test of our relationship, I feel. None of them are going to be willing to admit that they did this, as it means they won’t be insured.
Let’s see what happens once they have spent the day dealing with things.
This house is getting boarded up and locked down this weekend, frankly.
Anyway the house was broken into last night, and all the builder’s tools stolen. It looks as if one of them left the garden doors open, as no forced entry.
This will be the first real test of our relationship, I feel. None of them are going to be willing to admit that they did this, as it means they won’t be insured.
Let’s see what happens once they have spent the day dealing with things.
This house is getting boarded up and locked down this weekend, frankly.
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