My wee Isle of Skye renovation
Discussion
Many thanks for the kind comments and words of encouragement. What with travel restrictions, lack of some supplies/materials, not being able to deal with trades face-to-face and having to make decisions from samples which can’t be seen on site I do have moments when I wonder what I’m doing!
I was never brought up as a quitter though.
The tall unit houses an integrated fridge/freezer. It’s hinged on the right for two reasons.
1. So that the doors can be opened more than 90 degrees to take out fridge drawers etc for cleaning.
2. I imagined the door handle constantly dinging the wall if it was the other way round.
Admittedly it would look better if it was left hinged but there just wasn’t the space at the end of the run. I could have sacrificed the drawer unit for something narrower to make more space but then there would be no drawers and a wide piece of filler. You have picked up on the one bit of my “kitchen design” that I wasn’t entirely happy about!
I was never brought up as a quitter though.
elanfan said:
Catz as you’ve done so much research on the house it would be nice to copy it and leave a a box up in the loft for future generations to uncover. Oh and sign it somewhere.
That’s a great idea! xyz123 said:
That’s what my joiner asked too.
The tall unit houses an integrated fridge/freezer. It’s hinged on the right for two reasons.
1. So that the doors can be opened more than 90 degrees to take out fridge drawers etc for cleaning.
2. I imagined the door handle constantly dinging the wall if it was the other way round.
Admittedly it would look better if it was left hinged but there just wasn’t the space at the end of the run. I could have sacrificed the drawer unit for something narrower to make more space but then there would be no drawers and a wide piece of filler. You have picked up on the one bit of my “kitchen design” that I wasn’t entirely happy about!
On the last page the integrated cabinets have what looks like a 20/25mm gap to the wall which now has a filler strip fitted. I’d be shocked if that didn’t give you room to open the doors to 90 degrees. A tiny rubber white stopper on the wall would protect from damage. The doors and appliances are usually reversible, got to be worth a try to not have to put up with years of it opening the ‘wrong’ way!
elanfan said:
On the last page the integrated cabinets have what looks like a 20/25mm gap to the wall which now has a filler strip fitted. I’d be shocked if that didn’t give you room to open the doors to 90 degrees. A tiny rubber white stopper on the wall would protect from damage. The doors and appliances are usually reversible, got to be worth a try to not have to put up with years of it opening the ‘wrong’ way!
You need to open a fridge freezer door over 90 degrees to get out drawers etc. Have you never cleaned your fridge? 
DIY Kitchens recommended a gap of 100mm if opening the door the other way.
My fridge freezer doors are reversible but most appliances come right hinged as standard. So it’s opening the right way, even if it seems the wrong way.
I’ve got a door frame right next to mine, it just opens to 90 deg and I can get everything in or out (even the rotting veg covered in slime).
Give it a try you might be surprised. No need to reverse now just open the door to 90 degrees and try it. If it works on right hand hinge it should on the left too.
You know you want to. :lol:
Give it a try you might be surprised. No need to reverse now just open the door to 90 degrees and try it. If it works on right hand hinge it should on the left too.
You know you want to. :lol:
elanfan said:
I’ve got a door frame right next to mine, it just opens to 90 deg and I can get everything in or out (even the rotting veg covered in slime).
Give it a try you might be surprised. No need to reverse now just open the door to 90 degrees and try it. If it works on right hand hinge it should on the left too.
You know you want to. :lol:
I do want to! Unfortunately I’m stuck in a Level 4 area and not meant to travel anywhere. (Skye is Level 1) Give it a try you might be surprised. No need to reverse now just open the door to 90 degrees and try it. If it works on right hand hinge it should on the left too.
You know you want to. :lol:
Anyhoo the doors now have holes drilled for the handles so changing would mean new doors.
The woodburner should have turned up a fortnight ago but due to “supply” issues it’s not going to arrive till January, at the earliest. I ordered a Stovax Vogue, the fitter suggested a Morso squirrel then he discovered that wouldn’t turn up till February.
Anyway decided to go ahead with sorting out the fire opening so it’s ready once I do get a stove.
This was when I discovered the fire opening which had been hiding behind a huge electric fire with surround.
Unfortunately it had been filled with concrete for whatever reason.
We managed to drill out most of the debris which revealed not the prettiest of stone. I toyed with the idea of leaving the lintel exposed but decided it wasn’t that pretty either.
Some filling needed but almost ready for a stove, whenever that may be.
Anyway decided to go ahead with sorting out the fire opening so it’s ready once I do get a stove.
This was when I discovered the fire opening which had been hiding behind a huge electric fire with surround.
Unfortunately it had been filled with concrete for whatever reason.
We managed to drill out most of the debris which revealed not the prettiest of stone. I toyed with the idea of leaving the lintel exposed but decided it wasn’t that pretty either.
Some filling needed but almost ready for a stove, whenever that may be.
jet_noise said:
That's quite a small hole. Has your fitter OK'd it for your intended stove?
It is a bit limiting for stove choice but the fitter has OKed it for a number of small stoves.The opening is about 950 wide by 800 high but not very deep so I’m limited to stoves with a depth of around 300.
Catz said:
It is a bit limiting for stove choice but the fitter has OKed it for a number of small stoves.
The opening is about 950 wide by 800 high but not very deep so I’m limited to stoves with a depth of around 300.
Good, be a bit sThe opening is about 950 wide by 800 high but not very deep so I’m limited to stoves with a depth of around 300.
t after all that work if it wouldn't fit!If you don't mind the appearance of a sticky out stove the heat circulates better than from a tight hole.
The installers got about 30 bags of rubble out of mine. There was a shored up broken lintel discovered which had to be sorted.
Catz said:
The woodburner should have turned up a fortnight ago but due to “supply” issues it’s not going to arrive till January, at the earliest. I ordered a Stovax Vogue, the fitter suggested a Morso squirrel then he discovered that wouldn’t turn up till February.
Anyway decided to go ahead with sorting out the fire opening so it’s ready once I do get a stove.
This was when I discovered the fire opening which had been hiding behind a huge electric fire with surround.
Can/have you put extra sockets in?Anyway decided to go ahead with sorting out the fire opening so it’s ready once I do get a stove.
This was when I discovered the fire opening which had been hiding behind a huge electric fire with surround.
Keep up the good work
Missed out on a visit to Skye this year
Shaw Tarse said:
Can/have you put extra sockets in?
Keep up the good work
Missed out on a visit to Skye this year
I see you spotted those multi plug things. Keep up the good work
Missed out on a visit to Skye this year
Yes, the whole place has been rewired so there’s loads more sockets. Possibly too many!
Despite everything Skye was still jumping with tourists in July and August this year.
elanfan said:
On the last page the integrated cabinets have what looks like a 20/25mm gap to the wall which now has a filler strip fitted. I’d be shocked if that didn’t give you room to open the doors to 90 degrees. A tiny rubber white stopper on the wall would protect from damage. The doors and appliances are usually reversible, got to be worth a try to not have to put up with years of it opening the ‘wrong’ way!
You'd never get into the salad drawer imo..Some Gump said:
elanfan said:
On the last page the integrated cabinets have what looks like a 20/25mm gap to the wall which now has a filler strip fitted. I’d be shocked if that didn’t give you room to open the doors to 90 degrees. A tiny rubber white stopper on the wall would protect from damage. The doors and appliances are usually reversible, got to be worth a try to not have to put up with years of it opening the ‘wrong’ way!
You'd never get into the salad drawer imo..Catz said:
I see you spotted those multi plug things.
Yes, the whole place has been rewired so there’s loads more sockets. Possibly too many!
Despite everything Skye was still jumping with tourists in July and August this year.
Yes, the whole place has been rewired so there’s loads more sockets. Possibly too many!
Despite everything Skye was still jumping with tourists in July and August this year.
I don't think you can have too many sockets.
Should have been up there for Easter
Shaw Tarse said:
Catz said:
I see you spotted those multi plug things.
Yes, the whole place has been rewired so there’s loads more sockets. Possibly too many!
Despite everything Skye was still jumping with tourists in July and August this year.
Yes, the whole place has been rewired so there’s loads more sockets. Possibly too many!
Despite everything Skye was still jumping with tourists in July and August this year.
I don't think you can have too many sockets.
Should have been up there for Easter
Sadly my Mum passed away in December so the house has not been high on my priority list. I’m “temporarily” living in Mum’s house, which is just along the road, and seeing this wee house everyday did spur me to get some focus. If anything it’s helped as a distraction.
I eventually got a stove and it’s up and running. A tiny little Esse but it burns beautifully.
The radiators have been fitted and the boiler is in place. I just need some decent weather to pour a concrete plinth for the oil tank and there’ll be central heating for the first time.
Second fix electrics done. It’s so good to be able to switch on a light after a year of no electricity.
I eventually got a stove and it’s up and running. A tiny little Esse but it burns beautifully.
The radiators have been fitted and the boiler is in place. I just need some decent weather to pour a concrete plinth for the oil tank and there’ll be central heating for the first time.
Second fix electrics done. It’s so good to be able to switch on a light after a year of no electricity.
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