Home Improvement: Garden Renovation

The garden renovation is nearly complete. Thanks heaven for small mercies. The brick retaining wall is finished, the sandstone slabs are set into warm grey grout, new drains were buried below the patio so that we’ll no long have little puddly lakes when it rains, all the pointing is finished on the steps … and…

Home Improvements: Garden Renovation

30 May: Yes, I’m a bit behind the mark. I’ve been busy. Making coffee. Making tea. Making iced sun-tea. Making mint tea. Making ice cubes in my new fridge. Calming Molly who’s now afraid of the new refrigerator and the noise that the icemaker makes. Have you ever seen a dog barking “warning-warning-alert” at a…

Home Improvements: Where’s the Grass

June 6: Sunny and hot. Well hot for England. We hit 22C today. That’s about the point where we all pant and gasp and beg for water with crushed ice from my new fridge. Molly is still barking at it, too. She doesn’t like the noise of the icemaker. Oh dear. That’s Andy on his…

Home Improvements: Glass and Plugs

The glass splashback wall is installed —  finally, and all the pieces fit precisely. It’s brilliant, and a total breeze to keep clean. I also love the way the garden reflects against the glass and turns it different colours. And I don’t think that I mention one of the things, well a gadget actually, that…

Remodelling Phase 2: North Facing Herbs

It’s not ideal. Not smart either but what’s a girl to do when the musclemen are due on Tuesday. I doubt that they’ll give a hoe-hoe-hoe of a thought about my tender little herbs. It’s the only place I can find where they won’t drop soggy teabags or empty dregs out their mugs. Goodness know,…

Home Improvements: That Glass

Thursday, 09:30 – It’s the big day, and the glass splashback boys arrived on time. 10:15 – There might be a problem. The fancy laser plotting machine has made a few mistakes in the measurements. Three pieces need to be recut as they’re too short. I’m disappointed but, on the other hand, I’m relieved that…

Home Improvements: This, That and a Tap

Here’s an update on the renovation work. Things are moving along quickly now, nearly finished. Peter-the-Painter is still working and hopes to be finished on Thursday. The glass splashback for the kitchen is due to be fitted on Friday morning, and then we ring up the electrician who will fix the electrical plates to the…

Home Improvements: Worktop Fitted

Here are a few photos, and an update on the remodelling project. The granite worktop is now fitted, and it looks splendid with the cupboards. The colour is a medium-light grey with sparse bits of swirled light grey throughout, like breezy clouds floating through it. And it’s warm-ish to the touch, which I find interesting…