Plumbing completed: Kitchen, Utility Rooms & Bathrooms

An essential step forward! When we move into our home, we'll be able to use the bath, showers, w.c. and Quooker! Another significant moment was walking into a warm house when we visited it last weekend. The house is beginning to take shape and almost feels like a home. 

We have the upstairs window blinds ready to go up as soon as the decorating is finished (it's starting next week) and the downstairs blinds should be delivered within the next two weeks.

The sliding doors to hide the utilities are now installed and we are looking to purchase fittings for the built-in wardrobes in the bedrooms. Also, we are now able to put in our order for the tambour doors for the kitchen.

We are currently trying to arrange installation of the log burner, which we purchased such a long time ago. Unfortunately, there is an issue with the granite hearth where one side is 1cm higher than the other side, then it needs some finishing-off between the hearth and the floor. This will either be granite strips, floor wood cuts or a smooth coating of filler, painted black, under the black granite hearth.

Here are some photographs from our recent visit, starting with the sliding wall to hide the utilities:

The glass is in the stairs now: 

Two showers:

Note that the skirting boards have been added now. More images to follow in future posts, in a few weeks. Hopefully, the hard landscaping will be starting soon, as the materials are all stacked in the garden. It is essential to have the disabled access in place (a requirement by the local planning authority) before the house can be signed off - and the driveway must be porous. Signing-off is necessary as soon as possible so that we can have an official address because the post office and telecoms services won't act until it's done. However, our house is now visible using Google maps!

Thanks for reading. Please feel free to leave your relevant comments.

Quartz Worktops - Kitchen & Utility Room

It's the final week and update of 2020. Cawdor Stone of Woolmer Green, Knebworth, have been exceptional with advice and fitting service. Here are photographs of the quartz worktops they supplied for the kitchen and utility room. They also fitted a shaped worktop with splash-back in the en-suite, which we'll photograph and post early next year.

The sliding doors to hide the ugly stuff in the utility room are on order, due around the end of January. This is a two-door system: one half will open to reveal the laundry facilities, the other half will provide access to the boiler, water softener and the hot water tank.

The blinds, according to UPS, were 'delivered' but - not to our house! The blinds company are playing detective and, meanwhile, are manufacturing some more for us. These are all made to measure and we expect to see the new consignment before the end of January. Once we're satisfied, we'll order the blinds for the rest of the house.

Finally, now that the worktop and kitchen units are in place, we can order the tambour door kits, also made to measure, which will hide frequently used small appliances that will be kept on the worktops.

That's about it for now. Updates will recommence next month. In the meantime, we wish you a happy, healthy and safe 2021.