Some Domestic Disruption

~ beetleypete

This year was planned to be the year we finally tackled the kitchen/diner. Unchanged since 1995, it is a style that is beyond getting away with calling it ‘Retro’, and definitely better described as’Dated’. After new windows, interior decoration, and carpets last year, I had to wait to save up the money to get someone in to spruce up the kitchen. In an ideal world, I would have used a kitchen planning company, and had all new units installed. But we all know that the world is not ideal, and I just cannot afford the many thousands of pounds that would cost.

The compromise was to change the multi-coloured tiling for something fresh and neutral, and have the cupboards rubbed down and painted. Once the tiling is finished, the painter can come in to do his job. Unfortunately, the painter is not adept at tiling, so we had to engage someone else to do that. He was so busy after not working during the lockdown, that he has to do the job over this weekend, instead of a weekday. So no morning lie-in, and everything shifted out the way of the numerous surfaces requiring his attention.

One good thing about the layout of this house is that social distancing from the tiler is easy to achieve. He is doing a good job so far, (Saturday) and plans to continue until 5:30, coming back to work all day tomorrow in order to get the job done.

As soon as the tiling is in place, we have to arrange a date for the painter to come. He estimates perhaps four days to make a good job of the fair-sized room, especially as he will also be painting all the woodwork and cupboards. To be honest, left to me, I would have tolerated the 1990s look.

I’m sure it will soon be back in fashion.

63 thoughts on “Some Domestic Disruption”

  1. In addition to the costs, hiring craftsmen is a real horror. We have people here who can do anything, but then, despite horrendous costs, behave very negatively. It’s really hard to find good craftsmen here. Although we live in the countryside. In the meantime, it has been decided to demolish older houses and build new ones. Of course fully loan financed, on 30 years and more on payoff. For this, one then also go into every work that is offered to you. 😉 Analogue greetings by “George Orwell”. Michael

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  5. Hi Pete, this is so weird, but we haven’t updated our kitchen since about 1991, when our third kid was born, but we’re starting on a kitchen, bathroom, and family room remodel in about two months! I’m so excited. Sounds like yours is moving along nicely. You’ll have to put up some before and after pics! C

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    1. Moving along nicely might be a overstatement, Cheryl. The tiling is almost done, due to be grouted tomorrow evening. Then we have the painter coming in, followed by having to choose new flooring to be laid, once I have the money saved. I would be much happier if we could have moved out for two weeks, then returned to see it all finished. But living here during all the upheaval just makes me fed up, not excited at all. 😦
      I never post photos of the interior of our house, but I have shown some of the outside.

      Our Home In Beetley


      Best wishes, Pete.

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  7. I love the high-spec kitchens I see in all the renovation programmes, but as I’m not much of a cook, to tell you the truth I don’t care too much as long as it works (and in an ideal world it has nice views, natural light and is a reasonable size, all things that are impossible in a small flat in Barcelona. But, hey ho). Good luck and I’m sure it will look great when it’s done. Just a bit of patience and plenty of cleaning required, Pete. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Olga. it has a view over the garden, but as part of it is a built-on extension, the room is dark until the sun moves around in the afternoon. So we will be changing the current lighting too. (Eventually.)
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  9. I’m with you on “would have tolerated the 1990s look.” Unless it’s a functional improvement, what’s the problem — there are a lot more important things than updating for the sake of updating, if you ask me (and even if you don’t ask me, for that matter). 😉

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  12. Pete, in our time living at our house, we have done the following: all new kitchen – doubling its size; remodeled dining room, all new wood floors throughout the house, remodeled 2 bathrooms, expanded the house and added a screening room, new master bedroom and enclosed garage…I NEVER want to see a worker in my house again!

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  14. We had planned a lot here after we made the decision not to buy another house. But now, in a place where people do not want to wear masks, I am not keen on having someone come in and do work. Hubby is putting cabinets up in the utility room, which gives him something he enjoys to pass the time. Everything else will wait.

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    1. The tiler is not wearing a mask, but he is always at least 20 feet away from us. We know him really well too, which helps. I think he would get far too hot wearing a mask, as he has been working hard all day.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  15. Before lockdown our double glazing in the living room went funny and I said we would have the glass replaced when the good weather arrived. Then hubby started to find getting out of our sofa a struggle so I went searching for a new two seater with a riser. Then last week I noticed a mark on the carpet and cleaned it. It came up twice as big and three times as obvious so now we need a new carpet ( we did anyway but I had it pencilled in for next year) Apart from the fact that there are still holes in the wall where the old radiators were the room is OK. Now to work out the order for all the improvements!
    I just don’t fancy emptying the bookshelves and sideboard. Still. it hasn’t been changed for twenty years!

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    1. Isn’t that always the way though, Julie? Once you do one thing, something else needs doing. 🙂 We had all that in late 2018 into 2019, hence waiting so long to get around to the kitchen decoration.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  16. Good luck. I think the kitchen is the most disruptive room in the house to have done. I seem to remember living for weeks on salads and meals warmed up in the microwave which sat in a corner of the living room. I’ll never have it done again.

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    2. This tiling hasn’t been too bad. I can still use the cooker and sink when he has finished for the day. But a full kitchen refit is a nightmare. One of my neighbours is having that done in late July, and is moving out into a caravan park while it is done. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  17. This morning Josef had the overhead light changed to a square-shaped LED light with a square casing. I asked the carpenter if he also do some painting and he said yes. I want my bedroom changed to another color.

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  20. When we moved in 30 years ago Sam changed our drab beige and brown kitchen tiles to something more colourful, and then changed the kitchen cupboard doors. It certainly spruced our kitchen up a bit and didn’t cost the earth.

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