The Build

The Great Build of 2014

(there are a lot of images - may take a while to load!)

5th June 2014 was the start of extending the extension. We are building a flat (cottage? Apartment?) for Adam and Kathy - or for me when I'm older as a 'Mum's Flat' (not an O.A.P. Granny Flat! I don't want to be seen as being that old! LOL!)

Is this what Kathy has in mind I wonder?

... I think we can build you and Adam a better flat than that... LOL

(photo taken January 2013)

This is the side view of the house from the drive.

A bit plain and boring - especially regarding the extension's rather ugly flat roof.

My present study is behind the lower window... 

seen below from the inside

while the upstairs windows are Kathy and Adam's bedroom.

We are extending this extension by as much again - but with a sloping roof to match the front of the house (More loft space!) There will be a front door to the left of my study window, and the study will become the kitchen. The present bedroom will become the bathroom and the new bit to be built will be a sitting room and upstairs bedroom. There will be glass doors from the sitting room out onto a small patio. And all should look lovely in about 6 months time!

Here's the present two-storey extension from the back (the extension on the right)  That rectangle of the house will be extended by as much again, 

and those walls with the windows on ground and first floor will be knocked through to make open-plan from kitchen to sitting room. But what about your study Helen? I hear you all cry (aghast that I'll not have my own space to think about what to write next)  Ah well.... 

Here's a close-up of the present patio and doors into the dining room. We are going to have a one-storey lean-to extension here - similar to a conservatory but with a slate roof. The door to the back garden  will be where the present steps are, and windows will be all along the front. So I will have a fantastic view while pondering the next chapter... That's the plan anyway!

So the Build Begins! 
DIARY 2014)

WEEK ONE: 5th June

• The first job: move the stay of the electricity pole that brings the overhead electricity supply cable into the house.

the overhead electric cable
(you can just see it hanging between the tree & the house)

and the post -
which apparently is woodpecker damaged!

• Job done - and the disruption wasn't too bad...

• ...Apart from the delivery of the builder's digger causing chaos in the lane when the lorry - which was far too big - got stuck

The first equipment

• Builder here with electrician and digger-man to dig trench, fit meters etc in preparation to move the electric cable. 
• Dan and the Gang - nice bunch of guys - who are quite happy to make their own tea!

WEEK TWO & THREE: 9th - 16th June

• Western Power here to move the existing cable underground. Job done
• Foundations to be dug
• Future terracing to be laid out
• Pipes and drains to be excavated

Dining Room Window View LOL

just as well it isn't raining -
this could be our version of the Somme trenches!

• Foundation cement to go in
• First foundation block work

My future study

and the terrace
using the old sleepers from the previous patio terrace

 No, not the builders - the Gaffers maybe?

WEEK THREE : 23rd June

• We have walls. 
• Only little ones at the moment
• Rather battered plants though :-(

poor plants :-(

The Back Garden / orchard :-(

The North Terrace

Next summer,  a nice patio table and chairs
will look much more elegant than a pair of ladders
and a wheelbarrow LOL

This alcove will one day be my study

Looking towards what will be the extended extension
- Kathy & Adam's sitting room takes shape...

At least the roses are ok

WEEK FIVE : 30th June

• no delivery stops play.
• There'll be nothing happening this week as we are waiting for the floor beams to be delivered. 
• Apparently 2-3 weeks actually means "at the end of three weeks" :-/
• Still, the forecast is torrential rain, so maybe its best to not have builders tromping around in their big muddy boots. LOL

WEEK SIX : 7th July
Back to work - delivery delivered.
And the walls to the new 'Blee Residence' sitting room look more like walls...

Baz the Gaffer surveying the day's work

My study... well, it will be!

The big gap will be the Blee Residence Patio Doors

From the drive - a porch will be here

WEEK SEVEN : 14th July
Monday 14th The walls get higher:

Cement - with Baz's pawprint 'Baz Waz 'Ere'

The walls get higher...

... and higher

my study - just waiting for windows and roof

poor old anemones have taken a bit of a bettering though :-( 

The front porch

Kathy & Adam's sitting room

WEEK EIGHT : 21st July

Builders at work LOL
(to be fair, it was their lunch break!) 

 Looking from what will be the patio doors towards where the oak staircase will go, and beyond, the open plan kitchen (at present my study windows) To the right will be the front door and porch 

WEEK NINE 28th July

My study now has the start of a roof

and some windows
(we're waiting for replacements of two wrong ones that were sent)

The start of Kathy & Adam's bedroom

The view doesn't really get spoiled from my bedroom window

And this is the front garden from my bedroom.
Somewhat overgrown - but the pond is good!

Inside my study

Should look good when we have all windows and doors fitted!

WEEK TEN 4th August

My study from the outside -
and we have the start of a roof over the extension!

orchard apples

from the orchard

from the drive
note Sybil the Gaffer on the prowl!

WEEK ELEVEN 11th August

Baz doesn't think much of my study as it is at the moment :-(

We have a roof (well the bones of one!)

Going upstairs....

The loft

Adam at the East-view bedroom window 

looking down on my study

Kathy at the north-view window

another view of what will be the loft

WEEK TWELVE 18th August

The roof starts becoming a roof!

And my study has a roof

WEEK THIRTEEN 25th August

Roof almost done - from my bedroom window

The old flat roof is being replaced

The Gaffer expecting the work

WEEK FOURTEEN 1st September

wiring the study

WEEK FIFTEEN 8th September
Outside rendering and painting being done -  forgot to take photos. For a couple of days we had rain, so work was intermittant

The hole for the chimney flue in the new sitting room

and SIXTEEN 15th September

Baz is a little more impressed by my study
 now that it has doors

and plastered walls

and a window sill

WEEK SEVENTEEN 22nd September

the scaffolding came down

The patio doors and the chimney and flue have gone in

Just the last bit of scaffolding to go now -
note the chimney and flue from the outside

a raised decking-patio will go where the scaffolding is

No work at the end of this week as the builders are on holiday, 

so time to inspect the back garden

WEEK EIGHTEEN 29th September
work progresses on my study and the porch (sorry forgot to take photos :-(

However, Kathy did repaint our dining room!

BEFORE:

 These are the 'before' photos of the dining room when we first viewed the house (agents' pictures!) The walls look quite light here because of the flashlight, but actually they were a dark cream - as were the beams

I had my dresser in front of the hatchway 

- no where else to put it :-(

and looking through the doors towards 

the orchard and patio

AFTER:

The walls are now 'Jasmine White' 

with the beams darker

 The dresser has gone - so hatchway and hall beyond exposed

 Looking back hrough the hall hatchway

The little wooden duck (next to the cat) 

was a gift from fabulous Timeslip author Anna Belfrage 

And beyond those doors....

WEEK NINETEEN 6th October

 my new study - Ta Dah!....

 Partially moved in - books done, now for ornaments and treasures...

The Gaffer helping as always

Rainbow from my desk - 9th October 2014 9 a.m

almost sorted! 

• Track lighting still has to go in 
• the corner pipes need to be finished and blocked in 
• (when the new upstairs bathroom is done)

The black blur is Baz - refusing to sit and pose.
I suspect it is the builders' tea break so he's off for snacks...

my new desk where I am supposed to work....

WEEK TWENTY 13th October

The old bedroom will be the bathroom

wires and plumbing
beneath what will be the upstairs landing

looking towards the new bedroom

here there will be an oak staircase

the new bedroom

view from the bedroom window

downstairs -
looking towards the porch and front door

the kitchen -
do you recognise what remains of my old study?

the sitting room

and the patio doors

The Woman of the House

another view of the porch

My study and The North Terrace -
this will all be decking

from the orchard

The Gaffer surveys the builders' site

AND.... we have a porch!

WEEK TWENTY-ONE  to TWENTY-FOUR 20th October - 10th November

Most of the work has been going on 'upstairs' which I can't get to....

one day there will be an oak staircase here!

Meanwhile Kathy goes up - I stay down!

However....

.... the chickens have found their way to the door from my study into the garden...

Mab has discovered a very comfy chair there!

while in the Build bit....

Tim puts the Kitchen in where my study used to be...

and Kathy and Adam's old bedroom becomes a bathroom...

and the new bedroom is taking shape...

WEEK TWENTY-FIVE 17th November

Bedroom wall

built-in wardrobe

upstairs landing

view from bedroom window

Kathy and the bathroom

Log burner in place (and working!)

the American Oak staircase!

looking back down the stairs

We're nearly there folks! Not long now and it will be finished!

WEEK TWENTY-SIX 24th November
Finish the stairs, fitting out the bathroom and loft hatch, front steps...
get hindered by chickens in my study because the door was left open

and a duck egg! (First One!)

WEEK TWENTY-SEVEN - 1st December
Tiling the bathroom, plumbing - shower and loo etc go in, central heating goes in....
Wooden floors laid,

The Bedroom

Doors waiting to be fitted,.

Painting the bathroom

(no idea why colour is funny - camera going wrong?)

Painting the bedroom

WEEK TWENTY-EIGHT - 8th December
Outside decking is started (by Buzz) (that's him as seen through my kitchen window)
Kitchen floor laid (by Cobby)Final fitments.
Finish the painting

WEEK TWENTY-NINE 15th December
Outside.....
Decking...

Inside....
start moving in...

* 
WEEK THIRTY 22nd - 24th December
FINISHED and MOVED IN to 
LITTLE OWL LODGE (as it is to be called)
(just a few little things (mostly outside)  to be completed - which will be done in the New Year)

The Kitchen - which was my old study. 

Note that we kept the original old stone wall from the main house uncovered. 

The open door leads through to the Main House sitting room (see below!)

Sitting Room... looking back to the kitchen

 View through the Patio doors
(and yes they ARE straight - my photo is wonky!)

sitting room - the West Window

 and the East Window (looking over the decking and to my study)

 Oak staircase

Owl on the bedroom wall

Bathroom

Front Porch 

(steps have to be finished, CCTV put in & front still to be painted)

WEEK THIRTY-ONE  Photos taken 30th December 2014

On a Cold and Frosty Morning.... 

View from my study (that's Mab)

you can just see the decking outside (Buzz Terrace!)

and here it is properly

It all links up with....

Little Owl Lodge Patio Doors....

looking back the other way

 and into the Orchard

My Study from Buzz Terrace
(note Baz disappearing indoors!)

we'll be planting a rose garden where the wooden planks are

It is nice to have MY bathroom back 

(it's been used as a storage room as we
also have a downstairs shower)

and to finish off...

 (so as to not be outdone)

The Old Main House bedecked for Christmas

 sitting room

the door is the link to
Little Owl Lodge Kitchen

 Hall from the Kitchen

Looking into the dining room from the hall

(and beyond to my study 

Opposite side of the hall

looking into the front garden

Same view from the front door

cold but clear winter sky!

Sybil  by the front door

and sitting room window

Goosey

and the ducks

in the garden

and finally the orchard and the hens...

Dan measuring up
for our final "pass" certificate
 from North Devon Council

Adam building a path and step

aided by a hen
and the Winter Penguin

The Verandah!

Home Sweet Home!

Finis