Red & BBs retirement home......

  • Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.

Allie

Need to contact Admin...
May 4, 2008
159
0
South west
I can't believe I've never seen this thread before! Looking fantastic, I bet you're thrilled to pieces - love the style you're going for, particularly the kitchen :p
Ditto about the paddock :rolleyes:
 

dwardo

Bushcrafter through and through
Aug 30, 2006
6,451
475
46
Nr Chester
Its nice to see someone breath life back into an old house :) Especially when done with care and consideration as you have.

Personally i think you need more gordy stretched canvas over frames, MDF painted white, stenciled walls and an american looking fridge :eek:
 

British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,709
1,947
Mercia
A bit more progress for those that are interested (for which I thank you)

The kitchen is now in and has such luxuries as handles :)

3875316584_25d6448f8d.jpg


We also have a cooker (woohoo) - Quite smart for a calor cooker huh?

3875376544_db348c496a.jpg


Clearly the floors are still thick with dust (we've cleaned the worst up since these pictures) - a good strip back and re-seal has to wait for the tiling and painting to be finished though. ovely old quarry tiles if a little uneven - over an inch thick!

The living room now has a ceiling and the hearth of the inglenook has been widened with brick. We even have skirting boards!

3875319458_23e68dbc6d.jpg


The hall also has skirting boards - we even have a door back on the bathroom

3875318286_a5224697f5.jpg


The bedroom is really coming on now - the floor is lovely and you can see where we removed the old tank cupboard. The chimney breast has been re-finished. We want to put a woodburner in so have left an access panel on the right

3875322448_7c91fb8dd8.jpg


New stairs lead into the bedrooms

3874536875_b42f609f10.jpg


For the country dwellers (and off grid fans) this might be of interest - we now have a changeover switch to isolate the house from the mains and receive another power feed to the main distribution board. For now this means we can run the genrator through the domestic wiring when the power goes out (which it does regularly), but it also allows us to switch to alternative power at a later point

3875320238_128633a340.jpg


Next week - tiling!

Red
 

Melonfish

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 8, 2009
2,460
1
Warrington, UK
ah plastering, tis a gay old time i'll tell you, just getting it nice and level and smooth can be a bit tricky but it turns out i've got the knack and i've got a fair bit to do coming up before winter to boot, have to sort out our front living room as the damp course has gone...
 
Dec 3, 2008
5
0
Chicago, IL
i have to admit that i love looking at this as you have done such a good job on the house sofar and have tried to kee as much of the original house as you can but still make it liveable to this day and age.

livley job sofar and keep the pictures coming.

pommie
 

British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,709
1,947
Mercia
Thanks for all the kind words guys :)

We slowed down for a few weeks as I was recuperating from an operation but things are back in full swing now

The beds at the front of the house have now been excavated (the only way to describe removing great clumps of weeds and bramble)

3934485229_c88cd7950c_o.jpg



Hacking through mounds of thumb thick ivy gained us a monster log store!

3935267564_4d3d07525d_o.jpg



Tiling is there

Bathroom behind the bath (for the shower). I really like these natural stone ones

3901328706_56fa8cd045.jpg


Kitchen - nice simple country ceramic ones

3900543007_774ee88926.jpg


3901324288_6d7c241295.jpg


Exterior gloss is now all repainted in cream, and the green stuff rubbed back and ready for re-painting

4002597748_652767f00e.jpg


Inside its just the diluted trade magnolia getting slapped on now to seal plaster but its already making a difference

4001830941_70b29d5455.jpg


4002595460_b8210ff293.jpg


4001831975_f3fcd6097d.jpg


Not the finished colours - but its starting to look more homely I think!

I have invested quite a bit of time on exterior security now as well

Thats not a hasp and padlock!

3934480261_3621cda7d2_o.jpg


Thats a hasp :D

3935262560_713b35a7b6_o.jpg


Remote controlled alarm
3935263340_9dfaedc181_m.jpg


Door contacts

3934482221_8172e84a3a_m.jpg


PIRs

3934482767_aae49f914a_m.jpg


Big tools and machines are secured with floor / wall anchors. These are held in with 16mm rawl bolts (non return) sunk 70mm into concrete :shock:

3934483463_9da9eabc3c_m.jpg



Smaller stuff by metal rope secured to wall hasps

3935268926_13350a2ca0_m.jpg


Taken delivery of the new mower too - that makes a heck of a difference keeping the grass down

3935268206_bf2a7d67fa_m.jpg
 

British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,709
1,947
Mercia
Not a lot Big Shot - but all areas - including rural - have their share of lowllives

I've known farmers lose a fortune in machinery - tractors, quads, gennies and the like.

I can install alarms myself and the bits I get trade. Similarly the locks and ground anchors etc.

I had to get a chippy make up new doors for that barn which cost a bit, but we are trying to "do it once, do it right". I plan to convert the other end of that one to an above ground cellar for veg storage, home canned goods and freezer room so its worth sorting it properly .

Red
 
True enough I suppose.
All my experience of country life is in Ireland and that is one of those places where people leave windows open. Never heard of any bother.

Sounds like you've got it all planned out really well.

I look forwards to the next update, especially the food storage.
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE