Priorities!

Forget kitchens and bathrooms, now the lounge is nearing completion my mind is focussed on getting the hi-fi and AV kit up and running (it's been too long without it).  We've been looking for a while for a new AV rack to replace my glass and chrome Optimum unit.  Of all those we've looked at none really took our fancy or were not quite big enough.  Members of an AV forum recommended Blok AV furniture so we took a gander at their website and were impressed, especially as they can do bespoke stuff.  A few emails later and we were presented with this render;

We love the look and it's bespoke to make sure all our kit can be accommodated.  We're looking forward to taking delivery and re-discovering our CD collection.

New Lounge stats and design

By knocking 2 rooms into 1 we've ended up with a large space which is fab but there are some challenges when it comes to things like radiators, wall space and AV equipment.  The room now looks like this:

By the time you have your bookshelves, AV furniture and other such items in place there isn't much wall  space for a) pictures b) radiators and c) most importantly surround sound speakers.  Lighting design is also causing some headaches.

There were 3 standard type radiators in the room, one of which wasn't even centered under the window. Working out the BTU for the room size we need some fairly high output rads to do the job.  We'd seen some amazing rads at one of the home shows and we've ultimately settled for 2 x Jago Iguana Circo rads from B&Q of all places.  Yes they are tall (1800mm) but they are only 300mm wide and push out a lot of heat.  These will be supplemented by a contemporary 'normal' rad under the window.

Lighting is proving to be a pain.  Originally there were 10 x 50w halogen down-lighters and initial thinking was to replace them with 3w LED down-lighters.  Having had a thunk while ploughing through a bottle of wine we're unsure now.  We have a nice chappie from a lighting shop in Camberley coming round to work with us on a design so it will be interesting to see what we end up with.

As for surround sound speakers, it looks like we'll end up with in-ceiling jobs.  Front stereo L+R will be provided by our floorstanding speakers but the rear and sides for the 7.1 system will have to go in the ceiling.  C'est la vie, not the final word in perfect sound reproduction but they should be fine for surround duties.

The biggie - 2 rooms into 1

We had this grand plan to open out the lounge into what the previous owner was using as his office.  Originally it was the 3rd bedroom but he'd already (badly) sealed up the door and added a wonky arch into the office from the lounge.  

The lounge also had an enormous chimney breast which was nearly 3 feet deep and really nasty 'built-in' units either side of it.  These had to go.....

Before

During

Yet more stripping of wood chip with multiple layers of paint.  If I never see a steamer again it will be too soon!

Currently the plaster is drying then the sparky moves in, followed by the plumber to fit the pipework for the new designer radiators.  Skirting, architrave and boxing in of pipes will be swiftly followed by the decorators then the carpet chappie.  Watch this space.....

Room No.2 - the office

Working from home the office/study was next on the list.  It had a nasty red carpet and awful textured wallpaper which made it seem quite claustrophobic.  Several days were spent stripping the wallpaper before the sparky could add all the necessary extra sockets for the server/router/computers etc.  Adam from Macks Plastering worked his magic yet again to skim the walls and ceiling.  We then laid new skirting, new architrave, cable trunking and fitted some contemporary LED wall-lights.  Carpet man did his job and we were good to go.

Before

During

After

So where to begin?

Number 1 priority was the bedroom.  The fitted wardrobes were dismantled destroyed, the carpet lifted, a few plug sockets moved, and the down-lights removed ready for the plasterer.  Adam from Macks Plastering did an amazing job in skimming the walls and ceiling.  We set to and relaid the skirting boards, added the new architrave then painted everything.  New LED down-lights (3w each) from ecoLED were fitted to replace the power hungry 50w halogens then the carpet fitters moved in.  Two weeks later we had a bedroom again.

Prior to starting

Woodchip stripped

Mmmm - shiny new plaster

Mist coat and waiting for the carpet fitters

The finished thing (still waiting for the new door)

Pikchures

A picture is worth a thousand words as they say so feast your eyes on these.  They give you an idea of the bungalow as it was when we moved in during April 2011.

Main Bedroom
A lovely vision of yellow walls and nasty fitted furniture.

Lounge/Office
A behemoth of a chimney breast and a very interesting arrangement of fitted shelves in the 'office'.

Kitchen

Lost for words really........

Dining Room

Soon to become our office, and not our furniture by the way!

Conservatory and outside

Just to set the scene you understand.

In the beginning....

So, the story begins in January 2011 when we saw this on Rightmove. We'd been looking for a bungalow for a while and all the ones we'd seen were either too small or too expensive. The floorplan for this one looked interesting and it was offered as vacant possession, although slightly overpriced in our opinion.

We arranged a viewing and were pleasantly surprised.  Yes it was quite old fashioned inside with some dubious features but we immediately saw the potential.  Size wise it was perfect for our needs but repeated viewings saw the list of jobs to be done growing.

We eventually put an offer in that was accepted and then set about selling our house.  Whilst waiting to exchange contracts etc we spent hours at the Ideal Home Show, Home Renovation and Improvement Show and scouring websites and publications for ideas and inspiration.