Lets call the kitchen done...Almost

Wow, this kitchen has really got under my skin. Who knew a kitchen layout could be such a trial and error fiasco?! Not me, that's for sure. If it's been moved around once it's been moved a dozen times. Not an easy feat and at one point there were all four of us here and a couple of our friends too, lugging kitchen units around to try and find a good spot for them all.

Add to that the carpentry work involved to get the stairs in....
Oh yeah...See!! We have stairs! No banisters yet, but workable stairs none-the-less.

I think it's all come together for the best now, but it has been a nightmare to get all the units in without feeling cramped while trying to accomodate the stairs.

The front door opens into the kitchen area but with a bit of jiggery-pokery we've tried to do a (sort of) seperate entryway. The door is still in the kitchen but once the understairs units have been boxed in properly it'll hopefully seem like it's divided. I think it'll be nice with a little semi-island under the stairs. We've blocked off the openplan stairs to counter top level already.



There will hopefully be a few shelves to fill in the little gaps on the entryway side, where units won't fit, to use every available space and the open counter area will make a nice little breakfast bar bit and let light flow through to the 'hallway'.

The last of the advance money has gone on a new fridge/freezer and cooker and it was money well spent. I hope Minnie likes the models I picked for her, I got a bargain buying them together from the consignment store.

Anyhoo, I've asked Hives, Mr Bubbles and Flossy over for some sandwiches and cake to thank them for all their help so far....and to sweet talk them into a little bit more help. There's a little bit of papering to be done where the lounge wall was moved, the banisters need to be put on, there's the shelving to see to and perhaps....maybe another room or three to decorate.


We're running out of time though because a little bird told me that a certain little lady is only days away! I can't believe Minnie is almost here! I can not WAIT to see her! It's been so long. I don't think we'll get much more done before she gets here but I'll try and pull out all the stops to get a bit more finished.

In the meantime, I better get through there to help scoff the sandwiches, if there's any left. I hope they've saved some room for the cake I baked and iced. I'm not the best baker and I'd never win Masterchef with what I turn out but I do my best. I love to try.

I'll just put the strawberry chocolate one in the fridge here for later and take the strawberry vanilla sponge through. Hope it tastes as good as it looks!

Taking it to the next level

Today is very exciting! Work has started upstairs. I ran all the way here, I'm that keen to see what's up there! Cavendish came too to keep me company as he didn't want to get left behind at the Pet Center so I said he could come as long as he behaved himself.

I was expecting stairs, not a bodged together ladder made out of banister. I suppose it must be sturdy enough if it held Hives' weight. I see he's moved the dividing wall too... It does look better there as it opens up the kitchen a bit, but I hope he remembers fix the wallpaper above the door.

Cavendish will have to stay down here. He's not happy about it but he'll be ok down here for a little while. I'd need another pair of hands to get both myself and him up there in one piece. I'm a bit wary of tackling it with just myself to worry about. I'll need both hands to cling on to the banister ladder, without having to worry about having a tight grip on Cavendish too.

Well, that wasn't so hard. Climbing off the ladder was the hardest part. I think getting back down might be scarier than coming up though. And, I definitely need to get my hair cut if I'm going to be doing this regularly. Hair this long is just an accident waiting to happen on a building site like this.

Yikes! Minnie asked for "Pink and girly" but it's a bit too sweet for me. She'll love it, I know she will but I'm getting a sugar rush just from looking at it. Looks like the papering has been done but the roof and paintwork is looking a bit ropey. Pity there's no room in the budget for doing that up but maybe it can be added to the 'to do' list for when Minnie gets here.

I see Hives has brought a helper with him to lay the carpet in here. That's Mr Bubbles, he runs the Bait and Tackle shop 'Hook, Line and Sinker' down in the village. He's been talking about giving that up though and trying to find a new line of work. He says the bait shop is a hinderance to him finding a girlfriend. It's stinky work and nobody wants to cuddle up next to him after a hard day at the shop. I mentioned to him that he might want to open a perfumery and he loved the idea of a shop that sells things with a nice frangrance for a change. He's even thought up a name for it... 'Soapy Bubbles'

Anyhoo, back to the house-tour. A bedroom with sliding doors out to your very own balcony. How fantastic! I'd love a room with these doors! I think the other side of the house has a balcony too...time to investigate.

Well, it doesn't look like I'll be seeing up there today. I hope that banister is gone soon, the suspense of what's up there is killing me! Never mind, there's still one room left to check out on this floor.

Oh, this would make a great office/workroom or maybe a sun room, that would be cool. I wonder what Minnie will turn it into. Maybe a craft room, she's big into crafty stuff. I'm the animal lover and she's the arty farty one.

Ooh, look...a couple of feathered friends...lets get closer...

...Closer...

...Closer...Ohh, their friendly!

I made a couple of new friends! A perfect end to a perfect day.

Speaking of friends, I better navigate my way down the bannister ladder and get Cavendish. It's almost dinner time and I'm sure he's going to be as hungry as I am. I might phone for take out and treat Hives and Mr Bubbles to dinner at my place for today's decorating. I wonder if they like Pizza....

Kitchen planning

I made plans to meet Hives over here bright and early this morning. He was already waiting when I got here and had thoughtfully brought some donuts to nibble on while we disussed what was needed for the kitchen decor. I've managed to get myself cosy here drinking tea, eating donuts and reading my magazine while he sorts himself out over there in the kitchen. Luckily I brought a fleecy blanket with me to wrap up in. I knew the heating hadn't been hooked up yet and it's chilly up here with the sea breezes rattling through the chinks in the windows and doors.

Hives had brought his stepladder and some samples for me but I don't think his choices will work. He means well but Minnie probably won't want a purple kitchen. I'm picking up the wallpaper as soon as the shop opens later so he'll be able to make a start on that in no time. I showed him some photo's in my magazine of what I had in mind for the kitchen and he says it's going to look very sunny in there. Perfect. That's exactly what I'm hoping for.

To keep himself busy until the wallpaper arrives he's working out what he'll need to sort out the staircase to the upper levels. The stairs that were there have had to be taken down as they were really old and wonky and were a bit of an accident waiting to happen.

He's talking about putting up a wall to divide the kitchen/living area's too. I think it'll look great as two separate area's. I'm sure he knows what he's doing but he's just checking the blueprints to see which walls are load-bearing...or something. He did tell me but I was only half listening because donut selection takes a lot of concentration...yum!