Kitchen...dream dream!!!

I have found the very kitchen for the cottage!! Yellow!

This is the style of units I would like, and although the configuration of units would need to be different to fit the space we have, I love the cooker installation, and the glazed dresser unit, not to mention the corner sink!

Note to hubby...do not take any notice of the price!!! (It should be double this)

Flooring

We have been looking at suitability of different flooring options for the cottage.
The lounge and bedrooms will either be oak flooring or carpets, the kitchen some sort of tiling/stone/marble. but not sure about the hallway. This runs from the front door to the bathroom at the rear of the cottage, is roughly 10 metres long by 32" wide, has no natural daylight, so we need something to make it appear brighter.

These are a few of my current favourites.....

Clearing the Garden

Had a busy couple of days clearing the rubble and glass from the front garden. The glass we think was from when the double glazed window was put into the lounge, the window fitters must have dropped the glass outside onto the garden, and it has remained there since (Everest fitted the windows 27 years ago - we have the receipt from previous owners)!!

This pic taken in the garden September 2010

and this one today, January 19th, 2011 - looking rather bare..we hope to start some landscaping in the Spring!

Ash Tree

In the corner of the rear yard, underneath the kitchen window...an ash tree sapling has seeded and sprouted over the last few years when the cottage has been unoccupied.
Unfortunately it has been forcing its roots into the old stonework mortar and has taken a firm hold.
We have "pruned" the tree as far down as we can, the builders have "sawn" the trunk to enable them to fit the new guttering...yet still it thrives!

 Our latest attempt to kill it..after google searching for ideas, is to cover the roots with normal salt...(as the trunk itself  isn't wide enough to drill and treat with chemicals- another hint) As its hidden around the corner of the bathroom, with no vehicle access, we cannot tie a rope and attach to car and tree to use force! It will NOT defeat us!

Wallpaper stripped!

Finally completed wallpaper stripping..lots of patched walls of old plaster renovated over time, disappointed that we didn't find any period wallpaper hidden underneath the layers of woodchip! Genuine Anaglypta paper removed from the ceilings (had stickers still on the back)

All of the rooms still have paint marks on the walls where original plate racks would have been fitted

As the ceilings are very high, we may consider replacing some of these, at least in the lounge

Toilet shopping!

We soon  need to make decisions regarding bathroom fittings, following advice from plumber regarding location of soil pipe for loo and distance from wall for cistern fitting...so far, these are choices...low level and high level cistern toilets...

This model is probably more in keeping with era of the cottage...but will the children be able to reach to flush?

Good news!

Received confirmation letter today from our Local Authority Valuation office to tell us that they have agreed to amend the council tax banding for the cottage..it was previously Band C, the officer has agreed to place it now in band B! would have preferred band A...but at least it will save us approximately £100 a year..

Also received a £30 cheque from Northumbrian Water, for a cancelled appointment..they were due to visit last week to carry out a survey for installation of a water meter, but rang to cancel, re- scheduled for next week.