Kitchen/Craft room Revamp Diary (pic heavy)

[bushbaby]

So this week I (along with my Husband and my Dad) have started my biggest craft project yet - re-doing my kitchen/craft space. I thought I would keep a diary here as we go along. I hope you dont mind me sharing.

I have a good-sized kitchen dinning room, the dinning end of which is my craft space. The previous house owner badly pine cladded the whole room making it very dark feeling. We are taking all the wood down, replacing the lights and painting the whole space a nice bright magnolia or white.

Silly me forgot to take a good 'before' shot but here is an old shot of my craft area (excuse the mess) - the wood panelling continues all over the walls and ceiling :

I have been packing up & boxing my craft stuff for the last two weeks. Yesterday we started by removing all the wood panels. Turns out the previous owner was really bad at DIY which is a good thing for us as the wood came off really easy. Here's a few quick shots:

That's the old eighties brass spotlights hanging down. There are three of those to get rid off. And here's a shot of all the wood once we had taken it down:

We made a couple of nasty discoveries. Turns out there must have been a water leak so we have a rather large section of ceiling to fix too - but hey, it's not as bad as we thought it might have been.

and also there is a really big gap around two of our sockets in one corner:

Today Dad & I fitted the new light fittings and patched the extra hole in the ceiling the 3rd spotlight made. We both worked on these wich included screwing wood above the plasterboard to brace the plasterboard patch onto and cutting the holes & plasterboard patches to fit. Tada:

Meanwhile my Hubbie (with a little help from me when Dad didn't need me) broke all the long planks into lenths short enough to get in the car and take to the Coup.

Tomorrow we will polyfiller the holes and patch the other bits needing fixed. We also hope to get the a thin coat of white emulsion on the walls to highlight all the bits needing filled.

night night  

[Azura]

You sure won't be getting bored for a while! good luck with the whole revamping

[jezebel_1982]

looks awesome! Keep us updated

The panelling made everything so dark, it looked like a basement, just ripping that down really brightened the space & opened things up!

[Indecisive Monkey]

Wow this sounds like such an excitingly large project!!!! I find it hard to believe that someone would panel an entire room like that. Wall and ceiling?!?! Were the floors hardwood too?

Things are looking great already. I'm sorry that the ceiling appears to be damaged, but what you said is right: it could be worse! I'm excited to see more progress

[bushbaby]

Wow this sounds like such an excitingly large project!!!! I find it hard to believe that someone would panel an entire room like that. Wall and ceiling?!?! Were the floors hardwood too?

Things are looking great already. I'm sorry that the ceiling appears to be damaged, but what you said is right: it could be worse! I'm excited to see more progress

Yeah - pine panelling was all the rage for a while in the 80's. Unfortunately the floor is kind of 'dead-mouse-brown' coloured lino floor tiles  The wall panels were so badly put up that if you hit one end of the wall it would ripple like water away from you!

Have to add, last night when it was totally dark we tried the new kitchen lights  They are so bright!!  I cant wait to craft in there again - no more using an anglepoise lamp to prevent peering and eye strain!

[Indecisive Monkey]

Wow this sounds like such an excitingly large project!!!! I find it hard to believe that someone would panel an entire room like that. Wall and ceiling?!?! Were the floors hardwood too?

Things are looking great already. I'm sorry that the ceiling appears to be damaged, but what you said is right: it could be worse! I'm excited to see more progress

Yeah - pine panelling was all the rage for a while in the 80's. Unfortunately the floor is kind of 'dead-mouse-brown' coloured lino floor tiles  The wall panels were so badly put up that if you hit one end of the wall it would ripple like water away from you!

That floors sounds ugly as sin, and while the rippling wall might have made a fun game for a while, I'm sure it got annoying! When you're finished it sounds like the room will be at LEAST five times better

[bushbaby]

Todays update.

Another good day   My dad fixed two of the 4 wall socksts needing repaired, so that only leaves the two in the big hole pictured above.

We have painted a white-wash coat on the two big walls to highlight any holes needing filled. Dad then filled most of the holes.

Meanwhile my DH & I loaded almost half the wood in to Dad's car.

My DH is a little camera shy but he did agree to show how we trundled the wood from our back yard to the car (about 20 yards).... our glass recycling weelie bin!

Dad & I then took it the wood round to the local Coup where they have a wood recycling point - let me tell you, it was so carthartic throwing that wood down the 10 foot hole!  

And then to round the day off my amazing Father fitted a skirting board to the painted walls!

DH & I also bought a new microwave as I realised our old one was starting to rust on the inside of the door.

Tomorrows plan is to fix the last holes in the ceiling (including the gaping water damage hole) and to patch the few remaining holes in the walls.

After that the work will probably slow for a bit as DH and I are back at work next week (holidays are always too short!) but I will still keep updating you all as this progresses.

xx

[lelila]

whaaat, I wish my recycle bin was bright purple 

I LOVE that big window, and half-glass door! love love natural light. and even though it's just white-washed it already looks tons better in there!! can't wait to watch the transformation 

[bushbaby]

whaaat, I wish my recycle bin was bright purple 

I LOVE that big window, and half-glass door! love love natural light. and even though it's just white-washed it already looks tons better in there!! can't wait to watch the transformation 

hehe  we have 3 bins at the moment - green (houshold waste) Brown (garden waste) and the purple (glass waste). We should also be getting a bright blue one for paper waste too sometime. Only downside is they are only emptied every fortnight so the green fills up really fast!

Yeah, that window is why my craft space is there and not in the upstairs study (well that and it puts me closer to my DH's computer in the living room) When it's out the sun is on that side of the house all afternoon

[fifilaru]

I love looking at these pictures, so much fun to watch the transformation.

[bushbaby]

Todays update

Lots of work today, if not a lot of photos.

Dad fixed the gaping hole in the ceiling:

from this

to this:

[

Cool huh? He also patched and filled all the other holes in the ceiling, 2 walls and the new skirting board. My Dad is the best!

We also took the last of the wood and all the garden waste (DH & I mowed & tidied both front & back yards by lunchtime). DH loaded it all in to the car and we took 4 trips to the coup, but ITS ALL GONE!!! The wood is no more 

We are taking the weekend off and then DH & I are back to work 9-5, but my Dad has offered to come up and keep on with the room. Next on the list is priming and gloss painting the skirting and door surounds, scraping the other walls down and wallpapering as much as possible. Then all it will take is a coat on paint on the walls and ceiling and my craft stuff will be able to go back in.

The other side of the room - the kitchen end will stay rough for a while until we can afford to do something about the units.

x

[mrsflibble]

can't wait to see more!

Yeah - pine panelling was all the rage for a while in the 80's. Unfortunately the floor is kind of 'dead-mouse-brown' coloured lino floor tiles  The wall panels were so badly put up that if you hit one end of the wall it would ripple like water away from you!

Have to add, last night when it was totally dark we tried the new kitchen lights  They are so bright!!  I cant wait to craft in there again - no more using an anglepoise lamp to prevent peering and eye strain!

wow, sounds like the previous owner of your house and my landlord went to the same school of DIY and then snuck out of classes to go smoke behind the bike sheds!

[bushbaby]

can't wait to see more!

Yeah - pine panelling was all the rage for a while in the 80's. Unfortunately the floor is kind of 'dead-mouse-brown' coloured lino floor tiles  The wall panels were so badly put up that if you hit one end of the wall it would ripple like water away from you!

Have to add, last night when it was totally dark we tried the new kitchen lights  They are so bright!!  I cant wait to craft in there again - no more using an anglepoise lamp to prevent peering and eye strain!

wow, sounds like the previous owner of your house and my landlord went to the same school of DIY and then snuck out of classes to go smoke behind the bike sheds!

hehe He apprently used to build motorcycles as a hobby- after seeing his finishing skills at DIY I have always worried about what his bikes were like!

[Miihamara]

maybe working with bikes is the only thing he can do.

I mean my brother for example he could drive a car at the age of 5 (my parents are farmers.. a lot of land to practice on) and he could fix almost any car at the age of 13, so you think he could at lest make to build an easy made bookshelf but no, it did look like crap and it was really pity about the wood.

[bushbaby]

Ok, let me introduce you in so someone amazing....

 My Dad!

For most of the last two weeks, whilst my DH & I have been at work, my amazing Dad (who is retired) has been coming to my house and doing my kitchen.

He has:

• fixed all the holes in the plaster
• Wallpapered the whole kitchen
• fitted skirting boards on the whole room
• undercoated and gloss painted most of the skirtingboard
• painted two coats of undercoat on the radiator

he turned this:

to this

to this

Cool huh!

I have been helping too, i promise. I have painted the ceiling white (two coats so all finished now), painted two undercoats and 1 gloss coat on the last of the skirting board and gloss painted the radiator. here is the skirting board I painted:

So all that is left to do is 2 coats of paint on the walls and then I can have my craft space back! I am hoping that I can get the painting done by the end of the weekend.

Once that is done the plan is to:

• paint the kitchen cupboards (see the horrible brown things behind my Dad (above)
• lay a new pale maple coloured lino tile floor

[Trekky]

The progress is looking great.  Hope your not too tired & achy after all that DIY!

[bushbaby]

2nd coat of paint now complete on the 2big walls (others will be done later after a few more repaires on stuff) -back &feet very sore but happy with the work so far

Couldnt take any pics as magnolia paint just doesnt show up!

[shanaelle]

Wow, you sure have come a long ways! And how awesome that your dad is such a big help. I can't wait to see pics of the finished project

[bushbaby]

Wow, you sure have come a long ways! And how awesome that your dad is such a big help. I can't wait to see pics of the finished project

thanks Yeah, we couldnt have donr it without my Da. He was here again today (while we were at work). He has started to fix the floor, so that tomorrow he is going to start laying the floor tiles. *fingers crossed* I might have my craft space back by the weekend.

I cant wait to show you all the new shelves and perspec boxes I got at amazing sale prices from a furniture store that recently closed down. I am hoping to totally reorganize my craft storage 

Oh I found a more recent image of my craft space before we started all this, see the blow link to the other post:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=112209.msg2474643#msg2474643

[bushbaby]

Ok here's another update.

I will say it again, my Dad is a superhero. He turned my floor, in two days, from this:

to this

so much lighter and better. this now means that...MY CRAFT ROOM IS DONE!!

Now I can show off my new shelves and stroage boxes:

The shelves I lucked out with - Habitat ( a high-end furniture store) were closing their store next to my work and this was the shelves they used in their back storage area. They are industrial strength steel so they are really strong and wont bend under the weight of all my craft stuff, unlike my last set of shelves.

 I paid £30 for these (and again thank you to my Dad for collecting them and taking them apart for me) but if I bought them brand new they would have cost about £270!  

I also bought 3 clear pespex display boxes from Habitat and they only cost me £1 each - they are in the photo below - I am using them to stor all my Yarn.

I have finally managed to unpack all my stuff and get it sorted    It still has a little sorting to be done but here is my new craft space:

[

So having done all this hard work you'd think my dad would take a break...nope. He's started painting my kitchen cabinet doors

they have gone from this feuchy brown:

to this beautiful sky blue:

I have been helping too. Dad & I spent yesterday repairing, sanding & painting a few of the door fronts and cabinets sides. We have also bought some new door handles - nice clear modern style ones. These will be put on once the painting is all done.

So, still to do:

• Finish repairing, sanding and painting all the cabintes
• Box in the ugly corner abouve the gas boiler
• replace the sink
• move the dishwasher/get a new fitted one
• replace the work top

I wish I could take a photo that really shows how much bigger and lighter the room feels. It is such an improvement.  

[OspreyWife]

Wow! Looks amazing! Your dad did a great job!

Love those shelves and clear boxes, want! 

[Lil Lamby]

Looking pretty sweet so far!

[Trekky]

You really are progressing on.  Your dad seems like some kind of star! 

The shelves look great & it all looks so organised!

[Clarachk]

I am very interested to see what becomes of this space! Looks like you got a great start and it is nice to hear that you have willing helpers. That panel board looks better in the yard, LOL. I would be dying to come up with a project to make use of it in another way. Yard box-planters would be nice :O) You have a great space to work with. Please be sure to keep us updated.

Side note: The hubby and I also bought a fixer-upper. It is a lot of work but the satisfaction factor makes it all worth the effort. I HEAR you when you talk about bad DIYers-slash-previous homeowners. It is frightening what BAAAAAADDDDD HORRIBLE work we found UNDERNEATH the BAAAAAAADDDDD awful "cover-up" job they did. Scary stuff! Hey, when we are old farts we can tell our grandkiddies all about the hard work we did, right!?!? Keep up the great work!!!

[mcmakeit]

WOW!  That's some serious effort!  It's going to look awesome!

[gettcon]

Wow! That is a great improvement. I like the changes you did compare to its old look. Great job!

[VivaGlitter]

I know that is a lot of hard work but it is all worth it.

[Ms.Bonnie]

I hope you cherish your dad for years to come he seems like a really nice guy. My dad will hang something and that about it.

[bushbaby]

I hope you cherish your dad for years to come he seems like a really nice guy. My dad will hang something and that about it.

He really is - yesterday DH & I were both in work, Dad very kindly drove 50miles to our house to drop of a parcel we'd had to deliver to my parents house (since we both work 9-5) and while he was there and the sun was shining he cut out front & back grass!!

Sometimes my dad is just the coolest!