MASTER BED UPDATE - 6th july 2010

http://hairyplugmonster.blogspot.com/  OOOOOH YES!!!  we have an update for the Hairy Plug Monster - and as you read Leighroy's Blog  (link above)  he's been very distracted, what with returning from a summer break,  a FOOTBALL disaster from England, and then on top all that Leighroy has had no Internet for nearly a week now,  but it has been sorted and  he's 'back on track...!'

In the mean time "THE MASTER BED UPDATE "   is running very smooth indeed  - the plasterers came yesterday and are doing their bit to enhance the area which they will finish later today  - Yippee ...
David from http://davidmarshfurniture.co.uk/  who is the "MAIN CONTRACTOR" I 've  given David this title as he is more like a main contractor than a foreman,  he is doing a fab job!!!!!   and i'm very pleased with the way it's all turning out.

I'm not sure if I mentioned this in a previous Blog,  but a  bonus  OOOOOH YES!!!!!!!!!!
"a makeover for the utility room and downstairs loo,"   OMG  what a result!!!   however,  thinking this would be done on the cheap,  not so.....
I did buy the wall hung loo,  sink and base when I purchased the bathroom stuff - it's only a small room so my thinking all sorted apart from a new light fitting,  mirror,  radiator,  tiling,  then painting and decorating - in the utility room which is next to the downstairs loo another a small area ,  but manageable,  I decided to change the positions of the washing machine and dryer,  the benefits will give me a proper work surface with an extra cupboard,  I will also need a double plug socket (always very useful)  but not accounted for - another thing that need a change are the doors leading into the loo and the garage (the existing ones are flat office doors)  new doors require door furniture (blimey it's never ending!!!)  money money money;     take heed folks, if you consider makeovers even on a small level absolutely everything has to be taken in consideration,  otherwise your budget can easily esculate out of control?  however,   this area will be functional and I  keeping  it pure and simple once again using  white  leaving me with a bright space - love the colour white at the moment,  it has a calming effect when your trying to do chores;
The plumber has arrived also,  and continuing 1st fix  - David has been to Portwood Timber to collect more wood,  and I have  booked in the decorator - he will start end of July  also I've purchased the bathroom accessories supplied by Finishing Touches,  Hazel Grove, Stockport - I chose the Stone range by Chartley I have used it before and love it...  so now i'm on the hunt for wall lights for the bathroom mirror this wall to wall and will need  3 lights - not seen anything I like yet apart from one I liked in iGuzzini brochure - David said he thought they were more like public toilet lights!  with that in mind I will visit Habitat  to see if I can be inspired with their collection...  the only delemma I can see will be the floor in this area Amtico has been down at least 30years looks like a **** to remove - I'm sure I will come up with a solution!     so for now thats it.   I will blog again soon...

have a great day and remember

'Anything is possible'









 

masterbed update 3rd july 2010

arrrr yes we went to IKEA yesterday to choose the frames for the walk-in wardrobe they say you can arrive at 10.30am choose what you want and pay for it at 11am!
also time saving,  done my homework new what we wanted,  had a picking list (all sounds so simple)  then back to the project at about 12ish in my mind 'easy peasy' - well actually not the case plus the fact it was the start of the summer sale  'queues a mile long'  plus you can't go into the market place to collect your goods until 11am!  hanging about for 1/2 an hour?  then something I'd not accounted for, 'which I might add!'  the colour grey Units was on display and I needed a 1 mrt Unit which is available but then I needed 5 at 75cm which isn't available in the end I selected white Units which will look OK  I have extended each wall to hide all  unit sides so now when you open the centre door into the walk-in wardrobe all you will see is the internal rails and shelves  and as pointed out by Julia I only ever wear grey or black - I suppose the area won't look so dark and gloomy with my original idea using the grey with the space i've created also another advantage using white was cheeper...   I still need 6 units altogether - wall to wall floor to ceiling with no gaps...  obviously a lot more economic - mind you they still have to be made because we're not that good at DIY therefore this will bump up the price but then,  I'm getting what I want which is the main thing.

We arrived back at roughly 1.30pm - seemed to take ages and still a lot to do.
David started striping the walls ready for Jimmy the  plasterer who I thought was starting the work today but unfortunately he cant make it and has promised 1st thing Monday morning; oh well as long has it's done before next weekend ready for Phil the tiler  (yu'know what every tiler I've known in the past has been called PHIL - what's that all about! oh well just an observation...) it was a sunny afternoon, lovely and warm;  I already had in my mind to clear out the garage in order to store the frames and bits and pieces from IKEA,  what a nightmare that turned out to be, stuff in their we've had for years and you never do anything with it - you just keep it  'a just in case scenario' thinking it may come in handy sometime in the future but that never happens ;   and really,  garages and sheds should be cleared out once a month! or at least every 6 months,  they become dumping grounds and before you know its full with newspapers and empty cardboard boxes or things you've not used from various rooms in the house that you've decided you don't like any more,  recycle,  give it away or take it to the tip!  well thats something to bear in mind for the future, maybe...!   It's  one of those jobs that get left,  but really because we never use the garage for cars,  it could be a valuable space or as suggested a games room;   anyway work done and it's now clean and tidy also having a skip on hand has been a blessing (my own personal big bin - ooolala )
although when Ed came back from work he started vetting what I'd thrown away he does have  a tendency to sulk from time to time when I do clear outs (I say, there's not point in keeping stuff you don't use now!  or never will in the future - GET RID its far healthier)
So here we are,  the walls are in place, the sliding door frame has been installed and plaster boarded both sides,  the recess for the book shelves are ready and the walk-in wardrobe has been developed - all in all we are now ready for the next lot of contractors.
Gunna   have a restful weekend ready for the hustle and bustle of the week ahead...

Yu'all have a great weekend and i'll update next week sometime.

the hairy plug monster

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http://hairyplugmonster.com/

this is a bit cheery for a friday evening!

Posted by Kul Cuthbert

MASTERBED UPDATE - 2nd July 2010

Yesterday was a bit hetic to say the least,  I had to go to Crewe  'Cookes Coach Builders' where I've nearly completed the interiors for a Motor home,  and it's nearly ready for the road,  it's now in the spray booth   - oooooh!   but it's looooookin' good...

So back to the Masterbed project :  dont know whether I mentioned it before but I'm the
co-ordinator/designer  project manager,  dogs body you name it thats me!

David the foreman <http://davidmarshfurniture.co.uk/  has been a star : although there was a mis-communication,  the previous day  I needed the door opening into the walkin wardrobe the same height as the sliding door which is 3" higher than the standard size door  from any builders merchants - so off David toddles and brings back and installs (quick as a flash)  an off the peg door frame for a UK standard door!  WELL,  I'm sorry,  but this had to be changed can't live with something so drastic!  one would argue 3" is not a lot!  but for me it will spoil the lines - so folks,  my tip is to write everything down and place your instructions in prominent position for all contractors to see -  that way  no mistakes can be made because mistakes are costly - however,  I did insist this was changed,  it is now the same height and I feel much happier about it.
On my way back from Cookes in Crewe I went to pick up my Sample Tile for the bathroom as the tiler will be tiling next week also just to make sure it was the one selected and better to be safe than sorry!
Jason the Plumber has started 1st fix and David has now finish all the plasterboard ready for the plasterer
who will start his work on Saturday...

Did have a bit of a laugh though,  I needed to tell my man Ed we need to throw away the base of an existing Divan bed  this was to big plus I'd mentioned throwing it in the skip to David earlier and with blink of and eye the Divan base was in the skip before I had time to mention it to Ed -  oh dear 'sulks sulks sulks'  Ed  wasn't a happy bunny,  anyway alls well now I made him a great big dinner of his choice  and we sat outside in the garden with a glass of vino...
I do have a habit of throwing things out especially when I have a skip on hand it's so easy to rid of stuff
you don't like or have no use for anymore  - i'm such a waist full character  'but some things will never change'  my motto 'when in doubt throw it out!!!! '
so  this morning will be spent in IKEA (all ways a trauma going to IKEA)  but if you can select from their catalogue and go specifically for items you need it makes much easier  plus  time is precious
I've selected the wardrobe frames in dark brown or maybe dark grey not decided yet they all in the same location so I will make that choice when i'm there -  the dark brown looks really expensive and will look classy in the walk-in wardrobe,  a tip from me - it's actually cheeper to buy the Paks range frames plus you can organise the internals with their compliments collection and taylor make it to your requirements - I have to say that part is fantastic and saving money is all ways an advantage  -  then have bespoke doors made of you're choosing (that's if your budget allows)  so I'm off now and if all goes to plan maybe i'll catch up later....
yu'all have a great day now....

MASTERBED UPDATE - 30th June 2010

http://www.kulcuthbertinteriors.co.uk/    yep my website...  David our foreman  and Howard the electrician worked like beavers yesterday I was very impressed!  and today david has informed me Jason the plumber will 1st fix tomorrow and Jimmy the plasterer will plaster on Saturday - how fab is that!!!

David has now installed the metal frame for the Sliding Door System,  this comes flat pack complete with instructions but also has a link on YOU TUBE where you can watch  'how to'  easy installation...the frame is now in place with  a pocket for the glass door to slide into!  OMG!
a brilliant system
http://www.eclisse.co.uk/   take a look at their website

David has removed the existing wall into the bathroom and replaced it with a single door metal frame as you can see  below left and in a previous blog it does show how the existing bathroom looked  - within the ladder formation  this has a pocket of 100mm  to house the Satin Glass Door and access into the bathroom will now be in the centre of the room, this  gives me enough space within the bathroom to use  Daryl  1400 x 800 low profile shower tray to the left of the bathroom also using Vessini Glass Panel (shower screen)
incidentally I've had walk-in showers in the past and have a couple in Italy but I'm so flippin' fed up of water collecting because a tiler hasn't tiled properly plus in my last house it used to leak through the kitchen cieling all the time  - I'm sure now with the proper floor protection before tiling - these days,  they may have been improved but not gunna risk it!

when I returned this evening David has plaster boarded one side of the frame + the closet has been developed - and I'm well impressed how the whole project is taking shape and exactly how I imagined it anyway tomorrow's another day - onwards and upwards  - yippeeeeee - so yu'all have a good evening...
                                                                                                                         

           

masterbed reburb... 29th June 2010

We are now 5 days into the project... Mmmm' and everything is on schedule - I did make the decision to use Jason the plumber! and he will 1st fix as soon as the stud work carried out by David Marsh Furniture < http://www.davidmarshfurniture.co.uk/>
has been completed and walls plastered - 1st fix electrics has been done - oh and by the way I came across a company 'Eclisse'  <www.eclisse.co.uk>  the product made in Italy - they have supplied me with a sliding door into the bathroom (quite excited about this)  using satin glass (10mm thick)  with minimal profile/architrave and the handle is set in the glass,  I have to say Eclisse are very efficient -   the door and frame was ordered on Friday- the frame was delivered yesterday and the actual door will be delivered in 4 weeks as and when required (keeping the door off site until building work has been completed this will then slot into place)
I will use the floor tiles for the walls as well  these have been ordered + underfloor electric heating pads independently controlled from the central heating  the tiles are black/greyish ceramic with a distressed steel vein through it - not the most expensive but could look rather striking next to the white shower tray,  loo and sink - supplied and purchased from Bramhall Bathrooms (plumb-base) KOHLER Rêve collection - I suppose their slightly mid/up range - but love it... and Simon the manager of the showroom was more than helpful.
I am changing the bathroom window although using UPVC (not my favourite) this will be more uptodate frame simple profile a centre mullion opening outwards and satin glass finish to match the sliding door  'pure and simple' is my motto - I don't want to cover this window with blinds or fabric!  the internal ie recessed part of the window will be lined with MDF sprayed pure white (colour not chosen) with a 3/4inch profile projection for the tile to butt up too then I will either find or have made a window box made out of teak which will soften the area using spider plants.
just been up to check on David and he is creating a recessed bookcase as you walk into the room... another large skip has been delivered (hopefully this will be the last one) a collection of rubbish and rubble seem tobe endless.
Choosing lights although expensive my preference is quality now waiting Andrew from iGuzzini  love there lights and they last forever....  couple of pictures  below how it looked (very dated) and another picture with a complete removal  of everything  in site!!!                                                   

I will endeavour to keep you posted - making savings - creating a walkin' wardrobe
using IKEA wardrobe frames!!!  (should be interesting) and bespoke bits and pieces by David Marsh Furniture < http://www.davidmarshfurniture.co.uk/>

have a nice day....


Posted by Kul Cuthbert

MATERBED REFURB - HOW PLUMBERS PRICES DIFFER....

Can you believe prices from plumbers differ?   well firstly I will just explain what needs to be done :
each one had a  draft drawing of our requirements!
new position of overhead shower, hand shower, diverter, new position of radiator, fix new sink, fix new loo, pipework to be replaced in the cylinder cupboard,  new pump - plus we have decided to make slight alteration in the utility room which includes replacing loo and sink.
bearing in mind plumber 3 quoted extra for tiling ONLY:-
so in the case of plumber 1 & 2 we have had prices for plastering, tiling, and electrics which we will take care of...
right then here goes:-
Plumber 1  -  price quoted            £900.00  ( but this plumber came directly from
the pub not so sure  about him)
Plumber 2 -   price quoted           £1650.00   (I was very confident with this guy)
Plumber 3 -  price quoted            £6000.00  (Hmmm I think he was having a laugh)
the extra work under his remit was the tiling!!!!!!!!!!

So what a dilemma - - it's always advisable to get three quotes ; i must point out  plumber 1 I've actually worked with him before although he is OK he does have a habit of uping the price once he's started... and on this occasion I'm on a budget and whoever I choose (which could be plumber 2) THERE'S NOTHING IN THE POT FOR CHANGE - PRICE QUOTED, PRICE ACCEPTED AND THAT'S THE  PRICE THAT WILL BE PAID...
Plumber 2 does seem very confident and did come out with one or two savings  'MY GUT FEELING' maybe I should go with plumber 2 (Jason) never worked with him before but he does seem reliable and I feel comfortable with him...

well folks i'll keep you informed...