Room transformation

After 20 years we have finally taken down the dreadful suspended ceiling in our bedroom.   Why has it taken so long?   Well the job was just too daunting.   Obviously years ago, the owners of our maisonette put in suspended ceilings in the bedrooms, because there was no soundproofing barrier at all between our maisonette and the maisonette above us.   We have changed the other bedroom ceilings, but our ceiling was the most difficult to remove, due to the materials that were used and the size of the room.   So we left it there.  But we were determined to do something about it, when we returned from our trip.   And we have.  And the end result, after five weeks of hard work by Patrick, with some help from Donna, Scott and Walter, is fantastic.

The suspended ceiling with one panel removed.   The cavity was filled with fibre glass insulation.   Scratchy.  And it was backed with chicken wire.   Not good.

First of all the super king sized bed needed to be dismantled and the wardrobes emptied.

And treasures were found in the wardrobe.   Such as all my old riding gear.   No need for the hat, see picture below, any more. I gave up that rather dangerous hobby sixteen years ago.  I also found my little treasure trove of old ornaments that Kylie confiscated in 2001, when we last renovated our house.   She thought I had thrown them out, but I had hidden them at the back of the top shelf of the very tall wardrobe.  One of the items was an extremely heavy brass iron which I bought in Singapore in 1973.   Luckily I found it before it fell on Walter's head as he moved the wardrobe.    I have been ruthless this time, Kylie.

The next task, the removal of all the old wall paper, followed by the removal of the suspended ceiling.

Patrick and Scott hard at work behind the wardrobe.

An interlude in the work.   Mother's Day afternoon tea.   A tight squeeze in the conservatory due to all our belongings stored at the other end.

Lucy and Isabel made this delicious honey roll.   Very clever.

We now have a new insulated ceiling.   Two layers of wall board and a layer of fibre glass insulation.    And all painted white.   It looks wonderful.    A very difficult job though, and much patience was needed.

And no wall paper.   Patrick has managed to straighten the walls, so they are now painted.   Super sophisticated.   And a wooden floor.  No carpet to collect the dust anymore.

The mess at the end of the conservatory.   Where will I start.   The clothes were there for the two weeks we were in Holland, and surprise, surprise, the top layer of clothing faded, but not evenly.  I should have covered  them.   More of my clothes bite the dust, so as to speak.   At least I did not lose them.

And now we have moved back in, with the help of Lucy, who told us how to move the bed without dismantling it completely.   Well done Lucy.  

The final job will be to sort out all our pictures, before we make a decision about which ones will be put on our pristine walls in the bedroom.   We are very happy people.   Thank you Patrick.   Brilliant ideas and super work.