A transformation in the house

Over the past six weeks we have changed our house somewhat.  I know we have been away for three weeks, but nevertheless we have been busy, and especially so in the two weeks leading up to our departure to the Netherlands. 

The transformation was also due to Patrick who worked tirelessly during the long weekend at the beginning of May.  

But on with the story and photographs.

After travelling around all the local furniture stores, we decided we did not like the chunky oversoft furniture in them.  So off to our favourite furniture store, IKEA, where we found plenty of stylish slimline furniture.  But a suite as a whole was a difficult decision to make, given that our needs were different.  I wanted a couch to stretch out on, and Walter wanted a chair with a footstool.  So in the end we chose a black leather lounge, and two dark grey material chairs with footstools.  All the furniture has sprung bases and firm seating.  No soft spongy seats to ruin our aging backs.

And to add to our new look, we chose a black metal coffee table and side table.  All so airy and uncluttered.

Delivery time.  We moved out the old furniture and rung the council to take it away.  Great.  The room looked clean and bare.

I forgot to mention the new chair, and cushion covers for the existing chair, in the conservatory.  Blends in with the outside!

Once the new furniture arrived, it was time to put it all together,

and hey presto we had a new look in the furniture line.  Unfortunately I could not sit in the room for the next week as I found the new furniture caused an allergic reaction. Headaches, sneezing and sore eyes.  What do furniture makers put in their furniture?   But all is well now, thank goodness.

Then we decided a big sort out was needed.  So first of all we attacked the books and magazines that were stored under the old, very long coffee table.  All those recipe books.  Diet ones.  Off to the charity shop.  The rest of the books are now on the bookshelf in the study.  The magazines went into the recycling bin.   We collect so much reading material.  More than we can read.  And now it is all on a digital format anyway.

Then we started on the CDs and DVDs, which are now on clearly labelled shelves in the cupboards at the front of the loungeroom.  And some went off to the charity shop.  Multiple copies of CDs!

On Saturday morning of the long weekend Patrick arrived, together with drop sheets, plaster, paint and brushes.  And all our new furniture was covered in preparation for the makeover.

The walls were not in good shape.  Paper peeling off, poorly repaired cornices, and plenty of stains on the edges of the ceiling in the hallway where the people upstairs had had problems with the boiler and bathroom, which we did not do anything about  at the time.

Patrick had to spend a considerable amount of time on repairs to ceilings, cornices and walls before he could start painting.   He also had to put on many coats of paint to cover the blue paint on the doors, which I painted 22 years ago.  I am so pleased to get rid of the blue paint.

Patrick at work on the ceiling and cornices.

We left Patrick hard at work when we departed in our motor home, destination the Netherlands.  And when we came back, the paint smell had gone, and the new furniture smell had gone and all we had were two wonderful looking rooms.  A transformation.

The spotted material I bought in Utrecht was put on the small chair in order to see if we liked the effect.  We cannot resist a little bit of blue.  The chair is now at the upholsterers, with the new material, of course.

The paintings have been moved around and look much better in their new positions.

A new look in the hallway too.  And a brighter light.  It all helps.

Now for the carpet.  The blue carpet has to go, to be replaced by a carpet with a neutral colour.  Later on, though, as we need to let our bank balance recuperate.  And there is a need to rest a while, in between our travels.

But in the meantime we are enjoying the new look in the house.