Enjoying the balmy evenings

With sunlight in just the right spot this deck corner really heats up mid afternoon. So many evenings just sitting out and having a drink and reading. A great oasis in an urban space.

The Best Garden Before and After Ever!!

Five years here and it took that long to get a plan together for garden. It's nearly there, a new water feature and we are done. I just love it and dread the winter as the garden just dies a death until April/May again. Still love it right now and it was worth all the effort. To give himself his dues - he's a natural gardener.

A little Bathroom Revamp

Painted the panel boards 'Parisian Ice' by Fleetwood. Thick patterned Lino on floor which covered the old laminated floorboards. New sanitary wear in classic style. Same bath. Toilet Rolls by 'Who gives a Crap!'. Total Cost a cheap and cheerful EUR850.

 

Lockdown Project -- Cheap wall panelling

Well Woodies had a sale or special offer and we got these timber planks(?) for really cheap -- about EUR120 for hall and stairs.  Couldn't get Farrow and Ball paint due to lockdown so got a Fleetwood mix of the colour 'Hague Blue' in eggshell finish. It's to die for. Great result, paint actually makes the wood look passable. Otherwise wood was cheapest grade and would take a lot of sanding if you only wanted a natural finish. Anyway happy out with the result and all my wonky walls are now well hidden. Given a chance I would have done proper panelling but alas walls were too bad and price as too high to fix. 

Internal Windows - Aye or Nay...

Couldn't decide whether to cut a large hole out of hall/kitchen wall and replace it with an internal window. ... The hope was that it would allow more light into a very dark kitchen.  So off I went and ordered a window --  1 mtr x 1.1mtr double glazed, black frame with black planter bars. EUR225.
We then cut a large hole in the wall using a saw and fit the window in place. A few screws and wooden surround later hey presto - it's done. Except... it didn't work. Nothing happened.
Still it looks nicer and surely there must be some chink of extra light coming in somewhere ... it's not obvs though 😅

Last 'Big' Job .... THE DECK - I Hope!!!

This was something I yearned for since we bought the house in 2017. The ground level of the house is dark and 9 months of the year that can be offset with warm lamp light, candles and the open fire. However in the summer I can't bear to be in the kitchen for too long and we all crave the light that's so strong and vibrant in the garden but two foot away in the kitchen is non-existent.
So off we went, purchased the materials (not cheap but best value around) and started the work. The space when cleared in the back yard was bigger than I perceived and to be honest it was a bit of a challenge to resurrect the timber foundation between rain showers and also with minimal noise to neighbours as we live in a terraced echo chamber.
Anyway more or less done .. minus a few steps and it's rained since. Not to worry there's years to be had on this deck yet and I can't wait to sit on it on a warm day with a cup of tea and a good book.

Mix and Match Kitchen - as long as there is colour.

I spend a fair amount of time in my little kitchen space so I really want to like what I'm looking at. Colour is so essential to my peace of mind and I surround myself with colourful crockery and cutlery. It's the best way to counteract a lack of workspace - a consolation prize as such. It's all mix and match from Pip Studio, Avoca, Dunnes home etc.   The more the merrier. Wine glasses next : )