SAM’S HOUSE RENO DIARIES: PART 3

Gosh, it’s been a while since I updated you back in January. Click here to read my last update, and here to go all the way back to the beginning of the project.

So, a lot has happened in two months. We have walls. We have a roof. And yesterday, we got windows. Major moment.

The walls are all plastered and the first coat of paint has gone on. After months of research and sampling, we have gone for Little Greene Slaked Lime Mid as the main colour throughout the house – and we’ve gone for a full colour drench, including skirts and ceiling. It’s a bold statement, but I truly think that I’ve found the perfect paint shade, one that works in pretty much any space. In dull, north-facing light it takes on a richness, and in south-facing sunshine, the brightness brings it alive.  It enhances rooms during the day and makes them gleam with sophistication at night. The Slaked Lime family has quite a lot of choice so we tested a couple out in the boys room before committing to the rest of the house – Mid in Alfie’s room, while giving Leo’s room a drench of Slaked Lime 105; its a gorgeous off-white, clean and minimal but for us, the tones of Mid was our clear winner.

What else can I tell you? We’ve had flooring go down in the dressing room and the upstairs laundry room. Did I tell you we created an upstairs laundry room? I can’t remember. I think this is going to be my favourite room in the house. Why do we cart tonnes of laundry downstairs to wash it, and then have to bring it upstairs again to put it away?! Makes no sense. So this I feel will be a real game-changer, no more full laundry baskets sitting at the bottom of the stairs. We’ve got wood flooring throughout the downstairs but have gone for Parador flooring in these two rooms, as they will be used a lot. It’s especially stain and water-resistant – essential in a laundry room and also, a dressing room where it’s highly likely I’m going to spill make-up (sorry, Nick) making it perfect for the wear and tear of daily life.

Forget ASOS, I seem to have quite an obsession with a website called Lights and Lamps because that is where all of my money is going at the moment. I found the most incredible ‘violetta marble’ type of water-proof lights for in the guest bathroom, and these stunning wall lights for the laundry room. And Next has a new range called N.Premium where I found a stunning Restoration Hardware dupe of a mirror for £60. The plumbers are going to put a de-misting pad on the back, and then I can’t wait to see it up in the bathroom.

We still have bathroom tiles to fit, carpet to order, internal doors to arrive, worktops to fit, a shed load of carpentry and a new ballustrade for the staircase but the way we are going, it could all potentially be done in the next few weeks. Eek. I cannot fault our builders, CG Contractors. They have been amazing and are also lovely guys. Trust me, I live with them at this point. I think one of the hardest things when embarking on a reno job, is to work out who to trust.

So, hopefully my next update will have actual finished rooms. Imagine that. I can’t wait! Then it’s just the small task of finding a bed, sofa, sofa bed and all the soft furnishings with what little budget we have left.

Thanks for sticking with me through this. We’re almost out the other side.