Tag: house

May 24, 2010
Not a post about MP’s expenses, nor beach footwear. It’s about my plans for my kitchen.

Ever since my boiler got moved out of the kitchen, I have been planning a kitchen refit. My first decision was whether to do it myself, after some fashion, replacing doors and drawer fronts, or to have a new kitchen fitted. OK, that was a joke – the decision was whether to pay someone else to replace my doors and drawer fronts, or to have a new kitchen fitted. I’ve had 10 years here to do it myself, it ain’t going to happen.

April 26, 2010
As part of my kitchen project, I have mostly had local people quoting. However, while googling for ideas, I came across the Tesco Kitchens website. I was surprised that Tescos were doing this kind of thing, but thought I would let them quote, to see how they compare.

The appointment was made the week before last, for today at 9am. I wasn’t filled with confidence, as the young lady who called me back (who was not employed by Tescos, but by the local subcontractor) started by apologising as she had only just started working for her brother, and she was “a bit rubbish at it”.

April 19, 2010
Now the boiler has gone from my kitchen, I am getting quotes for fitting the kitchen out anew. Initially, I was thinking of just putting up three new wall cupboards where the boiler was, but I’ll never match the existing units. I then considered changing the doors and draw-fronts so everything matches, but while the existing units are functionally ok, they were a bit old and tatty when I moved in! I’ve lived with them for 10 years, but I don’t want to spend money on the kitchen, and then be disappointed with the result.

So it is all coming out. I had my first chap in to quote today, and it all went well. None of my bright ideas were shot down, and it all seems good. However, there was one question I wasn’t prepared for – how did I want the kitchen to look?

I know what I like, but I was so intent on working out the practicalities – how many units do we need, can we utilise that wasted corner, can we bung a worktop in the (little used) larder to house my kitchen gadgets – that I hadn’t actually specified things like colour and finish. Pretty important stuff.

Anyway, since that visit, 3 hours ago, I have been googling, and have come up with a style guide for the chap to quote against (and for the other companies). Then I thought I would post it here too.

September 21, 2009
For some time, I have been talking about moving my office into the smallest bedroom of the house.

When I moved here, I made the largest bedroom my office, with the plan that it would be a joint office and music room. This eventually failed on a number of issues: