Two weeks later - Building Bristol Home Stay Tuition

New room with windows, seen from the next door garden

It's now Sunday 15th November and suddenly, I can see light at the end of the tunnel. 

My builder fitted the windows last week and so finally the room is weatherproof. This meant that they could put in the kitchen! Now the room looks like a real room, not just a shell. It's an IKEA kitchen and is white and simple. We have had some problems with missing pieces. My builders tell me I am lucky because we had only a few missing items.

I also have lighting in the new extension, with spotlights in the ceiling over the kitchen area and dining area. It looks really lovely. This week, I will buy the wooden flooring for the kitchen. This is an expensive item. I am beginning to feel excited although I been feeling mostly very anxious and stressed.

Kitchen with view of oven and hob

This week they almost finished tiling the shower (why is it that builders never quite finish things?) and it looks good. They have installed the basin and part of the cabinets for the basin and toilet. When they finish putting the floor tiles in the bathroom, they will install the toilet.

Shower cubicle with tiles

This project is supposed to be finished by Friday 27th November, in two weeks. Probably it will be in  early December.

But it is not completely finished by then. There is a second part to this project. I want to make another room, a bedroom/office, from what used to be my dining room and classroom (the room with the big mirror and piano, for those students and friends who are interested). This part of the project will continue after these builders finish. My architect has designed an interesting wall with a big sliding door, so it can be a flexible room. There will be a little courtyard garden, full of ferns and mirrors, to maximise the light. Perhaps I will put in a little fountain or something like that?

Courtyard at the moment

Please look at this link to see more photos of the building project: 

Light at the end of the tunnel

Then finally, when all is finished and clean, the rooms will have to be decorated. I am getting prices for this part of the job now. That will be the most exciting stage of this project. I think I will see my house returning to normal by mid-January 2015. It will be a new and beautiful home.

At the moment, my first student will come in March 2016. I have some enquiries for February 2016 too. 

I will offer anybody who wants an English course a 20% discount for courses between February and March 2016! Come and profit from this great way to rapidly improve your English and have fun at the same time.

Two months later... Building Bristol Home Stay Tuition!

New room with patio doors

Well, it's Sunday 1st of November 2015 today and my extension project started on 7th September 2015. I have a new room with wooden patio doors, now in the correct place, 200mm to the left of where the builder originally placed them. It's just as well that they moved the doors, as it means there is more light in the rest of the house, down the long corridor. It also means that you can see the garden as you walk into the room, instead of the wall on the right of the garden.

Plaster drying

The walls have been plastered and the floor has been built, with the underfloor heating laid on it. The underfloor heating works well, apparently. But we had some problems with the flooring and that is not yet down. But that's probably good, as the plaster needs to dry thoroughly before the engineered flooring is laid. However, the windows are still not in, and last week it rained. This rain was coming into the room, which is not good for the plaster which is supposed to be drying! The builders have now put some waterproof protection over the window spaces.

The bathroom is also plastered and the shower tray is in place. This week they will put in the toilet and basin, They will also tile the bathroom and the passage outside the bathroom.

Bathroom, no toilet or basin yet

They are supposed to put all the light switches and light fixings in this week and lay the kitchen floor too.

When they have done that, it will be time for the kitchen to be fitted.
So I start to see the 'light at the end of the tunnel'... But there are still many things to do and which could go wrong. So I have to be patient.

I will be very, very relieved when it is finished. At least, when it is finished enough to start the decorating. Hopefully, it will be ready for decorating by end of November. Fingers crossed!

Please look at this link to my photo album with the latest photos from the project and PLEASE, leave a comment! I want to hear from you!! November photos of building project

Underfloor heating, no flooring yet