Grade II New Build With Basement

At last, we have some windows – not all of them and no French doors, but it’s made a world of difference to the house.  It actually looks like we mean to actually move in one day! They are made to size from oak, with a protective linseed coating externally and two coats of matt varnish on the inside. It took persistence to persuade our Architect that we really do want the windows to weather naturally outside, and we did not want the oak either staining nor coating in a gloss varnish.

Unfortunately, due to building regulations, we have a carefully cut out slit at the top of each one, which will have an unattractive plastic vent put in it, in order to ensure we have sufficient ventilation in our new house.  Evidently, we are not to be trusted to open a window now and then!

The plumbers have been hard at work installing the pipe work for the underfloor heating, for the non filtered water to the washing machine etc and separate pipe work to the basins, baths and shower for filtered water, as I am allergic to the Thames Water in the area. The system has been under pressure testing for the last three days, which once complete will mean the floor screeds can go down and the surveyor from Harvey Jones, the kitchen supplier, can come and confirm measurements.

I must admit I find the internal décor aspects far more interesting than drains, heating, manifolds… We have been looking around at flooring for the ground floor hall and kitchen/dining-room and study for a while, and have eventually settled on a reproduction Cotswold flagstone floor from Wiltshire Stone, which will not date and suits the budget.  Andy, the owner of the business has been really helpful and organised for us to visit a farmhouse, where he had laid it just a year ago. It’s slightly thicker, at 25mm, than the original tiled floor we had specified, but our builder has confirmed that an adjustment to the internal doors is all that is needed, and that it is ideal for underfloor heating.

Next on the list to sort are the wall tiles for the bathrooms, which will probably come from Craven Dunnill, as they have such a wide range and huge showroom, over at Bridgnorth.  Having mooched around various tile showrooms together, it is clear that Alan and I do not have quite the same taste or vision, when it comes to décor – only time will tell who persuades who!

The drive is a moving feast at the moment, as the builders try and attain the levels shown on the plans. We always knew that it was going to slope down to the front door, because the property is sunken in order to get full height ceilings, and this has meant two steps down to the front door, or a slope down the side.  I think we will need a good sensor light, if our visitors are to arrive in one piece on dark nights!